Multimodal exploring around Tāmaki Makaurau No.5

A look into what I checked out during my latest multimodal adventure around the North Shore.

It was a sunny midwinter Sunday here in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, which meant great weather for multimodal exploring around the North Shore.

Our adventure begins at Lower Albert Street, unlike previous adventures around the Shore, where we went across Te Waitematā via the city’s ferry network. I went across via the NX1 as Auckland Transport is trialling bike racks inside the buses, installing them in 15 buses. These racks can carry two bikes at a time and have straps to secure the bikes. I found the rack was easy to use and bike was kept secure throughout the trip to Albany. You can check the AT Mobile app to see which buses on the NX1 can carry bikes. The trial will run for a year, and if it is successful, the racks could be expanded to the NX2 and WX1.

Bike racks on the NX1 (Baker, 2025)

From Albany, I biked east to Long Bay, where I checked out the housing developments in the suburb. These developments comprise of diverse housing topologies, new green spaces, with existing ones close by with Long Bay Regional Park and mixed-use development with apartments are built above the suburb’s commercial centre, which has eateries, retail, and a supermarket. The suburb is connected to the public transport network via the 861 to Albany, Massey University, and Rosedale.

Long Bay (Baker, 2025)

I enjoyed the gorgeous views of Rangitoto as I biked through the suburbs of Torbay and Browns Bay. Several medium-density apartments were popping up around the latter’s town centre, and a small plaza connected the town centre to the beach.

Rangitoto from Waiake Beach and Browns Bay Town Centre (Baker, 2025)

I headed south via the bike lanes and shared paths on East Coast and Forrest Hill Road, as well as across the motorway to get an update on the progress of The Northcote Development. Along Lake Road, the modular apartments are at various stages, with the Elevation apartments nearly at completion. Apartments and townhouses along Te Awa Awataha have been completed.

Construction is about to begin on the regeneration of Northcote Town Centre, which will include the suburb’s new community hub. The hub will contain a library, community services (e.g., Phunket, Citizen Advice Bureau), and meeting areas. The project will be completed in 2027. Construction will also begin on upgrades to Puāwai Cadness Reserve, including new play spaces, garden areas, public toilets, and swales planted to improve resilience to stormwater events.

Northcote Development (Baker, 2025)

I went to Essomde Rd to get the update on Amaia, the 81 apartment mixed-use development is now completed with the for-sale signs out, with bus stops for the frequent 82 on their door. The nearby 46 apartment The Loxley is also completed.

Amaia and The Loxley (Baker, 2025)

I when headed to Akoranga Station to catch the NX1 to go back to where the adventure began. It’s great that bikes on buses being trialed here in Tāmaki Makaurau having previously enjoyed the option to take my bike on the bus when I lived in Ōtautahi Christchurch. It opens up more transport choices and another public transport option to take your bike to the another side of Te Waitematā, especially to areas like Albany and Smales Farm that are too far away from the city’s ferry network.

I Iook forward to using it them again to unlock more multimodal adventures around the North Shore and the Hibiscus Coast.