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Auckland Harbour Bridge

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New Zealand

Travel to Auckland

Flying to Auckland

Flights to Auckland are available with a number of different airlines, including Qantas, British Airways, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, and Malaysian Airlines. The peak summer season is between December and March so if you’re after cheap flights to Auckland, it’s best to fly outside this period. Shoulder season flights to Auckland in Novemeber and April are best to consider for cheap flights to Auckland.

Flight times: 

From London - 24 to 26 hours; New York - 20 hours; Los Angeles -13 hours; Toronto -19 hours; Sydney - 3 hours.

Travel by road

Summary:

Driving in New Zealand is easy and inexpensive. Although Auckland is one of the busiest areas, in terms of traffic, it is still relatively quiet by European standards.

A valid national driving licence is all that is required for driving in New Zealand for up to 12 months. The legal driving age is 18 years. Insurance is not mandatory but is recommended. Traffic drives on the left. Speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on open roads, 50kph (31mph) in urban areas and 20kph (12mph) in the vicinity of schools and stopped school buses.

The AA (tel: 0800 500 222; www.aa.co.nz) is the major motoring organisation.

Emergency breakdown service:

AA (tel: 0800 500 222).

Routes:

SH1 north runs parallel to the east coast of North Island to Warkworth and then on to Bay of Islands, Northland Forest Park and Cape Reinga. SH1 south heads toward Hamilton and Wellington, which links with SH5 to Rotorua, SH29 to Taurangia, SH2 to Gisbourne, SH3 to New Plymouth (via the west coast and linking with Raglan or Waitomo), SH5 to Napier and SH4 to Wanganui.

Driving times:

From Rotorua - 2 hours 30 minutes; Bay of Islands - 3 hours; Wellington - 8 to 9 hours.

Coaches:

Auckland has good coach links with other major New Zealand towns and cities, as well as the more popular tourist areas.

The biggest coach service provider throughout New Zealand is InterCity (tel: (09) 583 5780; www.intercitycoach.co.nz), in conjunction with its partner, Newmans (tel: (09) 583 5780: www.newmanscoach.co.nz). Apart from these two major bus companies, there are smaller operators and shuttle bus companies. Go Kiwi Shuttles (tel: (07) 866 0336; www.go-kiwi.co.nz) runs to the Coromandel Peninsula and Rotorua, while Northliner Express (tel: (09) 583 5780; www.northliner.co.nz) travels to the Bay of Islands.

Travel by rail

Services:

Auckland Station, the largest underground diesel train station in the world, is in the Britomart Centre, a purpose-designed, combined train and local bus station in the old post office building opposite Queen Elizabeth II Square, at the harbour end of Queen Street.

Operators:

Tranz Scenic (tel: 0800 872 467, in New Zealand only or (04) 495 0775; www.tranzscenic.co.nz) operates New Zealand's rail service. Trains are efficient and reasonably priced but rare, operating more as a tourist service than a business or commuter network.

The only service, apart from infrequent local suburban commuter trains, is the daily early morning Overlander service to New Zealand's capital, Wellington, on the southern tip of North Island, as well as an overnight service from Sunday to Friday.

Journey times:

From Wellington - 12 hours.

Travel over water

Summary:

There are only two ways to get to New Zealand by water - as part of a round-the-world cruise or by crewing on somebody's yacht, and picking up a berth in South America or Australia. Most cruise ships call at Auckland Harbour in February, stopping for a couple of days before continuing on their way.

Auckland Harbour is located in central Auckland, on the Waitemata Harbour (opposite Queen Elizabeth II Square), and is New Zealand's maritime hub, providing shipping links to 160 ports in 73 countries. Ports of Auckland (tel: (09) 366 0055; www.poal.co.nz) owns and operates ports in the east and west coast of North Island, including Auckland Harbour.

The main passenger sectors are the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Queens Wharf and Princes Wharf, which stand alongside each other, off Quay Street, right at the heart of Auckland Harbour. Cruise liners call at the Overseas Passenger Terminal and Queens Wharf, where facilities are numerous. Since this was the focus of the America's Cup, the whole area is awash with smart restaurants, trendy pubs and other entertainment options.

Ferry services:

Operated by Fullers (tel: (09) 367 9111; www.fullers.co.nz), the ferries link the ferry terminal on Quay Street with some of the further suburbs, such as Devonport, Bayswater, Birkenhead and Stanley Bay. Ferries operate daily. Tickets are available on board, at the terminals and in visitor centres.

Nearest port:

Auckland.

Transfer distance:

1.8km (1.1 miles).

Transfer time:

10 minutes.

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