Planespotting is part of what makes AKL special. We love seeing aviation fans capture the aircraft that come through.

Enjoying planespotting at AKL means doing it safely, respectfully, and in the right places. To keep everyone safe and the airport running smoothly, you need to apply for approval using the Planespotting Notice Form.

Before you arrive

Submit the Planespotting Notice Form at least one working day in advance, Monday to Friday, and include a phone number we can reach you on while you’re on site.
If you’re visiting on Sunday, submit your form by Thursday.
When you arrive, call our Monitoring team on 0800 677 242 and select option 4 to let us know your location and how long you plan to stay.

While you're planespotting

Use public areas only. Do not enter private land or businesses, and keep at least 1.5 metres back from boundary fences. Do not lean on fences or put anything through or over them.
Wear a high-vis vest and carry photo ID.
Do not use drones or UAVs, ladders, or climb on structures.
Stay aware of your surroundings and do not disrupt traffic, vehicles, or airport operations.
Be respectful of others. Share vantage points, do not film people without their consent, and follow any instructions from airport staff or security agencies.
If you’re spotting from one of our car parks, stay within the building footprint, do not lean over rails, and only use a parking space if your vehicle is parked in it.

Stay social

From time to time, we reshare public planespotting content on our social channels and credit the creator. If you’d like your content to be considered, tag @aucklandairport and use #AKLsharemyspot so we know which images you'd love us to share.

Important

You may be approached by a member of the Airport Security team, Aviation Security, Police, or other Border Agency. They are responsible for the safety of our airport and all visitors. Please respect and comply with their questions and/or instructions.

Thanks for being part of our community, and happy planespotting.

Planespotting Notice Form

Complete this form to let our security teams know that you'll be coming on-precinct for planespotting. This is only necessary for AKL locations.

Please complete all of the required (*) fields below.

For additional dates, please complete a separate form.

First name *

Last name *

Your phone number *

Your email *

Social media accounts (one per line)

Location(s) you wish to planespot from * Domestic Carpark M Domestic Carpark R Puhinui Road Lookout

Date you'll be planespotting *

Times you'll be planespotting *

Will you be alone or with others? How many extra people? *

By ticking this box, I agree to follow all conditions and guidelines for planespotting at Auckland Airport as outlined above. *

Quick links

Best places for planespotting

Read our guide to choosing the best places for planespotting in Auckland.

Read our recommended locations and tips to ensure you get the most out of your planespotting visit.

man wearing high visibility vest in fluoro yellow stands outside and points large camera with zoom lens upwards to the sky