Car Rental at Auckland Airport

Airport travel guide

The largest city in the country, Auckland is also one of New Zealand’s main tourist attractions. Whether you come for its famous landmarks, vibrant cultural life, or surrounding nature, you’re likely to find something that excites you. These are six of the most interesting attractions in and around Auckland:

• Stardome. An observatory and a planetarium, Stardome is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Run by the Auckland Astronomical Society, it offers different exhibitions and interactive experiences, as well as, of course, the possibility of exploring the majestic space that surrounds the Earth. New Zealand is generally considered one of the best places on the planet for stargazing, and its extreme location in the Southern Hemisphere offers great views of cosmic objects that cannot be seen from many other places in the world. Visit Stardome’s official website to find out more. New Zealand is also known as a great place for viewing the Aurora Australis or the southern lights (the southern island is especially good for it, with places like the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve offering tours). 
• Auckland Domain. A large park, Auckland Domain is one of the most beautiful urban green spaces in New Zealand and provides great opportunities for enjoying nature without leaving the city. The pride of the domain is the Wintergardens, two large, charming glasshouses named the Temperate House and the Tropical House. They are home to different, unique plants from the country and around the world. Last but not least, the Domain offers scenic views of the harbor below. 
• Auckland Art Gallery. The most famous gallery in New Zealand is a treat for all art lovers. Also known as Toi o Tāmaki in Maori, the gallery was first built in the late 19th century. Significantly rebuilt during the last two decades, in 2013, it received the architectural title of World Building of the Year. The gallery hosts a wealth of artworks by artists from New Zealand and the rest of the Oceania region, as well as an impressive collection from world-famous masters like Gauguin, Picasso, Cezanne, and Dali.
• Auckland War Memorial and Museum. Although it has a largely military focus - there is a permanent exhibition called Scars of the Heart dedicated to several tragic chapters of history - this is one of the most diverse cultural institutions in all of New Zealand. The museum has an extensive focus on natural history, as well as several large and very interesting exhibitions on the traditions and crafts of the native Māori and other Polynesian peoples.
• Auckland’s Skytower. Auckland’s tallest building doubles as an observation tower for tourists. You can get a great taste of New Zealand's adventure culture by doing either a SkyWalk, SkyJump, or SkySlide virtual experience from the tower. The building is located right in the city centre. On a day with good weather, you can see up to 80 kilometers away. 
• Mount Eden. An extinct volcano and a great lookout point of Auckland’s skyline, the downtown area, and the harbor. The area of the volcano is also famous for Eden Park, the famous stadium, where the ‘All Blacks’ — New Zealand’s beloved rugby team — practice and plays their games. 

Top international routes

• Christchurch
• Wellington
• Sydney
• Napier
• Queenstown
• Palmerston North
• Nelson
• Melbourne
• Tauranga
• New Plymouth

Main airlines

Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, AirAsia X, China Airlines, and Emirates

Terminals

There are two terminals, an international terminal, and a domestic terminal. There’s a free shuttle bus between them, but there is also a walkway that connects them (it is a 10-15 minute walk).

Location

Auckland Airport is located 21km (13 miles) south of downtown Auckland on Manukau Harbour. Motorway 20A, State Highway 20, and State Highway 16 are the main roads connecting the airport to the city. It is also conveniently located for starting a trip to the southern part of the North Island along State Highway 1.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $19 per day
• Medium cars - from $19 per day
• Large cars - from $22 per day
• Station wagons - from $49 per day
• Vans - from $29 per day
• SUVs - from $29 per day
• Premium cars - from $51 per day

Car rental desks

Europcar is located next to the arrivals area in the international terminal and just outside of the domestic terminal.

Alamo (serviced by Enterprise) is located at the Park&Ride car park. Its rental desk can be reached by taking the Park&Ride bus from either terminal.

All other rental car companies are located off-airport and provide shuttles for their customers to their pick up and drop off points.

Services and facilities

You’ll find many shops and duty-free stores, restaurants, cafeterias, and snack bars, ATMs, family facilities, showers, a first aid room, and a prayer room. There’s a lost property office where you can also store your luggage. It’s located at the eastern end of the international terminal and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

A Z gas station is located right before to the airport on George Bolt Memorial Drive and is open 24/7. It is convenient for those renting from Europcar and perhaps Enterprise ( servicing Almo rentals), though. If coming from the south, making a detour and passing by this station is probably the best strategy for returning your rental car with a full tank of fuel even though your GPS may tell you to take a different route.

When dropping off your rental from discount and low-cost rental companies located off-airport, the Z station would require a circle if coming from the north. A better option would be to exit the South Western Motorway (Highway 20) before the airport at Coronation Road (Highway 14) where there is a BP station. From the station, it is just a 5-10 minute drive to all of the rental car locations.

Popular one-way rentals

• Tauranga (224 km / 139 miles)
• Hamilton (122 km / 76 miles)
• Rotorua (227 km / 141 miles)
• Whangarei (164 km / 102 miles)
• Napier (411 km / 255 miles)
• Wellington (643 km / 400 miles)