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Police are urging people to watch Sir Edmund Hillary's state funeral on giant public screens at the Auckland Domain and Viaduct Basin on Tuesday rather than congregate at the small church where the service will be held.
Huge crowds are expected around St Mary's in Parnell and the
nearby Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, and at the Domain, where the funeral cortege will carry Sir Ed's body on its final journey after the 11am service.
Police operations manager Inspector Derek Davison said there would be "very limited space" at nearby Holy Trinity Cathedral and people should get there in plenty of time.
"We recommend to all those wishing to use their vehicles that they park some distance away and then walk to their chosen venue.
"There will be no public access on the cathedral grounds and neither will there be a video wall at the cathedral."
Mr Davison said the motorcade would travel at about 15km/h through the Domain and thousands were expected to line the route.
Sir Ed's body will lie in state at the cathedral from 10am tomorrow until 8am on Tuesday guarded by Defence Force personnel.
The cathedral will be open to the public from 11.30am, after which thousands of people are expected to file past the casket to pay their respects.
The cathedral's cavernous interior was a scene of quiet industry yesterday, as Army and Navy officers held discussions in one corner, staff bustled about moving chairs and people queued to sign the remembrance book.
Governor-General Anand Satyanand, opposition leader John Key and members of the Nepalese and Indian communities will be among those joining PM Helen Clark in laying wreaths.
One of three ministers officiating at the funeral, Dean of Auckland Ross Bay, said an enormous amount of work had gone into organising the ceremony.
He said it had been stressful at times but "very fulfilling" to be involved in organising one of the biggest occasions in New Zealand's history.
"We want to ensure Sir Edmund and the family will have a fitting tribute."
Sir Ed's family was keeping a low profile yesterday.
His daughter Sarah said she did not want to comment.
"I'm getting ready for the funeral. It's a really big occasion for me and I need to concentrate."
Son Peter's home near the foot of Maungakiekie was bedecked with Buddhist prayer flags.
A family member said he would not be making any comment because the family had requested privacy.
Lady Hillary was with friends and family at her home in Remuera.
Weather forecasters are predicting heavy rain for the north of the country tomorrow but MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt said it might clear by Tuesday.
Staff and students at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre's bases in Tongariro National Park and on Great Barrier Island will mark the day by remembering Sir Ed in a style he would appreciate - by climbing mountains.
Sir Ed was patron of the centre from 1973 and was active in encouraging more than 120,000 young New Zealanders to experience the outdoors.
Staff and students in Tongariro will set off early on Tuesday to climb the major peaks in the park.
The order of events
The cortege bearing Sir Ed's body will leave St Mary's at around 12.30pm.
The public part of the procession will travel along Parnell Rd, into Maunsell Rd to the Domain, past the Cenotaph and along the Crescent to Domain Drive. It will continue into Remuera Rd via Park Rd, Khyber Pass Rd and Broadway, before finishing in St Johns Rd.
Some roads around The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity will be closed from 9am to 2pm on Tuesday. They include Parnell Road, from St Georges Bay Rd to Cathedral Place, St Stephens Ave, from Brighton Rd to Parnell Rd, and Birdwood Pl.