Arriving in Auckland
Controls at the borders are in place for those entering New Zealand. For more information, please visit the New Zealand Government's website.
When arriving in Auckland, passengers must proceed to the passport control point. You will need to have the following documents ready:
Passport
Completed passenger arrival card.
Once processed, you may collect your bags from the baggage reclaim.
Immigration requirements
Since October 1st, 2019, the New Zealand government has introduced a new travel requirement for some visitors and transit passengers. It's called the NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), and travellers must request theirs via the official mobile app or website. You can get your approval for up to 72 hours, so please get yours before you go. Please visit immigration.govt.nz/ to find out if you need the latest information.
Unless you are a New Zealand citizen, resident or from a visa-free country (a complete list is available on the New Zealand Immigration Service website, details of which are listed below), you will probably be required to have a valid visa before entering New Zealand. Visitors who are not required to have a permit will still need to show:
a return travel ticket or evidence of onward travel arrangements
Proof that you have sufficient money available to fund your visit.
Driving in New Zealand
You may not be used to a few things when driving in New Zealand. For example:
We go on the left side of the road.
It's easy to underestimate travelling times here.
Our roads are narrower, more winding and sometimes steeper than you might expect
Our streets are primarily two-way, with one lane in each direction - we have few motorways.
Make sure you have a safe and enjoyable journey.
Taxis and shuttles
Auckland Airport licenses specific taxi and shuttle companies to ensure airport visitors and travellers receive a high standard of service.
All taxi and shuttle companies can drop you off at the airport. However, only licensed companies can pick you up from the designated pre-chartered pick-up area at the terminal buildings.
Indicative fares from the airport into the city are between NZ$150 – and NZ$300 for luxury service. (The prices indicated based on service classes such as Business or First class) For specific fare pricing, contact the taxi and shuttle companies directly. Brightlane offers an affordable price for Business-class services, easy booking and on-time service. Quick Quote/Book
Auckland Tourism
Tours are a great way to see Auckland. Choose from five-star coach tours, fun backpacker or budget bus tours, personal guides or luxury limousine rides. See the main attractions or join a special interest tour, from walking to wine. Brightlane Tours and City Sightseeing are more flexible and affordable ways to travel around Auckland, and an hourly ride-booking option is getting your own time to visit each place. Book Now
Viaduct Harbour
Relax with fine food, wine, or a casual meal at Viaduct Harbour's famous restaurants and bars, with the superyachts moored just metres away. Indulge in five-star cuisine or sit back with a chilled glass of wine and watch the world go by.
Viaduct Harbour, created in the 1990s when the city was gearing up to host the America's Cup, speaks of our close ties to the sea. Go jet boating, join a sailing charter, or enjoy a relaxing harbour cruise. Help sail an ex-America's Cup sailing yacht or venture out on the Hauraki Gulf for whale and dolphin spotting. Visit the New Zealand Maritime Museum to learn about New Zealand's rich maritime history. See traditional Maori sailing waka (canoes), modern racing yachts, and fascinating exhibitions.
Wynyard Quarter
This revitalised waterfront precinct is brimming with the energy of locals and visitors of all ages.
Some are there to dine at harbourside restaurants or enjoy a few cocktails as the sun sets. Some are taking the kids to play at the funky maritime-themed play space. This great inner-city playground has an excellent sand floor, a basketball court and salvaged materials with a modern twist. So take a ride on the historic tram, look out for the public piano, and grab a book at the small library in a colourful shipping container.
If you're on a budget or want a classic Kiwi experience, join the locals at the Auckland Fish Market and choose from a wide range of the freshest seafood straight off the boat. Try the delicious fish and chips for lunch in the open-air courtyard, or select a spot on the water's edge.
Check out Silo Park's night markets and outdoor cinema every Friday in the summer. Browse the stalls for vintage clothing, contemporary art and a delicious array of food before the movie.
In and around Queen Street
Shopping, art, culture, dining, nightlife and adventure are so close together. Pick up high street fashions and big brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci on Lower Queen Street, browse designer fashions on High Street and Chancery, and stop at Vulcan Lane for a pub lunch. Afterwards, wander through Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, with its world-class collections and exhibitions from New Zealand and worldwide. Catch a live performance at one of our main theatres, including the stunning Civic Theatre. Visit the Classic Comedy & Bar to see the best local and international comedians. Don't miss a trip up the Sky Tower for the best 360-degree view in town, or get adventurous with the exhilarating SkyJump or SkyWalk. Federal Street is home to some of our newest bars and restaurants at the tower's base. And speaking of food hot spots, City Works Depot is just a short walk from Queen Street. Head over for a delicious bite with a Kiwi twist and New Zealand craft beers.
Britomart
When the historic Britomart precinct was given a contemporary makeover, it quickly became the star of Auckland's dining scene – and one of the city's premium shopping destinations.
Britomart's compact block of cobbled laneways, streets and open spaces is an eclectic collection of hip bars, cafés and restaurants. The district's heritage buildings have been transformed with funky new fit-outs, from a revamped industrial garage to minimalist modern spaces. Keep it casual with artisan French pastries and great coffee, or indulge in contemporary Vietnamese, Japanese, Mexican, Cajun and Creole flavours, fresh seafood, or something sweet at the speciality dessert restaurant.
Night owls: the area has become one of Auckland's most popular nightlife destinations, too – check out late-night DJs or catch a live music gig. Early risers: pick up delicious artisan foods at La Cigale Market every Saturday and Sunday morning.
Understated or avant-garde, this shopping district is the place fashion lovers come to stay ahead of the trends. Browse the latest season's collections in the flagship stores of some of New Zealand's most famous designers, alongside international fashion and beauty labels like Chanel, Tiffany & Co. and M.A.C., Jo Malone and L'Occitane.
Mission Bay and St Heliers
These two vibrant beachfront suburbs are lined with eateries and shops.
Take a dip in the sea, hire a kayak, try stand-up paddleboarding with Mission Bay Watersports, or relax with a family picnic and throw a Frisbee around. Head to St Heliers boat ramp for a guided sea kayaking tour of Auckland's harbour and nearby islands. The tours run daily, and you can choose between a half-day, full-day, or sunset experience.
Dive into some great food served with seaside views and a relaxed vibe, or tuck into fresh fish and chips, a tasty bakery pastry or a delicious gelato on the beach. Walk, jog, cycle or rollerblade with the fitness fans along scenic Tamaki Drive, the main waterfront road from the city centre.
The views from Tamaki Drive alone are superb, but they are taken up a notch at Michael Savage Memorial, a hilltop public space at Bastion Point.
If you're with kids, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium is a must. The walk-through aquarium features the world's largest Antarctic penguin colony exhibit, stingrays, sharks, and thousands of fish.
Mount Eden
Walk to the top of Mount Eden, Maungawhau, one of our 48 volcanic cones and the highest natural point in Auckland. Discover the volcano's history as a traditional fortified Maori village – join a guided tour and see the occupation terraces, storage pits and housing sites that glimpse former Maori settlements.
While up there, check out the new visitor boardwalk around the crater and tihi (summit) of Maungawhau / Mount Eden. Perched on the elevated northern hill of Mount Eden is a viewing deck set to become the city's most Instagrammable spot, with panoramic views over central Auckland and the Waitemata Harbour.
Check out the 5.5-acre, award-winning garden on the side of Mount Eden, with its colourful plant collections, waterfalls, rock formations, resident native birds and fabulous city and harbour views.
There's just as much culture here to match the natural attractions. Walkthrough Mount Eden village's small local galleries, with a community of creative artists and writers, the suburb is known for being the home of some of Auckland's most exciting modern art. And if you like affordable Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, wander around and pick a local restaurant.
Brightlane Chauffeured Drive is a friendly, flexible service for your dream trip to New Zealand.
Please click the Home Page for your travel information and Quick Quote/ Book.