Airports

General information about arriving in New Zealand

You will probably arrive at one of three airports: Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.

You may have arranged for a staff member of your education provider to meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation.

If you are expecting to be met at the airport, you should confirm this with your education provider before you leave.

If not, you can ask for help at any i-SITE Visitor Centre at the Auckland and Christchurch airports or the airports’ information desk.

For more information, go to their website at www.i-site.org.

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Auckland

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and busiest international gateway. Many international students arrive here.

If you need to take a domestic flight within New Zealand, check your luggage in on arrival and pick up the boarding pass at the domestic transfer desk. You then need to make your way to the domestic terminal. A free bus, which provides transport between the international and domestic terminals, departs every twenty minutes (available 6.00am–10.30pm). You can also walk between the terminals – the way is marked by a blue painted line, which you can follow along the pavement.

To travel to the University of Auckland’s Symonds Street campus from Auckland airport, you may travel by:

• taxi – this costs about NZ$50–$60 and takes 30 or 40 minutes
• shuttle bus/mini-van – this costs about NZ$18-$25 and takes about 40 minutes. For bookings or more information go to the Super Shuttle website at www.supershuttle.co.nz
• public transport (bus) – this costs about NZ$15 adult, $6.00 child, and $11 student (Student ID required) and takes about 60 minutes. For more information go to the Auckland Regional Transport website at www.maxx.co.nz. 

In times of heavy traffic (between 7.00am-10.00am and 5.00pm-7.00pm on weekdays) the trip from the airport to the city can take longer than the times indicated above.

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Wellington

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand.

To get into the city centre from the airport, you may travel by:

• taxi – this costs about NZ$35 and takes 20 minutes (in times when there is no heavy traffic)
• shuttle bus/mini-van – this costs about NZ$17 for one passenger and $5 for each additional passenger if in a group. It takes about 30 minutes
• public transport (bus) – this costs about NZ$6.50 (for 3 sections) and takes about 45 minutes.

Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island.

To get into the city centre from the airport, you may travel by:

• taxi – this costs about NZ$30-$50 and takes about 15-20 minutes
• shuttle bus/mini-van – this costs about NZ$15-$20 and takes about 20-30 minutes
• public transport (bus) – this costs about NZ$7 per person and takes about 40 minutes.