Auckland Harbour Bridge

Auckland Harbour Bridge is a steel structure with eight lanes that stretches 1020 meters (roughly 3350 feet) across Waitemata Harbour, linking St Marys Bay with Northcote. Its construction consists of a box truss system that rises on supports above the water.

Freeman Fox & Partners designed the span, which Dorman Long built between 1956 and 1959 following years of debate and three Royal Commissions. Additional lanes were clipped onto the sides in 1969 to handle growing traffic between Auckland and the northern suburbs.

The name comes from Waitemata Harbour, a Māori term referring to the water that flows here between the city and the north shore. Colored LED lighting along the trusses turns the structure into a visible landmark above the dark water each evening.

The crossing is designed for vehicle traffic and is best viewed from the shoreline or experienced while driving across. Several lookout points along the bay offer clear views of the entire length of the structure.

A memorial plaque at Stokes Point beneath the span lists the names of four workers who died during construction. The steel trusses were assembled on site, with large sections floated across the water using barges.

Location: Auckland Region

Inception: May 30, 1959

Official opening: May 30, 1959

Length: 1,020 m

Longest Span: 243.8 m

Made from material: steel

GPS coordinates: -36.82944,174.74639

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:53