⚠️ Station not yet open. Te Waihorotiu Station opens in 2026 as part of the City Rail Link. It will be New Zealand's busiest train station — with capacity for 54,000 passengers an hour — positioned right in the heart of Auckland's midtown cultural and entertainment precinct. Entrances on Wellesley Street and Victoria Street.
Te Waihorotiu Station is named for the Waihorotiu Stream that once flowed through this valley before being buried beneath Queen Street. Located on Albert Street between Wellesley and Victoria Streets, the station sits at the geographic heart of Auckland's cultural, entertainment and civic life — the Aotea Quarter arts precinct, SkyCity, the International Convention Centre, the Auckland Art Gallery, and the city's main universities are all within easy walking distance. Wellesley Street will serve as a dedicated bus interchange, making Te Waihorotiu the best-connected station on the Auckland network.
Wellesley Street West
The street directly above the station — a concentration of excellent cafes, Auckland institution restaurants and cheap-eat gems, all within a minute of the Wellesley Street entrance.
Right at the Wellesley Street station entrance — one of Auckland's most consistently praised cafés with indoor and outdoor seating, a thoughtful menu and excellent coffee. "So good I went three days in a row." The avocado toast, yuzu cold brew and London fog matcha are standouts. Also serves baked goods. Opens 6:30am weekdays. Open 7 days.
Mon–Fri 6:30am–2:30pm · Sat–Sun 8am–2pm
Tony's Original Steak & Seafood
One of Auckland's oldest and most beloved restaurants — Tony Astle's legendary steakhouse has been on Wellesley Street for decades. The Meeting Room private dining space makes it popular for business lunches. Outstanding steaks cooked to perfection, superb seafood chowder and a memorable pavlova for dessert. Lunch Mon–Fri; dinner daily. Book ahead.
Mon–Fri 11:45am–2pm · Daily 5–9:30pm (Fri–Sat until 10pm)
Wellesley Street Cheap Eats
A cluster of outstanding cheap eats right outside the station — TEM (4.7 — authentic Vietnamese bun cha, banh mi and egg coffee, free green tea, weekdays + Saturday); EKIBEN (5.0 — Japanese bento and sushi, named after train station bento, generous portions, miso soup $1.50, open daily); and Dum Dum Dumplings (4.9 — fresh-made NZ beef and prawn dumplings to order, 8 for under $18, vegetarian options available).
TEM: Mon–Fri 10am–4pm · Sat 11am–5pm · EKIBEN: daily 10/11am–6:30pm · Dum Dum: check Google MapsFederal Street & SkyCity
Auckland's premier restaurant street and entertainment complex — right next to the station entrance on Wellesley Street.
Federal Street
Federal Street is Auckland's most concentrated fine-dining corridor — a pedestrianised laneway alongside the SkyCity complex with several of Auckland's most celebrated restaurants. Key venues include Masu by Nic Watt (acclaimed Japanese robata grill, one-hat Cuisine Good Food Awards), The Grill by Sean Connolly (premium steakhouse), Depot by Al Brown (fast-paced oyster bar and seasonal small plates, one-hat Cuisine Good Food Awards) and Federal Delicatessen (beloved New York-style deli, open daily 7am–midnight). The street also has excellent cafes and casual eateries. Lively at lunch and dinner throughout the week.
Restaurants generally open daily from 11:30am
Sky Tower
Auckland's most iconic landmark at 328 metres — New Zealand's tallest structure with a spectacular 360° viewing deck at 186 metres and a glass floor for the brave. The SkyJump (base jump 192 metres above the street) is one of Auckland's most thrilling tourist experiences. Orbit 360° is the revolving restaurant at the top. The tower is a must-visit for first-time visitors to Auckland and one of the best photo spots in the city.
Daily 10am–10pm (Fri–Sat until 10:30pm)
SkyCity Auckland
The SkyCity complex encompasses the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC — one of the largest convention facilities in Australasia), a casino, multiple restaurants and bars on Federal Street and beyond, the SkyCity Theatre (live performances and events), and the Horizon Hotel. Open 24 hours. The NZICC hosts major conferences, exhibitions and public events year-round.
Open 24 hours
City Works Depot
A converted industrial precinct at 90 Wellesley Street West — former Auckland Council workshops transformed into one of the city's most atmospheric dining and bar destinations. Spacious refurbished sheds house Odettes Eatery (Mediterranean-meets-North African, beloved for brunch and rosé), Sumi (hot new Japanese grill and sushi bar from chef Jason Lee, opened 2025), Best Ugly Bagels, Tacoteca (authentic Mexican, a city institution) and a rotating cast of bars and pop-ups. A popular after-work destination with a buzzy courtyard atmosphere.
Most venues open daily from 11am · Bar hours varyAotea Quarter — Arts & Entertainment
Auckland's arts and civic heart — a concentration of world-class performance venues clustered around Aotea Square, a 3-minute walk from the station.
Aotea Quarter
Auckland's arts and civic heart — a concentration of world-class venues clustered around Aotea Square, just 3 minutes from the station. Aotea Square is Auckland's main civic plaza hosting New Year's Eve, Lantern Festival, Diwali, outdoor cinema and free concerts. The Aotea Centre hosts touring musicals, opera and large-scale performances. The Auckland Town Hall (1911, Heritage NZ Category 1) is home to the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. The Civic Theatre (1929, Moorish Atmospheric style, Heritage NZ Category 1) is one of the most extraordinary interiors in the southern hemisphere — look up at the ceiling. Also nearby: Q Theatre (contemporary and experimental work), the Classic Comedy Club, and the Basement Theatre for new New Zealand work. Directly above the Wellesley Street entrance is Skyworld — a striking futuristic entertainment complex housing Event Cinemas (IMAX and 12 screens), Metrolanes (boutique bowling), GameOn Arcade and Mini Golf. For pre-show dinner and drinks, Tanuki's Cave on nearby Lorne Street is an Auckland institution — a long-running Japanese izakaya beloved by locals for its intimate atmosphere and excellent food.
Box offices generally Mon–Sat 10am–6pm · Show times vary · Check Auckland Live for listingsEast of Queen Street
The area east of Queen Street between Wellesley and Wyndham Streets — the city's main library, excellent Asian dining on Lorne Street, and the Auckland Art Gallery a short walk further.
Lorne Street
Lorne Street has evolved into one of Auckland's best concentrations of Asian cuisine — a compact strip running between Wellesley and Wyndham Streets with excellent Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese restaurants, many open late. Lorne Street is packed with affordable Asian dining — Eden Noodles Cafe (dumplings in spicy sauce, winner of Iconic Auckland Eats 2025), TSUJIRI (world-class Japanese matcha teas and desserts), Cafe BBQ Duck (Cantonese roast duck and rice), Saigon Chill (Vietnamese street food) and Paname Social (French bistro with a sunny Lorne Street terrace, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Also home to bubble tea shops, Korean BBQ and a cluster of independent food stalls. Cheap and excellent for lunch or dinner before a show at the Civic or Aotea Centre.
Most venues open daily 11am–10pm
Auckland Central Library
Auckland's main public library at 44 Lorne Street — a beloved civic institution with free WiFi, a large New Zealand and Pacific collection, rotating exhibitions, and a busy programme of talks, events and workshops. One of the best free resources in the city centre. The reading rooms and quiet study floors are popular with students and workers. Open Monday to Sunday. Free entry and free borrowing with an Auckland Libraries card.
Mon–Thu 8am–8pm · Fri 8am–6pm · Sat 10am–5pm · Sun 10am–4pm
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
New Zealand's largest art gallery at the corner of Wellesley and Kitchener Streets — a stunning building combining the original 1887 French Renaissance building with a spectacular 2011 extension by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp. The permanent collection spans 17,000+ works including major New Zealand and Pacific art, international Old Masters, and an outstanding taonga Māori collection. Changing exhibitions throughout the year. Café on site. Free entry to permanent collection; charges may apply for major exhibitions.
Daily 10am–5pm · Free entry (permanent collection)Elliott Street
Elliott Street runs directly from Wellesley Street — home to three very different eating and shopping destinations within a minute of each other.
A beautifully designed food hall in a converted stable building — European-inspired interior with international cuisine from multiple vendors. Greek, Italian, Malaysian, tacos, soft serve and more. Buzzers notify you when your food is ready. Standout standalone restaurants within the complex include Nahm (4.4, 538 — authentic underground Thai restaurant, papaya salad and sticky rice are outstanding, daily from 11:30am) and Jungle 8 (4.0, 547 — beautiful SE Asian restaurant with DJ, animated ceiling, spicy chicken and great cocktails, Tue–Sun from 5pm, Sat–Sun also lunch). A great solution for groups with different tastes.
Daily 12–9pm
A compact inner-city shopping centre housing The Warehouse, Rebel Sport, Number One Shoes and other retailers across multiple levels — useful for everyday city errands without needing a car. The international food court (Atrium International) has Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese vendors, open daily. Easily accessible off Elliott Street, Mon–Sat 9am–5/6pm, Sun 10am–5pm.
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · Thu–Fri until 9pm (food court) · Sat 10am–5pm · Sun 10am–5pm
Strand Arcade
A heritage arcade running between Queen Street and Elliott Street — a pleasant covered walk-through with some excellent independent tenants. Slow Koi Manual Kohi Brew Bar (4.8, 123 — exceptional manual-brew coffee, outstanding matcha and hojicha); Ohmo (4.8, 63 — Japanese shio pan salt bread, best in Auckland); Taikin Teppanyaki & Takoyaki Bar (4.6, 236 — authentic Japanese takoyaki, okonomiyaki and donburi, daily noon–7/8pm); and Addis Ethiopian (4.9, 176 — exceptional injera and stews, one of Auckland's finest Ethiopian restaurants, daily 10am–9pm). A pleasant shortcut between Queen Street and Elliott Street.
Arcade open daily · Individual vendor hours varyUniversities
Te Waihorotiu is the best station for accessing the main campuses of Auckland's two universities. Both are accessible in a 5 to 10 minute walk, or a 1 to 2 stop bus ride from right outside the station, with buses running every few minutes all day.
University of Auckland
New Zealand's largest and highest-ranked university, with its main city campus stretching from Princes Street up through Albert Park to Symonds Street. Key buildings are clustered around the iconic Old Arts Building (1926, clocktower) on Princes Street — a Heritage NZ Category 1 building and one of Auckland's most photographed. The campus has several excellent cafes and the excellent University of Auckland Bookshop. Over 40,000 students enrolled.
Campus open daily · Visitor welcome
AUT — Auckland University of Technology
AUT's City Campus on Wellesley Street is directly adjacent to the station — one of the most transit-connected campuses in New Zealand. AUT's City Campus houses its Business, Law and Technology faculties among others. The campus has excellent cafes and student services facilities. Over 28,000 students enrolled across all campuses.
Campus open daily · Visitor welcome
Albert Park
A beautiful Victorian-era formal park on the slopes above the city — mature plane trees, a Victorian bandstand, formal rose gardens, a heritage fountain, and sweeping harbour views from the upper paths. Home to the Albert Park Fountain (1882) and several notable sculptures. A popular lunch spot for city workers and students from the adjacent University of Auckland. Used for outdoor events, film screenings and community gatherings. Free entry, open daily from 5am.
Daily 5am–10pm · Free entryGetting Around from Te Waihorotiu
Wellesley Street becomes Auckland's key midtown bus interchange when the station opens — trains every 10 minutes in each direction on both lines.
🚌 Wellesley Street Bus Interchange
The Wellesley Street bus interchange outside the station entrance will be Auckland's main midtown bus hub — a dedicated interchange connecting trains to cross-city bus routes. Key routes serving Wellesley Street:
| Route | Serves | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 22N | New Lynn ↔ City via Avondale & New North Rd | Frequent branch |
| 22R | Rosebank Rd ↔ City via Avondale & New North Rd | Frequent branch |
| 24B | New Lynn ↔ City via Blockhouse Bay & Sandringham Rd | Frequent branch |
| 24R | New Lynn ↔ City via Tiverton Rd & Sandringham Rd | Frequent branch |
| 82 | Milford / Takapuna ↔ City Centre (Mayoral Dr) via Esmonde Rd | Frequent |
| OUT | Outer Link — St Lukes ↔ Newmarket via Mt Albert, Pt Chev, Westmere, Herne Bay & Parnell | Frequent |
| NX2 | Northern Express 2 — Hibiscus Coast / Albany ↔ City Universities via Northern Busway & Wellesley St | Frequent |
| 923 | Akoranga Station ↔ City (Mayoral Dr) via Hillcrest & Northcote | Connector |
🚌 Outside the Civic
Stops outside the Civic Theatre serve additional routes to Onehunga, Mangere and down Dominion Road:
| Route | Serves | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Onehunga ↔ City Centre (The Civic) via Manukau Rd | Connector |
| 309 | Mangere Town Centre ↔ City via Favona, Mangere Bridge & Pah Rd | Connector |
| 25B | Blockhouse Bay ↔ City via Mt Eden & Dominion Rd | Frequent branch |
| 25L | Lynfield ↔ City via Mt Roskill & Dominion Rd | Frequent branch |
💡 Trains every 10 minutes on both lines in each direction — the East-West Line runs to Manukau and Swanson, the South-City Line runs to Waitematā and Puhinui. Within the City fare zone, transfers between train and bus are free with an AT HOP card. Route 82 to Takapuna and NX2 to Albany both stop right outside the Wellesley Street entrance to Te Waihorotiu — making this a great transfer point when transferring between trains and buses to the North Shore. Route 30 connects to Onehunga via Manukau Road. Always confirm at at.govt.nz once the station opens.
⚠️ Station not yet open — opens 2026. Precinct details and opening hours were current at time of writing. Bus route information sourced from Auckland Transport — confirm timetables at at.govt.nz once the station is open.