Past Event15 Feb - 17 Oct 2024

The Civic Tours

No longer available

The Civic

Special Events

About the Event
Tickets & Times

Step inside a world of theatrical and architectural wonder and discover the secrets of The Civic!

Warm with nostalgia, The Civic Tours take visitors on a journey that spans almost one hundred years, from the venue’s inception in the late 1920s and heyday in the 1930s and 40s, bustling with showgirls, cabaret acts, and celebrities, through to the 1990s where the venue’s future lay in the balance before its glorious restoration to the iconic venue that breathes life into the heart of Auckland today.

Join our entertaining and knowledgeable tour guides as they take you on a journey through the last remaining 'atmospheric' theatre in the southern hemisphere, capture unique photographs and uncover the incredible history that brings this amazing venue to life.

Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation, and accreditation is recognition of a high-quality tourism business. It’s awarded only after our strong demonstration of performance and achievements in four key areas of the Qualmark criteria: Economic, Social and People, Environment and Culture, and Health, Safety and Wellness.

Key Information

60 - 75 min walking tour
Children aged 14 and under must be accompanied by a caregiver who attends the event with the child.

A good level of mobility required

On The Civic Tour you will climb around 300 steps as you move throughout foyers and spaces. While there are railings and a number of rests throughout the tour when the guide shares our stories, you will not have the opportunity to sit for any long period of time during the tour.

Arrival Time

Please meet in the front foyer of The Civic – 15 minutes prior to the tour e.g. if the tour starts 10.00 am, please arrive at 9.45 am.

Additional Information

Due to the limited capacity of 18 people per tour, all patrons must have a ticket. This small group size means you have plenty of time ask your guide questions, take photographs and get the best views.

Please note: we stage lots of live performances throughout the year, so tour routes may vary when a show is in season.

Explore The Civic like never before

Tom O'Brien (The Civic's founder's great grandson) taking a tour of the iconic venue.

"What an enlightening tour – The guide’s enthusiasm, knowledge, and clear love of the Civic was evident right throughout – they were also entertaining in their own right – we can’t recommend this highly enough!”

Tour Patron