The Tāmaki Link is one of the most scenic bus rides in Auckland — tracing the harbour edge along Tāmaki Drive past Auckland's best-loved eastern bays beaches, connecting Waitematā Station directly to Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Heliers, before finishing at Glen Innes Station for onward train connections. No car needed for a day at the beach, Kelly Tarlton's, or dinner by the water.
Waitematā
The Tāmaki Link departs from the city centre, adjacent to Waitematā Station — the hub of Auckland's rail network, with connections to both the East West Line and South City Line, plus the Downtown Ferry Terminal a short walk north. From here the route heads out past Spark Arena and onto Tāmaki Drive, with the Waitematā Harbour on one side for almost the entire journey.
Point Resolution
A short way along Tāmaki Drive, the Point Resolution stop gives access to several of Parnell's best-loved spots. Parnell Baths — New Zealand's largest saltwater swimming pool, built in 1914 at Judges Bay — is about 5 minutes' walk away, with the historic pool complex, a crushed-glass mural and harbour views. A further 5 minutes' walk brings you to Judges Bay itself — a sheltered spot for a quick summer dip, great for kids. A few minutes' walk uphill brings you to the Parnell Rose Gardens (Dove-Myer Robinson Park), with over 5,000 roses and some of the oldest trees in Auckland. A 10 minute walk from the bus stop along Tāmaki Drive brings you to the recently renovated Lilliput Mini Golf, now with a cafe/bar attached.
Okahu Bay
Okahu Bay is a small, sheltered beach right on Tāmaki Drive — a quieter alternative to Mission Bay, with calm swimming water, a playground and grassy reserve. It's also home to Ōrākei Marae, one of Auckland's most significant marae. A good stop for a quick dip or a picnic without the crowds further along the route.
Kelly Tarlton's
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium is right on Tāmaki Drive — Auckland's number one aquarium attraction, with over 30 live exhibits including sharks, stingrays, and an Antarctic penguin colony housed in former underground fuel storage tanks. A great option for a rainy day, and easily reached by getting off right outside.
Mission Bay
Mission Bay is Auckland's most popular city beach — a 300-metre stretch of calm, sheltered sand with a landmark marble fountain and grassy reserve, a playground for the kids, and a strip of cafes, restaurants and gelato counters along Tāmaki Drive. The grassy reserves either side of the beach are popular for casual games of beach volleyball, cricket and kicking a ball around — bring your own gear and stake out a patch of grass. Top picks include Azabu (contemporary Japanese-Peruvian fusion in the historic beachfront stone building), Bodrum Kitchen (fast, affordable Mediterranean street food), Mission Bay Tap Room (Good George's rooftop bar), Bald Eagle Diner (American diner classics and milkshakes) and Mission Bay Cafe (all-day brunch, open over 20 years). For ice cream and gelato, there's a cluster of options right along the strip — a Mission Bay tradition on a warm day.
On the inland side of Tāmaki Drive, Bastion Point is a short walk up the hill (via the path beyond the west end of Selwyn Reserve) — a site of major significance in New Zealand history, with sweeping harbour views and open gardens. At the top is the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, the tomb and memorial gardens for New Zealand's first Labour Prime Minister, one of the best lookout points on the whole route.
Kohimarama
Kohimarama Beach is a long, family-friendly stretch of sand along Tāmaki Drive between Mission Bay and St Heliers — generally quieter than its more famous neighbour, with calm swimming water and views across to Rangitoto and Browns Island. A scattering of cafes sit along the beach road, and it's a pleasant stretch to walk or cycle between the bigger stops either side. Worth a stop: Kohi Beach Eatery & Store (restaurant, brunch, cafe and gelato all on one beachy corner) and Der Metz (a hearty, authentic German restaurant and bar just back from the beach).
St Heliers
St Heliers is the easternmost of the main Tāmaki Drive beaches — a popular seaside village with beaches, cafes and views out to Rangitoto Island. St Heliers Bay Road has a good cluster of cafes and restaurants right by the beach, including Annabelles and St Heliers Bay Cafe & Bistro, both known for their beachfront locations. From here the route turns inland via St Heliers Bay Road towards Maskell Street and on to Glen Innes.
Maskell Street
A short walk from the main St Heliers strip, Maskell Street has its own cluster of good local cafes and restaurants — Cigana Espresso (a well-regarded newer addition to the strip) and Tom Yum Goong (Thai) among them. Worth a special mention: Shiraz Restaurant right on Maskell Street, and Sanaz Bakehouse, a short walk away on Riddell Road — a beloved local cookie and bake shop. Just off Dingle Road nearby is Dingle Dell Reserve — 6.5 hectares of native bush established in 1928, with a network of short walking tracks through kohekohe and tānekaha trees, a small grassed picnic area, and plenty of birdlife. A peaceful, easily missed green space right in the middle of the suburb.
Glen Innes
Glen Innes is the eastern terminus of the Tāmaki Link, and a major transport interchange — Glen Innes Station connects with the East West Line, opening up onward journeys to Panmure, Sylvia Park, Middlemore and Manukau by train, without needing to backtrack into the city first. For eastern bays residents, this makes Sylvia Park's shopping and Manukau far more accessible than via Britomart alone. You can also take the East West Line back the other way — through Waitematā and on as far west as Swanson — making it easy to loop back into the city or continue on across Auckland entirely by train.
Fares
The Tāmaki Link crosses multiple fare zones end to end (Waitematā to Glen Innes), so a full journey costs more than a single-zone trip — check the exact fare with the AT Journey Planner for your specific stops. Most day-trip journeys — city to Mission Bay, or Mission Bay to St Heliers — will only cross one or two zones. Free transfers are available if you board another service within 30 minutes of alighting, which makes it easy to combine with a train connection at Glen Innes for the return leg.
The route is excellent value for a day out at the beach — hop on anywhere along Tāmaki Drive, get off wherever catches your eye, and the frequent 15-minute service means you're never waiting long for the next one.
🚌 Using this guide: The Tāmaki Link runs every 15 minutes — get on anywhere along the route with AT HOP or contactless, and get off when something catches your eye. The full journey from Waitematā to Glen Innes takes approximately 33 minutes non-stop. Plan your trip at at.govt.nz →