Sleeping in Auckland Airport

Whether your situation calls for a short nap or an overnight slumber, this sleep guide will give you the essential information needed to prepare you for sleeping in Auckland Airport.

Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Auckland Airport. If you have a tip or photos to share, please take a moment to write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!

Read the latest traveller reviews.

Sleeping in Auckland Airport

Locations & Seating

The seating is a mix of chairs and benches, both with and without armrests, and you can guess which ones fill up the quickest! Depending on the day, all the seating may be full, but other days, you may have your pick. If you can’t snag an armrest-free bench, lying on the floor is probably your next best option. Seek out a carpeted patch, though an extra soft layer will help you cope with cold tile floors.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

In the International Terminal, Floor 2, the hallway that houses the Air China office is quiet and warm, with an armrest-free bench towards the back and some nearby carpet.
Six 4-seater benches and a patch of carpet near Rice and Noodles in the International Terminal, Floor 2, is a quiet, comfortable spot.
The area near Gates 34-50, near the free showers, has many benches and warm temperatures.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no rest zones within the airport.

Temperature

It can definitely get cold here at night, particularly if you’re stationed near exterior windows or doors – an extra blanket or sleeping bag is ideal.

Lighting

Lights are bright in Auckland Airport no matter the time of day or night. Arrive prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.

Noise

This airport is definitely loud – a combination of round-the-clock announcements plus ambient traveller noise. Some travellers mentioned noise from cleaning crews waking them up. Construction crews occasionally work through the night, though this may be finishing up soon. Definitely plan ahead by bringing earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Pro-tip: If you chose a spot near any eateries, keep in mind that the staff arrive early and they can get pretty loud in the kitchen.

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Locations: free showers are located just outside the International Arrivals gate, and pre-Security on Floor 1 of the Domestic Terminal, near the Air New Zealand Premium Check-in counters. You can purchase towels and toiletries at Relay, Travelpharm, or the iSite Tourism Information Centre. Some lounges also have showers – see our Auckland Airport Guide for details.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors: Long White Cafe (pre-Security, International Terminal), Espresso Bar (pre-Security, International Terminal, and Take Home convenience market (inside Security, International Terminal).

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you would like a good solid sleep between flights, the closest hotel is the Novotel Auckland Airport, which is located just next to the International Terminal, in walking distance. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Auckland Airport.

Lounges

While Auckland Airport has several lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Auckland Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on security or safety issues at Auckland Airport. As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:

Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport by yourself or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras in the spot you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you and they will direct you to a safe spot.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with earphones and no ipod and a laptop bag strap and no laptop bag (or laptop). Same goes with important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body, so that no one can get them without waking you up.
Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall, so that it would be hard for someone to access.
Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee and stay awake and be alert. You can always sleep on the plane!

Pro-tip: If you are sleeping in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds waking people up as travellers begin to arrive for morning flights, particularly around 5:00 AM.