Auckland Cruise Ship Port on Queens Wharf
Part of the full Auckland in One Day: Sky Tower and Domain
Auckland’s cruise ships dock at Queens Wharf and Princes Wharf at the foot of Queen Street, the city’s main street, and from the ferry terminal next door, boats cross the harbor in 25 minutes to Rangitoto, the island volcano that rose from the sea about 600 years ago; to the west, the waterfront path leads to the Wynyard Quarter’s parks and fish market.
Queens Wharf, Princes Wharf and the downtown ferries
The main cruise terminal is inside Shed 10 on Queens Wharf, a cargo shed restored as a passenger hall at the foot of Queen Street, and a second ship can tie up at Princes Wharf, about 300 metres west. Both open onto Quay Street, the waterfront road along the city center, with Waitematā Station, the downtown train station, and the Downtown Ferry Terminal a short walk away. From there, the main Auckland guide climbs Queen Street to the Sky Tower and the Domain.
The Wynyard Quarter across the lifting footbridge
The Wynyard Quarter lies 10 to 15 minutes’ walk west of the cruise wharves along the waterfront, past Viaduct Harbour’s marina. It was a tank farm and fishing harbor until it was opened up from 2011 as parks, promenades and restaurants, with Silo Park built around an old cement silo and the Auckland Fish Market on the water’s edge.
The way in is Wynyard Crossing, a footbridge opened in 2011 whose two spans lift upright to let boats through to the inner harbor, so walkers sometimes wait a few minutes on either side. Everything here is free to walk through.
The summit of Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto is the low, symmetrical cone on the harbor’s horizon, a volcano that rose from the sea about 600 years ago, the youngest in the Auckland volcanic field. Ferries from the Downtown Ferry Terminal, next to Queens Wharf, take about 25 minutes; the summit track climbs through black lava fields and pōhutukawa forest, the native trees that flower red at Christmas, to the 260-metre top in about an hour, with a view back over the harbor to the city.
There are only a few sailings a day, mostly in the morning, with returns in the afternoon, so the trip needs four or five hours, and the island has no shops or water: bring both. A Rangitoto ferry ticket is NZ$60 return for an adult.
Luggage storage near the Auckland cruise wharves
The Queens Wharf terminal has no luggage storage, but a left-luggage service operates on the waterfront next to the wharves, at about NZ$15 a bag, and luggage storage points operate around Queen Street and Waitematā Station. The Rangitoto track is rough lava underfoot, so leave everything but a day pack on the mainland.
Auckland Airport is 25 to 45 minutes by road
Auckland Airport is about 21 kilometres south of the cruise wharves, 25 to 45 minutes by taxi or rideshare depending on the motorway, roughly NZ$80 to NZ$120. A direct airport coach runs from the city center every half hour, 40 to 50 minutes, for about NZ$20. By train, ride from Waitematā Station to Puhinui Station, about half an hour, and change to the AirportLink bus, about 20 minutes more, NZ$6.50 in all. Allow a full hour for the trip either way, plus check-in and security.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do near the Auckland cruise terminals?
With an hour or two, walk west along the waterfront to the Wynyard Quarter, a former industrial harbor edge turned into parks and restaurants, crossing a footbridge that lifts for boats; it takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs nothing. With four hours or more, take the ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal, next to Queens Wharf, 25 minutes out to Rangitoto, a volcano that rose from the sea about 600 years ago, and walk to its 260-metre summit for the view back over the city. Ferry tickets are worth booking ahead, and bags should be left on the mainland first.
How do I get from the Auckland cruise terminal to the airport?
Auckland Airport is about 21 kilometres south of the cruise terminals, 25 to 45 minutes by taxi or rideshare, roughly NZ$80 to NZ$120. A direct airport coach runs from the city center every half hour, 40 to 50 minutes, for about NZ$20. By train, ride from Waitematā Station, at the foot of Queen Street, to Puhinui Station, about half an hour, and change to the AirportLink bus, about 20 minutes more, NZ$6.50 in all.
Where do cruise ships dock in Auckland?
At Queens Wharf, where the passenger terminal is inside Shed 10, a restored cargo shed at the foot of Queen Street, and at Princes Wharf, about 300 metres west. Both are on Quay Street, the waterfront road along the city center, a short walk from Waitematā Station and the Downtown Ferry Terminal.
Is there luggage storage at the Auckland cruise terminals?
Not inside the Queens Wharf terminal, but a left-luggage service operates on the waterfront next to the wharves, at about NZ$15 a bag, and luggage storage points operate around Queen Street and Waitematā Station.