Auckland is served by Auckland’s International Airport located in Mangere, a western suburb of Manukau City. The airport is 13 miles/21 km south of Auckland city centre.

From the airport you have several transportation options to get where you are going. There are a number of bus services running between the airport and Auckland city centre. There are also airport shuttle services and taxis available outside of the Arrivals area. Many of the shuttle services provide means to transport your bicycle (they are equipped with spacious trailers).

The airport is also accessible by bicycle via a bicycle lane, should you decide to assemble/unpack you bike and ride out towards the city. Travelers can dismantle or assemble bicycles in the arrivals area which is located outside the international terminal. However, once you reach the suburbs, bike lanes and bike paths all but disappear and you are in with heavy traffic which can be quite hazardous. As a result, the suggestion is to avoid riding your bicycle out/to the airport.

Since Auckland is the largest city of New Zealand, it is served by several bus companies and by train service.

The Tranz Scenic company runs the Overlander daily train service between Wellington and Auckland during the summer season (December through April) and Friday through Sunday during off season (May through November). The train stops in many small towns between Auckland and Wellington, where it can be boarded for Auckland. The final stop is the main station in Auckland – The Britomart –which is the transportation hub for buses, local trains, and also for transferring to ferry service in the neighboring Auckland Ferry Terminal. Bicycles can be carried onboard the Overlander (usually stored in a cargo carriage) and reservations are recommended. You may be asked to cover the chain and remove the pedals for the transport, but generally that is not the case.

Many bus companies serve Auckland. InterCity, Little Kiwi Bus and Northliner Express are just a few. Best is to check their web sites to find out the latest schedule, prices, and their policy for carrying bicycles.  Less...

Although Auckland is not the windiest city in New Zealand, you can always count on breezy days (it is also called the "City of Sails," which implies there is always plenty of wind to set the sails to). The prevailing winds come from the Tasman Sea and are blowing west-to-east year round, unless it is influenced by La Nina which will change the predominant winds to easterlies. The windiest season is in spring between September and November, while the calmest is in fall from March to May.

Generally the temperature in Auckland region is mild enough to afford riding year round, and some of the best days for riding (weather-wise) are in late summer to mid autumn. Auckland's winter temperature during the day rarely drops below 10°C (50°F), and it generally hovers around 22°C (72°F) - 27°C (81°F) during the summer. Auckland can get humid in summer though, especially if the winds blow from the north (from the tropics), but it is not too uncomfortable.  Less...

Auckland roads, as most of New Zealand roads, are of a sealed-chip surface. This results in a rough ride (jarring ride) for those who ride road bicycle with narrow high pressure tires. Otherwise the quality of roads in the Auckland region is fairly good.

Riding on the roads in Auckland metro area is not for the faint in heart as the traffic is heavy and drivers seem to be distracted and often ignorant of cyclists. There are only few roads in the Auckland metro area that have bicycle lanes, but the lanes are far and between and generally are broken into short sections and lack continuity. It seems as if the infrastructure to support urban cycling around Auckland is still in its infancy (as of 2007) and will take a while to implement.

Paved shoulders on rural roads are minimal or non-existent. Some of the main roads however do have wide shoulders which will shield you from its busy traffic. Luckily once you leave the Auckland metro area the rural roads do not have that much traffic.  Less...