Fast Facts

American Express -- Offices are at 105 Queen St. (tel. 09/379-8286) and 67-69 Symonds St. (tel. 09/367-4422). For credit card queries, call tel. 0800/656-660; for traveler's check queries, tel. 0508/555-358; www.americanexpress.co.nz.

Area Code -- Auckland's area code (STD) is 09.

Babysitters -- Most major hotels can furnish babysitters.

Currency Exchange -- Go to city center banks and most neighborhood branches for your banking needs. Banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm. Hotels and restaurants usually convert traveler's checks, but you'll get a much better rate at banks. There is a dedicated currency exchange outlet at TravelEx NZ, 32 Queen St. (open normal business hours); and at SKYCITY and Auckland International Airport (both open daily during normal business hours; www.bnz.co.nz/currencyexchange).

Dentists -- For emergency and after-hours dental service, call Auckland Accident & Emergency Clinic (tel. 09/520-6609). It's open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 11pm, Sunday until 10pm.

Doctors -- For emergency medical services, call tel. 09/524-5943 or 09/579-9909; for emergency ambulance service, dial tel. 111. The CityMed Medical Centre is on the corner of Mills Lane and Albert Street, in the Inner City (tel. 09/377-5525).

Embassies & Consulates -- Embassies are in Wellington. For additional information on embassies in New Zealand, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade in Wellington (tel. 04/494-8500; www.mft.govt.nz; enquiries@mft.govt.nz).

Auckland has consulates of the United States, Level 3, 23 Customs St. E. (tel. 09/303-2724; fax 09/366-0870); Canada, 48 Emily Place (tel. 09/309-8516); Ireland, Dingwall Building, 87 Queen St. (tel. 09/302-2867); and the United Kingdom, IAG House, 151 Queen St. (tel. 09/303-2973).

Emergencies -- Dial tel. 111 to call the police, report a fire, or request an ambulance.

Hospitals -- Area hospitals include Auckland Hospital, Park Road, Grafton (tel. 09/367-7000), which incorporates the National Women's Hospital and the Starship Children's Hospital; and Greenlane Hospital, Greenlane Road, Epsom (tel. 09/638-9909).

Internet Access -- Give any of these a go: Cyber Max, 291 Queen St. (tel. 09/979-2468); Net Central Internet Café, 5 Lorne St. (tel. 09/373-5186); and Net Zone, 4 Fort St. (tel. 09/377-3906).

Laundromat -- There is a 24-hour laundromat at 511 Great North Rd., Grey Lynn (tel. 09/376-6062).

Lost Property -- Call the Central Police Station (tel. 09/379-4240) or any local police station.

Luggage Storage & Lockers -- "Left luggage" facilities are at the Visitor Information Centre in the International Airport. The fee for 24 hours is about NZ$8 (US$5.70/£2.90) for hand luggage, NZ$15 (US$11/£5.40) for large items, and NZ$12 (US$8.50/£4.30) per suitcase. For more information, call tel. 09/256-8845.

Newspapers & Magazines -- The New Zealand Herald is the daily paper. The Sunday Star Times and Sunday News are Sunday-morning publications.

Police -- For emergencies, dial tel. 111. For other matters, call the Central Police Station (tel. 09/379-4240).

Post Office -- Most post offices are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. The Chief Post Office (CPO), CML Mall, Queen Street at Wyndham Street, is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 5pm, Friday from 8:30am to 6pm, and Saturday from 9am to noon. For poste restante pickup, go to the Post Shop in the Bledisloe Building on Wellesley Street. There is a conveniently located Post Shop in the Downtown Shopping Centre on Quay Street at QEII Square. For post office questions, call tel. 0800/501-501.

Services for Travelers with Disabilities -- For information on ramps, toilets, parking lots, telephones, and an equipment showroom, contact the Disability Resource Centre, 14 Erson Ave. (P.O. Box 24-042), Royal Oak, Auckland (tel. 09/625-8069; www.disabilityresource.org.nz).