Panmure is one of Auckland's most important transport hubs — the station connects Eastern Line trains with a major bus interchange serving Howick, Botany and the wider East Auckland network. The opening of the Eastern Busway to Pakuranga in 2021 has made Panmure even more central to the region's public transport. The surrounding area has some of Auckland's best-value Asian dining, the Panmure Basin loop walk, and a rewarding volcanic summit just minutes away.
Food & Cafes
Panmure is one of Auckland's best suburbs for affordable, authentic Asian food — Malaysian, Cantonese, Shanghainese and more, all a short walk from the station.
Blossom Court
One of Auckland's most celebrated Malaysian restaurants — authentic laksa, char kuey teow with genuine wok hei, fish head noodle soup, Hainanese chicken rice and roti canai. "Truly authentic, just like back home in Malaysia." A small, busy space where the boss Ah Ming is warm and welcoming. Generous portions at very reasonable prices. "Customers coming nonstop." Closed Tuesdays.
Mon, Wed–Fri 11am–3pm & 5–9pm · Sat–Sun 11am–9pm · Closed Tue
Fong's Kitchen
A beloved Cantonese institution — "an amazing hidden gem" serving rice rolls, dumplings, egg tarts, polo buns and BBQ pork buns, all made in-house. Free unlimited hot tea. The rice rolls are described as "the best I've had — worth the drive from North Shore." Long queue at lunchtime; go mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Also sells frozen dumplings and buns to take home. Closed Wednesdays.
Mon–Tue, Thu–Fri 10am–3pm · Sat–Sun 10am–4pm · Closed Wed
Xi'an Food Bar
Hand-pulled noodles in rich broths — Xi'an-style cold noodles, braised beef or pork over thick handmade noodles, lamb soup with vermicelli, and pork and chive dumplings in hot sour soup. "Absolutely delicious — the beef was gelatinous and melt-in-your-mouth." Good portion sizes at $14–$15 a bowl. Open daily.
Daily 11:30am–9:30pm
Lotto Coffee
A warm, welcoming café with genuine hospitality — the owners take time to chat rather than just take orders. Generous eggs Benedict, creamy mushrooms, perfectly poached eggs and excellent coffee. "Have been looking for a go-to café for good affordable hearty fare — now we've found it." Great after a walk around the basin. Closed Mondays. Plenty of parking.
Tue–Fri 7am–3pm · Sat–Sun 8am–4pm · Closed Mon
Nashville-style hot chicken right at the start of Queens Road — chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches and tater tots with housemade sauces ranging from mild to scorching. "Chicken is super crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside." The peanut butter pie and housemade lemonade are standouts. Can get busy on weekends with a wait — arrive early or late. Wed–Sun from 11am, closed Mon–Tue.
Wed–Thu 11:30am–9pm · Fri 11:30am–10pm · Sat–Sun 11am–9/10pm · Closed Mon–Tue
The Café...with no name
A gem of a neighbourhood café on Queens Road — "amazing ladies, nice hot breakfast, amazing smooth coffee." Excellent big breakfasts at reasonable prices, generous portions, house-made treats and a sunny spot with good parking. A family-friendly local favourite where regulars chat away to staff. "Absolutely gorgeous meals." Opens 7am weekdays, 8am weekends. Closed Sunday afternoons.
Mon–Fri 7am–3pm · Sat 8am–1pm · Sun 8am–1pmWalking & Cycling
Three excellent walks start from or near Panmure Station — a volcanic summit, a tidal basin loop and a riverside cycleway.
Maungarei / Mt Wellington
A rewarding and underrated volcanic summit — 10 to 20 minutes from the gates to the top, with sweeping 360° views to both the Waitematā and Manukau Harbours, the Sky Tower and the full sweep of the Auckland isthmus. The crater rim is grassy and spacious — perfect for a picnic. Dogs welcome on leads. Benches at the summit. Public toilets at the entrance. Vehicle access is restricted; foot traffic only. Open daily 7am–8:30pm.
Daily 7am–8:30pm · Free · Dogs on leads welcome
Panmure Basin
A flat, well-maintained loop walk around the Panmure Basin tidal lagoon — recently completed with the stunning new Te Kōpua o Hiku bridge (2024), a 60-metre artwork that pulses with light at night using wind data. The basin is used for rowing and small boats; the path has playgrounds, a skate park, benches and handrails on the hillier sections. Views across the lagoon are peaceful and relaxing. Good for all ages and fitness levels.
Open 24 hours · Free · Bridge lights on dusk–10pm
Panmure – Pakuranga Walk & Cycleway
The Eastern Busway corridor includes a dedicated walking and cycling path from Panmure Station along Lagoon Drive and across the historic Panmure Bridge (1865, Te Tāmaki River Bridge) to Pakuranga. The bridge is the oldest surviving bridge structure in Auckland. The path offers waterfront views of the Tāmaki River estuary and connects to the growing Pakuranga cycling network. The full Eastern Busway route is being extended to Botany, with the walking and cycling path following alongside. A flat, accessible route.
Open 24 hours · FreeLeisure
A pool and gym, an indoor sports stadium, and a roller rink — all within walking distance of the station.
Lagoon Pool and Leisure Centre
Panmure's community aquatic and fitness centre on Lagoon Drive — indoor and outdoor pools (popular during school holidays), gym, spa, changing rooms and a small tuck shop. Open early weekdays from 5:30am. The outdoor pool is a big draw on hot summer days. Entry is very affordable with student and family rates. Plenty of free parking on site.
Mon–Fri 5:30am–9pm · Sat–Sun 8am–7pm
A multi-court indoor sports stadium on Domain Road — courts marked for basketball, volleyball, netball and pickleball. Casual basketball sessions are well-regarded. "Great courts and hoops — big casual basketball offering." Has hosted tournaments including the Seniors Pickleball Tournament. A canteen operates during events. Open Mon–Fri from noon, Sat–Sun from 9am.
Mon–Fri 12pm–10:30pm · Sat–Sun 9am–8:30pm
Skateland Roller Skating & Sports Rink
A beloved roller rink on Mountain Road — great for all skill levels, with entertaining games and activities throughout each session, up-to-date music and a fun, colourful atmosphere. Skate hire available and spectators are free. "Such a fun experience for both kids and adults — so many laughs." Brilliant for birthday parties (private rooms available). Limited opening hours — Fri evenings, Sat–Sun afternoons.
Fri 6–8pm · Sat 2–4pm · Sun 10am–12pm & 2–4pm · Closed Mon–ThuMt Wellington Highway Retail
A major retail strip is about 7 minutes' walk from the station along Mt Wellington Highway — one of Auckland's most comprehensive concentrations of big-box and specialty retail, all accessible without a car.
Mt Wellington Highway Retail Strip
A large cluster of major retailers on Mt Wellington Highway including Harvey Norman (electronics, appliances and furniture), Briscoes (homewares and kitchenware), Rebel Sport (sporting goods and activewear) and Number One Shoes & Hannahs (footwear for the whole family — great prices, open 7 days). This concentration of major retailers is easily reached from Panmure Station on foot, saving the drive and the parking. Open daily, generally 9am–5:30pm (Harvey Norman until 6pm weekdays).
Generally daily 9am–5:30pm · Harvey Norman until 6pm weekdays
Tai Ping Asian Supermarket
A large and well-stocked Asian supermarket on Mt Wellington Highway — an outstanding range of fresh and frozen seafood, Chinese vegetables, meats, dumplings, fresh homemade tofu and yeast-fermented buns made in-store. A dedicated section for dried herbal soup ingredients, plus a full butcher and fish counter. Very competitive pricing. Open daily 8:30am–9pm (7pm Mon & Sun).
Mon 8:30am–7pm · Tue–Sat 8:30am–9pm · Sun 8:30am–7pm
Auckland's best source for authentic American grocery imports — "walking in was like stepping right back into my high school days in New York." Hard-to-find US snacks and drinks: Cheetos in US flavours, Quaker flavoured oats, Dr Pepper Cherry, A&W Cream Soda, Reese's, Lucky Charms and more. A destination store for expats and American food fans. Open daily 9:30am–5pm.
Mon–Sat 9:30am–5pm · Sun 10am–5pm🔨 Bunnings Warehouse (459 Ellerslie Panmure Highway, 4.2 stars, 3,082 reviews) is a short walk away, accessed via the Ellerslie Panmure Highway — opens 6:30am weekdays, 7am weekends. The largest hardware and garden centre in the area.
Bus Routes
Panmure is East Auckland's major train-bus interchange — a purpose-built bus station connects the train platform to services across the eastern suburbs, Howick, Botany and beyond.
🚌 Eastern Busway: The dedicated bus rapid transit lane opened between Panmure and Pakuranga in 2021 — the first section of the AMETI Eastern Busway. When the full route to Botany opens (expected 2027), Panmure will become an even more critical interchange hub. Buses using the busway run faster and more reliably than traditional on-road services.
Howick & Botany
| Route | Serves | Freq |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Botany ↔ Britomart via Ti Rakau Dr, Pakuranga, Panmure, Ellerslie & Newmarket | Frequent |
| 72C | Panmure ↔ Botany via Pakuranga Rd, Cook St & Howick | Frequent |
| 72M | Panmure ↔ Botany via Pakuranga Rd, Millhouse Dr & Howick | Frequent |
| 711 | Panmure ↔ Howick via Reeves Rd, Cascades Rd, Bradbury Rd & Union Rd | Connector |
| 712 | Panmure ↔ Bucklands Beach via Glenmore Rd & Casuarina Rd | Connector |
| 72X | Botany ↔ Britomart EXPRESS via Howick, Pakuranga, Panmure & Southern Motorway | Peak hours |
Eastern Isthmus
| Route | Serves | Freq |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | Onehunga ↔ Glen Innes via Church St, Sylvia Park & Panmure | Frequent |
| 744 | Panmure ↔ St Heliers via Pilkington Rd, Glen Innes & Mt Taylor Dr | Connector |
| 747 | Panmure ↔ Glen Innes via Stonefields | Connector |
| 751 | Panmure ↔ Newmarket via Marua Rd & Remuera Rd | Connector |
| 352 | Panmure ↔ Manukau Station via Highbrook, East Tāmaki & Ormiston | Connector |
💡 Panmure is the best train-to-bus transfer point for the entire eastern suburbs — Howick, Pakuranga, Botany, Highland Park, Flat Bush, East Tāmaki and Ormiston are all served from here. The train takes 20 minutes to the city; for many East Auckland residents the Panmure interchange is the most practical way to reach the CBD without a car. Always confirm at at.govt.nz.
⚠️ Ratings and hours can change. Google Maps ratings were current at the time this page was last updated. Always check a venue's own website or Google Maps for current hours. Bus route information sourced from Auckland Transport and aucklandbuses.co.nz — always check at.govt.nz for current timetables.