Ports of Auckland is joining in the celebrations this Anniversary weekend, in recognition of the long and exciting history that Auckland and the Port share. You can join in too…
During Auckland Anniversary Weekend 2009, 24 to26 January, Ports of Auckland is hosting a special series of FREE tours of the seaport by ferry.
These 40-minute tours are a great way for Aucklanders of all ages to learn more about the city’s beginnings on the Waitemata and the bustling port that helps make Auckland what it is today. You'll also get a great, close-up view of the big ships and the towering cranes!
Tour dates and times:
We apologise for any
inconvenience, but all tours are now fully booked. For more
information about future port boat tours visit our
port tour page.
Saturday 24 January
11.30 - sorry fully booked
12.30 - sorry fully booked
1.30pm - sorry fully booked
2.30pm - sorry fully booked
Sunday 25 January
11.30 - sorry fully booked
12.30
- sorry fully booked
1.30pm - sorry fully booked
2.30pm - sorry fully booked
All tours are fully booked, however special enquiries can be directed to Ports of Auckland by leaving a message on 0800 AK PORT or by emailing info@poal.co.nz.
If you have a booking, you must check-in at the 360 Discovery kiosk 30 minutes prior to departure to collect your boarding passes.
Find the 360 Discovery kiosk near Pier 4, opposite the PricewaterhouseCoopers building and right next to the ‘Starmart'. There will also be a Ports of Auckland sidewalk sing nearby to direct you.
The Ports of Auckland Tour, aboard a 360 Discovery ferry, departs from Pier 4 on Quay Street at the bottom of downtown Auckland.
To view a map, click here.
Ports of Auckland is offering a prized ride aboard one of its three racing tugboats as an Anniversary gift to Aucklanders.
One winner and a friend will enjoy a ride on reigning champion Daldy when it takes a break from its daily chores of shifting ships to compete in the Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Regatta’s Tugboat Race.
In addition to the thrill of zooming across the finish line, the winner will also have the chance to tour and explore the three-story, water-bound workhorse, learning more about the Daldy and its 34 year history at the Port.
To enter the draw, send the keyword ‘Daldy’ with your name, address and contact phone number to tugboat@poal.co.nz or post an entry form to Tugboat Race prize draw, c/o Ports of Auckland, PO Box 1281, Auckland.
All entries must be received by 9am Wednesday 21 January 2009. For terms and conditions click here.
Ports of Auckland is a proud sponsor of the Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Regatta, in this, the Regatta’s 169th year!
The Port’s boisterous tugboats – terrible twins Waipapa and Waka Kume, their 'older brother' Daldy and water-spraying Tamaki – are all joining in on the fun of the third annual Tugboat Race.
Tugboats of all shapes, sizes and ages will battle it out, with the younger Waipapa and Waka Kume again trying to add to the trophy cabinet. Meanwhile, Daldy will go head to head with his 'grandfather' – former Ports of Auckland tugboat William C Daldy, the coal fired steam tug that began more than 40 years of service to the Auckland port in 1935!
The race will start off North Head at 10.00am on Monday 26 January. The fleet then will round Narrow Neck Buoy to finish off Torpedo Bay.
The best public vantage points are North Head and East Coast Bay beaches.
At 11.30am, the Ports of Auckland tug fleet will herald a parade of the participating tugboats up the Harbour, past Princes Wharf, with water spraying and dancing. Some tugboats will berth in the Viaduct, allowing you a closer look.
For more information about the Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Regatta visit www.regatta.org.nz. For more information about the William C Daldy, visit the William C Daldy Preservation Society’s website at www.daldy.com.
Ports of Auckland tugboat Tamaki will also make a splash at the Seafood Festival during the opening-day event, the Blessing of the Fleet on Saturday 24 January at 2pm.
Seafood Festival patrons will be able to view the display from the Festival venue at Halsey Street Wharf.
Following the formal blessing, the audience will also be treated to a brief dancing tug display.
Visit www.seafoodfestival.co.nz for more information and ticket details.