Britomart

The Britomart shopping area and Waitemata train station are great places to spend a ton of time right in downtown Auckland. The station is huge, clean, and has clear signage for planning out a trip and figuring out which platform to stand on. At street level are lots of places to grab a bite, shop, or just sit and relax. If you get the opportunity to go during the Saturday market then you should! There are lots of shops, plenty of food (much of which I was unable to find elsewhere), and an overwhelmingly friendly atmosphere. Certainly a great place to stay near while visiting Auckland.

Beautifully constructed station in the heart of the city. Official name: Waitematā Railway Station. It was officially renamed from “Britomart Station” in September 2025.  • It’s located in the Auckland CBD (central business district), down by the waterfront, on reclaimed land near Waitematā Harbour.  • The station is integrated with a bus interchange and is close to the ferry terminal — making it a major transport hub.  ⸻ Structure & Facilities • The station is partly underground; platforms are beneath. The historic Chief Post Office (CPO) building is used as the main entrance.  • There are multiple entrances: the main via the CPO, plus an eastern entrance via Takutai Square (Britomart Place).  • Access via escalators/stairs/lifts, gates (ticket gates), ticket machines, customer service centre.  ⸻ Services & What’s Changing • It currently serves most of Auckland’s suburban train lines (Eastern, Southern, Western lines).  • City Rail Link (CRL) project is underway. This will convert Waitematā from a dead-end terminus into a through station with tunnels under Albert Street. That will enable more frequent trains and through services. The CRL is expected to open in 2026.  • As part of these works, platform layout is being changed (from 5 to 4 platforms), and the two outer ones will connect to the new tunnels.  ⸻ Name & Meaning • The name Waitematā is a gifted name from mana whenua (local Māori authorities).  • The name refers to the nearby Waitematā Harbour. It can be interpreted as meaning flat, glassy waters (likened to obsidian “matā”) or to a Māori ancestor who placed a talisman in the harbour.

Clean, modern, and right in the heart of the city. Britomart Station is easy to navigate with helpful staff and good train connections. The area outside is vibrant, with great cafes, shops, and a short walk to the waterfront. Perfect spot to start exploring Auckland! Beautiful ferry building is located just outside of the britomart station. Queens street for shopping and sky tower is on walking distance Nearest Viaduct is a good location for filming and photography

Wonderful place to visit. Perhaps, one of the most beautiful train station I have ever visited.

I was so so confused with Auckland public transport lol but just ask around and they'll help you out. The train was super enjoyable to ride on. An staff here helped me with my confusion. I still have no idea how much it cost me to catch that train though 😂

First time to Auckland Railway Station as I'm an out of towner. It was pretty cool as railway stations go and leans toward that 'old station vibe' but with a touch of modern. Very clean and tidy and no shortage of helpful happy staff. The train itself was comfortable, clean, and well presented. However, it is not a match in any way to the beautiful old Auckland Railway Station.

Lots of directions and the staff were helpful. Lots of shops and places to find food. Awesome piano, I was lucky there was a member of the public playing it beautifully when I was there.

Such a beautiful space with some cool bars, really diverse but amazing eateries and there's some nice places to sit outside to people watch while eating your lunch. The new-ish shopping centre also has some amazing stores and eateries. All on the waterfront where you can cross Quay Street and catch ferries to Waiheke, Rangitoto or Devonport.