How to get from Henderson to Sky Tower (We covered all 4 ways!)
David Harris
| Last Updated: July 2023 So, you’re in Henderson and you want to go to Sky Tower? As it happens, you’re spoiled for choice in transport options here.
There are four main ways to get from Henderson to Sky Tower: by train, by bus, by car, and walking.
We’ll show you how to get from Henderson to Sky Tower, no matter how you decide to get there!
How to get to Sky Tower from Henderson by Train
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of steps | 7 |
| Time to get to Sky Tower | 1 hour |
| Things you need | AT HOP card or cash for train ticketTransportation to Henderson Train Station |
- Prepare before you travel. Before embarking on your journey, ensure you have a valid AT HOP card or enough cash to purchase a paper ticket.
A one-way train ticket from Henderson to Britomart (the closest station to the Sky Tower) costs approximately 6 NZD for an adult with an AT HOP card or 7.50 NZD for a paper ticket.
If you have one, we suggest topping up your AT HOP card online, but if you don’t you can always do it at the station.
- Check the train timetable and duration. You can check the timetable for the train schedule online like we did—we used Google Maps.
Trains from Henderson to Britomart run frequently throughout the day, with services approximately every 30 minutes during weekdays and hourly on weekends. So depending on what time you decide to leave, we advise you to arrive at Henderson Station at least 15 minutes
- Get to Henderson Train Station. If you’re travelling by car, a Park & Ride facility is available at the station.
Alternatively, depending on your starting point, you can take a bus or walk to the station.
- Get your tickets. Once you arrive at the station, look for the ticket machines or AT HOP card top-up point machines near the entrance
- Board the train heading towards Britomart on the Western Line at Platform 1. The entire bus ride is 48 minutes and there are thirteen stops.
- Arrive at Britomart Station. Once the train reaches Britomart Transport Centre, disembark the train and follow the signs for the exit.
- Walk to Sky Tower or take a cab. The walk to Sky Tower from Britomart Transport Centre takes about 13 minutes.
If you want to save money like we did, we walked for 13 minutes from Britomart Station to get to Sky Tower. We followed the walking directions on Google Maps.
If you’re in a hurry, though, you can always snag a cab.
How to get to Sky Tower from Henderson by Bus
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of steps | 7 |
| Time to get to Sky Tower | One hour |
| Things you need | AT HOP card/cashTransport to Henderson Station |
- Prepare before you travel. Make sure you have a valid AT HOP card or enough cash to purchase a bus ticket at the station.
A one-way bus fare from Henderson to the city centre is approximately 5 NZD for an adult with an AT HOP card or 7 NZD in cash.
- Decide what time you want to leave. Buses usually run frequently throughout the day, with services approximately every 15 minutes during weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends.
We used Google Maps to help us get an estimate of what time we should leave for the station in order to catch the bus on time. But we advise getting to the station early in case the bus comes earlier than expected.
- Get to Henderson Station. We suggest using the GPS on your phone to find the best route to the bus terminal from your location.
- Get on the right bus. Look for bus line 133 (City Centre)—the bus usually departs from Platform A. This bus will take you directly to the closest stop near the Sky Tower.
- Pay for your bus ticket. When boarding the bus, tag on with your AT HOP card or purchase a bus ticket from the driver using cash.
- Get off at the correct stop. Stay alert for the stop “Swanson Street”.
Use the electronic displays on the bus or the AT Mobile app to help you identify the correct stop.
- Walk four minutes to Sky Tower. Sky Tower will be on your left, so head toward Wyndham St and turn left onto Victoria St W.
How to get to Sky Tower from Henderson by Car
| Difficulty | Mild ●●●○○ |
| Number of steps | 10 |
| Time to get to Sky Tower | 35 minutes (Time will vary depending on starting point) |
| Things you need | CarValid driver’s license |
- Prepare for the drive to Sky Tower. Before getting on the road, make sure your license is up to date and keep your car registration in your car.
Check your fuell, oil, and coolant levels, and the weather forecasts for the day of your trip, as Auckland’s weather can be unpredictable.
- Make sure you have a form of GPS navigation on your phone. We used Google Maps to help us stay on the right course.
Traffic can be heavy during peak hours, so allow extra time for your journey.
- Begin driving. Depending on where you’re coming from in Henderson, you want to make your way to Lincoln Road (State Highway 16).
- Continue on State Highway 16 for approximately 4.5 km.
- Take the exit towards Great North Road and merge onto Great North Road.
- Drive along Great North Road for about 7.5 km, passing through Grey Lynn and Ponsonby.
- As you approach the city centre, turn right onto Karangahape Road (also known as K’ Road)
- After 1 km, turn left onto Pitt Street.
- Continue straight onto Nelson Street for 600 meters.
- Turn left onto Victoria Street West. Drive for approximately 300 meters, and the Sky Tower will be on your left.
How to get to Sky Tower from Henderson by Walking
| Difficulty | Hard ●●●●○ |
| Number of steps | 11 |
| Time to get to Sky Tower | 3 hours 35 minutes |
| Things you need | Good walking shoes Bottle of waterCharged phone |
Walking from Henderson to the Sky Tower is a long journey, covering approximately 16 km and taking around 3 hours and 35 minutes. While we don’t suggest walking as a first option, we know what it’s not like to not alway have access to other transport.
- Plan your journey. The most scenic and enjoyable walking route from Henderson to the Sky Tower involves following the Northwestern Cycleway, which runs parallel to the State Highway 16 motorway and offers a dedicated walking and cycling path.
We suggest starting early in the morning to make the most of this walk, allowing yourself plenty of time to enjoy the sights and take breaks along the way. Make sure you check the weather forecast before setting off and prepare accordingly with sun protection, rain gear, and comfortable walking shoes.
- Take necessary safety precautions. Carry a fully charged phone with GPS capabilities, a bottle of water, and some snacks for the journey.
Stay aware of your surroundings and follow all posted signs and traffic signals when crossing roads or navigating urban areas.
- Begin your walk at the West City Waitakere shopping mall. From West City Waitakere, head east on Railside Avenue towards Great North Road.
- Turn left onto Great North Road and continue for approximately 600 meters.
- Once you reach the intersection at Central Park Drive, turn right onto the Northwestern Cycleway, which runs parallel to State Highway 16.
- Follow the Northwestern Cycleway for roughly 13 km. Along the way, you’ll pass through local parks and residential areas and enjoy views of the Waitematā Harbour.
- Upon reaching the end of the cycleway at the Upper Queen Street overbridge, continue onto Canada Street.
- Turn right onto Mercury Lane, then left onto Karangahape Road (K’ Road).
- Walk along K’ Road for approximately 1 km before turning left onto Pitt Street.
- Continue straight onto Nelson Street for 600 meters.
- Turn left onto Victoria Street West and walk approximately 300 meters. The Sky Tower will be on your left.
