With lots to do and see in the city, it’s helpful to know how to get in and travel around and there are lots of ways to do that. If you're driving in, here is an updated guide on which car parking buildings to use when visiting different areas of the city centre - whether it be Downtown, the waterfront or Midtown!
Before you set off, get familiar with the new Essential Vehicle Area (EVA) on Queen Street
Auckland Council and Auckland Transport are making the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Valley a more pedestrian-friendly area, which means the way we drive here has changed slightly. But don't worry, you can still get to your favourite spots in the area!
Queen Street, from the Civic Theatre on Wellesley Street to the Auckland Town Hall at the intersection of Wakefield Street, has become an Essential Vehicle Area, or EVA. This means that this part of the road is now closed to private vehicles, taxis and car share services (but open to buses, scooters, bikes and motorbikes). If you're heading to a show or visiting Queen Street, you can use the loading zones nearby for pick-up or drop-off that are located outside of the EVA including near the Town Hall and Smith & Caughey's, or park in a nearby carpark such as The Civic. The EVA will apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Watch this helpful video to get a better understanding:
Vehicles that can use an EVA:
Buses; bikes; mopeds; motorbikes; emergency vehicles; and vehicles registered with Waka Kotahi as: goods vehicles; vans; trucks; utility vehicles.
If you enter the EVA with any other type of vehicle, you'll receive a $150 infringement fee.
Use these routes around the EVA when travelling east to west across the city centre
- Mayoral Drive
- Customs Street
- Wyndham Street
- Shortland Street
Parking, pick-ups and drop-offs on Queen Street
While there isn't general parking on Queen Street, there are plenty of zones that can be used for short-term visits including short-term loading zones for the drop-off and pick-up of goods and people, goods loading zones, and short-term mobility parking spaces. Check out this map to see where these zones are located.
