Auckland harbour discovery

hightlights and Points of Interest

Map Harbour Discovery

Harbour Discovery Points of Interest

  1. Downtown Auckland - Your cruise begins here at Downtown Auckland. As you depart the pier have your camera ready for some great shots of the cityscape and skyline.
  2. Voyager NZ Maritime Museum* - New Zealand’s eternal love affair with the sea has produced a rich maritime culture. The Museum offers a number of exhibition galleries, which showcase several periods of maritime history, including the soon to be launched, highly anticipated Blue Water Black Magic exhibition - a tribute to Sir Peter Blake.
  3. Viaduct Basin - Home to several super yachts and many restaurants, bars, cafes and night clubs, Auckland’s Viaduct Village is the city’s waterfront hub. Also located here are many America’s Cup syndicate bases including Emirates Team New Zealand.
  4. Auckland Harbour Bridge – At 50 years old, Auckland’s legendary Harbour Bridge is a key New Zealand landmark. It took four years, 1000 men and £7,516,000 to build it, and the bridge was officially opened for traffic on 30 May 1959. Today, more than 1 billion cars have crossed the bridge since it opened. If you wish, you can climb or jump off the bridge with adventure company A J Hackett.
  5. Torpedo Bay # – Disembark here for North Head and Devonport village.
  6. North Head - North Head is one of two scoria cones situated in Auckland’s Devonport suburb. Climb to the top, and amidst the sweeping views of the Gulf, you’ll discover a series of fascinating World War tunnels, gun emplacements and searchlights; remaining from when North Head was set up as a key harbour defense fort to guard against a possible Russian attack.
  7. Devonport - Walk further along from North Head and you’ll find the laid back seaside village of Devonport; where a plethora of art galleries, pubs, cafes and antique stores make it an ideal place to relax and unwind. Devonport is also the base for the Royal New Zealand Navy.
  8. Rangitoto Wharf - Disembark here for Rangitoto Island and Motutapu.
  9. Rangitoto Island - At 600 years old, Rangitoto is a dormant volcano and the largest and youngest in the Auckland volcanic field. Its unique environment truly makes it one of the most memorable experiences to be had in New Zealand. Climb to the top for spectacular views of the harbour, explore the popular lava caves (you’ll need a torch!), or visit the WWII controlled mine base and other points of geological interest; all as you walk along the island’s many trails built by prisoners in the 1930s!
  10. Motuihe Island - Showcasing two magnificent white sand beaches, breathtaking landscapes and pastures, and exquisite views, Motuihe is truly a heaven on earth. The island is home to native flora, endangered birdlife and a colourful history created from Maori and European influences. Freely explore points of historical interest or partake in activities such as swimming or bird watching.
  11. Orakei Wharf – Disembark here for Kelly Tarltons and Mission Bay.
  12. Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World ** - This attraction offers a unique window into the complex marine life existing in the oceans around New Zealand. Its magnificent underwater world gives visitors a chance to literally ‘walk through’ the Pacific Ocean! The fascinating Antarctic Encounter showcases a century old expedition hut replica, and also gets you in arm’s length of New Zealand’s only tuxedo-clad birds – the sub Antarctic penguins!
  13. Mission Bay - Further along from Kelly Tarton’s lies the seaside suburb of Mission Bay. Very popular with locals during the summer months, Mission Bay epitomises all the elements of a Kiwi summer’s day out; a striking stretch of beach hemmed with top quality restaurants, bars, cafes, ice-cream parlours and more. Mission Bay is also a great location for cycling and hiking.

# Torpedo Bay is temporarily closed and undergoing maintenence. The Wharf is expected to re-open in March 2010

* Please note Voyager NZ Maritime Museum entrance fee is additional.

** Please note Kelly Tarltons entrance fees are additional. You may wish to return to Downtown Auckland by catching the Kelly Tarltons free bus. If you are in Mission Bay, there are several public bus services that return to Downtown Auckland regularly (bus fare additional).