Sleep in airport or stay at hostel?

Hi, I am travelling from from Tahiti to Sydney with a short stop-over (about 18 hours) in Auckland. The Sydney flight departs at 6:30 AM.

I know there is a nearby hostel (Skyway Lodge), but given the early departure, should book a bed or just spend the night in the airport?

Is it possible to check in luggage just after arrival, and travel into the city for some hours? Or is there any lockers available at the airport?

Thanks,

You could do a little of both - spend the day in town and then go back to the airport to sleep. With a flight that early, that's what I'd do. It's not worth the trouble of finding accommodation if you have to get up at 4 - you're not going to get a great night's sleep anyway. But I also wouldn't spend 18 hours sitting around in an airport.

There are 11 readers reports about Auckland airport here: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/auckland.htm