Auckland Airport to city by bus & train

[AustraliaPoochie]

Don't think the NZ public transport half fare system will be back.
Now the only way, is travel off peak in some cities and pay 90% of the fare, but this must be with the pre paid card as per each city, Hop for Auckland, Snapper for Wellingtoon etc.
But from AKL to Puhinui, then train from there is the best, not cheap though, ...
Bus all the way from AKL airport to the city, does entail 3/4 changes of buses, AKL airport to Mangere, and then something to Ellerlsie then the 70 to city.
I believe the Take Home at AKL airport still sells the Hop, but not sure what will happen when credit cards/debit cards can be used on public transport in NZ.
Each time we use most Aust issued cards, there is a fee, it will zap quite an amount if we have to tap the card many times per day in AKL/WLG/CHC/ZQN instead of their "former" prepaid public transport cards.
Not sure that there is a Kiwi bank that will allow an account to be opened by Aussies, not moving to NZ, that is.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

So, just noticed, Auckland dom airport terminal, has a HOP card machine to buy and top up Hop.
But for the Auckland int airport terminal, its still having to go Take Home food outlet.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If anyone reads this and wants the Skydrive AKL Skycity pick up location, its on the other side, ie, opposite of the Skycity hotel checkin, directly behind the hotel, right under Auckland Skytower.
The curved car park out the front of the Skycity, is for car and taxi drop off, but at the back of the hotel, is a lot of bus bays, not only Skydrive, but also Kiwi Experience buses that cross the North Island.
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The Skydrive website, lists trips from the city on the first line, with times, and on the 2nd line, its from the airport to the city, and alternates so.
When I first saw the website, I couldn't see trips from the airport to the city.
If your trips are during the day, maybe get the bus to Puhinui, but evenings or nights, till last, Skydrive is the one to go for.
After that, its $$$ Supershuttle, or the Novotel/Pullman Auckland Airport, if you won lotto.

 

[serfty]

Used it last weekend ... sadly the trains were not operating and a replacement bus service was needed. "RBS' did the job but it took half hour extra each way.

 

[Myrna]

On the weekend we flew from WLG to AKL with Jetstar. We took the non stop SkyDrive bus from AKL domestic terminal to their city terminal (opposite the Sky Tower). It was quite an eventful trip! As the bus headed onto the highway it shook and swayed from side to side for about a minute. Then it was OK, and after 5 mins it happened again. The driver said he would need to swing by the bus depot for another bus. We got on another bus (ready for us) and we made our way to the city without any further issue We walked 15 mins from the bus terminal to the Intercontinental.

The next day we decided to go to Auckland botanic gardens - we used the travel planner: a train and a bus, 1h 20m total. The train station Waitemata (Britomart) was right in front of the intercontinental and the E-W line finished at Manukau. From there bus no. 366 dropped us at the main entrance to the botanic gardens.

We discovered that the AIR bus to AKL airport could be taken either at the last station Manukau or the Puhinui station before - clearly marked on the train map. This afternoon after checking out of the Intercontinental we walked across to the Waitemata station, took the train to the last station Manukau on the E-W line, walked out to bus station and took the AIR bus to the AKL airport. There were more people getting on the AiR bus at Puhinui station. Not sure how much it would cost us - we used our credit and debut cards (with no FX fee) to tap / tag on and off for train and bus. It was a very smooth journey - it took around 1h 20m but we were not in a hurry. The trains were clean and the stations modern. Would recommend if staying near the Princes Wharf or Viaduct area in Auckland.

PS - it has been raining, heavily at times, the last 2 days in Auckland, so we could not do much sightseeing. It will be sunny tomorrow when we fly home ….

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Skydrive while ok, isn't as good as what was Skybus.
But 45mins still trumps 1hr15mins PT for the train and bus.
Have used both, (when NZ AKL still had Skybus)
Have used the train to and from N anukau and Puhinui too.
Cheap yes, but takes too long.