Tip 1: Getting there
As the Aotea Square continues to be under redevelopment, we have been advised that the best access points to the Aotea Centre are:
- Direct access from Level 1 of the Civic car park
- Via the Bledisloe stairwell from the Civic car park
- Via Mayoral Drive using the temporary staircase at the north end of Aotea Centre or by the Box Office at ground level
- Via Greys Avenue, past the Civic Administration Building
- Mobility users are advised to access the Aotea Centre at the ground floor by the Box Office (free mobility parking available in Bledisloe car park) or via Level 1 of the car park
Take a look at the map for more information about access points.
Tip 2: Parking
There might be more pressure on parking at the Civic Carpark than you’ve experienced in previous years (due to the development). Please allow extra time to find parking to avoid missing the starts of the sessions.
Other near-by car parks can be found at the Crowne Plaza (128 Albert Street), adjacent to the Rendezvous Hotel (corner of Mayoral Drive and Vincent Street), and Tournament Car Park (Greys Avenue at Mayoral drive).
Alternatively, take public transportation. Visit www.maxx.co.nz or phone MAXX on 09 366 6400 for most direct method.
Tip 3: Buying tickets
Tickets can be couriered to you if you order before the end of Wednesday 5 May.
From Thursday 6 May, tickets can not be posted to you when you order them. You must either collect them from the Aotea Centre Box Office, or you can still (until the end of Friday 7 May) ask to have them couriered direct to you (for an additional $5.50 courier charge).
Tip 4: Collecting Tickets
If you plan to collect your tickets from the Aotea Centre Box Office immediately before your festival event, we’d advise you to allow 45 minutes before the festival event’s start time to make sure you take your seat in a relaxed and happy state (with coffee).
Tip 5: What can I take into the sessions?
You can take drinks (coffee!) into the ASB Theatre and the Lower NZI Room at the Aotea Centre during the events – but no glass items are allowed. Please make sure you put any rubbish in the bin when you leave though.
Tip 6: Getting a Seat
Ticketed events: All seating for ticketed events is General Admission. Club Members have reserved seats at the front. Note: You can leave belongings on your seat if you’re attending two consecutive events in the same venue but at your own risk.
Free Events: It will be first come, first served – it is not possible to reserve seats either in advance or on the day for Free Events.
Tip 7: Festival Bookshop
Do your browsing at the Festival Bookshop while events are on (if you have time to wait and you’re not rushing direct from one event to another). The Festival Bookshop accepts Eftpos, Cash, Cheque and Credit Cards, and they will have all available books by all festival authors on site for sale.
Tip 8: Book Signing
Just a thought, but if you’re waiting in a signing queue (and some can be very long!), you will be asked to write down any special wording you want in the front of your book on a post-it to hand to the author when you get to the front of the queue. You could get super-organised and do this beforehand on a post-it and have it ready to go … (picture trying to juggle a book, your bag, your coffee and an umbrella (!) while you write on your post-it).
Tip 9: Coffee!
Two Allpress coffee carts will be in operation in the Owens Foyer this year – hooray – caffeine fueling stations at the ready!
Tip 10: Feed your Body as well as your Mind
Food and other beverages will be available for sale at the Aotea Centre. View the Festival menu online here. In addition, there are many great places to ear and drink in and near to the Aotea Quarter.
Water coolers are available at THE EDGE.
Tip 11: Last-minute tickets
Buy a 10 Trip Pass before Wednesday 12 May and you can use it to select tickets during the Festival (not available after 13 May)
Buy a Ten Trip Concession Pass for just $139.00 (30% discount on standard prices!) and enjoy the flexibility of deciding what you want to attend as you go. (Excludes all Special Events and can only by phone 09 357 3355 or at THE EDGE box office).
A friendly reminder that Standard (door) Prices start on Wednesday 13 May:
- $23.00 for ASB Theatre events (instead of $19.50)
- $19.50 for Lower NZI events (instead of $16.50)
- $32.00 for the New Zealand Listener Opening Night (instead of $27.00)
- $32.00 for An Evening with William Dalrymple (instead of $27.00)
Tip 12: 50% Student Discounts are good throughout the Festival
Students get a 50% discount on events excluding 17, 18, 19, and 23. Student ID and proof of eligibility may be required and are subject to availability. Service fees do apply.
Tip 13: Festival Information Desk
If you need help with anything, go to the Festival Information Desk to the right of the Stalls Entrance to the ASB Theatre. Lost items, friends and family, general queries, directions, etc will be answered thanks to our dedicated volunteers manning ‘Mission Control’.