---
title: "New Zealand Airport Smoking Areas"
canonical: "https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/"
language: "en-us"
description: "Smoking areas at New Zealand airports. Auckland (AKL) has an open-air terrace after security; Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown have landside areas."
lastmod: "2026-10-24T00:00:00Z"
---

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# New Zealand Airport Smoking Areas

At Auckland International Airport, you can smoke after security on the outdoor terrace on Level 2 of the International Terminal — the only airside option listed in this guide. Transit passengers between Australia and North America or Asia can smoke there without leaving the secure area.

## New Zealand Airports Compared: Before and After Security

Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details.

| Airport | Before security | After security |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Auckland (AKL)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/akl-smoking-at-auckland-airport/) | Yes | Yes |
| [Christchurch (CHC)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/chc-smoking-at-christchurch-airport/) | Yes | – |
| [Queenstown (ZQN)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/zqn-smoking-at-queenstown-airport/) | Yes | – |
| [Wellington (WLG)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/wlg-smoking-at-wellington-airport/) | Yes | – |

The other major airports — [Wellington (WLG)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/wlg-smoking-at-wellington-airport/), [Christchurch (CHC)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/chc-smoking-at-christchurch-airport/), [Queenstown (ZQN)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/zqn-smoking-at-queenstown-airport/) — are outdoor-only with all smoking areas landside, requiring security re-clearance for smoke breaks.

## [Auckland International (AKL)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/new-zealand/akl-smoking-at-auckland-airport/)

The standout. Post-security outdoor terrace on Level 2 of the International Terminal — the only airside option listed in this guide — plus standard outdoor smoking areas in the terminal forecourts landside.

## Wellington (WLG)

The capital airport. Outdoor smoking areas at Door 5 (covered, departures) and Door 11 (uncovered, arrivals). All landside.

## Christchurch (CHC)

South Island’s main airport. Two designated outdoor areas; the Clear Air Policy is more restrictive than at most NZ airports, banning smoking across the terminal plaza.

## Queenstown (ZQN)

Tourist gateway to the Southern Alps. One smoking point behind the taxi shelter. No airside.

## Tips for Smokers at New Zealand Airports

- Auckland’s Level 2 International Terminal terrace is the only airside option listed in this guide — useful for layovers
- Other NZ airports outdoor-only landside
- At AKL, WLG, CHC, and ZQN, use vapes in the same designated outdoor areas as cigarettes

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can you smoke at New Zealand airports?

Yes — at designated outdoor smoking areas. Auckland International (AKL) has a post-security outdoor terrace on Level 2 of the International Terminal — the only airside option listed in this guide. Wellington (WLG), Christchurch (CHC), and Queenstown (ZQN) rely on landside outdoor areas. New Zealand’s Smoke-Free Environments Act bans indoor smoking at all airports.

### Where can I smoke at Auckland Airport (AKL)?

On the post-security outdoor terrace on Level 2 of the International Terminal. Transit passengers can use it without re-clearing security. Auckland also has outdoor smoking areas in the forecourts outside the domestic and international terminals.

### Where can I smoke at Wellington and Christchurch airports?

At Wellington Airport (WLG), use the outdoor areas at Door 5 on departures, which is covered, or Door 11 on arrivals, which is uncovered. Christchurch (CHC) has two designated outdoor areas; its Clear Air Policy bans smoking even in the plaza area, so use only the marked spots. All are landside, with no post-security smoking.

### Are there smoking areas at Queenstown Airport (ZQN)?

Yes — Queenstown has one designated smoking point behind the taxi shelter. No airside smoking. The compact airport serves substantial tourist traffic for the South Island ski and adventure destinations.

### Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at New Zealand airports?

Yes — use the same designated outdoor areas as for cigarettes. Vaping is not permitted inside the enclosed terminals.