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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.
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.
AKL-42 | Explore Rotoroa Island | 5.66 hrs
Discover Aucklands picture perfect harbor and Islands with endless views from Waiheke to Coromoandel while you relax on the sheltered sandy shoreline of this Island.
AKL-43 | Man O War Winery on Waiheke Island | 6.25 hrs
Sail direct to Man O War Vineyard, Waiheke Island with us. Travel in comfort and style on our premium cruise fleet direct to visit this beachfront cellar door and restaurant for a relaxed afternoon with friends and family
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.
AKL-25 | Half day Motukorea Kayak Tour | 4.00 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
AKL-26 | Full Day Auckland - Rangitoto Island Kayak Tour | 7.00 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
AKL-G39 | Auckland Private Luxury Tour | 8.00 hrs
This exclusive tour showcases the very best of Auckland. Our experienced Kaiarahi (host-guides) tailor a private tour that meets your interests while showing cultural and historical sites of significance. We highlight what makes Auckland one of the most desired places to live and visit. This tour aims to give you a sense of place while you use all your senses as the best guide.
AKL-S13 | Private Auckland Maori Luxury Tour | 8.00 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!
AKL-44 | Glass Bottom Boat Tour Goat Island | 12.00 hrs
Immerse yourself in the wonders of a thriving underwater ecosystem, observing vibrant reefs, fish, and coastal bird speciesall while staying comfortably dry.
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.
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.
