Summer Bingo: The Unofficial Guide to Your BEST Summer Yet
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3 min
Mark your squares - it’s about to be a season you’ll WANT to remember.
The lead up to Summer is always filled with excitement and expectation - the promise of long, sunny days, easy plans, and the perfect mix of chill and adventure... but if we're being real, it tends to fall short.
Regardless of what Zara Larsson says, Summer does come to an end; before you know it, you're left wondering 'Where'd all the time go?' So rather than wistfully looking back at the summer that could've been, make it a season worth remembering.
A bingo card you don't want to cheat for:
Roadie with Your BFFs 🛣️
(Epic Places Worth Driving To)
🏝️ Te Arai
Your surfer friend’s secret spot… sue me for not wanting to gatekeep. White sand (doesn’t burn off the soles of your feet), immaculate surf and clear water. Plus it stretches far enough that the ‘family with five kids under 10’ won’t disrupt your peace.
🍷 Waiheke Island
A kiwi classic - if you haven’t taken the trip, are you truly a local? It’s all the classics: wine, art, beaches and freshness that gives the illusion you’re out of Auckland (sigh).
🍫 Bennetts of Mangawhai Chocolate
Sweet tooth emergency? A quick 2 hour drive for some hand-crafted, top-of-the-market chocolates will do the trick… but on a real note, the place is beautiful. Think old Mediterranean Euro summer-esque vibes.
💐 Matakana Farmers Market
Locally sourced produce, one-of-a-kind crafts, and real fruit ice cream so fresh you think you’re eating it straight from the bush. Trust - you’ll want to visit every weekend!
Add Daily Movement 🤸♀️
(Setting Summer in Motion)
🌊 Beachside Walks
If 2026 is the year you start walking the talk, this is the best way to get into the swing of it! It’s easy but long enough to get those steps in, and the perfect excuse to wear cute activewear.
🛍️ Thrift Shopping
The best kind of cardio (second to beach walks) with that extra dopamine you get hit from spending money on an elite, super niche vintage find on Ponsonby Rd. Works every time!
☕️ Coffee & Stroll
Nothing motivates me like a great coffee! A fix for those overdue catchups: explore the boutique stores and build your ‘must eat here’ as you wander the beautiful brick roads of Parnell.
🧺 Garden Picnic
For the snack girls - pack your faves, call a friend or three, and enjoy the greenery! My top picks: Cornwall Park for sheep spotting, and the Domain for Instagram pics in the Wintergarden.
Quality Time > Quantity Spending 💸
(Lowkey Budgeting, Highkey Memories)
🌅 Watch a Sunset
Catch the most beautiful time of the day from the summit of Mt Victoria or Mt Eden - the best free show in town! Bring a friend for a DMC, or climb solo and soak it all in.
🥘 Host a Potluck
Highly underrated! Good food and even better company from the comfort of your own home? Bonus points if you have a backyard, extra competitive board games or a stack of cards.
🍹 Catch a Happy Hour
Think smart, drink smart, and make the most of the deals (and weather) along the Viaduct! Summer is the perfect excuse to get a little boozy somewhere boujee.
🎬 Watch a Movie
Movies in the Park will be back from Feb 20 - Mar 21 at your favourite spots across Auckland! It’s free, there will be fresh air, and all the summer feels for some extra nostalgia.
Explore the Unknown 🧭
(Get Curious, Get Creative!)
✂️ A New Hobby
Carry a film camera to capture your days, develop, then make a scrapbook to look back on! Not your vibe? Try a book, attempt to knit a sweater, or collect 365 buttons - the world is your oyster.
🏞️ A Hike
Channel your inner explorer and try your shot at a hike! Hunt for hidden waterfalls in the Hunua Ranges, or explore the Waitakere Ranges; rumour has it the harder the walk, the better the view…
🎾 A New Activity
Racquet sports are on the rise! Test your coordination with some tennis, pickle ball or golf at a driving range with your friends as you enter your old money aesthetic era.
🏆 A New Goal
Nothing motivates like an almost unobtainable quest that requires no blood, lots of sweat, and some tears - sign up for a half-marathon, join the Hyrox buzz or get 10 chin ups by 2027!
While summer isn't just about checking off boxes just to say you did it, sometimes it does help! So here it is, your summer itinerary, planned down to the T.
Low effort, zero fuss, but all the highs for the moments that matter because you, reader, deserve nothing less.
Bingo's not just for old people, Beauties x
