Auckland Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 29 October 2025

Auckland is a major city located in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the largest urban area in the country, known for its natural landscapes, multicultural population, and urban life that attracts tourists from around the world.

How many people visit Auckland every year?

Each year, over 2 million international visitors visited Auckland.¹

• 2.26 million international arrivals were reported by Auckland Airport in 2024. This represented a 10.7% increase from the 2.04 million visitors in 2023 but was still 17.3% lower than the 2.73 million visitors reported in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

• Despite the decline from 2019 figures, 2024 marked a recovery from the travel restrictions of 2020 and 2021, when international arrivals were just over 700,000 and 143,000, respectively.

• Recovery began in 2022, when the Auckland Airport reported 965,538 international arrivals.

How many people visited Auckland in 2025?

Auckland has welcomed 1.28 million international tourists as of July 2025, marking a 1.4% increase from the same period of last year.

Monthly Visitor Arrivals in Auckland (2025)
Months	Total Visitors (‘000)
January	244.0
February	241.8
March	216.5
April	173.6
May	135.3
June	123.4
July	144.6
Total	1,279.2

How many people visited Auckland in 2024?

• Auckland Airport welcomed 2.26 million international visitors in 2024. This number reflected an increase from the 2.04 million arrivals in 2023 but remained 17.3% below the peak of 2.7 million arrivals recorded in 2019.
  
  

How much do visitors spend in Auckland every year?

Auckland’s total tourism expenditure reached $8.42 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025.²

• 2025’s tourism expenditure marked a 1.7% increase from $8.28 billion in 2024 and a 9.5% rise from $7.69 billion in 2023. 

• However, it was still 4.6% lower than $8.83 billion in 2019 and 3.7% below 2020 levels ($8.83 billion).

• Due to the pandemic, tourism expenditure decreased to $4.14 billion and $4.21 billion in the fiscal year 2021 and 2022, respectively.

• Domestic tourism spending in 2025 amounted to $4.56 billion, a slight 3.4% decline compared to previous years.

• International tourism expenditure in 2025 was $3.86 billion, a 8.4% increase from the previous year.

How much do tourists spend in Auckland in 2025?

Visitors spent $8.42 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025, marking a 1.7% increase from the previous year but still 3.7% below the pre-pandemic level (FY 2020).

• International visitors spent $3.86 billion, while domestic visitors spent $4.56 billion in that year.
  
  

How much do tourists spend in Auckland in 2024?

Tourist spending in Auckland increased 7.7% in 2024 (year ended March), rising to $8.28 billion. 

• Domestic spending accounted for $4.72 billion of this total, marking a 6.2% decrease. 
• Spending by international visitors rose by 34.3% to $3.56 billion.
  
  

How much does it cost to visit Auckland?

• Tourists visiting Auckland spent an average of $1,337 per trip in 2024, covering their expenses on accommodation, dining, local transportation, shopping, outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences across the city’s top attractions such as the Auckland Waterfront, Sky Tower, Waiheke Island, and Waitākere Ranges. 
  
  

Where do visitors to Auckland come from?

Australia, the USA, China, the UK and Japan were the primary sources of tourists to Auckland in 2024.³

• Visitors to Auckland primarily originated from Australia, which accounts for 745,945 in 2024.

• The USA followed with 299,836 visitors, while China had 210,182 visitors.

• The United Kingdom and Japan completed the top 5 with 130,122 and 58,967 visitors.

What were the peak tourist months in Auckland?

• December was the most popular month in Auckland in 2024 with 327,200 visitors

• February and March followed with 255,594 and 237,013 visitors, respectively.

• November and January attracted 224,693 and 219,005 visitors, respectively.

• Other months recorded below 200,000 visitors.

When is the best time to visit Auckland?

The best times to visit Auckland are March to May (autumn) and September to November (spring), when the weather is mild, crowds are fewer and accommodation tends to be more affordable.

• If prefer warm, beach-friendly weather and lively events, then the peak summer months of December to February are ideal and just expect higher prices and more visitors.

New Zealand Travel Resources

How long do tourists stay in Auckland?

• In 2024, tourists visiting Auckland stayed for an average of 2.6 nights per trip, reflecting the city’s appeal as a short yet memorable urban and nature getaway.
  
  

How popular is Auckland as tourists destination

• In 2024, Auckland was named “Destination of the Year” at the CAAC Sky Choice Travel Awards, recognizing its vibrant culture, natural beauty, and growing reputation as a world-class city.

• Also in 2024, Resonance Consultancy’s “World’s Best Cities – Asia Pacific” ranked Auckland among the top destinations in the region for its blend of urban lifestyle, natural landscapes, and cultural diversity.

• According to Nine Travel (2024), Auckland was the #1 overseas destination for Australian travellers, based on flight bookings and travel interest.

• Data from Auckland Unlimited’s 2024 Destination Overview further confirms the city’s strong tourism performance, showcasing continued visitor growth and international recognition.
  
  

Impact of Coronavirus – Auckland Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021

• In 2020, visitor arrivals at Auckland Airport dropped to 700,000, a 74.3% decrease from 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions.

• The decline continued in 2021, with only 143,000 arrivals, marking a further 79.6% decrease from 2020.

From 2020 to 2022, tourist expenditure in Auckland also experienced changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• In the year ending March 2021, total expenditure dropped sharply to $4.14 billion in Auckland (a 52.6% decrease from the same period in 2020).
  
  • Domestic expenditure was $3.63 billion, and international expenditure fell to $510.1 million.

• Total expenditure in Auckland increased by 1.8% to $4.21 billion in the year ending March 2022.
  
  • Domestic visitors spent $3.68 billion, and international visitors spent $530.1 million.

Top Attractions in Auckland

• Sky Tower: As Auckland’s most iconic landmark, and the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Sky Tower welcomes approximately 400,000 visitors every year. 

• Auckland War Memorial Museum: A cultural and historical museum that draws visitors interested in New Zealand’s natural and military history. 

• Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium: An underwater aquarium that offers an interactive experience with marine life. 

• Auckland Zoo: Home to a large number of species from New Zealand and around the world.

• Waiheke Island: Known for its vineyards and beaches, Waiheke Island is just a short ferry ride from Auckland.

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References

1.  TRA: Tourism Visitor Summary ↩︎
2.  TRA: Tourism Value ↩︎
3.  ANZ: Auckland Insights and Statistics ↩︎