Tourism New Zealand's Trade Website

SECTION ONE: PAGE TWO

Road - self drive

Driving distances and times to and from the Auckland region

	Km	Miles	Approx Drive Time
Auckland - Paihia (Bay of Islands)	233	146	3 hours 20 minutes
Auckland - Whangarei	162	101	2 hours 20 minutes
Auckland - Hamilton	127	79	1 hour 55 minutes
Auckland - Taupo	278	173	4 hours
Auckland - Rotorua	237	148	3 hours 20 minutes
Auckland - Wellington	658	411	9 hours 25 minutes

These times are based on driving at 80 to 100 km (50 to 60 miles) per hour on open stretches of road, with a small allowance for traffic delays, petrol stops and refreshments.

Driving Routes

Three signposted touring routes depart from Auckland city:

Twin Coast Discovery: a circular, touring route that starts in Auckland and journeys around Northland’s west and east coasts. Read more in Section Two.

Thermal Explorer Highway: a signposted travelling route through the centre of the North Island into areas Waikato, Rotorua, Lake Taupo, Ruapehu, and finishing in the Hawke’s Bay. www.gnztr.com

Pacific Coast Highway: a touring route along some of the most spectacular coastal scenery New Zealand has to offer. From Auckland the route travels through the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Eastland and winds up in the Hawke’s Bay region. www.gnztr.com

Air Services

Auckland is serviced by Auckland International Airport www.auckland-airport.co.nz and also has large numbers of domestic flights linking it with the rest of the country.

Domestic scheduled services to and from Auckland are offered by airlines: Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Pacific Blue.

Services to Great Barrier Island are offered by:

• Fly My Sky www.flymysky.co.nz
• Great Barrier Airlines www.greatbarrierairlines.co.nz

Location of Auckland International Airport

Auckland International Airport is south of downtown Auckland and is a 30 to 60 minute drive depending on the time of day.

Approximate costs of travel from airport to the city

Airport to city by:

• Taxi - approximately $50 - $65
• Airport Shuttle - the cost varies depending on which company is used. As a guide the cost is first person $26, thereafter $6.00 per person.
• Air Bus operates a scheduled bus service from the International and Domestic terminals to Auckland city. Adults one way - $16.00. First departure is at 6.00am, then every 15 minutes until 10.00pm, 7 days a week, stopping at a variety of hotels, motels and backpacker establishments. www.airbus.co.nz

For more, view the Transport page on the Auckland Airport website.

Approximate flying times between domestic destinations

	Approx Flying Time
Auckland - Hamilton	35 minutes
Auckland - Rotorua	45 minutes
Auckland - Wellington	1 hour
Auckland - Queenstown	2 hours 50 minutes
Auckland - Christchurch	1 hour 20 minutes
Auckland - Kerikeri (Bay of Islands)	40 minutes

These are approximate flying times, including connection times, and will differ depending on the airline and type of aircraft used.

Scheduled Coach Services

Intercity Coachline Services offer a wide range of scheduled services throughout the North Island departing from Auckland. www.intercitycoach.co.nz

Other local companies operate services to and from this region. Visit the Transport section on www.newzealand.com or see this region's website www.aucklandnz.com.

Coach tours

Many coach tours depart from Auckland on short-break trips (one to three days) to destinations such as the Bay of Islands, Waitomo Caves and Rotorua.

Ferries around the inner harbour and to the islands

Fullers Auckland www.fullers.co.nz

Operates passenger ferry services linking the central city with the North Shore and many of the islands in the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf including:

• Waiheke Island
• Great Barrier Island (seasonally)
• Rangitoto

All ferries depart from the historic Auckland Ferry Buildings located on the waterfront in the downtown area.

Sealink www.sealink.co.nz

Based at Half Moon Bay, Pakuranga (30 minutes from Auckland city) this service offers vehicle and passenger services to Waiheke Island. Vehicle and passenger services also operate from downtown Auckland to Great Barrier Island.

360 Discovery www.360discovery.co.nz

Passenger services to Tiritiri Matangi Island sanctuary and also to Kawau Island depart from Auckland City (Dec - Easter) and from Sandspit, 1 hour north of Auckland (all year). Also operates services to the Coromandel Peninsula.

Rail Services

To and from Auckland

The Overlander - a daily service from Auckland to Wellington from September to April and part of July. At other times, the service operates Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Journey time: 11 hours www.tranzscenic.co.nz

Around Auckland

City Rail - operates regular services Monday to Saturday, with lines running south, east and west from the city centre.

Auckland City Buses

• Bus About Pass (Stagecoach) - all-day pass; great value for visitors to Auckland. www.stagecoach.co.nz
• The Link - a bus service running both ways in a circuit around the attractions of the inner city rim. www.stagecoach.co.nz
• Auckland Explorer Bus - hop on and hop off all day sightseeing and commentary.www.explorerbus.co.nz