Auckland

Citizens of Australia and the UK, as well as visa waiver countries, do not need to apply for a visa for short visitor stays, but may need to produce documented proof of onward travel. Visa waiver countries include the USA and multiple countries across Europe and Asia, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Vatican City. Since 2019, travellers that are visa waiver must request a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to travel. It is mandatory for all sea and air arrivals, including transit. The issued authorisation is valid for two years. Citizens of other countries will need to apply for a visa in advance, which can be done online for solo travellers and in paper format for those travelling with a partner or as a group. The applicant’s passport validity in this case will need to last 3 months after the planned departure date.

Public transport in Auckland — New Zealand's largest metropolitan area — comes in three flavours: bus, train and ferry. Services are all neatly coordinated by Auckland Transport under the AT Metro brand, with the bustling Waitematā railway station serving as the main transport hub. Buses are the workhorse of Auckland's public transport, accounting for about 70% of all journeys. They generally operate from the wee hours of 6 am until the stroke of midnight. To get around, simply look out for the red, green, or amber buses. With services so frequent, there's little need to keep an eagle eye on the timetable. Just rock up to the relevant bus stop and your chariot will soon arrive. Hop on the red bus (CityLink) for inner-city jaunts, the green (InnerLink) to traverse Auckland's inner city, and the amber (OuterLink) for a tour of Auckland's cosy inner suburbs. Tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver (cash only), or you can get your hands on the AT HOP smart card online or at a ticket office, such as the Britomart customer service centre.

Numerous taxi companies operate throughout Auckland. Zoomy, Ola NZ and Uber rideshare apps are a convenient way to find a ride, too. Taxi ranks are found around the city centre. Try Lower Hobson Street, Ferry Building, Britomart and Kitchener Street. Call Auckland Co-op Taxis to order a car by phone.

Post offices in Auckland are run by NZ Post, providing several services throughout the city. The offices have a red sign on the outside, with New Zealand Post written on. A centrally located one is Wellesley Street NZ Post & Kiwibank, located on Wellesley Street, close to Aotea Square.