Date: October 15, 2013
The SleepingInAirports community has voted the following airports as the Best Airports in the South Pacific.
When selecting an airport to declare as the “best”, travellers were asked to consider the four C’s: comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service.
- Comfort: Armrest-free seating and quiet/rest/relaxation zones.
- Conveniences: Free WiFi, 24-hour food, showers, pay-in lounges, and activities to do on a layover.
- Cleanliness: Clean floors, bathrooms and food courts.
- Customer Service: A smile and friendly attitudes go a long way. We are so thankful for the kind airport workers who help us when we are lost and give us blankets and pillows when we’re stranded.
Voters in this region tend to look at the airports more for their overall comfort and ease of terminal usage than their “sleepability” or zzz factor as we call it here on SleepingInAirports. As long as our travellers have WiFi and some comfortable seats to stretch out when they need to take a nap, they are happy.
Here are the Top Five Airports in the South Pacific as selected by SleepingInAirports voters.
1. Auckland
there are bench seats with no armrests so you can stretch out. Very few people go up there. I was the only sleeper. ” – Tonka
Travellers love Auckland Airport for its transit friendly facilities. The airport offers tired travellers comfortable armrest-free seating. If you are coming in from a long haul flight and would like to freshen up, there are free showers. To get away from the crowds during the day, there is a pay-in lounge where you will receive buffet meals, unlimited WiFi and showers. The airport is open 24-hours, but there is only one food and beverage concession that is open throughout the night.
The zzz Factor: Staff are friendly and will direct airport sleepers to comfortable places to rest. While there are currently no designated rest zones in the airport, Auckland Airport offers travellers some areas with armrest-free padded seating. The airport is currently looking into sleep pods.
Airport Services and Facilities to Enjoy Your Layover: Pay-in Lounge ($) • 30 minutes Free WiFi • 24-hour food ($) • Free Showers • Free Trolleys • Luggage Storage ($) • Prayer Rooms • Games and Rides for Children • Massage Chairs ($) • Day Rooms at the Hotel Across from the Terminal ($). Visit our Auckland Airport Guide for more information.
2. Brisbane
the international terminal has couches, and while they are not very big (I am 1.65 and had to curl up) it wasn’t uncomfortable. A couple of people had pushed two of these together to make a double bed of sorts. ” – violetaus
The zzz Factor: Comfortable padded couches are available in the International Terminal. Enjoy a free shower in both the Domestic and International terminals. Helpful staff have directed a few of our reviewers to good sleep spots.
Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: 3 hours Free WiFi • Internet Kiosks • Multi-denominational Room • Luggage Storage ($) • Free Showers • Discovery Centre shows visitors how the airport operates. Visit our Brisbane Airport Guide for more information.
3. Melbourne Tullamarine
The chairs were comfy and the sleep could have been very good, if there hadn’t been loud frequent announcements to keep your luggage with you and not to use taxi touts…ear plugs helped! “ – Tabaluga79
The zzz Factor: The airport has comfortable padded armrest-free seating (obviously not pictured). The loud and frequent announcements can get annoying, so you might want to bring ear plugs.
Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Airline Lounges with day passes ($) • WiFi ($) • 24 hour food ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • Showers ($) • Hotel connected to the terminal ($). Visit our Melbourne Tullamarine Airport Guide for more information.
4. Adelaide
Adelaide is my “home town airport” so I go through there quite a bit. I would not recommend anyone to stay there overnight. As you read already, it shuts down for a few hours every night… ” – weltreisende
Travellers say that Adelaide is a small, but easy-to-navigate airport. Most people are just happy with Free WiFi.
The zzz Factor: This is not an overnight sleeper’s airport as the doors are closed 11:00PM – 4:00AM.
Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Free WiFi • Coin operated Internet Kiosks ($) • Luggage Storage ($) • Prayer Room. Visit our Adelaide Airport Guide for more information.
5. Wellington
I recommend you have good headphones and good music. Sometimes it could be a bit annoying – the cleaners around you with the vacuum machine” – Felipegaldago
The zzz Factor: Travellers are permitted to stay only if the have “airline problems”. There is a designated sleeping area that overnight sleeper must go to if they plan to spend the night.
Airport Services/Facilities To Enjoy Your Layover: Free WiFi • Internet Kiosks • Luggage Storage ($). Visit our Wellington Airport Guide for more information.
Have Your Say!
Your votes and feedback are essential to the SleepingInAirports annual Best and Worst Airports survey. Now it is your turn to tell us which airports deserve to be included on the 2014 list. There are a few ways to participate:
Survey: If you have a bit more time, leave some comments on the Airport Survey so that we know why you like this airport.
Polls: The easiest way to participate is to vote in the quick poll at the bottom of each regional page. Even if an airport is not listed, write it in the “Other box” and it will be included in the total count.
Airport Reviews: Your airport reviews are the most important contribution that you can provide to the community. Write an airport review.