Laneway 2023: The Beths’ Guide to Auckland

“I love Auckland. I like travelling and touring and being in other places for periods of time, but Auckland feels like home to me,” Liz Stokes, lead singer of The Beths, told Rolling Stone AU/NZ last year.

Tāmaki Makaurau means a lot to the power-pop four-piece; despite regularly touring the world as one of New Zealand’s most successful exports of recent years, they still like to call only one place home.

After a two-year hiatus, Laneway is about to make its long-awaited return to Auckland on Monday, January 30th. With that in mind, we could think of no better band to give us their knowledgable guide to the city than The Beths.

You can find out about two of Liz’s bandmates, bassist Benjamin Sinclair and drummer Tristan Deck, favourite Auckland haunts below.

Laneway 2023 hits Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth from January 30th-February 12th. You can still buy tickets and find out more information about the festival here.

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The Beths: While Laneway may bring you to the city we love to call home, we in The Beths hope you can also stay awhile and enjoy some of our favourite parts of the city.

One of the unique features of Tāmaki’s geography is the volcanic cones that are scattered across the landscape, known as the Tūpuna Maunga. They are spiritually significant to Māori and are worth a visit if you like a hearty walk and unique views of different parts of Tāmaki Makaurau. 

To Eat:

Due to its cultural diversity, Auckland really is a great food city. To showcase this, we highly recommend eating at a restaurant on Dominion Road. The subject of one of New Zealand’s great musical offerings is also home to many fine restaurants serving affordable, tasty food well into the night. A flavourful cheap lunch or dinner can be found at Sha Xian Snack, Xi’an Food Bar, Shefco, Eden Noodles Cafe, Jadetown Uyghur Cuisine, New Flavour, or Tapsi.

For comfort food, Ralph’s for a cheeseburger, Goldie for a roast. Meet Fresh is a great dessert shop and there are lots of tea houses in the vicinity for something sweet. If you feel like dressing up for something a bit special, Udon Works and Omni serve excellent food.

After the last notes of music from Laneway fade into the night, Gogo Music Cafe and Spicy House will be serving into the wee hours if you need to fill up your tummy before bed.

To Drink:

After a day in the studio on Karangahape Road, we love to grab a drink and watch a band at one of Auckland’s finest establishments: Wine Cellar and Whammy Bar. Both bars have a great vibe, offering new bands a shot and seasoned bands a regular crowd.

Also on K Road, Achos is a Japanese bar serving delicious snacks and features an extensive sake and whiskey menu as well as imported beers. Any 22, 24, or 25 bus from the stop on the corner of Karangahape Road and Symonds Street will get you to Galbraiths in no time, a cozy English brewery serving hearty pub fare and fine ales.

Nearly hidden in the car park behind Auckland’s Town Hall is Basement Theatre, a wonderful space for cutting-edge theatre and dance shows as well as stand up and improv comedy shows. Check out their website for a program, because there are new and interesting things happening every single week. They also have a great bar and rotating food trucks, so you could easily wile away your entire evening there. 

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Activities:

From the CBD, catch a ferry and day trip to Rangitoto Island, the dormant volcano in the harbour, or to Tiritiri Matangi Island, one of the best places to spot rare and endangered birds thanks to its predator-free status. You can also jump off a bridge: if you are not someone to do things by halves, you can bungee off the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge!

Auckland has a lot of op shops, but for a twist on thrifting take a trip out west to Tipping Point, the shop by Auckland’s main refuse station. Here, items and clothes deserving of a second life are saved from landfill and sold on for cheap. While you’re out there, just up the road is Cielito Lindo, an awesome Mexican lunch bar in an unlikely location that does great tacos, sopes, quesadillas and burritos. 

Keep going further out west to visit a black sand beach such as Piha or Muriwai (do heed the warnings and swim between the flags, these are wild beaches!) or hike in the Waitākere mountains. We like the Mercer Bay Loop Walk, Comans Track and Karamatura Loop Walk. Keep your gaze high for bird spotting!

If you are near the city, you can visit Maungawhau (Mount Eden) for a stunning view of the harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. In the centre of the Auckland Isthmus is Maungakiekie, also known as One Tree Hill. The summit affords views of the entire sprawling city from coast to coast. While you are there feel free to stroll around Cornwall Park, which is both a park and a working farm complete with fields of cows and sheep. 

In South Auckland, Māngere Mountain is another spectacular viewpoint to see Manukau Harbour and the Southern part of the city. 

Saturday morning would be an excellent time to head to the Otara flea markets which are in the vibrant aforementioned suburb just 15 minutes drive from the city centre. You will find second hand goods, fresh produce, and a diverse range of food trucks and vendors. 

While you are on your way out west, a great stop would be Titirangi village. You can grab a coffee at one of many great establishments and then hit the Te Uru art gallery to view exhibitions of contemporary art by Aotearoa artists.

Laneway 2023

HAIM (Exclusive) – JOJI (Exclusive)
PHOEBE BRIDGERS
FINNEAS – FONTAINES D.C – FRED AGAIN..
GIRL IN RED – SLOWTHAI – TURNSTILE
HOCKEY DAD – JULIA JACKLIN – THE JUNGLE GIANTS
100 GECS – CHAOS IN THE CBD – KNUCKS – MALLRAT
ROSS FROM FRIENDS – THE BETHS – YARD ACT
ADAM NEWLING – THE BACKSEAT LOVERS
HARVEY SUTHERLAND – JACOTÉNE – JAMESJAMESJAMES
LOGIC1000 – SYCCO – TASMAN KEITH – THE LAZY EYES
ABBY BELLA MAY – ANDY GARVEY – COLDWAVE
DALLAS WOODS – FELIVAND – JONO MA
PRICIE – RUBY CANNON – SIOBHAN COTCHIN – SOPHIYA