With Auckland venues opening up, we’re celebrating some of the most accessible attractions that Auckland has to offer.
On Thursday 2nd November, Auckland moved to the red light setting of the COVID-19 Protection Framework. Under these settings public facilities such as zoos and museums can reopen, with visitors keeping 1 metres apart, scanning or record keeping, and face coverings. This means that the majority of Auckland’s attractions can reopen.
It’s fantastic that many of Auckland’s main attractions are committed to improving their accessibility, and many have engaged Be. Lab over the past few years to support them to implement accessibility improvements. So, let’s hear it for Auckland’s top attractions and what they’re doing well!
In this blog we're celebrating the Auckland Botanic Gardens, the Auckland Art Gallery, the New Zealand Maritime Museum, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Auckland Zoo. Find out more about their accessibility features below:
The Auckland Botanic Gardens is a stunningly beautiful regional park, located in Manurewa, South Auckland, 20 minutes from the city centre. Covering 64 hectares of land, the gardens consist of varied and unique plantings with a SouthPacific flavour, and interesting sculptures. Most paths are accessible for wheelchair users, pushchairs and mobility scooters, so it’s a great day out for those with access needs.
There are plenty of mobility carparks close to the entrance, a drop off zone, and a level carpark area.
The Gardens have been open since Level 3, and now with the recent changes in settings, the Visitor Centre and cafe have now opened to the public with vaccine passes.
Within the Visitor Centre you can find friendly and helpful staff, and information and advice about the gardens, and get printed maps to help you find your way around. There are accessible toilets, and a large family room with chair, toilet, and change table. Note that while wheelchairs are available for loan, Mobility Scooters are not available for issue at present. The latest advice is that this service will resume under the orange light settings, but any updates will be published on the website.
(Also note, the awesome guided tours and sensory tours will not be running for the remainder of 2021 due to COVID-but make sure to check them out when settings allow). Miko Café is accessible through the visitor centre, and open for contactless takeaway food and drinks.
Information on the "What's On" page on the website highlights which parts of the garden are the best to visit during different times of the year, and upcoming events. For the months of December through April their is a sculpture exhibition on show. Find our more information here:
https://www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/whats-on/events/sculpture-in-the-gardens/
We love that accessibility information is easy to find, with a link at the top of the homepage of their website:
https://www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/visit-us/accessibility/
The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki has an extensive collection of national and international art, and exhibitions that change every few months. This heritage building has been beautifully restored and expanded. The staff are friendly and well-trained to assist those with access needs. (Note that the daily tours, including NZ Sign Language and audio described tours, will not be operating under the current settings. See the COVID-19 update page for details). Entry is free for New Zealand residents, with charges for special exhibitions.
The accessible route throughout the gallery allows access to most facilities, however, the heritage status of the building means there are steps and narrow doorways in some parts of the building. Staff are on hand to help access customers find the nearest ramp or wide entrance.
There are accessible counters available at the information desk in reception and several accessible toilets are available on multiple floors. Two accessible car parks can be found opposite the main entrance on Kitchener Street.
The café is accessible, and now open for limited numbers with vaccine passes and table service only.
Accessibility information is located under the “visit” tab, under “visitor information”:
https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/visit/visitor-information/accessibility/
Check up-to-date COVID-19 information here:
https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/visit/visitor-information/covid-19-update
The New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa is a unique and special place situated right in the heart of Auckland City, on the Waitemata Harbour waterfront. It is a fantastic place to explore New Zealand's rich and diverse maritime history. Entry is free for all Auckland residents.
The access to the building is level, and you will find the nearest accessible carparks located in the nearby Downtown carpark. The Maritime Museum has friendly, helpful staff, manual wheelchairs available for loan and support animals are welcomed on premises.
Most of the facilities at the Maritime Museum can be accessed by all customers, via an accessible route, and there are accessible all gender toilets and a change station. Visitors using Manual wheelchairs and prams are also able to access the TED ASHBY.
Accessibility information is located under the “visit” tab on the website:
https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/visit/accessibility/
Guided tours will not be available under the red setting. Check up to date COVID-19 information here:
https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/covid-19-update/
The Auckland Museum is housed in a historical building, within the tranquil Auckland Domain park. All areas of the Museum can be accessed by wheelchair users with the exception of the whare rūnanga Hotonui, and there are lifts available to access different floors of the museum.
Both the Grand Foyer and the South Atrium entrances have ramp access. Note that the Grand Foyer entrance has a revolving door, but this can be slowed to accommodate those with limited mobility. The South entrance has easier access, as it has an automatic door. Wheelchairs may be borrowed from both the Grand Foyer and Te Ao Mārama/South Atrium.
There are accessible toilets throughout the building, and support dogs welcome.
The Auckland Museum is currently free for all visitors, to allow for a contactless experience. There are no guided tours at present, however wheelchairs are available for visitors, and will be sanitised after each use.
Accessibility information is a bit hard to find on the website but you can access it here:
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/visit/visit-plan-your-visit/visit-plan-your-visit-access/
And check out up to date COVID-19 information here:
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/visit/visiting-in-red
Auckland Zoo is now open to general visitors, with limited sessions available each day which must be pre-booked through the website.
Auckland Zoo is a world-class facility, and has the largest diversity of wildlife inNew Zealand. It is a wonderful day out for people of all ages and abilities.
Most facilities are on a stable and firm accessible route, however some routes are not suitable for those using mobility equipment. A free map is available showing the location of accessible routes- just ask at the ticket office.
There are accessible carparks close to the main entrance, an accessible ticket counter and level accessible entry into the four different cafes on site. There are accessible toilets located throughout the zoo with areas for baby changing, and most support animals are permitted onsite (check website for details).
Accessibility information is a bit hard to find on the website but you can access it here:
https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/visit/plan-your-day/
Information about reopening can be found here:
https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/get-zoo-ready
Please note that all attractions listed above require vaccine passes for entry, and are guided by the Auckland Council and Auckland Unlimited vaccine policy.