Plan your first look inside one of 3 CRL stations in August

Choose an hour-long visiting window at one or all three new CRL stations.

Publish Date : 31 Jul 2026
Resize June2026 Crlkaranga A Hape Stn Finished Top Shot Credit Mark Barber
CRL in Karanga-a-Hape Station. Photo credit: Mark Barber.

Aucklanders are invited to choose an hour on three successive Saturdays and see inside three new stations – Maungawhau, Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu. 

Auckland Transport, City Rail Link Limited and KiwiRail are opening the City Rail Link (CRL) stations to the public for this series of First Looks in August.

These will be free, ticketed sessions open to anyone to attend. The First Look events will take place on consecutive Saturdays in August.

8 August – First Look at Maungawhau Station  
15 August – First Look at Karanga-a-Hape Station
22 August – First Look at Te Waihorotiu Station

A set of escalators at a train station.

Escalators entering Te Waihorotiu Station. Photo credit: David Harrison.

You can pre-register your interest in these events now using this link.

3 station first looks this August

Choose your hour-long visiting window at each of the three new stations built as part of the City Rail Link (CRL), on three Saturdays starting on 8 August.

Book your hour on one of on three consecutive Saturdays here: pages.iticket.co.nz/crlfirstlooks.

Maungawhau Station is first up on Saturday 8 August from 8am until 6pm.

The interior of a train station.

Maungawhau Station is now finished. Photo credit: Mark Barber.

The second First Look is at Karanga-a-Hape Station on Saturday 15 August, and the third First Look is at Te Waihorotiu Station on Saturday 22 August.

The interior of Karanga a Hape Station.

Interior of Karanga-a-Hape Station. Photo credit: David Harrison.

Auckland Transport Group Manager Rail Services, Mark Lambert, says this is the first chance the public has had to enter Auckland's newest stations.

"We're excited to give people the opportunity to experience them before passenger services begin," says Mark Lambert. 

The events will also provide a a chance to rediscover the station neighbourhoods, their local businesses and activities, and their upgraded streets, public spaces, and public art.

How to pre-register

Tickets will be available one week ahead of each event. Those who pre-register will get an email alert as soon as tickets are available to sign up for.

Each station will host ten one-hour sessions from 8am. From low-sensory and early bird sessions to busking and community performances inside they will be a fun day for all. Ticket holders will need to attend within the session they have registered for.

Outside the station gates, there will be the chance to explore local food, shopping and activities in the station neighbourhoods – Uptown, Karangahape Road and Midtown in the heart of the city.

More information about the events, including how to get there and what attendees can and can't bring, will be provided closer to each event.

It’s your chance to learn more about how the train network will change before the trains start whistling through the new CRL tunnels.  

Station neighbourhoods

These two CRL station neighbourhoods in the city centre are ready for you to explore: Waitematā Station neighbourhood and Karanga-a-Hape Station neighbourhood.

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