Auckland Airport’s lacklustre trudge between terminals gets facelift

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

Auckland Airport unveils redirected green line walkway for terminal transfers

The renowned green line walkway at Auckland Airport is getting greener as it is rerouted to make way for construction.

The line painted on the footpath between the domestic and international terminals directs an estimated 24,000 passengers between terminals for connecting flights each week.

From today, the 950 metre-long path that travellers follow through the carpark has changed to allow for the airport’s continued redevelopment project.

About three-quarters of the path is now undercover as the route passes through 15 containers and part of the Transport Hub building. Two new small rest areas and established pōhutukawa trees are dotted along the walkway.

Large green signs and in most places a green line is painted on the footpath. The new route for the walkway is approximately 150 metres longer than the former walkway, adding between two to four minutes to the journey.

The green line has been redirected around construction.

When the airport upgrades are complete, the domestic and international terminals will be under one roof, though the green line will still be there to help direct those to the area for regional flights.

Chief operations officer Chloe Surridge said the line will be reconfigured a few times before construction is completed in 2028/2029.

“Approximately 75% of all visitors to New Zealand come through Auckland Airport. A lot of those people also connect onto domestic or regional flights so as we reconfigured the green line in order to make sure that we were going around the construction sites and making it safe for people to walk.

'Our trusty green line walkway is a well-known feature of the airport for people who would rather stretch their legs between flights than take our inter-terminal bus.“

Chloe Surridge and Kat Lane unveil the rerouted walkway.

Auckland Airport has teamed up with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to showcase 36 of New Zealand’s beautiful walks.

“As New Zealand’s gateway airport, where 75% of international visitors first arrive in our country, we’re delighted to shine a spotlight on our country’s stunning landscape and all the amazing places people can choose to visit,” Surridge said.

New Zealand’s walks are being showcased on the walls of green line containers.

As well as showcasing the well-known Abel Tasman Coast and Paparoa tracks, there are also giant snapshots highlighting lesser-known ones such as the Goat Island Walkway in Auckland, the Tawhai Falls Track in Manawatū-Whanganui and the Maunganui Bluff Track in Northland.

Travellers will have to walk through a controlled crossing.

Kat Lane, Department of Conservation operations manager for the inner Hauraki Gulf Islands in Auckland, told Stuff Travel DOC maintains around 1500 walks around the country and about 15,000 kilometres of walking tracks.

“Some of these images are some of the lesser known walks around the country, so we're hoping that it might inspire New Zealanders and to invite international visitors to get out and about and see them.

DOC data showed one in two New Zealanders are visiting a protected natural area each month, and three out of five international visitors will enjoy a walk when they're in New Zealand.

“It's pretty awesome that you can see stuff here that you'll see nowhere else in the world, some of our plant species and birds. This is a chance to inspire everyone,” Lane said.

Auckland Airport workers will be operating barriers at pedestrian road crossings, between 5am until 11pm.

For those who prefer not to walk between terminals, Auckland Airport operates a free terminal transfer bus service every 15 minutes between 5am-11pm, with the trip taking about 10 minutes.