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Straddling a narrow isthmus between two harbors, Auckland is the biggest and most cosmopolitan city in Aotearoa (New Zealand鈥檚 M膩ori language name). A jigsaw of public transportation services, including city buses, ferries and local train lines, will deliver visitors to all of Auckland鈥檚 highlights.

For locals, traveling by car is the most common means of getting around the city. This keeps the traffic busy, so stay off the freeway system during the morning and afternoon rush hours as much as possible. But you might opt for an occasional short hop by rideshare, electric scooter or e-bike.

Here's what you need to know about getting around Auckland.

Using Auckland's extensive bus system

Travel around the inner city by bus

's extensive bus system reaches most parts of this sprawling city, albeit with varying degrees of frequency and punctuality. The most important buses for travelers are the routes, which connect many sights in and around the center.

Bright green InnerLink buses loop around the inner city, stopping at many key destinations, including the Auckland Museum, the waterfront bars and restaurants of Viaduct Harbour, and the eating, drinking and shopping precincts on Karangahape Rd and in the Ponsonby and Newmarket neighborhoods.

Orange-colored OuterLink buses will take you to the Auckland Zoo and MOTAT, Auckland's excellent transport and technology museum, while red CityLink buses are the best option if you are headed harborside to the Wynyard Quarter. CityLink buses are fully electric.

Bus fares start at (NZ$) on CityLink buses and NZ$4 on other routes; you'll save a bit with an AT HOP card (more on that below). 

Tip for a city tour by bus: For an impromptu city tour, ride the InnerLink bus to brunch in Ponsonby, followed by an afternoon at the Auckland Museum, then have dinner and cocktails among the yachts at Viaduct Harbor.

Navigating Auckland by boat

Ferries are my favorite way to travel in Auckland

I always love leaving downtown Auckland on a ferry, looking at the graceful arc of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and heading out for a day鈥檚 adventure. Whether it鈥檚 a short visit to the historic seaside suburb of Devonport or a longer trip to Waiheke Island, I always feel more relaxed just a few minutes into the journey.

Take the ferry on a day trip for wine and beaches

Framed by two natural harbors and surrounded by the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland was made for exploring by water. From downtown Auckland's Edwardian-era Ferry Building, runs regular passenger services across Waitemat膩 Harbour to Devonport and further afield to Waiheke Island, the city's favorite escape.

Less frequent ferries depart to the protected island bird sanctuary of  and to , a dormant 700-year-old volcanic island on the eastern edge of the Hauraki Gulf. Rangitoto is crisscrossed by walking trails and linked to neighboring Motutapu Island by a causeway.

Tip for a day trip by ferry: Taking the Fullers ferry to Waiheke Island is a rewarding day out for oenophiles. From the Matiatia Ferry Terminal, Bus 50 travels to a string of vineyard restaurants in the village of Onetangi, including and . Onetangi also has a long and lovely beach.

Driving in Auckland

Use rideshares when barhopping

Auckland is well served by taxi companies and cheaper rideshare services 鈥� handy when hopping between the taprooms and bars along the Auckland Beer Mile (actually around 4.5km). International operators Uber and Ola are joined by local player . Rideshare services are generally around 20-30% less expensive than taxis for the same distance. However, following a big sports event or concert, surge pricing inevitably kicks in, and then regular taxis can sometimes be less expensive than rideshares.

Otherwise give cars a miss (mostly)

Driving a car is not recommended if your Auckland sojourn is mainly focused on the central city and the waterfront. Parking is expensive and increasingly hard to find in key areas, including the central business district (CBD) and along Karangahape Rd, where the council has installed bike paths and replaced parking spots with pedestrian-friendly street furniture and shared spaces.

It is, however, worth considering renting a car for easy day trips out of Auckland, particularly if your accommodation has parking. The usual international firms have rental counters at the airport and in the center.

Tip for a scenic drive: For a rewarding drive, follow Scenic Dr through a twisting forest-clad labyrinth to reach the surf beaches of Auckland鈥檚 rugged west coast.

Hopping a train to the suburbs

Local trains connect to stadiums for games and events

The Auckland Transport network also includes three train lines, mainly serving the city's eastern, western and southern suburbs. The Western Line from Britomart is handy for fans attending live sports and concerts at Eden Park, while the Southern Line stops at , Auckland's other major sports venue.

Due to be completed by 2026, Auckland's underground will make for easier commuter travel to the CBD. 

Tip for sports fans in Auckland: Fans of rugby are spoiled for choice in Auckland. Take the train to Eden Park to watch Super Rugby with the , or head to Go Media Stadium to watch , a rugby union team drawn from multiple Pacific island nations.

Hitting the beaches and trails

Zip to Auckland's best city beaches by electric scooter

Electric scooters and e-bikes are an excellent option for short hops around the city or for exploring the harborside Wynyard Quarter. are available via the Uber app, which displays interactive maps showing the location of scooters around town.

Tip for a day on an electric scooter: Electric scooters and e-bikes are a great way to explore the various bays and beaches of T膩maki Dr. A 10km ride from downtown will take you to good swimming beaches and waterfront restaurants at St Heliers. Rather than cycling back to town, you can take the InnerLink T膩makiLink bus back to the CBD.

Check out Auckland鈥檚 urban volcanoes on foot

Auckland is not the best city for walking, since it sprawls across a wide area and its inner suburbs are built on ridges and are relatively hilly. However, a good way to get a handle on the city鈥檚 terrain is to walk up a few of its maunga (ancestral mountains). These dormant volcanoes are culturally and historically important as the sites of former M膩ori 辫腻 (a fortified settlement) in earlier centuries.

If you only have time for one walk, climb up Maungawhau/Mt Eden to the visitors center and negotiate the boardwalks at the summit to reach a fine viewing platform overlooking the CBD and the Sky Tower. Bus 27 runs from the Britomart Transport Centre to Tahaki Reserve at the base of the volcano.

Transit passes

Grab an AT HOP pass to save on Auckland public transport

Auckland鈥檚 buses, trains and ferries are run by a collection of operators, but the integrated stored-value card provides discounts of at least 20% on most buses, trains and ferries. It costs NZ$5 to buy an AT HOP card, and you can then recharge it as needed, with a NZ$1 minimum.

The initial card cost is nonrefundable, so it's really only worthwhile if you're planning an extended stay in Auckland. You'll need to tap in and tap out for each journey, but the total you'll pay for transport in a single day is capped at NZ$20 when using a contactless payment method. Auckland Transport's website has a where you can buy and charge AT HOP cards.

Accessible transportation in Auckland

Ninety percent of Auckland's buses have the ability to kneel to allow passengers with mobility issues and wheelchair users to board, or have ramps to facilitate easy access. It鈥檚 worth checking the to see if a specific bus route has these features. For visually impaired travelers, a growing number of bus stops feature on-request audio announcements, schedule information in braille, and larger icons and fonts.

Wheelchairs can be carried on all trains and most ferries;  with the ferry operator before you travel.