Quick Guide The Northern Gateway Toll Road© Unsplash
Quick Guide The Northern Gateway Toll Road

The Northern Gateway Toll Road: How to Pay, Alternative Routes + More

© Unsplash

A Guide to the Northern Gateway Toll Road (The Auckland Toll Road)

Having to pay NZ$2.40 to save measly 9 minutes: “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”

The Northern Gateway Toll Road is on State Highway 1, north of Auckland Central. As it is an electronic toll road using number plate recognition to charge vehicles, it’s not completely obvious that you have to pay to use this road. Although there is no toll gate to stop and pay, drivers must pay either before using the road or after. Use this guide to the Northern Gateway Toll Road to know when to pay, how to pay, and how to avoid the road by using an alternative route.

On the subject of toll roads, check out the other two toll roads in The Complete Guide to Toll Roads in New Zealand.

How Much Does the Northern Gateway Toll Road Cost?

The Northern Gateway Toll Road does not cost much, but it does not save heaps of time either. The price of the Northern Gateway Toll Road costs the following:

  • Cars, motorcycles and other vehicles under 3.5 tonnes pay NZ$2.40.
  • Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes pay NZ$4.80.
  • Caravans and other trailers have no additional charge.
  • There is a payment fee for using a phone (NZ$3.70) and for paying at a service station (NZ$1.20).

 russellstreet on Flickr© russellstreet on Flickr

When to Pay for the Northern Gateway Toll Road

You are charged for using the Northern Gateway Toll Road for going both north and south. To make sure you don’t forget, it’s best to pay in advance or on the day you used the road.

For all you super organised people, you can pay up to 180 days in advance. For the rest who have better things to do, you have up to five days after passing the toll to pay.

There will be an extra charge of NZ$4.90 for late payments. NZ$40 will be charged if you persist on not paying. To make matters worse, any car rental company will have a fee for processing your late payment, meaning you could be charged up to NZ$80! In conclusion, don’t pay late…

Extra Toll Road Fees for Rented Vehicles

Check what your rental company’s toll road agreement is. While some prepay the toll roads for you, other rental companies will charge you an extra fee for using them. Alternatively, some companies even offer you the “optional extra” to purchase your toll road fee in advance for around NZ$40! Considering how cheap the toll road actually is, it’s best to double-check if your rental company’s toll road fees are fair. We list which companies have a toll road fee in The Best Car Rental Companies in Auckland.

Pexels© Pexels

How to Pay for the Northern Gateway Toll Road

You have three options to pay for your Northern Gateway toll:

At a service station: Over-the-counter payments can be made at 33 upper North Island BP and Caltex service stations. Be aware that this payment method incurs a NZ$1.20 transaction fee. You can pay at service stations with cash or card.

Online: You can also use www.tollingonline.nzta.govt.nz to pay online. You will simply need your car registration number and your Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card information. Find out more about getting an internet connection in New Zealand at How to Get Internet and WiFi in New Zealand.

By phone: Call 0800 40 20 20 to pay your toll over the phone. Try to avoid this payment method as paying by phone will incur a NZ$3.70 fee! You will need a Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card information to pay your toll over the phone.

© NZ Transport Agency

Alternative Route: How to Avoid the Northern Gateway Toll Road

As travellers who are likely in New Zealand to enjoy the scenery, if you have time, then take a much more scenic road; the Hibiscus Coast Highway (State Highway 17). This will help you avoid having to deal with toll road payments.

State Highway 17

To avoid the Northern Gateway Toll Road when travelling north, head east by exiting at Silverdale onto State Highway 17. Head to Orewa, then Waiwera, then join back on State Highway 1. Find out more about what there is to do along this route in the 10 Best Things to Do in Orewa.

Refer to the map above and use the orange dotted route to avoid the toll road. This alternative route is well-signposted along State Highway 1, making the turn-off easy to find.

The Northern Gateway Toll Road: How to Pay, Alternative Routes + More© Unsplash

Frequently Asked Questions About the Northern Gateway Toll Road

So what other questions do travellers usually have about the Northern Gateway Toll Road? Check them out and you might get your question answered too!

The toll road in Auckland is located on State Highway 1 in North Auckland (Hibiscus Coast) between Puhoi to the north and Silverdale to the south.

To pay for toll roads in Auckland, you can either pay online at www.tollingonline.nzta.govt.nz, at selected Auckland service stations, or by phone by calling 0800 40 20 20. You need a valid Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card to pay online or over the phone. You can pay at service stations with cash.

The toll in Auckland costs NZ$2.40 for cars, motorcycles and other vehicles under 3.5 tonnes and NZ$4.80 for vehicle over 3.5 tonnes.

To find out if you owe tolls in New Zealand, enter the registration plate of the vehicle that you were driving on the toll road into tollingonline.nzta.govt.nz/purchasetrips/prerequisites. If the toll is not showing on this page, then it is likely that you (or your rental company) have been issued a Toll Payment Notice with instructions on how to pay. Your rental company will likely forward the costs to you.

More About the Northern Gateway Toll Road

That’s it for our guide to the Northern Gateway Toll Road, also known as the Auckland Toll Road. For more information about toll roads, as well as what to do in destinations near the toll road, check out these guides:

Finally, check out our complete Auckland, Bay of Islands and Northland destination pages to see what else there is to do in these regions.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Robin C.

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

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