Auckland has a brilliant fusion of enchanting black sand beaches, rainforests, and rolling vineyard hills. Located on New Zealand’s North Island, this city has to be seen to be believed. The City of Sails has diverse landscapes, cultures, cuisines, and people, with a population of more than 1.4 million Kiwis.
Auckland, or Taki Makaurau as it’s known to the native Mri, sits astride the Auckland Volcanic Field. A super-concentrated collection of monogenetic volcanoes (volcanoes that only erupt once). These long-dormant volcanoes provided shelter, resources, and portages to the original Mri people and continued to contribute to local prosperity.
The “last, loneliest, loveliest, exquisite” city, as described by poet Rudyard Kipling, sees more than 2 million tourists annually. Abundant in natural beauty, foods, and rich history, Auckland has endless splendours just waiting to be explored. If you’re thinking about visiting Auckland, then continue reading below to find out where to store your luggage.
Airports
Auckland is currently home to two airports, Auckland Airport and Ardmore Airport. While Auckland Airport is the primary hub, the smaller Ardmore Airport provides general aviation services and some small passenger flights.
Auckland Airport
Formerly the Mangere Aerodrome, the Auckland Airport first opened in 1966 with a ‘grand air pageant.’ Today, the airport is the busiest in New Zealand, seeing more than 21 million passengers each year.
The airport has more than 30 shops in the International Terminal and nine shops in the Domestic Terminal. Plus, more than 40 restaurants and cafes to ensure you never go hungry.
Auckland Airport offers passengers several options for luggage storage, including wrapping, staffed storage, and self-service lockers. You can store your luggage at Auckland Airport through the baggage services provided by Secure Travel by Door 3 and near Door 7 in the international terminal. Or, if you prefer to use the self-serve luggage lockers, stop by the ground floor of Domestic Airport Carpark R, across from the Domestic Terminal. Depending on the size you are after storage costs:
Luggage Wrapping – $15 to $17, $20 to wrap 2 items in 1
Small locker – $12 for 0 to 24 hours
Medium locker – $14 for 0 to 24 hours
Large locker – $16 for 0 to 24 hours
Luggage Storage – $9 to $22 for 0 to 24 hours depending on the item
Ardmore Airport
The Ardmore Airport was constructed during WWII by the United States Army Air Forces and later utilized as a Royal New Zealand Air Force base. Now, the Airport serves as a general aviation airport and a base for the New Zealand Warbirds Association.
With its traffic primarily composed of classic aircraft, small private aircraft, and emergency services aircraft, Ardmore Airport offers two passenger flight services through Air Auckland and Sunair. Destinations include Claris, Okiwi, Waiheke, and Whitianga, as well as return voyages to Auckland.
Ardmore Airport does not currently offer on-site luggage storage facilities or services for its passengers.
Trains
Although it once fell out of favour with the general population, in recent years, travel by rail in New Zealand has become one of the most popular modes of transport for the public. For the time being, there are four commuter rail lines and two long-distance passenger train services available in Auckland. However, proposals in recent years have been put forth to extend and upgrade the rail network further to provide a greater range of services.
Britomart Transport Centre
Located in the heart of Auckland’s central business district, at the end of Queen Street, the Britomart Transport Centre functions as a hub for public transport in the city. Sometimes called the Britomart Train Station, the centre first opened in July 2003, and has undergone regular upgrades and construction to keep it up to date since.
The capacity was recently doubled for the entire rail network in April 2021. This means the newly redeveloped Britomart Station can accommodate up to 54,000 passengers an hour during peak hours. The station has a public bathroom, an ATM, and an AT Customer Service Centre where travellers can stop by for helpful tips on using the public transport system in Auckland.
Travellers can store luggage at Britomart Train Station’s self-service lockers from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursdays; and until 1 a.m. or later Friday and Saturday. Keep in mind, though, that the luggage lockers are coin-operated, so you’ll need to have some handy to use one. Or, for self-service lockers with 24-hour access for up to 7 days, head across the street to the Ferry Terminal for access to lockers payable by credit card.
The cost of these lockers is as follows:
Small Locker – $4 for 1 hour, $6 for 2 hours, $8 for 3 hours, $12 for 8 hours, $20 for 24 hours, $30 for 2 days, $50 for 4 days, $70 for 7 days
Medium Locker – $7 for 1 hour, $12 for 2 hours, $16 for 3 hours, $18 for 8 hours, $25 for 24 hours, $40 for 2 days, $70 for 4 days, $95 for 7 days
Large Locker – $9 for 1 hour, $15 for 2 hours, $18 for 3 hours, $24 for 8 hours, $30 for 24 hours, $60 for 2 days, $90 for 4 days, $120 for 7 days
Newmarket Railway Station
Formerly known as Newmarket Junction, Newmarket Railway Station is the second-busiest railway station in the Auckland transit network, transporting over 2.5 million passengers each year. In its many years of service since 1873, the station has been rebuilt, and the original historic building has since moved to Parnell Station, where it now resides.
Newmarket Railway Station is situated in Newmarket Station Square and consists of over 30 retail shops, bakeries, and cafes. Accessible via entrances on Broadway and Remuera Road, the station square also has your choice of sit down restaurants and familiar fast-food joints for anyone looking for a bite on the go.
Unfortunately, there are no baggage storage services or lockers available at Newmarket Railway Station. However, you may be able to store your luggage at a nearby hotel for a nominal fee; just check in with the staff at the front desk.
Panmure Railway Station
Initially constructed in 1929, the Panmure Railway Station has been safely transporting railway passengers since it first opened in November 1930. Now a part of the Panmure Interchange Station, the station has undergone significant improvements as part of AMETI, the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative, a large-scale transportation project to improve public transit.
The innovative station design and engineering employed at Panmure Railway Station has won an impressive seven awards, including an Excellence in Steel Construction Award. As a fully integrated transit centre, the Panmure Interchange Station, as a whole, gives passengers access to the railway and bus lines to facilitate seamless transfers.
There are currently no luggage storage services or locker banks at Panmure Railway Station for passengers to use.
Stadiums
Of the more than 15 stadiums in New Zealand capable of seating crowds of at least 14,000, three are in Auckland: Eden Park, Mt. Smart Stadium, and QBE Stadium. In addition to these three stadiums, there are many smaller grounds in to enjoy local sporting events and games.
Eden Park
The largest stadium on the island is Eden Park and it is also considered. New Zealand’s National Stadium. It has a capacity to seat between 50,000 and 60,000 fans. Hosting its first cricket match in 1903 and game of rugby in 1914, the park is iconic in the world of New Zealand sports.
The All Blacks, the national rugby union team, regularly play at Eden Park. They have remained undefeated at the venue since 1994, that’s 46 consecutive wins, for anyone keeping tabs. In 2021, Eden Park is slated to hold both the Women’s Cricket World Cup and the Women’s Rugby World Cup, with the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to follow. But, more than just cricket and rugby, the stadium also hosts lacrosse, swimming, skateboarding, soccer, tennis, basketball, and indoor skydiving.
While guests can bring in small chilly bigs that fit underneath stadium seats, there is no luggage storage available at Eden Park. Be that as it may, visitors to the park who don’t mind taking a quick detour can drop their luggage off for safe storage at the SkyCity Travel Centre on Hobson Street, a short 10-minute ride away.
Mount Smart Stadium
Sitting just 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) from Auckland’s city centre, Mount Smart Stadium offers fans the chance to catch a game of rugby, see live performances, and more. A really cool fact? The stadium is built in the excavated remnants of the Rarotonga (also known as Mount Smart) volcanic cone.
Do you dream of playing in the same stadiums as the big leaguers? At Mount Smart Stadium, you can, as local rugby league matches are held here regularly.
Depending on the event you attend, you may be permitted to enter with a small bag. Just make sure your items can fit beneath your seat in the stadium. However, there is no baggage storage facility on-site at the stadium for fans to use.
Tourist Attractions
Auckland is positively flushed with exciting events, activities, and attractions to keep tourists and locals entertained. For the sake of brevity, here are two of the top tourist attractions you should consider visiting while in the City of Sails.
Sky Tower
A quintessential landmark in Auckland’s skyline, the Sky Tower stands at a whopping 328 metres (1,076 feet) tall. The Sky Tower was constructed in 1994 in conjunction with the SkyCity Auckland casino complex. It continues to attract more than 1,150 visitors each day, almost half a million visitors per year.
Providing visitors with an uninhibited 360 panoramic view of the North Island, the Sky Tower gives a unique perspective. You can see the city from every angle, especially from its SkyJump and SkyWalk platforms. The Tower also contains fifteen dining locations, from light cafe fare to deliciously prepared fine dining, and three hotels. Its attached full casino includes gaming machines, a baccarat room, and table games.
Guests staying at one of the hotels in the Sky Tower often can store their luggage for no added cost. If you have any questions, just check in with the concierge at the front desk for more details. If you aren’t staying in the Tower, go to SkyCity Travel Centre at 102 Hobson Street to hire a locker.
Locker prices start from:
Small Locker – $2 to open, $4 to reopen
Medium Locker – $3 to open, $5 to reopen
Large Locker – $4 to open, $6 to reopen
Auckland Museum
Officially named The Auckland War Memorial Museum Taki Paenga Hira, the more colloquially known Auckland Museum, is one of the oldest museums in New Zealand. With roots dating as far back as 1852, the Museum does more than preserve history; it is a piece of history in and of itself.
With eight permanent collections and a constantly rotating roster of new expeditions, there’s always something new at the Museum. After you’ve checked out the museum, stop in for lunch at Tuitui Museum Bistro & Cafe. Or, if you brought something from home, enjoy seating in the Kai Room to enjoy your meal.
The Auckland Museum provides luggage storage services at two locations on-site. Guests can stop by either the north or south entrances to store luggage with an electronic self-service locker. Lockers are available in small and large sizes.
Small and large lockers will cost as follows:
Small Lockers – $2 for 3 hours, $3 for 4 hours, $4 for 5 hours, $6 for 24 hours
Large Lockers – $4 for 3 hours, $5 for 4 hours, $6 for 5 hours, $8 for 24 hours