It's been a while since my last visit. It seems that a major renovation is going on at the moment…read more I must admit the I was on the cinema side only, did not visit the warehouse side of this visit. Will have to come back in the New Year and see how the revamp went, it used to be one of my favourite places to shop !!!

Botany Town Centre is by far and away one of the best malls in Auckland. With it's wonderful, open…read morelayout filled with greenery, fountains and even its very own hobbit hole, Botany has a great, outdoor ambience that I've never seen equalled by another mall. I'd say the only downside would be when it rains, but even then, there's an indoor part of the mall to enjoy. Hoyts Cinemas is convieniently located above the food court, so on a rainy day, there's no need to brave the elements to walk between places. Containing all the top clothing, jewellery, appliance, homeware and professional service stores, most of the time you don't need to go anywhere else. Be wary of prices though, as occasionally, better deals are found elsewhere. In terms of just heading out for dinner or a coffee, it's an ideal place to be.

Sylvia Park Hoyts is one of my fav movie places to meet people from all over town, because it's so…read moreconvenient to get to, either via train, bus or car as it's right next to the Southern Motorway. (and you don't need to grapple with city traffic) The staff here are always incredible, the cinemas are clean and comfy, and they have special prices if you go in the morning or on Tuesday. (think it's about $11) Their La Premiere seats are awesome too if you have a special occasion to splurge out on. I was here last Sunday when our mini earthquake hit, and the building is so strong, I honestly thought it was just the surround sound system making the seats move. haha If you want to watch a movie in a safe, clean and welcoming environment, go here!

Hoyts Sylvia Park has been my regular movie theatre for over five years now. By far the most…read moresuperior theatre in the South/East Auckland areas, its smack bang in the middle of Auckland AND the largest shopping centre in the country, making it easy to get to whereever you are in the city. While people may see this as an negative, I love that this cinema gets busy. I'm the sort of person that would rather see a movie in a full theatre that with a few people, so Sylvia always does the trick. The seats in the theatres are comfortable, there's enough leg room for a basketball player and the arm rests are movable if you're into that sort of thing. I find its always worth it to pay a little extra for the Xtreme Screen because those regular sized screen just don't cut it anymore (maybe Chris Rock was right about women not being able to back in lifestyle...). The La Premiere seats at Sylvia are great too and while its on the pricey side its a great and very comfy way to make that date or girls night out a little more special (...okay, he was right). Sylvia Park also hosts a lot of the midnight screenings for some films and those usually go off without a hitch. Do yourself a favour and book your tickets online or purchase them early from the cinema to avoid the inevitable long queue that will await you!

If you're not into hanging around noisy, popcorn-strewn foyers that seem to be more about spacies…read morethan film, you've probably already started seeking out the suburban cinema experience. Monterey is really cinema as it should be. It has a distinctive suburban feel, but not in the run-down way. It's new and tastefully furnished, with a classy café area featuring bevelled mirrors, bookshelves, and lovely vintage crockery. It has several cinemas, each of them with a small number of comfy seats and tiny screens (at least by today's standards). I like best because you never feel like the film is an assault on your senses; I can walk out of the movie and not be dazed by how bright and quiet the real world is.

This cosy cinema, tucked away in Howick, East Auckland, has become an institution for those in and…read morearound the area. The decor and interiors are very vintage chic, as are the movie snacks - they offer Phoenix drinks and even roll & dip all their own ice creams by hand! The cinema also doubles as a cafe, with many coming in extra early for their movies to grab nibbles (Try the carrot cake warmed slightly - it's so darn good) and enjoy the coffee. Monterey has five relatively small screens, four of which seat around 45 and the largest screen seating 100. Each seat is large and luxurious, with even the front row placed back far enough to ensure nobody has to crook their neck in order to see properly. The feeling is boutique, but the prices are incredibly reasonable. You can get tickets for around $10 depending on the night or time of day. There's plenty of special events and perks for club members. Furthermore, the selections of movies are fantastic - with a great mix of big budget and indie fare. Overall, It's a very enjoyable place to view a movie, one which I highly recommend even if you're not a local.

Event Cinemas is Manukau has a prime location of being right in the mall, so if you're feeling like…read morecatching a flick after lunch at the food court, it's perfect. It's well put together with split levels for ticket buying and cinema-going. While there's tonnes of space in the main foyer, it can be a tight squeeze upstairs waiting to get into your cinema as there'e minimal waiting space. The cinemas themselves having comfy seats and are well-spaced out, the only thing about Events is the lack of Xtreme Screen in comparison to Hoyts. Sizes aside, the cinemas are good quality. There are snack kiosks just outside the cinema doors now so if you'e craving something during the film it saves running downstairs and waiting in line- so handy! What draws me back to Events every single time will be that the food is much cheaper than other joints like Hoyts who don't actually display their prices. That AND they do my favourite choc top with nuts, always so delicious!! I'd recommended Events to family solely for this reason because you get more bang out of your buck with the combos here.

It's been a while since we last visited this cinema complex. There seems to be so much space here…read more You also have the Gaming Arcade to kill time until your movie starts, and plenty of refreshment options available too. We found the seats comfortable and spacious, which was welcome during a 2 hour plus movie. The theatre itself was clean and tidy too. Although the cinema is upstairs, there is a lift for wheelchair access. I would ring prior to visiting to ensure someone is on hand for assistance.

I love this cinema. I think my love for it comes from a combination of reasons…read more 1. Because it's right next to a food court so it's super easy to have a feed before seeing the movie. 2. Because the self serve kiosks are so quick and easy - queues are so 2005. 3. There are bathrooms both upstairs and downstairs for your convenience. 4. There are always lots of movies playing and lots of different time slots. 5. There's a gaming area where you can test out your basketball shots and your car racing skills before the movie. 6. The food deals are really good. I always grab myself a pop'n'coke combo. 7.The chairs are super comfy! 8. CHEAP TUESDAYS - $10 movies. 9. The staff are friendly 10. The picture and sound quality is perfection. I love seeing movies and my boyfriend and I see almost every movie that comes out. Of all the cinemas on the shore this one comes out clearly on top. Love it.

'Saturday night at the movies, who cares what picture you see'. Well, at Albany Cinemas it really…read moredoesn't matter if the movies are good or not because the cinema itself it so good. The chairs are comfy, the food's good and the screens are awesome. We go here for family outings every now and again and it works out so well because there's loads of parking and a food hall for everyone to have their different choices. The 3D cinemas here are so good. We saw The Hobbit here and I was blown away by the quality. They also have a great system when you can book online or otherwise book at the self service kiosks when you get there. It definitely saves a whole lot of time before the movie and means you can relax even before you get into the theatre. This gets a thumbs up from me.

Great cinema and the cafe food is amazing, especially the fish & chips! Would definitely recommend.read more

Unequivocally my FAVOURITE venue in Auckland! There is something quite magical about this place…read more From the beautifully themed entrance lobby to the star covered ceiling in the theatre itself the Civic never fails to impress. Their line up of musicals, orchestral performances, theatre and Opera are the best of the best too! Close to public transport and parking close by it is an easy place to get to as well which is a convenient bonus

I have a special bond with the Civic, when I was a kid my grandmother worked there and I would…read moreoften get to go into the Civic and the Wintergarden theatres and run through the back halls and rooms, this was during the days of the St James theatre when no-one had even heard of a multiplex. I've been up to the top and seen the stars, I've played with the glowing eyed lions. In part I think the bond I have with the Civic is a little more intense but no less symbolic then the one the rest of Auckland has with it. The Civic is possibly more iconic than the Auckland Town Hall and it seems to sit astride the heart of the Auckland CBD. Inside the Civic, the entrance hall remains mostly unchanged with the exception of the candy bar that used to sell Tangy Fruits, with a glass of wine or beer being the order of the day. Yes folks the Civic ascended from its cinema roots and matured to be an actual Theatre. In all its changes, its not lost its Grandiose 1940's charm and while the seats are still packed in there, you can sit in the Civic and know you're part of Auckland's long history with the Arts. Wellington is still considered the cultural capital of New Zealand, but its got competition here.

On a rainy day in Auckland, I decided to take advantage of the weather and see a movie -…read moreOppenheimer. The biggest cinema for mainstream movies is Event Cinemas, part of a large commercial complex right in the heart of CBD. Talking with people, this area still hasn't fully recovered since the pandemic, which speaks to why the complex feels relatively empty and quiet. I even had difficulty finding the main entrance as most of the door area that used to have restaurants and bars are empty and looked closed. Entering off the street and going down, only to go up massive escalators inside, I finally found what I was looking for. The theatres are on multiple floors depending on the style of screen (traditional, IMAX, etc.). The ticket lobby and main concession stand is on the third level. Tickets can be purchased off touch screens in the lobby, where you choose your desired seat. Most theatres have recliners or even full day beds, prices depend on time and type of seat. After purchasing my ticket, I went up another level where usually a ticket taker would be, but the table was empty and remained so. I found it odd there was no one checking - I guess trust (or cameras) were ensuring you are a paying customer. There are bars and concession stands in other areas but all were closed on my visit; maybe only peak time they're open. The screen itself was great quality; seats comfortable, prices reasonable for modern movies, and everything was clean. I was happy taking a break from the city for a few hours and would see a movie here again.

While on vacation decided to see a couple of movies with my daughter on the rainy days. The…read morecinemas here are different than back home in the USA. There are multiple floors and on each is a different set of theaters. The rooms are not very big, and beware the previews are about 30min long! Also, the bathroom is not nearby, so make sure to use it before entering the movie. There are multiple fast food restaurants on the first floor. Overall a good place to come on a rainy day.

This Event Cinema is my favourite because it is so quiet. I often wonder if they make any money out…read moreof this cinema at all, but I'm not complaining. Often the candy bar is a one man operation and they even rip your tickets because 80% of the time there is no dedicated staff member to do this. It is obvious that the skeletal staffing is due to the lack of movie goers at this cinema but we can rip our own tickets and use the lights on our phones to find our own seats. This cinema is huge, there is a lot of seating, big couches around and a time out games arcade. I have only seen this area packed a few times and there is also a bar here. These cinemas also do not have stadium seating so you often feel like you are sitting on the floor which I don't mind, to make up for it there is quite possibly 1.5m of leg room in front of you. One other good thing is you can get your parking validated so it only costs $6 for a maximum of 4 hours, not even The Hobbit was that long so you would be safe. The parking is just of Davis Crescent.

Even on bargain Tuesday's (really, who actually goes to the cinema any other night of the week?)…read morewhen there's a newly released blockbuster on, this place is quiet. It makes taking my "can't we just wait 'til the DVD" whining partner out to watch a film a much more enjoyable experience. The Broadway bar is an absolute winner as well. AND you can take alcoholic beverages and cups of coffee into the movie with you! It's fantastic. The staff are always friendly and happy to help and the place is vast but easy to navigate. I really wouldn't go to the cinema anywhere else; comfortable seats, big screens and good choice of popcorn and snacks at the counter. Tip: If you go after 6pm, you can park for free a few minutes walk away at the bottom of Parnell Road.

A local, independent cinema in the Auckland suburb of Balmoral. You'll find it situated on…read moreDominion Road, just past the Balmoral Road intersection, and by all the amazing (and cheap) chinese restaurants. It doesn't look much from the outside (my flatmate did in fact wonder what kind of movies were shown there) but walk inside to find a beautiful foyer with chandeliers. A range of snacks are on offer, such as Movenpick ice creams and you can even enjoy a wine with your movie if you so desire. This one cinema wonder certainly delivers on its luxurious surroundings. The plush purple chairs are very comfortable, while the curtain across the screen is a sign of a bygone era. It is a nice change from the cinema mulitplexes that we have become so accustomed to. While the ticket prices haven't gone back to $5, there is still a Tuesday night special (adults $10.50). So make a night of it, perhaps visit a restaurant across the road for some homemade dumplings and then make your way to the cinema for a movie. Thank me later for that great idea.

I'm strong believer that whoever redeveloped the Capitol Cinema was a bit of a romantic. From the…read moremoment you enter the cinema and dodge the entrance to where people are trying to scale ridiculous height, you begin to climb the stairs up to a different time. They have captured the essence so well of what it was like to go to the cinema, not from my childhood days but possibly my parents as well. The kiosk where you can pick up your treats (which I relatively well priced compared to the big mulitplex cinemas) has welcoming staff and you feel like they're genuinely interested in the movies being played. The seating is comfortable, not a great amount of leg room for someone over six foot, but enough to get through a movie without having to fall into some crazy yoga position. The quality of the screens and audio are as good as you would find in any "new" cinema. Overall, if you want to take a loved one for a romantic night out to the cinema, this is the place. Oh and either before or after you enjoy your time at The Capitol, I recommend you fill up on dumplings across the road at New Flavour.