Day 1 — Auckland — Arrival & Recovery
Sunday, March 22
Goal: Land safely, sleep properly, do something light, be in bed by 8:30 PM. Day 2 starts at 5:45 AM — this day exists to make that possible.
Before This Day
- [ ] Call Hotel Indigo Auckland to request early check-in (IHG Platinum — aim for 9 AM)
- [ ] Download offline Google Maps for Auckland and South Island
- [ ] Fill out NZ arrival card online before flying (saves time at immigration)
- [ ] Notify your bank/credit cards of NZ travel to avoid fraud blocks
- [ ] Complete EZU Car Rental online pre-registration: https://www.ezucarrental.com/checkin
- [ ] Confirm car rental booking and save EZU pickup phone numbers (+64 22 678 9976 / +64 22 182 5752)
Currency: You do not need to exchange cash before arriving. NZD is easy to get from ATMs at the airport (look for ANZ or BNZ). Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere in NZ. Avoid airport currency exchange kiosks — the rates are poor. Withdraw NZD from an ATM on arrival instead.
Top 3 Things
- 🗼 Sky Tower
- ⛵ Viaduct Waterfront
- 🛌 Recovery Sleep
Daily Timeline
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:00 AM | Flight lands in Auckland from NYC |
| 6:00 AM | Immigration, baggage — allow 60–75 min |
| 7:00 AM | Car rental (EZU) — grab a flat white at the airport |
| 8:00 AM | Drive to hotel, check in IHG Platinum — early check-in likely |
| 9:00 AM | 🛌 Sleep — do not skip. Minimum 3 hrs |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch — Krishna or Ras Vatika vegetarian |
| 1:00 PM | Sky Tower (optional, ~45 min) |
| 2:00 PM | Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter walk (~1.5 hrs) |
| 3:30 PM | Groceries — Countdown CBD (Victoria & Albert St) |
| 5:00 PM | Back to hotel, freshen up |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner at Hotel Indigo — use $100 IHG credit |
| 8:30 PM | 🛌 In bed — alarm is 5:15 AM |
Videos
Notes
5:00 AM | Flight lands in Auckland from NYC
- Auckland Airport (AKL) — international and domestic are separate terminals connected by a walkway
- Have your NZ arrival card filled out before landing to speed up the process
- Flight from NYC is ~17 hours direct (Qantas)
6:00 AM | Immigration
Allow 60–75 min. Grab a flat white at the airport — NZ coffee is excellent and you need it.
- Budget 60–75 min depending on the queue
- NZ biosecurity is strict — declare all food, plant material, and outdoor gear (boots, camping equipment)
- When in doubt, declare it — fines are steep and not worth the risk
7:00 AM | Car Rental — EZU Car Rental (Auckland)
💳 Pay with Chase Sapphire Reserve — CSR includes primary car rental insurance (collision and theft) when you decline the rental company's CDW/LDW. Paying with CSR means EZU's insurance add-on is not needed. Decline it at the counter.
EZU is off-site from the airport with a free shuttle pickup.
Phone (call on arrival): - +64 22 678 9976 - +64 22 182 5752
Business hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Pickup instructions — International terminal: Come out of Gate 8, follow the "Off-site Shuttles Transfer" signage, and walk across the sidewalk to the designated pickup/drop-off area. Call the numbers above when you're there.
Pickup instructions — Domestic terminal: Wait in the pickup area outside Gate 8 (outside the JetStar counter).
After-hours (outside 8 AM–6 PM): Handled by Heartland Hotel: 1. Contact Heartland Hotel customer service in advance and check in online on their website before travel 2. On arrival, call 0800 404 204 or +64 9 275 4540 3. Tell them you're an EZU Car Rental passenger and give the driver's name 4. Wait for the shuttle in the pickup area as directed 5. At the front desk, present your driver's license to collect the car
Online pre-registration (speeds up pickup): https://www.ezucarrental.com/checkin — do this before the trip.
- Drive on the left — take it slow leaving the rental lot, especially at roundabouts
- Valet parking at Hotel Indigo: $60 NZD/night
8:00 AM | Check In — Hotel Indigo Auckland (IHG Platinum)
Early check-in is likely with Platinum status. Drop bags, get horizontal immediately.
- Hotel Indigo Auckland is in the CBD — easy walking distance to the waterfront and Britomart
- If the room isn't ready, drop bags at the desk and go for a short walk — but get back to sleep as soon as possible
9:00 AM | Sleep — Do Not Skip
Minimum 3 hours. Your body is on NYC time — it's 4 PM there. You have a 5:45 AM alarm tomorrow. This sleep block is the most important item of the entire trip.
Parking — Hotel Indigo Auckland
The hotel has no self-parking garage. Options:
Option 1 — Hotel Valet (most convenient) - NZD $60/night, 24-hour service, unlimited in-and-out - Just hand the keys at check-in; they handle everything - Best choice given you only have the car for 2 nights and will use it on Day 2
Option 2 — Public & private garages nearby (cheaper)
Auckland Transport (AT) council buildings are the most consistent value vs. private operators:
| Garage | Evening / overnight rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Street Car Park | $10.50 flat | Best value — cap kicks in from 6:00 PM and all weekend. Closest to hotel |
| Civic Car Park (Greys Ave / Mayoral Drive) | $12–13 flat | Weekday evenings after 6 PM or all day weekends |
| Downtown Car Park | $15.50 flat | Cap applies 6:00 PM – 5:30 AM and weekends |
| Secure Parking — Federal St (private) | ~$11 overnight | Very close to hotel; ~$39 for 3 days if booked in advance |
| SkyCity "Super Saver" | $48 standard / free–$8 with validation | Spend $40+ at any SkyCity outlet (Sky Tower, restaurant, bar) to qualify for the lower rate |
Recommendation: Victoria Street Car Park at $10.50/night is the best balance of price and security. For on-street parking, legal free spots open after 6:00 PM on some CBD streets but require moving the car before 8:00 AM — not practical given the 6:00 AM Day 2 departure.
Given Day 2 starts at 6:00 AM (early drive to Waitomo), valet is still the most stress-free option — no hunting for the car in the dark. But Victoria Street at $10.50/night vs. valet at $60/night is a $100 saving across 2 nights if you want to walk 5 minutes.
12:00 PM | Lunch — Krishna or Ras Vatika
Both are 100% vegetarian Indian restaurants, walking distance from the hotel. Takeaway if possible — don't linger, you have groceries to get.
- Krishna — Gujarati thali: curries, dal, roti, achaar. Filling and exactly what you need after a long flight
- Ras Vatika — Indian street food and dosa. Good variety, similar vegetarian focus
Keep lunch light — you've been awake for 20+ hours and your stomach won't thank you for a heavy meal.
1:00 PM | Sky Tower (optional, ~45 min)
~45 min total. Morning light has passed but still worth it. If you're running low on energy, skip it — the walk alone is enough.
- ~10 min walk from Britomart up Queen Street
- Observation deck at 220m — views over the harbor, Waitemata, and Rangitoto Island
- ~$40 NZD per person
2:00 PM | Waterfront walk — Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
Gentle waterfront walk. ~1.5 hrs, fully interruptible — turn back any time. Good fresh air without committing to anything.
Route (~2 km, flat, ~1 hr easy walking): Britomart → Queens Wharf → Viaduct Harbour → Wynyard Quarter → back
- Queens Wharf — cruise ship terminal area, good harbor views, often has pop-up events
- Viaduct Harbour — harborside bars and restaurants, superyachts moored up, very photogenic
- Wynyard Quarter — newer development, more casual, good coffee spots and waterfront benches
- This walk gets you sunlight exposure, which is the single best thing you can do to fight jet lag
3:30 PM | Groceries — Countdown CBD
Countdown CBD — Victoria & Albert St (not the Victoria St Car Park — the supermarket is one block further).
Stock up on: - Breakfast for Day 2 — nothing will be open at 5:15 AM. Muesli bars, fruit, yogurt - Road trip snacks for Day 2's 7.5 hr drive: nuts, crackers, dried fruit, muesli bars - Water bottles and electrolytes for hiking days - Any medications, sunscreen, or toiletries you need
6:00 PM | Dinner — Hotel Indigo ($100 IHG Credit)
Use your IHG credit here. Hotel Indigo Auckland has an in-house restaurant with vegetarian-friendly options — no need to go back out after a long day.
- Ask about vegetarian options when you check in
- Eat early and keep it light
- In bed by 8:30 PM — alarm is at 5:15 AM. Day 2 is a 469 km drive day and it starts in the dark.