Enjoy time aboard a sailing yacht on Waitemata Harbour. Your Auckland cruise sets sail from Viaduct Harbour, passing the Auckland Bridge, Westhaven Marina, and Devonport while you listen to informative commentary on the sights. Relax as you take in the views or help the crew sail the vessel—it’s up to you.

Enjoy the sights of Auckland on this cruise aboard a yacht
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and a sweet treat is included
Plenty of photo opportunities
Informative commentary

What's Included

1.5-hour cruise aboard a yacht
Light refreshments
Live commentary on board
Use of windproof and waterproof jackets

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Explore Group - Auckland
Explore Booking Kiosk Quay Street, Viaduct, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Go to the Maritime Museum Koel Cafe, the Explore Kiosk is diagonally across from there.

Start time

03:15 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Set sail from Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour on a cruising yacht for a morning or afternoon on the water. Your captain welcomes you aboard and the crew supplies windproof and waterproof jackets, depending on weather conditions.

After a brief introduction accompanied by a safety briefing, depart Viaduct for a sightseeing tour that includes interesting commentary on Auckland, home of the America's Cup.

Once you have enjoyed tea—including coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and a sweet treat—in the sunshine or below deck, the crew sets the sails to cruise Auckland's sparkling Waitemata Harbour. You have the option of helping the crew sail the vessel or simply sit back and relax as you take advantage of photo ops.

Glide past the Auckland Bridge, Westhaven Marina, the charming suburb of Devonport, and the city skyline before returning to the starting point.

Viaduct Harbour

Admission Ticket Free

Auckland Harbour Bridge

Admission Ticket Free

Explore Group

Admission Ticket Free

Waitemata Harbour

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Toilet is also located on-board vessel

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

Operated by Explore Group Limited

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

FM_W

Orcas in the harbour were the highlight! The guides Brad, first day James and Bridget (?) were superb. Friendly reassuring and professional

Reviews

4.5

35 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 35 reviews

Worth it.

Maree_A, Sept 2023

It was a great experience and the crew were very experienced. It was well worth us booking this trip.

Harbour Sailing in Auckland

Julie_P, Sept 2023

Skipper and crew were informative, friendly, helpful and accommodating. We enjoyed learning about the bay area, the boat and the crew. Two of our group of 4 had never been on a sailboat before and two had. It was such a treat and we truly want to do it again.

Orcas!!!!

FM_W, Oct 2022

Orcas in the harbour were the highlight! The guides Brad, first day James and Bridget (?) were superb. Friendly reassuring and professional

Must do experience

CHERYL_D, Aug 2022

The tour guide and crew were very welcoming. Good knowledge and very witty at times, which made the trip even more enjoyable.

Great boat and fun crew

Will_S, Jul 2022

Highly recommend this sailing adventure. The crew made it fun and the boat was perfect. They even provided drinks and snacks.

Happy Sailors Review!

John_C, Mar 2020

We were initially booked to sail on a smaller boat. Due to dwindling tourism we were offered the chance to sail the 2003 America’s Cup boat. The day was sunny, winds brisk, and crew efficient. We sail Maine, USA waters. This sail was outstanding! What a blast! The captain, Alex, kept a cool head in high winds and sailed the boat with 24 visitors and 3 other crew magnificently! I felt safe throughout the one hour sail. The trip was curtailed due to increasing winds. With great respect we thank the crew for a wonderful sail! Warmly, John and Terri Chamberlain Portland, Maine USA

Wonderful Auckland Harbor Sail

Steven_B, Feb 2020

Wonderful sail around Auckland Harbor. Boat had plenty of room for everyone to enjoy. Great sailing experience. Crew was very nice. Everything as described. Highly recommend!

Veena

prabhushiva, Jan 2020

Excellent service We were very pleased. Captain had our boys steer the wheel and explained on the city highlights.

Fun times

Sam J, Jan 2020

Great, skilled Captain (Forgotten his name, but was from Essex and lived in NZ half the year). It was quite windy when we went out which was great fun. Our original morning booking was moved to an afternoon one as there weren't enough people booked on the morning trip. This was fortunately fine for us though.

Expensive for trip under the bridge

Michael_S, Dec 2019

Lovely crew. Very accommodating. Expected more for the price. Daughter purchased for gift for us, felt bad she spent so much for what it was.

We didn't get to go on our sailing...

Paulette R, Nov 2017

We didn't get to go on our sailing experience and only found out once we got there that due to low numbers they weren't going ahead. Very disappointed to book a special trip for my husbands birthday only to be disappointed at the last moment. There was nothing on the website to advise us that it was dependent on numbers. Explore NZ's solution was for us to pay an ADDITIONAL 160 to go on a different cruise. Totally unacceptable customer service and experience dealing with Explore NZ. No issues with Viator as a service at all though :

Excellent afternoon on the harbor...

James D, Oct 2017

Excellent afternoon on the harbor. Leisurely and pleasant. There were only 3 of us and the captain so it was like a private charter. Captain was very knowledgeable about all the sights and told some interesting stories about the area my only thought was maybe a bit too much on the real estate prices

This afternoon sailing was...

halo8horton1r, Jun 2017

This afternoon sailing was excellent,the knowledge and experience of the crew made me feel safe i am a nervous on the water! Would recommend,my husband was thrilled to steer the yacht.

Very professional and great fun. Superb...

D C S, Feb 2017

Very professional and great fun. Superb views of Auckland.

Great way to spend our first...

Louise M, Nov 2015

Great way to spend our first afternoon in NZ. Weather was perfect which helped!! Our crew Ali and Alex were friendly and shared interesting info about the harbour and surrounding areas. Everyone had the opportunity of hoisting sails and driving the boat, Very highly recommended.

It was a gorgeous day and the crew...

Tina_P, Feb 2013

It was a gorgeous day and the crew were great. It's a beautiful day out if u are looking for something relaxing.

We had a fantastic time! Enjoyed every...

Joan D, Mar 2012

We had a fantastic time! Enjoyed every moment with the great crew!

This was a wild ride in 25 to 30...

Carl H, Mar 2012

This was a wild ride in 25 to 30 knot winds. Very professional crew, no danger, just excitement.

Wow, what a fantastic Harbour...

Mary M, Jan 2012

Wow, what a fantastic Harbour Cruise! The staff were so down to earth and friendly, the day was perfect and out on the water was beautiful! Even got a go at steering! So worth it!

this was a most enjoyable afternoon...

TABLE TALK DINING, Jan 2011

this was a most enjoyable afternoon, we were very lucky to have great weather , and along with a great crew, it was an excellent afternoon