Wellington Airport is about 8km from the centre of the city, where most hotels are located. Buses, taxis and app-based travel options all leave from the airport complex. Please note: scheduled bus services do not leave the airport after 10:30pm each day, so other options should be considered if arriving late in the evening on an international flight.

Public Transport

Bus travel on the Airport Express from/to the airport to hotel and business district takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. The Airport Express bus service leaves about every 20 minutes from the airport’s lower level between 5:30am and 10:30pm. It is possible to pay on board ($7-10) with cash, Snapper or contactless payment, such as EFTPOS or credit cards. The Airport Express is the only Metlink bus that accepts contactless payment – all other services require cash or a Snapper card (which costs $10 initially but offers a discounted fare).

Taxis & App-Based Travel

Taxis can be ordered from any of Wellington’s major taxi providers. A variety of taxis are often waiting at the airport for passengers. The typical fare to downtown is about NZD$50 (incl. airport charges). Shuttles shared with other travellers from the airport offer a cheaper option but may take longer to arrive at your destination.

App-based pick-up options operate regularly throughout Wellington. You can also download apps in order to travel around the city. Ola, Uber and Zoomy offer pick up at Wellington Airport.

OLA – https://ola.co.nz/rider/airport/wellington/

UBER – https://www.uber.com/global/en/cities/wellington/

ZOOMY – https://zoomy.co.nz/

Wellington Airport also has car sharing arrangements via Mevo and Cityhop, with both offering hybrid and electric vehicles. These services, however, require signing up prior to arrival. App-based and car sharing options at the airport incur an airport surcharge.