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Parking signage at a popular Birkenhead park overlooking the harbour bridge - couples and groups only.

When the clock strikes midnight, solo travellers have to move on from a popular Auckland lookout spot, according to parking signage that is amusing the locals.

On weekdays from midnight to 9.30am only vehicles with two or more people can park overlooking the Auckland Harbour Bridge from Hinemoa Park in Birkenhead.

The sign with the quirky ruling caught the eye of Hugh Cronwright when he took overseas visitors to see the bridge lit up in Anzac colours at night.

It was the first time that Cronwright had been to the park and he was perplexed by what the signs implied.

READ MORE: Quick-fix enacted on incorrect and confusing Auckland parking signs

The Browns Bay resident said the specified timeframe made the signs even more unusual.

The view of Auckland Harbour Bridge night lights - reserved for couples at one North Shore car park.

"Is the parking for romancing couples?" Cronwright said. "Who else would want to park there at 1am?"

As a drivers licence tester, Cronwright has seen plenty of roading signage but none quite as amusing as the signs on Hinemoa St he said.

He took a photo of the sign and shared it on Neighbourly, to gauge the reaction of other park users, and found others had a laugh too.

But the explanation from Auckland Transport, which controls the car park, is rather more banal.

AT media relations manager Mark Hannan agreed the signage could prompt a double-take, but said the actual purpose was to signal parking is reserved for people carpooling on Hinemoa St for the Birkenhead ferry terminal.

"Car poolers get priority," Hannan said.

"So if you turn up at 7am, the only vehicle that can park there is one that arrived with two or more occupants. If the park isn't taken by a vehicle with two or more people by 9.30am it becomes available for general parking."

The time period on the signage starts at midnight simply to coincide with the new day, Hannan said.

The signage in Birkenhead was put in by the legacy North Shore City Council.

Similar signage, with different or no time frames were also at the Albany busway station, Half Moon Bay ferry terminal and Downtown car park.

 - Stuff