Things to do in Auckland this weekend: Fun after dark, Dimples, a deliciously dark musical and more

A breathtakingly tall Brachiosaurus and crocodile-mimicking Suchomimus are among prehistoric giants now making their way to Auckland Zoo’s Dinosaur Discovery Track – set to reopen on June 10. After last year’s dino outing, this Dinosaur Discovery Track experience (free with regular zoo entry) is an opportunity for all ages to discover many intriguing new species and reconnect with some 2025 favourites, such as the Tyrannosaurus rex, which this time comes with offspring. You’ll see no fewer than 20 prehistoric animatronic replicas moving and roaring, and can also try your hand as a palaeontologist and take part in fossil digs. To cater to all, there are also “quiet times” with no sound or movement on Tuesday mornings and the first Sunday of every month between 9.30am and 11am.

A must-see, immersive ocean experience arrives at Te Whatu Stardome Observatory & Planetarium today, and is in place at select times for the whole of World Ocean Month.

Called Sounds of the Ocean, it’s a 50-minute full-dome journey through the underwater world, where audiences are surrounded by the calls of whales, dolphins and other ocean creatures. Recorded in the depths of California’s Monterey Bay Canyon and woven together with original music, breathtaking ocean cinematography and immersive visual art, the meditative experience takes you far beneath the surface in a cinematic underwater odyssey designed to calm, restore and reconnect. The award-winning production has screened internationally, including at UN Climate Conferences, and 10% of ticket sales contribute to supporting the work of Sea Shepherd New Zealand.

Called “High School Musical’s darker, dirtier cousin” in a recent review, the wickedly funny Heathers the Musical arrives at Auckland’s Civic Theatre this Wednesday night for a limited five-night run. Direct from London and New York, the high-octane, black comedy rock musical is based on the cult 1989 film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, and takes place at Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death. With a mercilessly catchy mix of ballads and bangers by award-winning writers Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives) and Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde The Musical), miss this cult classic at your peril.

Tāmaki Makaurau has a new walking tour in which concrete walls turn into open-air galleries as 40 murals spanning 40 years unfold before you. It involves Auckland joining cities around the world where urban street art has evolved into a dynamic cultural form, with Cross Street the latest destination to be transformed into a vibrant cultural landmark. Sitting on the “front lawn” of City Rail Link station, Karanga-a-Hape, Cross Street’s urban glow-up comes in the form of three bold, large-scale, light-based murals by Auckland artists from different cultural backgrounds. The street’s new look is designed to bridge cultures, support the Pride community and challenge norms, injecting creativity and colour every step of the way. You can find the street art map guide here and the tour’s online gallery at Tāmaki Makaurau | Street Art in the City Centre.

Whether you are after a fun hang with friends, cute date night or a whānau-friendly adventure, don’t miss the last evening of MOTAT After Dark on today from 6pm. You can enjoy torchlight tours, beats by Māori HiFi, eats by Food Truck Collective and a selection of rarely seen collection treats on display, with tickets $10 for adults and $5 for kids that include a drink from the Food Truck Collective bar. The whole of MOTAT Great North Rd’s precinct will be lit up with live entertainment, roaming performers, outdoor heaters and fairy lights to create the perfect after-dark atmosphere, and there’s a fun make-and-take activity for crafty types.

Hitting the stage at Auckland’s The Classic Comedy Club before travelling to the North Shore, and Waiheke Island is Coro, a high-octane parody of legendary soap opera Coronation Street created and performed by Wellington Arts powerhouses Austin Harrison and Nina Hogg. Direct from sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the show promises no less than five episodes of “action-packed mundanity” over the course of 60 minutes, with the two actors playing no less than nine characters. Hogg recently won awards for Best Show at the Wellington Comedy Awards and Comic Originality at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards, while Harrison just took out Best Newcomer at the NZ International Comedy Festival. This is the perfect opportunity to catch these stars on the rise before they become household names.

Why not wake up, make your way to bustling West Lynn Village and kick off your weekend with a relaxed morning at Freida Market? Held on the first Saturday of every month, it sees the always welcoming Freida Margolis transform from a wine and music venue into a thriving community hub, opening its doors early for a curated mix of vintage clothing, jewellery, art, homewares and local makers, alongside tarot readings. There’ll also be Johnny’s delicious Fat Fish Fritters, which have developed something of a cult following among regulars, and excellent coffee available from the neighbourhood’s abundance of cool cafes. The market runs from 10am to 1pm at 440 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn.

Email canvasplanner@nzherald.co.nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates/times, location and website.