Layover in Auckland. What to do??

Travel Info
I will have a two and a half hour layover in Auckland, New Zealand from LAX to Brisbane. Flew that flight several times before, but never able to find anything that I can do to kill the time during this layover.

Travel Tips

If you get the wrong day and the wrong time, you will be stuck in the traffic and miss your flight, no matter if you want to go to the city or to Manukau.
Near the airport are a few (and not too exciting) shopping possibilities, the Foodtown, Warehouse and a few others, or the Bendon Lingerie outlet if you want to surprise your loved one.

There is a few shopping and an all exciting (*yawn*) skydeck at the airport ... but I guess you're through that. So the only thing else that I could recommend is some of the airport games that I used to play:
- Confuse arrivers ... Wait at the zone where everyone who arrives cames out and wink at arrivers hysterically ... and then apologise for picking the wrong people
- Funny announcements .. Go to the info and let them know you want to pick up a friend, but you think you missed him. Try to let them do an announcement for names like Conny Lingus.
- Flirt with Flight Crews
- Surf the web at one of the free terminals

You could also grab a taxi to one tree hill, which is close by and gives you a nice view of south Auckland but also to the sky tower.

Others
Hi,
Unfortunately because the city of Auckland is so far away from the airport - especially time consuming in it's horrible heavy traffic you'll just have to content yourself with a good book and listen to some music. 2 and half hours is not long enough to do anything.
If you are in Auckland for 2 1/2 hours only, you can't do much at all. It takes approx 30mins (depending on traffic) to get to the city from the airport. The Sky City Casino is a good place to pass the time if you feel lucky. Why not get a cab and head to one of the local pubs and experience the locals.
"Jake the Muss"........lol
You won't be able to do anything in the city because it would take too long to get there! Why not just spend the time in the airport, shopping etc.

Besides, if its a layover, I thought you're not allowed to leave the airport? You'd need a visa?
As others have pointed out, you won't have much time to do anything, but you could always jump in a Super Shuttle van and go to the Manakau Mall or Rainbows End (a theme park just opposite the Mall.
You won't have time to do both.
Arrange with your van driver for a pickup at a stated time that will allow you to get back to the Airport in good time.
www.rainbowsend.co.nz
As above answers, not much to do. Have flown that route several times. Majority of flights arrive early morning and places might not be open, so you probably won't have much to do even if you do get to go somewhere. There is a Dunkin Donuts a couple of miles from the airport if you feel like a familiar sweet treat!