Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - 7.5 Hours in AKL

I will be transiting through AKL on NZ and have a 7.5 hour connection (11am-6:45pm). What recommendations do everyone have to do during that time? I have never been to AKL before.

Is the bus the most reasonable way to get into the city centre?

Will you be through checked onto your connecting flight?

If you are you could head into the city for around 4hours. Which is enough time to have lunch at the water front.

Just beware if taking the bus, you will be returning during peak hour traffic. Which could take the bus around 60minutes to get back to the airport if you left town after 3.30pm.

Will you be through checked onto your connecting flight?

If you are you could head into the city for around 4hours. Which is enough time to have lunch at the water front.

Just beware if taking the bus, you will be returning during peak hour traffic. Which could take the bus around 60minutes to get back to the airport if you left town after 3.30pm.

Yes, I'll be checked through (HKG-AKL-PPT)

If I don't take the bus, is there any other cheap way to get to/from the airport?

Make sure it's not a day when the Rugby World Cup is on. If you get caught in the traffic to or from the stadium then you may not make it back for your connection. Do you have access to the Koru Lounge (NZ*G)?

Make sure it's not a day when the Rugby World Cup is on. If you get caught in the traffic to or from the stadium then you may not make it back for your connection. Do you have access to the Koru Lounge (NZ*G)?

Yes, I have lounge access, but I've done lots of same-day city tours like this before, so I'd like to at least see something of the city, rather than just the lounge. But I'd still like a shower once I get back to AKL;

My flight is in January, so long past the RWC

If I don't take the bus, is there any other cheap way to get to/from the airport?

Not really, I think the bus is about $21 return. Auckland airport is very much designed for cars than anything else.

A tax will set you back around $60-80oneway

If traffic is a problem around my departure time, wikitravel offers an alternative route. How feasible is it?

'Other bus services run to the suburbs. For the city centre, a convenient option is bus 380 to Puhinui from where suburban trains connect to Britomart station in the city centre. This method will cost $3.40 + $5 = $8.40 to the city centre. Total time approx 12+33=45 min. Ask for the bus stop at the infocentre. It is very close to the exit from International, the same stop that the airbus uses.' I guess I could buy a 14$ daypass (Auckland Discovery Pass) and have it cover it right?

I have similar issue: 6:15 hours at AKL, arriving NZ104 SYD-AKL at 16:30 and connect to LAX on NZ2 at 22:45. Is there anything I can do apart from staying at the lounge? it is a Wednesday at December, and whilst I have been AKL a number of times I don't want to get stuck at airport.

If traffic is a problem around my departure time, wikitravel offers an alternative route. How feasible is it?

'Other bus services run to the suburbs. For the city centre, a convenient option is bus 380 to Puhinui from where suburban trains connect to Britomart station in the city centre. This method will cost $3.40 + $5 = $8.40 to the city centre. Total time approx 12+33=45 min. Ask for the bus stop at the infocentre. It is very close to the exit from International, the same stop that the airbus uses.' I guess I could buy a 14$ daypass (Auckland Discovery Pass) and have it cover it right?

I would stick with the bus both ways, its direct and more likely you to get to there than the trains.

The Bus route 380 only runs every 30minutes, trains are often late. Would be a huge chance the the bus/train would miss connect and end up causing alot of stress.

I don't think you can use the Discovery Pass on the Airbus Express service.