Planning to brave the estimated 40 minutes of extra travel time to fight for one of 544 on-site car parks at IKEA? You'll be joining around 15,000 - 20,000 other keen Kiwis doing the same! 

Here’s what to expect if you're keen to get in the door for the grand opening this Thursday. 

What time does IKEA NZ open?

On Thursday, the store will open at 11 am in order to try and avoid the morning commute traffic. The car park will be open no earlier than 8:30. 

From 5th December onwards, IKEA will be open from 9 am to 9 pm, seven days a week. The car park queue will open from 7:30 am.

Traffic and parking at IKEA NZ

Auckland Transport says extra congestion is expected on and around SH1, Mt Wellington Highway on/off‑ramps, and local roads over the opening period, which could last up to a few months.

Once you make it to the site, worst-case scenarios could see an hour's wait to get into the carparks, but this should ease outside of peak traffic times.

Taking public transport to IKEA NZ 

If you aren’t buying big bits of furniture or are able to get it delivered, the train on the Eastern Line will be the fastest journey, taking around 19 minutes from Waitematā to Sylvia Park. Staff will be on the ground at Sylvia Park Station to help direct you.

How big is the new IKEA store?

The new store in Sylvia Park is about 34,000 square metres. There are roughly 7,500 products available and 540 employees. Every week, it’s expected to sell up to 3,500 hot dogs, powered partly by 1,700 solar panels.

What's in store at IKEA NZ? 

On one floor, winding corridors take you past perfectly staged display rooms. Each showcases a different style, function and layout. There are also stations to sit with workers and plan out your dream room. Scattered around the building are 52 self-service kiosks, if people aren’t your thing.

You can navigate the maze by following holographic arrows on the floor to arrive at the Swedish Restaurant. It’s recommended you try the lingonberry pavlova, lamb pie, or famous meatballs before venturing down another level.

There you’ll find gizmos and knick-knacks galore. IKEA’s product labels are electronic, with a scannable QR code. You can build a list of display items on your phone, then collect them from this floor. It opens into a giant warehouse, packed full of flat-packs, which then leads you to the checkouts.

Your journey will end near the ‘As Is’ section. Items that have been damaged or removed from displays will be collected and resold heavily reduced. Given the store’s 365-day return policy, there could be old or new stock up for grabs.

IKEA kids' play area at Sylvia Park 

Småland is a free, supervised play area for children aged 3 – 8 years old, inspired by the forests of Southern Sweden. There's an active zone with tunnels and balance beams, a creative corner with colouring stations and crafts, and a quiet area with cosy seating for kids to rest or watch a movie. 

You don't need to book, just turn up and register. Each session is 30 minutes long, but you can get an extra 30 minutes Monday - Friday if you're part of the IKEA Family programme. Kids are supervised by co-workers trained in first aid, safety and inclusive care, and you'll get a notification when it's time to collect your child. 

IKEA food at Sylvia Park

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the Swedish Restaurant, while the Swedish Bistro has lighter bites for a post-check-out snack. There are hot dogs, soft serve ice cream, pies and more. You can also shop the Swedish Food Market to bring a taste of IKEA home with crispbread, jams, chocolates, sauces, drinks and lots more. 

Check out our review of the IKEA meatballs and cinnamon rolls here.

Sales and Customer Experience Manager, Rikki Mackenzie-Burdon, told rova one of the best things you can do to prepare for IKEA-geddon is download the app, and join as an IKEA family member. It offers discounts, tracks purchases and doubles the amount of time you can leave your children at Småland.

It's definitely going to be chaotic, but you won't want to miss checking out the store at least once. If you're not keen to brave the crowds just yet, don't worry - there's always online shopping and delivery.