The CRL is Officially Open: Here's Your Excuse to Get Off at Every Stop
For years, getting around central Auckland meant navigating hoardings, detours, and businesses doing their best to stay visible behind a wall of construction fencing. On 13 September 2026, all of that paid off: the City Rail Link officially opened, connecting the city in ways Aucklanders haven't experienced before.
The upgrade has meant faster trains, better frequency, and three transformed station precincts. But there's another side to this story that's easy to overlook once the novelty of a new train ride wears off: the businesses that spent the better part of a decade trading through noise, dust, and reduced foot traffic are still there, and they could use your custom now more than ever.
So consider this your invitation. Next time you're deciding where to grab a coffee, have dinner, or spend a Saturday, get off at a CRL station you don't usually use and explore what the surrounding areas have to offer. Here's a taster of what's waiting at each one.
Karanga-a-Hape Station: K Road's next chapter
Step off at Karanga-a-Hape and you land right in the middle of one of Auckland's most creative, if not most disrupted, precincts. The station has two entrances - one at Mercury Lane, the other opening straight onto the newly revitalised Beresford Square, where Māori design elements including a bronze manaia sculpture now welcome you to street level.
From there, K Road unfolds:
Gemmayze Street: Tucked into the historic St Kevin's Arcade, this Lebanese restaurant has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its modern take on chef Samir Allen's family recipes. The hummus alone is worth the trip, and the arcade's leadlight windows over Myers Park make it one of the prettiest rooms in the city.
Apéro Food & Wine: A K Road institution for over a decade, this cosy French-leaning wine bar on Karangahape Road itself does shared plates, charcuterie, and an outstanding by-the-glass list. Perfect for a date night or an after-work catch-up.
Bar Magda, Tempero and Pici: More of the strip's well-loved dinner spots, covering everything from modern-contemporary Filipino, Latin-influenced small plates to Italian favourites, all within a short stroll of the station.
Artspace Aotearoa: If you want to make a day of it, this free contemporary art gallery has been championing New Zealand artists since 1987. An easy, no-cost addition to a K Road wander.
Whether you're after a long lunch or a night that runs past midnight, K Road is built for lingering, and every dollar spent here goes to businesses that held on through years of roadworks right outside their doors.
Te Waihorotiu Station: the city's cultural heart, now easier to reach
Right in Auckland's midtown, Te Waihorotiu Station has entrances on both Wellesley and Victoria Streets, dropping you into the arts and entertainment quarter.
The Civic Theatre: One of the world's few remaining atmospheric theatres, with a programme spanning musicals, comedy, and concerts.
Aotea Centre and Auckland Town Hall: Auckland's home for major performances, exhibitions, and events, both an easy walk from the station.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki: New Zealand's largest art gallery, showcasing local and international work.
Queen Street and High Street: For shopping and dining, these two iconic Auckland streets cover everything from high street retail to some of the city's best-regarded restaurants.
This is the station for a proper day out: gallery in the morning, lunch on High Street, theatre in the evening - all without moving too far.
Maungawhau Station: the village feel of Mount Eden
A short ride from the CBD, Maungawhau Station puts you at the foot of one of Auckland's iconic volcanic cones. It's a different pace entirely from K Road or midtown - a village strip of cafés and local shops that's easy to spend a slow morning in, followed by a walk up the maunga itself for arguably the best view in the city.
Why your support matters
The economic case for CRL was always framed around the long-term wins: faster commutes, more capacity, easier access to the city. But researchers have pointed out that construction projects like this one often overlook the short-term cost to the businesses caught in the middle of them - lost revenue, reduced foot traffic, and in some cases years of hardship before support arrived. Now that the disruption is behind us and the promised foot traffic is finally showing up, the easiest way for the rest of us to help is simple: get off at a stop you wouldn't normally use, and spend a little time, and money, there.
The CRL took a decade to build. The businesses around its stations spent that decade waiting for you. Now's the time to show up.