I'm flying from Melbourne over to the US but connecting through Auckland. My flight (on a Saturday) gets in at 5:15 PM and leaves 10:45PM.
I'd have to
- Clear customs/immigration (does that take long?)
- Go from the airport to Auckland City (Google says ~30min by car, 40min-1hr by airbus)
And do the same going back to the airport plus go through security. Doesn't seem like it leaves much time.
Coming back from the US, I get into Auckland at 8AM and leave at 3PM. That leaves a lot more time.
I'm thinking maybe just hangout in the airport on the way over and then check out Auckland on the way back?
Is there anything interesting to do in the airport? Any cheaper ways of getting into Auckland?
Assuming either an NZ or Aussie passport, clearing customs is nothing, takes longer to walk to the customs area than it does to get through usually. Maybe half an hour since there are queues most of the time.
You could try Uber for getting into the city/back, not sure on the prices though.
Nothing to do at the Airport, don't expect anything Changi-like. I had to stay there overnight and I 'slept' on a bar stool next to a power point, so facilities are minimal, and extras are non-existent.
http://www.aucklandairport.co.nz/AirportInformation/Internat… could be useful.