The Auckland Music Venues the City Rail Link Just Made Easier to Reach
The City Rail Link isn’t only changing how Aucklanders get to work. It’s also making it easier to get to gigs, discover independent venues and put together a night out without needing to drive between locations.
The CRL opened to passengers on Sunday 13 September 2026, introducing new stations at Te Waihorotiu, Karanga-a-Hape and a re-vamp of Maungawhau, along with a redesigned rail network and improved connections across Auckland.
For music fans, two of the biggest changes are the new stations at Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu. They put several independent music venues within a short walk of a train station, while making it easier to travel between different parts of Auckland.
We’ve put together a list of Auckland music venues that are within approximately 10 minutes’ walk of a train station, including what you can expect to see and hear at each one.
Walking times are approximate and can vary depending on which station exit you use and your walking speed.
Auckland Music Venues Near the New Train Stations
Karanga-a-Hape Station
Karanga-a-Hape Station has entrances at Mercury Lane and Beresford Square, putting K Road’s bars, live music venues and nightlife right on the doorstep.
Approximately 3–5 minutes’ walk
The Audio Foundation is an independent venue and creative space focused on experimental music, sound and electronic work.
It’s a place to discover artists and performances that don’t necessarily fit into the usual live music circuit, from experimental and avant-garde performances to independent releases and electronic projects.
Approximately 3–4 minutes’ walk
At 183 Karangahape Road, Whammy Bar, Double Whammy and Public Bar form a connected venue complex within St Kevin’s Arcade. They are different spaces within the same venue operation, rather than three separate venues.
Whammy Bar is the original, intimate live music room, hosting local and international artists across indie, punk, rock and other genres.
Double Whammy is the larger performance space, with a bigger stage and production facilities for larger gigs and touring acts.
Public Bar connects to Double Whammy and provides a more relaxed bar and performance space, hosting emerging artists, DJs, comedy, community events and other shows.
Together, the spaces are a regular part of Auckland’s independent music scene and Karanga-a-Hape Station puts the entire complex within a short walk of the rail network.
Approximately 3–5 minutes’ walk
Neck of the Woods hosts live music, electronic events, club nights and community-led shows.
Its programming covers a broad range of underground sounds, including drum and bass, jungle, house, techno, garage, breaks, dubstep, hardcore and experimental music.
With Karanga-a-Hape Station nearby, it’s now easier to get to a show without having to worry about finding a park near K Road.
Approximately 6–7 minutes’ walk
The Button Factory at 2 Abbey Street hosts live music, workshops, exhibitions, parties and other creative events.
Its programme includes live performances, DJ events and community activities, with a focus on independent and creative programming.
From Karanga-a-Hape Station, the Mercury Lane exit is approximately 480 metres from the venue, or around a 6–7 minute walk.
Te Waihorotiu Station
Te Waihorotiu Station has entrances on Wellesley Street West and Victoria Street West, putting it close to Auckland’s midtown arts and entertainment areas.
Approximately 3 minutes’ walk
Ding Dong Lounge is Auckland’s dedicated rock bar and live music venue, located at 26 Wyndham Street in Auckland city centre.
The venue has live bands, DJs, late-night rock and alternative music, themed nights, karaoke, comedy and other events across Ding Dong Lounge downstairs and Dead Witch upstairs.
The new Te Waihorotiu Station is approximately a three-minute walk from the venue, making it easier to get to a gig or continue your night in the city centre.
Approximately 4 minutes’ walk
Il Brutto is an electronic music club and cultural space at 27 Victoria Street East.
It hosts DJs, electronic music events, underground club nights and other creative events, with programming centred around electronic music, art, fashion and culture.
Its intimate setting and focus on electronic music make it another distinctive part of Auckland’s independent nightlife and music scene.
Waitematā Station
Waitematā Station remains an important connection point for people arriving in the city centre by train, bus or ferry. Since the CRL opened, it also connects directly with the wider rail network rather than simply acting as the end of the line.
Approximately 5 minutes’ walk
Mothership is an independent venue for live music, club culture and creative events on Shortland Street.
Its programme includes live electronic sets, bands, DJs, club nights and other performances, working with artists, promoters and collectives across Auckland’s music scene.
Approximately 6 minutes’ walk
Geihinkan is a Japanese karaoke and live music bar on Albert Street.
Alongside its karaoke rooms, it hosts local Auckland gigs, including multi-band bills and shows from independent artists.
It’s a slightly different kind of music venue from the traditional gig rooms elsewhere on this list, but that’s part of what makes Auckland’s independent music scene interesting. Some local gigs happen in purpose-built venues, while others happen in smaller bars and spaces around the city.
Other Auckland venues close to a train station
The CRL isn’t the only reason music venues are becoming easier to reach by rail. Several venues were already located near existing stations, and the redesigned network makes them more accessible from other parts of Auckland.
Approximately 1–2 minutes’ walk from Morningside Station
Big Fan is an all-ages, licensed music and events venue in Morningside.
It hosts live music from new artists through to intimate international performances, as well as comedy, seminars, film screenings and other events.
Its location close to Morningside Station makes it particularly useful for younger music fans and anyone attending an all-ages show.
Approximately 5 minutes’ walk from Avondale Station
The Hollywood Avondale is an iconic art deco cinema that hosts film screenings, festivals, live music and other events.
It’s a reminder that Auckland’s music and entertainment venues aren’t limited to the central city. The rail network also provides access to venues in the surrounding suburbs.
Approximately 8–10 minutes’ walk from Grafton Station
Kāhui St David’s operates from the historic St David’s Memorial Church on Khyber Pass Road.
The venue hosts music, performing arts and other events, ranging from intimate performances to larger productions.
Its proximity to Grafton Station makes it another option for people travelling to an event without needing to drive into the city centre.
You don’t have to go straight home after the gig
Auckland’s independent music venues often stay open well beyond the end of a gig, so having them connected by rail creates another option for the night.
Maybe there’s a band you want to see at Whammy Bar, but something is happening later at Ding Dong Lounge. Or you might start at Ding Dong Lounge and head up to K Road afterwards. Whammy, Neck of the Woods and Ding Dong are all venues where people might already be going between shows, DJs and late-night events, so the new rail connection makes that a little easier.
With Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu now connected by train, K Road and the city centre are only a short journey apart.
It doesn’t have to be planned as a full-on night of venue hopping either. Sometimes you just want to see a particular band, and then see what else is happening once the show finishes.
You might find a late-night gig, DJ set or another event happening at a different venue. Instead of calling it a night or figuring out where to park again, you can take the train and keep going.
On Friday and Saturday nights, Waitematā Station remains open until 1:15am, although the last train depends on the service and direction, so it’s worth checking AT Journey Planner before you head out. After that, buses, taxis and rideshares are still options if the night is carrying on.
That’s one of the useful things the CRL brings to Auckland’s music scene. It connects venues that already have their own audiences and their own programmes, making it easier to move between them when there’s something else you want to see.
Not near a train station? Take the bus first
You don’t have to live next to a train station to benefit from the CRL.
For many Aucklanders, the most useful journey won’t be bus or train. It will be bus and train.
If you live somewhere that isn’t close to a station, you can catch a local bus to a train station and then use the rail network for the longer part of your journey. That could mean catching a bus from the west, east or south to your nearest station, or, if you’re coming from the North Shore, taking a bus into the city before connecting with the train network.
From there, you can get off at a station within walking distance of one of the venues on this list.
That means your journey could look something like:
Catch a local bus to a train station.
Catch a train towards the city centre.
Get off at Karanga-a-Hape, Te Waihorotiu, Waitematā or another station near your chosen venue.
Walk a few minutes to the gig.
The CRL is now part of a wider bus and rail network, so the train doesn’t necessarily have to be the first part of your journey. It can be one part of the journey that gets you closer to where you actually want to go.
It’s worth checking the AT Journey Planner before heading out, particularly if you’re planning to travel home late at night. Train operating hours and connections can vary, especially during evening and weekend services.
More ways to experience Auckland’s music scene
Auckland has a wide range of independent music venues, from small experimental spaces and all-ages rooms to rock bars, live music clubs and electronic music venues.
The City Rail Link won’t solve every transport issue, and not every venue is within walking distance of a station. But it does make some of those journeys simpler, particularly when you’re travelling between the central city, K Road and other connected suburbs.
For music fans, that means more opportunities to see a band, discover a new venue, attend an early show and still make it somewhere else later.
The next time you’re planning a night out, check the train map before checking where to park.
Venues included
Venue | Nearest station | Approx. walk |
The Audio Foundation | Karanga-a-Hape | 3–5 min |
Whammy Bar, Double Whammy & Public Bar | Karanga-a-Hape | 3–4 min |
The Button Factory | Karanga-a-Hape | 6–7 min |
Neck of the Woods | Karanga-a-Hape | 3–5 min |
Ding Dong Lounge / Dead Witch | Te Waihorotiu | 3 min |
Il Brutto | Te Waihorotiu | ~5 min |
Mothership | Waitematā | ~5 min |
Geihinkan Bar | Waitematā | ~6 min |
Big Fan | Morningside | 1–2 min |
Hollywood Avondale | Avondale | ~5 min |
Kāhui St David’s | Grafton | 8–10 min |
Walking times are approximate. Check Auckland Transport’s Journey Planner before travelling, particularly for late-night and weekend journeys.
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