Discover the magic where Queen Street meets the sea

Last Updated : 08 Nov 2024
Galway St Shopping Jay Farnworth Resize
Photo credit Jay Farnworth.

It’s New Zealand’s premier street. It fires up the passion of Aucklanders. It’s a dynamic place. And our newly upgraded Queen Street - from Aotea Square to downtown - now offers you a 'square to square' experience on wheels or by foot along the Waihorotiu path.

When you arrive at Te Komititanga, where Queen Street meets the sea, there is magic all around:

Te Komititanga

Breathe in the scale of this magnificent city square, a place for music, arts, light shows, buskers and festivals. Its name reflects the mixing of people, converging from multiple transport points, and the place where the waters of the Waitematā and Waihorotiu stream merge. 

Look down and see 37,000 individual pieces of basalt pavers laid in a pattern by mana whenua artist Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki) and her team of weavers to depict a whāriki (welcome mat) made from harakeke (flax).

Restored Chief Post Office

Catching a train to or from downtown? You won’t miss the restored 111-year-old Chief Post Office (CPO), now the grand entrance to the Britomart Transport Centre  

Look up and you’ll see a beautiful dome that is fit for a cathedral. Look down and you’ll see the original foundations encased in glass, telling their extraordinary story. In a complex feat of engineering, the building’s weight was transferred to its new foundations and this emblem of Auckland’s past is now restored to its former glory.

Galway Street

Weave a path around the corner to a stunning new shared space: Galway Street. Once you’ve let yourself be captivated by the area’s urban charm, the smoothed edges of the street will lead you to one of Auckland’s hospitality gems: Britomart and Takutai Square. Taste the food, wine and shopping and you will be transported (at least metaphorically) to other style capitals of the world. 

Shopping and dining

For all the delicious offerings and shopping delights of the area, we’ll throw to the awesome team at Heart of the City who have their finger on the city centre pulse. Explore places to shop here, to dine here and for bars and nightlife here.

 

The enhancement of Queen Street and Britomart surrounds have been delivered by Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, City Rail Link and private developers.

Find out about the next big development – the midtown regeneration - at ProgressAKL.co.nz/Midtown.

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