A melting pot of culture and history, every area of the Auckland region has its own story.

Discover some of the events in each area as part of Auckland Heritage Festival from 24 September to 9 October.

North

Do as the sailors did and waltz into spring with a high tea dance in Devonport, be entertained in Browns Bay with bandstand tunes, vintage cars and an ‘historic’ bouncy castle. Learn about Auckland’s historic coastal defences at Kennedy Park or picnic in style at Georgian-style Scott Homestead.

South

Unleash your inner child and get up close and personal with vintagefire trucks, view photos from some of New Zealand’s leading photographers who have captured the history of activism in Aotearoa, or reminisce over rarely seen historic photos of Ōtara and East Tāmaki at We, Ōtara. Take a tour of the second Māori King’s cottage, or test your survival instincts by playing Survivor WWI.

East

Create beautiful Polish paper cut-outs, Wycinanki, pronounced Vee-chee-non-kee, have fun old-fashioned-style in Howick with parlour games, or check out The Outings Project – a global urban art project that will see historically relevant art to Ellerslie being taken to the streets.

West

Head to the home of clay making in New Zealand and celebrate its brick making heritage in New Lynn, then meet factory workers and see the manufacturing processes behind our iconic Crown Lynn crockery. Support the reinstallation of the mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ with this lively show, or take a tour of one of New Zealand’s most well-know wineries, Corban Estate.

Central

Treat yourself with a Devonshire tea at Alberton, high tea at Lake House Arts Centre, or get back to basics and make your own bread and butter. Dress in your Sunday best and join this Five Boro bike ride through stunning heritage parks, experience the spectacle ofMorris dancing, or take another look through a suburb you might normally go past with a walking tour in K’ Road, Ponsonby or Grey Lynn.

More reasons to take another look at Auckland

• Ponsonby and Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision Present: Memories of Auckland Past
• Heritage Excursion Aboard the Jane Gifford on the historic Mahurangi River
• Onehunga Presents: St Peter's Graveyard
• Ponsonby Presents: Food Tour – Then and Now
• Birkenhead Museum Open Days
• Photography exhibitions: Kathrin Simon: FADEand Maungawhau Roots
• Insiders' Tour of the Civic Theatre
• Maungakiekie Māori Heritage Walk