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Transfer Options from Auckland Airport to City Centre

Auckland is a stunning major city located on New Zealand’s Northern Island. This beautiful place is famous for its two large harbours that are lined with plenty of bars and restaurants, iconic Sky Tower and outdoor activities such as Auckland Domain and the Wintergardens. Auckland truly has something for every culture and adventure lover.

There are two transfer options from Auckland airport to the city centre, taxi or bus. Taking a taxi shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes in light traffic and an Auckland airport taxi costs as little as €30 ($48 NZD) for two people. A cheaper but much slower option is the public bus, which costs just €3.50 ($5.40 NZD) but takes around 1 hour and 35 minutes to reach the city centre.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Auckland at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Taxi €30 30min 24/7
Bus €7 95min 06:17–16:32
Train €6 45min 04:30–00:40

How to get from Auckland airport to the city centre by taxi

Taking a private Auckland airport shuttle or taxi is a quick and comfortable way to get from Auckland airport to the city centre. This transfer option costs around €30 ($48 NZD) and will reach Auckland in just 30 minutes.

Taxi fare from Auckland airport to the city centre

The local taxi drivers at Auckland airport don’t offer a set-rate fee for the journey into the city centre. They usually charge a base fare of €21 ($35 NZD) which includes one person riding, then an additional fee per passenger of €6 ($8 NZD). There’s also an additional airport surcharge of €3 ($5 NZD) to be added on. So, depending on the number of people travelling, the average price for an Auckland airport shuttle is around €30 ($48 NZD) for two people.

Cost

€30 ($48 NZD)

Trip Duration

30 Min

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Auckland airport

Where do I get it from?

You can find the Auckland airport taxi ranks located outside of the arrivals area Door 8 in the International Terminal and outside Door 4 at the Domestic Terminal.

Convenience

The only direct way to get from Auckland airport to the city centre is to take an Auckland airport taxi or private shuttle. Not only will this transfer option get you and your travel companions to Auckland swiftly and safely, but you also won’t need to worry about leaving your personal belongings exposed to the public during your journey.

Editor’s Note

If you're travelling in a group, splitting the cost of a taxi will make the journey much more affordable but still extremely convenient and quick.

Useful Tips

Make sure you discuss how many people will be travelling before taking a taxi at Auckland airport so you know the final price.
There's a surcharge of €3 ($5 NZD) to be picked up at the airport and €2 ($3 NZD) to be dropped off by taxi.
Tipping your Auckland airport taxi driver isn't expected, but it's always appreciated if they have given an excellent service.

How to get from Auckland airport to the city centre by bus

There’s no direct bus line from Auckland airport to the city centre. Instead, you will need to take the 38 bus from the airport to Onehunga, and then take the 30 bus into the city centre of Auckland. The total journey time is around 1 hour and 25 minutes in light traffic.

How much is the bus from Auckland airport to the city centre?

A one-way ticket for the Auckland airport bus costs €3.50 ($5.40 NZD). You will need to purchase an AT HOP card with sufficient funds for this journey as the bus drivers don’t accept cash. You can find the automatic HOP machines in the airport.

Cost

€3.50 ($5.40 NZD)

Trip Duration

1 Hr 25 Min.

There's a waiting time of up to 20 minutes for the bus

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The bus route from Auckland airport to the city centre is available from 7:00 to 23:30.

Where do I get it from?

You can find the number 38 bus stop outside the Transport Hub building in both the International and Domestic Terminals. The number 30 bus leaves from Bust stop A at Onehunga.

Convenience

Taking the bus from Auckland airport to the city centre is by far the slowest and least convenient option. Not only do you have to make multiple bus changes, but you may also have to wait up to 20 minutes for each bus, adding lots of time to your journey.

Editor’s Note

As the Auckland airpot bus is quite inconvenient, if you're travelling in a group but on a strict budget, we strongly suggest splitting the cost and taking a taxi from Auckland airport to the city centre instead.

Useful Tips

There's limited storage space on the public buses, so travel light.
The bus drivers don't accept cash payments so be sure to top up an AT HOP card before riding.
The minimum amount you can top up an AT HOP card is €6 ($10 NZD).

How to get from Auckland airport to the city centre by train

There is no direct connection by train between Auckland International Airport and Auckland city centre. You will need to take the AirportLink bus to the Puhinui train station and then hop on a train from there. Both the Southern Line and Eastern Line run from Puhinui station. Once you get to Britomart station in downtown Auckland, you will need to walk to your final destination, or find an alternative mode of transport.

How much is the train from Auckland airport to the city centre?

A one-way ticket for the train journey from Puhinui Station to the city centre of Auckland costs €3 ($4.90 NZD) with an AT HOP card or €4.60 ($7.50 NZD) without an AT HOP card. You need to choose 3 zone ticket.

Cost

€3 ( $4.90 NZD)

Trip Duration

45 Min.

The AirportLink bus operates between Auckland Domestic and International Airport and Puhinui Station every 10-12 minutes.

Convenience
Safety
Value for money

The AirportLink bus operates from 04:30 to 00:40, 7 days a week. Trains run between 05:30 and 22:20 on weekdays with later services on Fridays and Saturdays.

Where do I get it from?

The AirportLink bus leaves from bus stop A at the international terminal and from bus stop B at the domestic terminal. Look out for the orange signs that indicate the stops.

Convenience

The train connection into central Auckland is fast and comfortable. However, the train doesn’t leave directly from the airport and you will have to take the AirportLink bus from the airport to Puhinui station in order to catch the first available train. This makes this option less comfortable if you’re travelling with lots of luggage or small children.

Editor’s Note

Customers will need an AT HOP Card to use the AirportLink bus. AT HOP cards are available at the Airport from AirGo Convenience (Domestic Terminal) or Take Home Convenience (International Terminal)

Useful Tips

At Puhinui Station you can catch a train to anywhere along the Southern Line and Eastern Line
If you are travelling on an Intercity service, you can also catch the AirportLink to the airport from Manukau where there is a connection point.
The minimum amount you can top up an AT HOP card is €6 ($10 NZD).

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

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  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

Read More

Frequently asked questions

What’s the distance from Auckland airport to the city centre?

Auckland airport is located 20 km from the city centre and there are three ways to get there; taxi, bus or train. Taking a private Auckland airport shuttle or taxi shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes in light traffic. Taking the public bus route, on the other hand, will take around 1 hour and 25 minutes as it has multiple changes. The train journey is 45 minutes, as you will need to first take the AirportLink bus to Puhinui station before jumping on a train.

What is the taxi fare from Auckland airport to the city?

The local Auckland airport taxi drivers don’t offer one set-rate fare for the journey into the city centre. Instead, they will charge you based on an incremented passenger system. The cost of the first passenger will be €21 ($35 NZD) and each additional passenger will be €6 ($8 NZD). There’s also an airpot surcharge of €3 ($5 NZD) that will be added to your fare. The average cost of a taxi for two people is €30 ($48 NZD). To secure a set-rate fare that you can rely on, we recommend booking your Auckland airport to the city centre transfer with Welcome Pickups.

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