Civic Theatre 🇳🇿

Step into Auckland's famous Civic Theatre, a landmark heritage venue that stands as New Zealand’s largest theatre and the largest surviving atmospheric cinema in Australasia. Originally opened in 1929 and meticulously restored following a major conservation project in the late 1990s, this historic venue hosts performing arts, live music, and cinema under management by Auckland Live. You should visit to experience its legendary atmospheric design, which cleverly uses lighting and interior architecture to give you the enchanting impression of sitting beneath an open night sky filled with twinkling stars.

As you explore, you will encounter an exotic Indian-inspired foyer adorned with seated Buddhas, twisted columns, and domed ceilings. Inside the main auditorium, you can admire a design that imitates a Moorish garden complete with turrets, minarets, spires, tiled roofs, and two life-sized panther statues flanking the stage on the proscenium arch. Below, you will find the historic Wintergarden ballroom, an underground space famous for entertaining American soldiers during World War II with visits from notable figures like Bob Hope and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Film buffs will also recognize these grand interiors from Peter Jackson’s 2005 movie King Kong.

What to see at Civic Theatre

• The atmospheric ceiling that creates the illusion of an open starry night sky
• An Indian-inspired foyer featuring seated Buddhas and domed ceilings
• Moorish garden auditorium styling with turrets, minarets, and panther statues
• The underground Wintergarden ballroom, a historic World War II entertainment center
• Interiors featured in Peter Jackson's 2005 King Kong remake

Visiting tips

Look closely at the proscenium arch inside the main auditorium to view the two life-sized panther statues flanking the stage.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: During scheduled events

How to get there & what’s nearby

Civic Theatre is easy to reach on Auckland’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira and Auckland Zoo. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Auckland travel guide.