Where do Cruise Ships Dock in New Zealand?

Holland America's Volendam docked at Mount Maunganui, Tauranga

If you're like me, you'll like to have some idea of where you'll be docked when going to a port, especially if you haven't been there before. Here's a round-up of information that will be helpful on your Round New Zealand cruise. Today I'll write about the North Island ports of call.

Bay of Islands: The cruise ship anchors in the bay and passengers go ashore by tender to Russell or Waitangi. This takes about 5 minutes.

Cruise Ship at Anchor in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Auckland: Ships dock at Princes Wharf or Queens Wharf. As the wharves are at the foot of Auckland's CBD, the location is very convenient.
Tauranga: Here the ships dock at Mount Maunganui, a seaside suburb. To get into Tauranga city, local buses leave from the port for the 20 minute, 9 kilometre drive.
Napier: Cruise ships dock at the wharf near Ahuriri, the oldest part of Napier that was once a whaling station. It is a one kilometre flat walk round the shoreline to Napier's CBD.
Gisborne: This is another tender port. The ships anchor in Poverty Bay and passengers go in tenders to the marina. This takes about 20 minutes. It is a flat walk of a couple of blocks to Gisborne's main street and shopping district.

Two Ships in Port at Wellington

Wellington: Aotea Quay is where the cruise ships dock. From there a shuttle bus transports passengers to the main shopping street, Lambton Quay. Or you could walk - it takes about 10 minutes.

Well, that's the North Island ports of call sorted! Next post I'll talk about the South Island ports of call on a New Zealand cruise itinerary.