Western Springs Stadium is a pivotal point of Auckland's history. Before Vector arena was built,…read morebasically all the big concerts New Zealand had were held at Western Springs. I still remember being about 10 years old and sitting on my back deck in Mt Eden listening to Robbie Williams belt his latest tunes. While it's a bit depressing to think about Robbie now, this was one of the huge bonuses about concerts being held at Springs - all the locals could hear the music for free! Though now most of the big acts go straight to Vector arena, every now and again some still play in the amazingly huge outdoor stadium at Western Springs. In 2011 I was lucky enough to attend the Foo Fighters concert at Western Springs, and it was PHENOMENAL. The sound was amazing, and despite being way up the back of the stadium, you still felt you were part of the action and could see everything. It was my first outdoor concert and so far it's my favourite concert yet - and it's down to, in large part, the stadium itself. If you ever get the chance to go to a concert at Springs, make it a priority and get your ass there - you won't regret it. Tip: Western Springs Stadium is also a Speedway so if you're in to car racing, this is the place for you.

I have been coming here since 1986 and have always been impressed with this natural venue. And…read morerecently they have upgraded the seating along the back and have done a wonderful job. Great venue!

Vector is the premier destination for events in Auckland. I've been here for basketball games,…read moreconcerts and even black tie dinners. It's one of those multipurpose venues that does a great job of catering to all situations. I'm not sure on exact numbers are but for a sports game I think capacity is around 8000 and a sit down dinner closer to 1500. Also, it's useful to note that they also have a smaller music venue called The Tuning Fork. Here they host less mainstream concerts feat. up and coming artists. Acoustically, it's a great space and well worth checking out if the opportunity arises!

Great venue. I came here for the first time to see Walking with Dinosaurs (I don't get out much…read moreapparently). Awesome event and easy to get to by foot or by public transport. Great seating and venue layout. Would totally recommend to anyone!

For me Eden Park definitely fits in the 'Woohoo! As good as it gets!' category!…read more So many great memories....Dad and I used to go here most Fridays when I was growing up. He had season tickets by the tunnel, right in the thick of the action, back when the Blues used to win.... Ol' Eden Park has come a long way since then. Post World Cup refurb, it's now a world class stadium that holds up to 50,000 people and has seen new events brought to Auckland, such as the Auckland Nines. I would argue that it's now the best stadium in NZ, but I may be biased.

The lights are blinding! Literally they are pointed right at you on both sides of the field I don't…read moreknow how anybody can stand sitting there for long. The lights need to be up higher and come down so that they aren't in your eyes. Nice food service options.

Well at least it's not called Ericsson Stadium anymore. Of course now it's "home of The Warriors"…read more I don't really care too much for sport but have been here many times over the years for concerts, including of course the now sadly defunct Big Day Out. We loved to hate The Supertop so now we miss those sweaty times in The Boiler Room, never to be had again. My brother actually used to work here as the groundsman so had his 21st birthday party in the function rooms. Fun times. I came here during high school for Athletics Days. Less fun times. Still, Mt Smart Stadium is one of those places in Auckland that just ARE - and despite its generic nothing special-ness, it's a part of our city and we are fond of it. Well I am anyway.

We were at the Foo fighters last last night. First off could not get a drink and we were there 40…read moreminutes before hand. Four tills to serve a whole stand is unbelievable. The sound was terrible also and out of sync could not make out what Grohl was saying half the time. I would recommend not going to a concert here ever!. Because I live near the stadium I will try to see the warriors I hope that experience is better.

Oh god where to begin. I don't doubt this place is great for netball but it SUCKS badly as a music…read morevenue. I've had to come here twice; the first time was the all round disappointment that was The Cult but that was only a taster of how shit things could really get. The Cult had general admission standing room and allocated seating up the sides. Except when you got there it was actually a free for all so you got whatever seat you could find. Then most recently I saw Blondie here who blew my mind and restored my faith that you can indeed be painfully achingly cool even 35 years on from your heydey. And for the haters who didn't enjoy it; heard of irony? For this gig the whole thing was seated and what this meant was cheap plastic chairs with numbers sellotaped on them (I kid you not) lined up in "rows" that people just moved out of the way. There was standing in the aisles, even some obnoxious child smoking and barely any security to speak of. Even without the smoking it would have been a fire hazard. OSH anyone? The queue for the bar was ridiculous and the whole set-up was a frickin debacle that should never be repeated. It gets better. I received an email from Trusts Stadium the following week requesting feedback that included a shitload of questions on everything from the food to the toilets. I attacked it with fervent vigour, happy that I would get to tell them everything they were doing wrong. Ten minutes later I clicked on Submit..... and nothing. I don't know if it timed out, I don't know if it went through and I've heard nothing from them since. Please please please music promoters stop using this place for concerts!

North Harbour Stadium Oval played host to the Tuborg Sounds On this past weekend, and I had the…read morebest NZ music outdoor concert in a long time. Situated at North Harbour Stadium, in the oval next door is where one would usually watch a game of cricket, on this weekend night, a transformation took place as crowds filled in to watch top NZ musical stars perform for 11 hours. I loved the designated area that was assigned for the food vendors, the section for the thrill rides, and that the masses of people attending the festival could be assured not a long wait as the stadium bathrooms catered well for the crowd. The kitchen/bar area was again easy to access, as it is also used for the same reason when the cricket is on show too. I think the oval at North Shore Stadium is just a really well planned and accessible venue. I hope to return for another event one day soon.

Commonly derided as a white elephant, North Harbour Stadium is one of those things that seemed like…read morea good idea back in the 90s when they were building it before they realised there probably weren't enough events to justify a 25,000-seat stadium this side of the bridge. Because of this, the stadium often sits unused looking a little bit unloved, and the local Harbour rugby team struggle to pull crowds given their inability to win a game. In spite of all this, I maintain Harbour is the best rugby stadium in the city simply because it is rectangular unlike Eden Park which is kind of square in an attempt to fit a cricket oval in. Because of this there aint a bad view in the house, and you're nice and close to the action. Good atmosphere when full - the Samoa vs South Africa World Cup game I attended here attested to that - what a memory! A decent open air concert venue too - saw The Who here in 2009 and that's quite a story. Managed to get into the VIP area for free with a mate by simply helping a roadie carry some security fencing into the stadium - pretty sweet night!

Came here for the Chinese New Year event. The parking here is terrible, we had such a hard time…read morefinding a parking spot. So be warned when coming here for a very big event come early to get a spot! There was so many delicious foods and drinks around the venue. However no food or drink was allowed inside the arena. This was very disappointing. Otherwise enjoyed the event but parking was a hassle.

The Trusts Stadium is a great place to go to as there is always so much going on there. Netball…read moregames, business dinners, a cafe that sells freshly made sandwiches and of course the gym. The Trusts Stadium is perfect as it has a track great for those training for marathons or just out to run for some general fitness. I love walking to the trusts just to see what's going on especially the run and walk series, great fun for the family. After a run just head in through gate B to the cafe for some goodies, I mean after a run one can eat hot chips without feeling too guilty. After all you need some food after exercise, right!

Despite my distaste at their $5 parking fee (ended up parking on the road instead), I enjoyed…read moreattending a Breakers game here last night. The staff were super friendly and helpful, and although the place is a bit rough around the edges, it's still a good venue for this kind of affair. Loads of room, good seating arrangements that aren't too far from the court despite being in what my Dad calls 'the nosebleed section', an unusual but workable system for the café, and generally good vibes, it's got a lot going for it!

The Horse and Trap has been around for as long as I can remember. As a Mt Eden local, I still…read morerecall my parents leaving my siblings and I with babysitters while they went off for a night at The Horse and Trap. Since turning eighteen I've frequented the bar on a few occasions, and to be honest I was never overly impressed by it. Offering the usual beers and wines, bar food and casual bar atmosphere, there was nothing particularly distinctive or unique about my experiences at The Horse and Trap until recently. Last Saturday my friend held her 21st party in the function room downstairs of The Horse and Trap. And, in my opinion, this area is far cooler than the main bar upstairs. The room was plenty big enough to have a decent dance floor as well as some indoor seating and tables for presents and cake, there was a full bar with subsidized drinks (including house spirits), and the outdoor area was brilliant. Lots of tables, a TV perfect for playing photo slideshows (though on other days I imagine it would be used for rugby games and such) and fairy lights and lanterns hanging overhead - the set up was perfect. If anyone is looking for a venue for their 21st, work party, or other such function definitely check out the downstairs area of The Horse and Trap! Bonus: The Horse and Trap is located down the Symonds St end of Mt Eden so is really close to town - a nice cheap taxi ride is a huge plus!

Quiz night on Tuesdays is the perfect excuse to try out the Horse and Trap. Rigsy is a hoot on the…read moremike. And the bar food is well above average. Pizzas, burgers and salads mingle with steaks and pies on the menu and sit even better upon the tongue. Nothing original, but it's all done well. Just what one hopes for at a local. All that's left to achieve is that elusive 1st place...