Auckland Airport (AKL)
Auckland Airport (AKL) has an international terminal and a domestic terminal, a short walk apart. A free bus joins them every fifteen minutes and takes about ten minutes, and there is also a free walkway on foot. The AirportLink bus takes you into the city, the trains connect at Puhinui Station, and the taxis have their own pick-up areas.
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Updated 21 October 2026
The terminals at Auckland Airport
Auckland Airport has two passenger terminals:
- The International Terminal handles the flights to and from other countries, and it is open around the clock.
- The Domestic Terminal handles the flights inside New Zealand.
The airport's own site publishes the flight boards and says where the international check-in zones are, so check the terminal on your ticket before you travel, because the airline assignment can change.
Getting to and from Auckland Airport
The AirportLink bus runs to the city, and the trains connect with the airport at Puhinui Station. The taxis and the shuttles have their own pick-up areas: at the international terminal, near Door 11, and at the domestic forecourt, and only the companies the airport licenses are allowed to pick up from the ranks.
What happens when you arrive at AKL
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit, and check the terminal on your ticket before you travel.
Auckland Airport with children
If you fly in and continue on a domestic flight, allow about three hours to clear immigration, customs and biosecurity, and the airport's own advice is to collect your bag and clear customs first. The free bus between the terminals and the free walkway are the easy ways to move, and a snack and water are worth keeping within reach.
Plan your stop at Auckland Airport
Terminals, airlines and arrival procedures change, so check with the airline and the airport's own site before you travel. And check with the embassy or consulate about the documents your family needs for the entry rules of every country on your route.
Sources
- Official English page of Auckland Airport on the free bus between the terminals: it runs every fifteen minutes from 5:00am to 11:00pm, the trip takes about ten minutes, and there is also a free walkway on foot. — aucklandairport.co.nz (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official English page of the same airport on the public transport: the AirportLink bus to the city, the other bus routes and the trains that connect with the airport at Puhinui Station. — aucklandairport.co.nz (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official English page of the same airport on the taxis and the shuttles: where the pick-up areas are at the international and at the domestic terminal and which companies are licensed to work there. — aucklandairport.co.nz (checked 21 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does Auckland Airport have?
Two: the International Terminal and the Domestic Terminal.
How do I get from the international to the domestic terminal at Auckland Airport?
With the free bus, which runs every fifteen minutes from 5:00am to 11:00pm and takes about ten minutes, or with the free walkway on foot, which takes about the same time.
How do I get from Auckland Airport into the city?
With the AirportLink bus, and the trains connect with the airport at Puhinui Station. The taxis and the shuttles pick you up at the Transport Hub and at the transport pick-up zone near Door 11 of the international terminal.
How much time do I need for a domestic connection at Auckland Airport?
About three hours, to clear immigration, customs and biosecurity, and you collect your bag and clear customs first.
What do I do first when I land at AKL?
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit, and check the terminal on your ticket before you travel.