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AKL Planespotting Advice

VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 499 posts, RR: 0
Posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 926 times:

I'm going to be in Auckland in a couple weeks and want to do some planespotting. I don't have a car so I'm quite keen on finding a place around the airport that can be accessed by foot and isn't too far off the main road. Any ideas of where I can go to get some good pics and the best time of day is?

Cheers

...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return

7 replies: All unread, jump to last

Aerorobnz From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6320 posts, RR: 14
Reply 1, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 880 times:

From the International terminal head off towards domestic following the blue and white line, but instead of turning right towards the terminal walk straight towards the roundabout, cross the road and head towards the red and white striped hanger. go past that hanger and turn right down the next road. You'll see the runway at the end of the road. At the end of the road there is Air NZ maintenance carpark, where you can watch planes landing and taxiing.
For approach shotyou can walk it, but a car is more important for that spot.

Noelg From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 2, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 876 times:

Head to the Air NZ domestic terminal, there is a great viewing deck overlooking the apron. From here you can see all arrivals/departures, and get good photos in the right conditions.

Also, outside the QF Domestic terminal, turn left out of the terminal building and there is a fence within a short walk that brings you out right underneath one of the gates - but that's only really any use for stuff pulling onto that gate!

Cheers
Noel

PureKiwi From New Zealand, joined Feb 2006, 183 posts, RR: 0
Reply 3, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 830 times:

If you want to do just spotting if you go to the departures area before security there is a viewing deck but I can't remember how to get to it. I think its called the skydeck and theres a few signs pointing to it.

Nzrich From New Zealand, joined Dec 2005, 1487 posts, RR: 1
Reply 4, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 819 times:

As said before 2 viewing decks one in the Air NZ domestic terminal and one in the international..

Domestic up the stairs to the right of the check in area and its at the top on the left outside..

International entrance is from the top floor above departures ..stairs to that entrance is right at the end of that floor easy to find if any trouble just ask any staff member..

"Pride of the pacific"

NZ107 From New Zealand, joined Jul 2005, 5672 posts, RR: 40
Reply 5, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 764 times:

The best viewing area is really the new multi storey carpark across the road from the domestic terminal. If its not cold, you could stay here for hours! There's an escalator from the construction area between the QF and NZ domestic terminals leading up to the carpark. Take the lift to the top level and it gives unmatched view over the entire airport (well excluding the control tower). No glass to shoot through. The entire runway is in view.

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Photo © Colin Hunter

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These show the carpark that I'm talking about:

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Photo © Colin Hunter

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Photo © Colin Hunter

Best times of day would be the rush before lunch when all the Asian ones arrive(1000 to 1200), after lunch when they all leave (1300 onwards) and the later afternoon ones with Emirates and the flights to America coming in. Quite a few heavies, but with a good zoom lens the 737s and A320s are still there for the viewing.

It's all about the destination AND the journey.

777ER From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 11308 posts, RR: 17
Reply 6, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 754 times:

AIRLINERS.NET CREW
FORUM MODERATOR

Quoting Noelg (Reply 2):
Head to the Air NZ domestic terminal, there is a great viewing deck overlooking the apron.

That spot gets ruined a little bit when a B737 or A320 is parked directly in front of it. You have to take shots throu the glass thou at both the Domestic and International viewing decks.

Quoting Noelg (Reply 2):
outside the QF Domestic terminal, turn left out of the terminal building and there is a fence within a short walk that brings you out right underneath one of the gates - but that's only really any use for stuff pulling onto that gate!

I once took a pic of a QF B733 from that location and I didn't need to use the zoom on the digital

MyAviation.net photo:

Quoting PureKiwi (Reply 3):

Thats in the International terminal. On the public deparutres level (level 1) over towards the food court, beside the exit to Passport control/MAF and infront of the AIAL help desk are some stairs and escalators that leads up to level 2. Up there you can look down on the International passengers heading towards the gates after passing throu the customs/maf. There are some windows with seating on that level that also looks out towards the tarmac. Beside those window facing seats are some more stairs, go up those stairs and bingo your on the main viewing deck

VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 499 posts, RR: 0
Reply 7, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 739 times:

Thanks for the advice - hopefully i'll get some good shots when im in Auckland mid-November!

Cheers

...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return

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