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auckland city See the best of Auckland Stunning waterfalls close to Auckland Maori Cultural Tours in Auckland Auckland Sheep farm tour Whale and Dolphin Cruise in Auckland on our Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

Auckland Cruise Port

The City of Sails and New Zealands largest city

A bustling city of 1.4 million people, Auckland offers many things to see and do. Cruise Ships berth in the centre of town so its easy to get around, by foot or taking one of the tourist buses. Join a tour to see more of the area or explore the harbour on one of the many ferries or sailing trips.


Waiheke Explorer buses

AKL-11  |  Waiheke Island Hop On Hop Off Explorer  |  5.00 hrs

Spend the day exploring Waiheke Island - a true island paradise. Visit the villages, bays, artisan producers and wineries of the 5th Best Island In The World at your own pace. Your ticket is valid all day so you can relax and adjust to island time.


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $89.00 | Children NZ $45.00

Jet Boating on the stunning Auckland Harbour

AKL-40  |  Auckland Jet Boat Adventure  |  0.75 hrs

See Auckland City a different way, by jet boat at over 50 knots! Our purpose built craft takes up to 20 passengers for spins and tricks out on the water, while telling you about Auckland City and its surroundings. The tours are tailored to suit the weather


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $109.00 | Children NZ $69.00

Auckland Harbour Sailing Cruise for your Shore Excursion in New Zealand

AKL-12  |  Harbour Sailing Cruise  |  1.50 hrs

Enjoy the unique Auckland landscape from the water on this peaceful cruise. Feel the wind fill the sails and guide you under the harbour bridge and back past Aucklands landmarks.


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $99.00 | Children NZ $60.00

Eco Zip Line Adventure on Waiheke Island Auckland for Cruise Ship Shore Tours

AKL-20  |  Flying Fox Zipline & Native Forest Walk Experience  |  3.00 hrs

The EcoZip Adventure offers state-of-the-art flying fox ziplining and an eco-immersive forest walk on breathtaking Waiheke Island. Youll enjoy the full Waiheke experience with a complimentary pick up from the island ferry.


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $139.00 | Children NZ $79.00

Auckland Kayak tour to Motukorea Island for Cruise Ship Passengers

AKL-25  |  Half day Auckland Kayak Tour  |  5.50 hrs

Motukorea island, reachable only by small craft, offers a wealth of exploration and fantastic views. A culturally informative and fun paddle around this area is a greatly recommended way to experience the Waitamata harbour.


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $175.00

The Dinner Cruise on Auckland harbour, a great excursion

AKL-15  |  Dinner Sailing Cruise  |  2.50 hrs

Take in the city highlights, from the best view in town as you cruise Auckland harbour on a 50ft sailing yacht. Enjoy a three course meal [catered for by Degree] and engage with your crew, who will give you an extensive commentary during the cruise.


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $150.00 | Children NZ $99.00

Obsidian Winery on the Waiheke Island Wine Tour from Auckland

AKL-22  |  Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour  |  6.75 hrs

Visit three of Waiheke Islands finest vineyards for tasting and enjoy a commentated scenic tour of the Island by one of our knowledgeable, local guides. Vineyards can vary according to your preference and seasonal availability.


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $220.00 | Children (not suitable)

View of the Mud Brick Winery on our Shore Excursion from Auckland

AKL-24  |  Half day Scenic Waiheke Wine Tour with Zipline option  |  6.75 hrs

An afternoon of stunning scenery, wine and food, with time to explore Onetangi Beach! Commentated scenic tour and scenic highlights. Pick up from any Island accommodation by arrangement. Wine tasting at two vineyards. Visit to All Press Olive Groves. Vineyard platter lunch with a glass of wine. Optional EcoZip Ziplining experience add on


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $215.00 | Children (not suitable)

Mud Brick Winery Tour on Waiheke an Auckland Shore Excursion

AKL-23  |  The Waiheke Island Gourmet Wine and Food Tour  |  6.75 hrs

Explore Waihekes food culture, try fresh oysters, award-winning olive oil and other locally-produced speciality foods, accompanied by wines from some of the Islands top boutique vineyards as your guide provides an entertaining and informative commentary.


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $250.00 | Children (not suitable)

Kayaking

AKL-26  |  Full Day Auckland - Rangitoto Island Kayak Tour  |  8.00 hrs

Kayak to Rangitoto Island the landmark of the Auckland region, climb to the top and see Auckland city from another perspective. Stunning scenery, wildlife and a hearty and healthy BBQ lunch await you


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $225.00

Auckland Maori Tours

AKL-S13  |  Private Auckland Maori Luxury Tour  |  12.00 hrs

Experience Auckland with a local Maori, who will guide you around this fantastic city and region. We will share its interesting history, places and people throughout the tour, seeing Aucklands very best sights. Be sure to bring your camera!


enquire for availability from Adults NZ $0.00
Toyota Minibus Mobility Vehicle

AKL-S6  |  Mobility Vehicle Private Tours  |  from 4.00 hrs - 6 persons

Our specially adapted minibuses with wheelchair hoists can take two wheelchair users and up to 4 additional passengers, or 1 wheelchair and 5 passengers. The experienced driver/guide will make sure you travel in comfort and safety.


enquire for availability from NZ $625.00
Whale and Dolphin Cruise in Auckland New Zealand Shore Excursion 1

AKL-G27  |  Marine Mammal Eco-Safari for Groups  |  4.50 hrs

Join our Whale Dolphin Cruise right in the centre of Auckland, its so easy to experience the astonishingly abundant wildlife of the beautiful Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, our 4.5 hour marine eco-safari offers guaranteed Whale and Dolphin viewing year-round.


enquire for availability

Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand with a population of 1.4 million, is the embarkation port for many Cruise Ships. The Cruise Terminal is located adjacent to the Hilton Hotel in the heart of the city and is approximately 30 minutes from the Airport.

We can also arrange your transfers to and from the Airport or hotel. If you have a few days pre or post cruise then we can assist with activities and tours throughout the North Island. There's plenty of tour options available even if you only have a few hours in the available in the city before your ship departs.

The isthmus on which Auckland sits was settled by Maori around 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land. Many pa (fortified villages) were created, mainly on the volcanic peaks. Maori population in the area is estimated to have been about 20,000 people before the arrival of Europeans. The subsequent introduction of firearms, which began in Northland, upset the balance of power and led to devastating inter-tribal warfare, causing iwi who lacked the new weapons to seek refuge in areas less exposed to coastal raids. As a result, the region had relatively low numbers of Maori when European settlement of New Zealand began.

On 27 January 1832, Joseph Brooks Weller, eldest of the Weller brothers of Otago and Sydney bought land including the sites of the modern cities of Auckland and North Shore and part of Rodney District, for "one large cask of powder" from "Cohi Rangatira".

After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in February 1840, the new Governor of New Zealand, William Hobson, chose the area as his new capital, and named it after George Eden, Earl of Auckland, then Viceroy of India. The land that Auckland was established on was given to the Governor by local Maori iwi Ngati Whatua, as a sign of goodwill and in the hope that the building of a city would attract commercial and political opportunities for the iwi. Auckland was officially declared New Zealand's capital in 1841, and the transfer of the administration from Russell (now Old Russell) in the Bay of Islands was completed in 1842. However, even in 1840 Port Nicholson (later Wellington) was seen as a better choice for an administrative capital because of its proximity to the South Island and Wellington became the capital in 1865.

Auckland straddles the Auckland volcanic field, which has produced about 50 volcanoes. These take the form of cones, lakes, lagoons, islands and depressions, and several have produced extensive lava flows. Some of the cones have been partly or completely quarried away. The individual volcanoes are all considered extinct, although the volcanic field itself is merely dormant. Auckland has at least 14 large lava tube caves which run from the volcanoes down towards the sea.

Auckland's volcanoes are fuelled entirely by basaltic magma, unlike the explosive subduction-driven volcanism in the central North Island, such as at Mount Ruapehu and Lake Taupo. The most recent and by far the largest volcano, Rangitoto Island, was formed within the last 1000 years, and its eruptions destroyed the Maori settlements on neighbouring Motutapu Island some 700 years ago. Rangitoto's size, its symmetry, its position guarding the entrance to Waitemata Harbour and its visibility from many parts of the Auckland region make it Auckland's most iconic natural feature. Few birds and insects inhabit the island because of the rich acidic soil and the type of flora growing out of the rocky soil.

Auckland lies on and around an isthmus, less than two kilometres wide at its narrowest point, between Mangere Inlet and the Tamaki River. There are two harbours in the Auckland urban area surrounding this isthmus: Waitemata Harbour to the north, which opens east to the Hauraki Gulf, and Manukau Harbour to the south, which opens west to the Tasman Sea. The total coastline of Auckland is 3,702 km in length.

    How close to the city is the cruise terminal.

There are 3 cruise ship berths in Auckland, the main ones are Princes Wharf and Queens Wharf, both are just a few hundred meters to the main shopping street of Queen Street.

    How long does it take to get to or from the airport from the cruise terminal.

You should allow 30 to 45 minutes by taxi, but this is affected by traffic delays at peak hours. The distance is 27 km.

    What options are there to get to the ship from the airport.

You have a range of options, taxis, private car service or city and airport shuttle buses. You can book these here if you wish on the tours tab.

    Can I visit Hobbiton while the ship is in port in Auckland.

While it is possible, the drive would take around 2.5 hours at least each way. The traffic issues of Auckland at peak times may also be a problem. The best port to visit Hobbiton from is Tauranga, which is just 60 minutes drive to the Hobbiton movie set.

    I understand the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves can be visited from Auckland.

Yes, the drive to the Caves at Waitomo will take at least 2.5 hours, longer at peak times, so the ships time in port needs to allow for a 8 to 9 hour tour duration.

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Latest News
Latest News

If you are looking for a place to store your luggage before or after you cruise while you take one of our tours or have a look around the city, then check out The Luggage Hotel link we have at the bottom of our Standard tour options.

Lonely Planet has just voted Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland as the 5th best destination in the World to visit, so why not book one of our tours that visit this stunning island a short ferry ride from the cruise terminal. Plus just a week ago, the island came in fourth on Conde Nast Traveller's list of the Best Islands in the World.

Check out 2 new great adventures just added, the Adventure Duck tour in Auckland and the Eco Zip Line Adventure on Waiheke Island, just 35 minutes by ferry from the cruise ship terminal.

Latest News What You Say

What you say ...

Great being able to just walk into the city in a few minutes, the ferry to Devonport is almost next to the ship berth as well.

What You Say
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