Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Auckland Airport Surrounds for a day

I'm heading to Auckland for the day:
11:00 AM until 23:55 PM on Saturday 13th June 2009.

This won't be my first trip to Auckland and to be honest I'm not sure there is much more in the city for me to see. I've always liked the scenery arriving from the West, flying over the Western Coast and then the harbour and I think it might be nice to spend the day enjoying them. Are there any easy ways to access these parts from Auckland airport (assuming the weather is nice - I'll play this by ear)?
I'd like to avoid renting a car, particularly as I expect to be pretty tired arriving from a long-haul flight but I suspect it's the only way to do it - unless there is bicycle hire around?

I'm essentially looking visit the scenery more than anything, so if the harbour is a bad idea, I'm open to others. I'm expecting to need to have lunch at some point and perhaps a snooze too, so I probably can't get too far out into the wilds.

I've already begun looking at the following websites, but would appreciate some local information, and I haven't answered my question yet.
http://www.aucklandnz.com/
http://www.arc.govt.nz/

I presume by west coast you mean the Waitakere Ranges and nearby coastline (eg Piha Beach). There is no public transport so driving there is the only option other than expensive cab or taking your chances at hitchhiking.

The drive is nice and plenty of nice walks in the bush (mostly short or shortish).

Have you been to Waiheke Island (in Waitemata Harbour) before? A nice day trip and fully accessible by public transport (airport bus to the ferry terminal downtown, 30 minute ferry ride then bus on the island). Good wineries, crafts etc.

Alternatively for something different fly across to Great Barrier Island (northeast of the city)? A couple of small airlines fly there from AKL with a few flights a day each, fairly short flights. Remote community with rural quietness.

You could also see if any FTers will be in Auckland that day who want to meet up - lunch/dinner and show you around. Unfortunately I'll only be arriving back in Auckland late afternoon on 13th.

Thanks Kiwi Flyer,
I shall take a look into those, the islands sound good.
I was refering to the Waitakere Ranges and coastline but it may be best to save those for a longer trip when I'll hopefully have transport already arranged.

I noticed on the airbus a brochure for a day tour to Waitakere Ranges www.absolutetours.co.nz

Flymysky (Great Barrier) often has walk up deals at there desk in the domestic terminal.

Or if you have a spare $2000per half hour you can hire a DC3 to take you over the ranges up close. :cool:

What a nice surprise to find this thread!! :D

I've got two layovers at AKL in the next few months...1130 to 7:15 outbound and 5am-ish to 3pm on the way back... and was wondering the same thing... Exquisite timing on the part of the OP! ^

Thought to rent a car for the second one... but a bus to the harbour and the ferry to waiheke might just fit the bill on the first...

That will be a weekday though -18 Jun in fact - any difference/complications there?

No. Ferries run all day every day.

Thanks! Looks like various ferry/tour options are open having done a little more research..

If I may now make a rather more detailed enquiry....

Given that :

1. It would be preferable to NOT have to cart hand luggage/laptop around on these layover expeditions... and,

2. ..arriving at 5 am from the US is a bit of a poor start to a day of activity..

Would THIS plan actually work >>>>>>

On arrival go straight to the Lounge for a shower... then drop hand luggage off at "The Collection Point" (paid daytime storage advertised on their page on the AKL website) which is also airside...

THEN... exit through immigration/customs.........

..enjoy the day out and come back at an appropriate time for the afternoon flight???

I don't know the "mechanics" of such an exercise.... although I trust it shouldn't really be a problem....:confused:

Sounds like a really good way to deal with these looong connections....^

Bump?????

Sorry I didn't see your post the other day.

You can't get airside on arrival without an onward international flight. You can deposit luggage landside (for a small fee) while you visit the city or whatever.

If you are on a premium ticket on NZ or QF then you might be able to visit the domestic lounge and have a shower (won't be able to bring checked bags through). Just make sure it is not too obvious to security as they don't like non-departing people going through security. Note domestic security won't open until ~6am depending on day of the week.

On the night of the 13th is an All Blacks v France rugby game in DUD but which many many people in Auckland will go into the CBD to watch live in pubs and bars. So if you have a few hours in the evening that could be a good option if you wanted to soak up some New Zealand sporting atmosphere :)

Thank you all. I've gone for the car rental option as it wasn't nearly expensive as I had expected and KiwiFlyer seems to think the drive isn't a bad idea. It will also give me a place to sleep when the jetlag hits; whereas the ferry to Waiheke Island option would leave me looking for some shelter should I feel tired, especially if I find it to be raining (the forecast wasn't looking too promising).

NZ_Flyer, I'll bear the sporting atmosphere in mind; always useful to have somewhere to go when it gets late. Not sure how awake I'll be at that time though.

KiwiFlyer and cavemanzk, I'll have to consider Great Barrier Island next time round though as it looks very interesting and worth more than a day. It'll require some arrangement with flight schedules too - this time they just don't match.

Quite excited now!

Edit:
Just to add, Happy to meet any local FTers, but I'm a bit worried about how awake and therefore sociable I'll actually feel.

Thanks KF... Understood.

What I obviously haven't managed to make clear is that in both directions we will indeed have onward International flights that day (on the same PNR)... outbound to LAX, inbound to APW...

Long connections of course.. hence the desire to do something rather than just hang about.... (As much as I like hanging about 6-8 hours is too much for me!)

Bags will be checked through... so I really hope we can carry out "Plan Alpha" as described above.....:D;)

You will need to arrange an escort from the lounge back the wrong way to immigration. You probably will also get questioned at immigration as to why it took you so long to get there.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh... Spit...:D

Thanks again anyway!!!

It appears I am going to have a layover from 12:50 until 18:00 on August 11th, any FT'ers up for a quick bite and maybe show me around AKL briefly?

Despite the delay at immigration caused by not having a paper copy of my e-ticket and the day turnaround necessitating a chat and further investigations, it worked out well. The car came in very useful - the weather held back except for a brief shower in the evening and the car was a relief in this regard; it also lent itself to a late morning snooze overlooking the Auckland skyline.

For anyone else's information, there are two free showers in the arrival hall. $20.00 NZD refundable deposit in the florist to obtain the key. They can also provide towels but they cost $8.00 NZD (I presume that comes with toiletries).

Was rather disappointed with the Kia Ora lounge on the departure: no food despite it being 10:30pm - apparently they clear it away at 9:00pm. Snuck a bowl of cereals as they set up the breakfast food though.

Our first long layover worked out well too...^

Through immigration without a problem... left all our carryons at the Collection point facility... NZD$20 for the day for the 5 pieces (damn fair given the charge of 15 for a normal suitcase)

... on to the Blue Bus and a most enjoyable visit to the Maritime Museum...then back to the lounge for a shower before the LAX flight...

I can recommend that as a diversion for a few hours.. but then I'm an old Navy man...:D