Auckland Fish Market

Whether you see it, hear it, or smell it first, approaching the bustling Auckland Fish Market is always an exciting experience. Here along Auckland’s famous waterfront, fishermen returning to the docks come to sell their fresh catches at auction, and diners come to feast on fish that was literally caught that morning.

At the popular Auckland Seafood School, visitors can learn how to cook and prepare new dishes with a rotating schedule of classes, or simply stroll through the retail market where a dozen restaurants, shops and grocers sell everything pertaining to fish. There’s sushi served in tight hand rolls and baskets of fish and chips, plus markets selling everything from smoked fish and lobster to wine from Auckland’s best vineyards.

Go behind the scenes on a special tour that shows how the fish market functions—from where the fishermen drop off their catch after spending all night at sea, to where local chefs and restaurateurs come to purchase the freshly caught fish. Or for a truly authentic Auckland experience, watch the fish auction on weekday mornings that takes place at 6am, where dozens of buyers gather before dawn to bid on the ocean’s bounty, and nearly 20 tons of seafood are sold each morning here at the Auckland fish auction.