Alrighty Aucklanders, it’s back to school we go. We’re not talking about an old stuffy trigonometry class or anything that involves dissecting unfamiliar texts—we’re talking about classes and workshops dedicated to all things fun, frivolous and creative. Thankfully, for those wishing to sink their teeth into learning a new skill, a bunch of workshops have popped up all over Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with every kind of class imaginable, and Urban List has found the crème de la crème.
We’ve rounded up Auckland’s best workshops where you can learn a skill or two—from candles and cake to jewellery-making and rongoa Māori and everything in between (no school books, protractors or calculators in sight).
Blend Your Own Perfume
Miller Road | Ponsonby
In this 2.5 hour workshop you'll learn how to make a balanced fragrance, coming away with a 30mL bottle of eau de parfum to spritz to your heart's delight. RSVP to a pre-organised workshop or rustle up 10+ perfume-adoring friends and book a private workshop just for you. There are 60 notes to choose from including the likes of rose, jasmine, cotton candy, ambergris, green tea, vanilla, sandalwood, oud and tobacco. Pssst: Once you've whipped up your scent, reward yourself for your efforts with a scoop (or three) next door at Duck Island Ice Cream.
Nail All The Classic Kiwi Sweet Treats
Chelsea Sugar Factory | Birkenhead
Chelsea and Edmonds have come together to bring NZ home bakers Edmonds Baking School, with specially designed baking classes to suit kids, teens and adults. Run by trained patisserie chefs (including Urban List's own Vicki Young), learn how to recreate the iconic lamington from Chelsea Bay’s Sugar Cafe, or bake some Kiwi Christmas classics, like the fluffy pavlova roulade filled with whipped cream and summer fruits. There’s even Christmas sugar cookie decorating for the kids. Make it a trip over the bridge and book a spot at the iconic Chelsea Sugar factory (and don’t forget to check out the sugar mountain).
Bring Bold, Vibrant Flavours To A Bowl Near You
Elemental Cooking School | Parnell
Sachie Nomura and her team at Elemental Cooking School are bringing bold Asian flavours to Tāmaki. Learn from the team as they guide you through a culinary exploration of flavours and ingredients from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur.
Master your way through a variety of Asian cuisines—learn the secret of umami in Japanese cuisine, make your own yum cha, or create a three-course feast in Flavours of Vietnam, complete with a steaming bowl of chicken phở and deep-fried spring rolls. Enjoy your cooking with a sit-down dinner at the end of the class (and you don’t have to worry about dishes in this kitchen).
Whip Up A Horny Queer Candle
sybs | Various locations
Tāmaki Makaurau is blessed to be a city full of wonderful people doing epic things and Cam, the candle-maker behind sybs, is one of those people. Keep an eye on their socials for public workshop dates or book a private one for you and your squad (or work crew).
During the workshop, you’ll learn the art and science that goes into each step of creating a sensational candle, from blending a signature scent to the glorious finished product.
Do A Deep Dive Into Manga And More
Studio Orsay | Ground Floor/18 Stanley Street, Parnell, Auckland
Image credit: Studio Orsay | supplied
A puff of pastels, a slick of paint, and capturing a moment in pencilled monochrome are just some of the magical moments you’re likely to witness at Studio Orsay, a creative studio for all ages.
Open Tuesday through Thursday, as well as mornings through the weekend, their current offering includes sketching; painting workshops that cover composition, colour, and styles; learning how to wield pastels; and all things manga.
You may also like:
- Wander Through Auckland's Best Museums
- Mystify Your Senses With Odyssey Sensory Maze
- 8 Day Trips From Auckland For Adventures A-Plenty
Sew A Book
The Binding Studio | Waitakere Ranges
Image credit: The Binding Studio | Instagram
A handmade book is nothing short of a work of art. Even more so if you’ve made it yourself which is exactly what you can do at The Binding Studio, a magical, forested spot where books are brought to life. Private and group workshops are available with a host of bookish themes to choose from like sewn books, making book cloths, pamphlet stitching, rebinding book covers, and slipcases.
Make Like Katniss
Auckland Archery Club | One Tree Hill Domain, Auckland
At some point, everybody considers what they’d do in a zombie apocalypse. And if the pandemic was anything to go by, it’s a matter of when not if. So, if your survival hinges on your ability to wield a bow like Katniss then you better get your skills up to scratch and that’s where the Auckland Archery Club comes in. The volunteer-run organisation hosts give-it-a-go days as well as three-week beginners' workshops that’ll have you unleashing arrows like a pro in no time.
Fling Some Clay
The Clay Centre | 145 Marua Road, Ellerslie, Auckland
Image credit: The Clay Centre | Facebook
If you’re all about ceramics or have always wanted to learn, you’ll want to get amongst The Clay Centre. From hand-building and wheel throwing to glazing and decorating the centre offers morning and evening classes for beginners through to seasoned ceramicists. Not ready to commit to a weekly course? Their ‘Wheel & Wine’ and ‘Coffee & Clay’ day workshops are a great place to start.
We recommend subscribing to their newsletter so you’re the first to hear when a new class drops—these classes are super popular so you need to sign up as soon as tickets go live to get a spot. If you’re further north, we highly recommend checking out Studio Rūma in Orewa.
Paint, Carve And Write Your Way To Your Higher Self
Corban Estate Arts Centre | 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson, Auckland
True to its name, Corban Arts Estate has workshops dedicated to every artistic discipline you could dream up. Here you can fine-tune your paintbrush skills with their painting programmes that explore everything from landscapes and portraiture, right through to abstract.
Or, branch out and try your hand(s) at other media types—they have classes covering everything from clay to carving wood. Words more your artistic weapon of choice? Not to worry, they’ve got writing workshops here too.
Delve Into Ancient Knowledge
Rongoa Māori | Arataki Visitor Centre, 300 Scenic Drive, Oratia, Waitakere, Auckland
Titoki Education imparts wisdom about traditional Māori medicine expertise in a four-part Rongoa Māori workshop. The workshop series is run twice a year, in autumn and spring, in Tāmaki Makaurau and other locations around Aotearoa.
Part one covers how to identify particular plants and how to collect them in a way that honours tikanga (customs). Part two focuses on plant harvesting and rongoa preparation while caring for the ngahere (bush). Part three delves deeper into the areas looked at in part two and part four is all about the manufacture and storage of ointments, balms, creams, infusions and more.
Learn To Tie Some Knots (Of The Spicy Variety)
Auckland Rope Dojo | 56 Glenmall Place, Glen Eden, Auckland
Now this one probably isn't for everybody but if you're curious about spicing up your sex life, you might just like to head along to one of Auckland Rope Dojo's workshops. Specialising in shibari aka Japanese rope bondage, the crew offer 'Ultimate Beginner' classes as well as more complex stuff if you decide you want to delve a little deeper. Classes are $30 per couple, $20 per solo (attendees are not paired up) and are LGBTQI+, kink and polyam friendly.
Have Your Cake And Eat It Too
Neat Cakes | 218 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Image credit: Neat Cakes | Instagram
We’re pretty obsessed with Neat Cakes’ swoon-worthy vintage-style, plant-based cakes and we think you will be too, especially once you discover they offer cake decorating workshops. Yep, this is not a drill.
Each three-hour workshop takes place in the iconic Dominion Road bakery and covers the entire cake-decorating process, from colouring buttercream to how to ice a cake and piping techniques.
Everything you need to create a mouthwatering masterpiece is included (including a delicious 4” cake canvas in a flavour of your choice), a bangin’ Neat Cakes apron, and light refreshments. Gluten-free option available.
Paint A Masterpiece (Or Not)
Paintvine | Various
If you prefer to get creative with a bottle of vino, you'll very much approve of Paintvine. This raucous affair is a cult favourite for a reason, each week popping up all over the city in a bunch of stellar bars.
For the uninitiated, it's a relaxed painting and wine experience suitable for everyone, even if you've never picked up a paintbrush before. Each session is helmed by an expert artist who'll guide you through a two-hour step-by-step creation.
Unleash Your Creativity
Studio One Toi Tū | 1 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Studio One Toi Tū is your one-stop shop for Auckland workshops relating to anything creative. With the Maori name for art, ‘Toi’, as its namesake, you can be sure to find plenty of wonderful arts and crafts courses here in a range of disciplines.
We’re talking jewellery making, resin art, painting, clay work and everything in between. Not only that, but this iconic Ponsonby heritage building also houses regular exhibitions, to keep you well and truly inspired between workshops.
Fashion Some New Gems
Anvil Studios | 161 Point Chevalier Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland
If you’re a bit of a magpie and fancy the idea of sporting your very own bling, then enrolling in a workshop or two at Anvil Studios is most definitely in order.
This Point Chevalier workshop offers a range of contemporary jewellery classes for all skill sets and tackles tasks like making wax casts and setting bezels. Not only that, but they’ve also got workshop bench spaces available for short and long-term use, for you to prop yourself into as you create all the shiny goods that you can shake a stick at.
Morph Into A Green-Fingered Goddess
Babylon | 15 Turua Street, St Heliers, Auckland
Image credit: Babylon | Facebook
Aspiring plant parents will love getting their hands dirty in the interactive classes at Babylon, one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most gorgeous plant stores. Pull up a pew at their potting bench and spend an afternoon creating Japanese Kokodama, a glorious succulent bowl or how to grow a plant from a cutting.
The Babylon staff are so knowledgeable, it’s a total joy to learn from them and while you’ll definitely leave with new skills, you might also accidentally end up buying a bunch of beautiful new plant babies as well (but is that even a problem?).
Immerse In A Creative Mecca
Uxbridge Arts & Culture | 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick, Auckland
If your mind, body and soul or even your pantry, home or walls need a little sprucing up—look no further than Uxbridge. This mecca of all things creative offers the best Auckland workshops for every skill you could ever need in life.
From fine and applied arts and languages to performance skills, right through to cheese making and the art of the bonsai, sinking your teeth into the various workshops here will quite literally make you a Jack-of-all-trades.
Put A Ring On It
Workshop 6 | 106 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Fancy whipping up some bespoke jewels? Workshop6 offers an array of jewellery-making workshops as well as access to bench space and tools if you’ve already got the skills and just need a space to bring your creations to life. Classes range from one day to eight weeks and can cover ring-making, pendants, earrings, metalwork, roller printing and more.
Get Spiritual
Alembics | Online & various locations in-person
Image credit: Alembics | Facebook
Learn the craft of distillation with Alembics. You can learn the basic distillation techniques or flower essences (known as ‘hydro sol’), essential oils and spirits. They also offer spirit-specific masterclasses like Gin Immersion and Grain To Glass whisky.
All Alembics workshops are interactive, fun and hands-on so you’ll get a tonne of experience and inspiration, with great discounts available on copper stills if you want to continue the merriment at home. Private workshops are available too.
Do The Mahi, Get The Treats
Good! From Scratch | 376 Taiapa Road, Muriwai, Auckland
For a farm-to-table experience check out Good! From Scratch, a cooking workshop devised by renowned chef Michael Van Der Elzen. The day will include a tour of the kitchen gardens and citrus orchards, gathering fresh produce along the way, followed by a hands-on cooking class.
You’ll learn a bunch of tips and tricks which could include butchery skills, baking techniques and cooking methods, depending on the menu. At the end of the day, you’ll sit down and feast and come away with a bunch of recipes and some new foodie friends.
Make Like Thor
Sweet Axe Throwing Co. | 5 Galatos Street, Auckland CBD
There’s just about nothing sweeter than hurling an axe at the wall provided you can actually hit the target, that is. Luckily, the highly-trained axe-perts at Sweet Axe will have you schooled up in no time and if you really take a shine to it you can join their axe-throwing league and go head-to-head in singles and doubles tournaments like the badass viking that you are.
Create A Signature Scent For Your Home and A Custom Tea Blend Too
165 Parnell Road, Parnell
Image credit: Masala Bazaar | Supplied
Want to craft a custom gift? Masala Bazaar have launched their Masala Creation Station. Create your very own signature fragrance for your home, or a bespoke blend of herbal tea to take home with you. While you’re at the shop, browse the wares crafted by talented South Asian artisans (30 South Asian creatives, to be exact)—then make your own custom block-print bag to store your purchase. Yasss to being sustainable and stylish.
Have Your Swords At The Ready
Auckland Swords Club | Auckland Grammar School, 55 Mountain Road, Epsom, Auckland
If swords are more your weapon of choice (or you'd like them to be), you might like to take a gander at Auckland Swords Club ‘Intro To Fencing’. Led by a team of qualified coaches each course takes place over three months.
You’ll learn etiquette, the en garde position, how to move, attack and defence tactics as well as levelling up your fitness with the option to go on to compete in the open club evenings. So sign up, pop on fighting breeches (or some trackies if your breeches are in the wash) and relive your favourite pirate clashes, just maybe leave the rum and parrot at home.
Forge Your Own Kitchen Essentials
Mount Albert, Auckland
Image credit: The Solo Blacksmith | Instagram
What’s more satisfying than cooking a meal, than cooking a meal in a pan you’ve made yourself. Get your forge on with fun blacksmithing classes under the guidance of The Solo Blacksmith. Spend your day designing and hammering a pan from scratch, or forge your own knife (or axe, and hammer too). Lunch is provided by the Blacksmith himself, with delicious vegetarian eats cooked in his very own forged pans. They also have a fortnightly Spoon Club, where you can whittle away at a spoon and chip-chat with like-minded people—a great way to learn a new skill in a chill and friendly environment too.
Dabble In The Arts
Lake House Arts Centre | 37 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna, Auckland
A little bit of everything fun and creative goes on at Lake House Arts Centre. Over four terms a year, you’ll find a range of workshops that leave no creative discipline untouched. Practise your pencil skills with drawing workshops, embrace the national mother tongue and brush up on your Te Reo, or kit out your kitchen with your handmade ceramics—all courtesy of this art centre’s workshop.
They have rush-hour classes beginning at 5:45pm for those wanting to trade in red lights for resin crafts too, as well as workshops running during the weekday and weekends.
Do All The Things
Selwyn Community Education | 230 Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama
Now, if you’re after the motherload of all workshops; a hub with all manner of different courses and classes, Selwyn Community Education might just be a bit of you. With over 600 classes on offer, from arts, computer skills and budgeting, to languages, cooking, personal development and meditation, the hardest part will be deciding where to start. They’ve even got a programme that supports refugees with English and resettlement issues. Legit.
Looking for more ways to keep it fresh? Check out:
- What's On In Auckland This Weekend
- Auckland's Lushest Ice Cream And Gelato Shops
- 12 Career Ted Talks Worth Listening To
Main image credit: Chelsea Sugar Factory | Instagram.
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.