The Cheap Way to Get from Auckland Airport to the City

The direct SkyDrive bus from Auckland Airport to the CBD costs NZD20 (~AU$18.50) and departs every 30 minutes. You could also book a direct InterCity coach for as little as $10, or $16 in Gold Class… but these only run once or twice per day.

As a cheaper alternative, you can catch a bus and train downtown in New Zealand’s largest city for just $6.

How to get from Auckland Airport to CBD with public transport

Auckland Transport’s AirportLink bus runs every 10 minutes between both the domestic and international terminals of Auckland Airport and Puhinui train station. The drive from the airport to Puhinui only takes around 15 minutes, and the electric bus has dedicated luggage racks.

From Puhinui, you can catch a train straight to Britomart – right in the centre of town. The same also works in reverse.

As an alternative, you could catch the 38 bus from Auckland Airport to Onehunga, then take a train from Onehunga station to Britomart. The bus route 38 runs every 15-20 minutes.

With either of these bus/train options, the regular public transport fare is just NZD6 (~AU$5.50).

As an added bonus, you can now tap on and off Auckland buses and trains using contactless payment methods, including credit cards and Apple Pay.

Alternatively, you could pay with an AT HOP card. There’s an AT HOP card vending machine next to the AirportLink bus stop outside the domestic terminal. You can also top up your HOP card at the Home Convenience store in the international arrivals area, or at the newsagent at the far end of the domestic terminal near the regional departure gates.

Unfortunately, trains only run between around 5.30am and 10.30pm on most days. So if you’re arriving late at night, or departing early in the morning, this might not be an option.

Catching a taxi or shuttle from Auckland Airport

Of course, there are also plenty of taxis waiting outside both airport terminals. Fares range between around NZD62-100 (~AU$58-93) each way. Uber is also available and has a dedicated pick-up zone.

As a cheaper option, you could use the Super Shuttle service to get where you need to go in Auckland. This is a shared van service that might make some extra stops along the way, but is usually cheaper than using a taxi.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.