Detail showing the new Downtown public space - with landscaped areas to spend time reaching out over the harbour - on Quay Street, next to the Ferry Building.

Image: Auckland Council

What's in the works downtown

Transforming Quay Street and the waterfront

One of the parts of the city that’s seeing the most work at the moment is the Quay Street area. Connecting Britomart, Queen Street and the Viaduct and in prime position on the edge of the Waitematā Harbour, this area is about to go from having huge potential to being a beautiful location Aucklanders can be proud of.

Downtown Public Space

One of the main changes people will be able to enjoy in person from the end of 2020 is the new public space being created between Princes Wharf and the Ferry Terminal (and being extended towards Queens Wharf after America’s Cup 36). You’ll be able to get up close to the harbour with ‘tidal shelf’ viewing areas reaching out over the water and there will be plenty of shady Pohutukawa trees to sit under and people-watch or have your lunch.

People aren’t the only ones who’ll enjoy the new space - at water level, surfaces have been chosen to encourage seaweeds, barnacles and periwinkles to attach and ropes of mussels and kelp gardens help improve water quality.

 

Quay Street is becoming a nicer place to be

Quay Street itself is also transforming into a space with people in mind, with wider footpaths and seating, cycle and bus lanes, more plants and reduced lanes for traffic. Most of the upgrades to the ‘city side’ of the street are set to be finished early 2020 and the ‘harbour side’ will be finished by the end of the year. We can see more outdoor dining in Quay Street’s future - hello, Dirty Laundry - and lots of scenic places to sit and enjoy an Island Gelato cone!

An upgrade for the Ferry Terminal

The Ferry Terminal is also getting some love to make the transport hub easier to use and prepare for more people using ferry services in the future. By the end of 2020, six new berths will be complete on the west side of Queens Wharf, and more are coming after America’s Cup 36.

Find out more about the changes underway as part of the Downtown Programme, including changes to getting around while work is happening.

There are so many exciting projects happening right now to create our future city centre - and many of them will be completed or hit big milestones by the end of 2020. See more about the projects transforming the city’s streets, public spaces and transport - or find out what the changes mean for businesses and a successful city centre economy.

Flat fee of $7 per day on weekends at Fanshawe Street carpark. Find out more.

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Last updated: 27 March 2020

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