🚢FREE Cruise Port Guides to New Zealand

Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand!

Cruise New Zealand Like a Local!

As a cruise traveller to New Zealand, you have limited time at each port, and these guides are designed with that in mind.

Booking a tour directly through your cruise line can be costly, and the good news is, many of New Zealand’s ports are perfect for exploring on foot—for free!

If you're seeking a more personalised adventure, there are plenty of alternative affordable tours that provide the same, if not better, experiences.

Whether you’re in port for a few hours or a full day, you’ll find locally curated tips and recommendations to make the most of your cruise time in New Zealand!

Ports Covered in this Guide:

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* Bay of Islands

* Auckland

* Tauranga

* Napier

* Wellington

* Picton

* Christchurch

* Timaru

* Dunedin

New Zealand Cruise Port Guides

* Bay of Islands Guide

Bay Of Islands

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New Zealand Cruises

🚢Cruise Port Guide to Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to the Bay of Islands and not sure what to do in port? Here’s a local’s guide to the best sights, activities, and tours — from exploring the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds to cruising through the stunning islands and visiting the famous Hole in the Rock or just wandering the charming streets of Russell.

Couples • 50+ • Family • Female Solo • Car-free • LGBTQ+ • Groups • Adventure • History • People & Culture • Relaxation • Romantic • Boutique • Luxury • Foodie • Coffee • Outdoors • Photography • Shopping • Wine • Wellness • Sustainable/Eco • Design • Art • Architecture • Budget

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* Auckland Cruise Port Guide

Queens Wharf

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New Zealand Cruises

🚢Cruise Port Guide to Auckland, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to Auckland and don't know what do in port? Here is a local's guide to the best sights, activities and tours in Auckland, from strolling the waterfront, bungy jumping to enjoying the local dining scene.

50+ • Car-free • Couples • Family • Groups • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • Adventure • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Coffee • Design • Foodie • History • Luxury • Outdoors • People & Culture • Photography • Relaxation • Romantic • Shopping • Sustainable/Eco • Wellness

Free

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* Tauranga Cruise Port Guide

Tauranga

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🚢Cruise Port Guide to Tauranga, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to Tauranga and not sure what to do in port? Here’s a local’s guide to the best sights, activities, and tours — from taking in the stunning views from Mauao’s summit to exploring the magic of New Zealand’s famous Hobbiton film set or experiencing the incredible geothermal wonders of Rotorua.

Couples • Family • Groups • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • 50+ • Car-free • Adventure • Relaxation • Outdoors • People & Culture • Wine • Coffee • Design • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Budget • Foodie • History • Romantic • Shopping • Photography • Luxury • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco • Wellness

Free

Guide

* Napier Cruise Port Guide

Napier City Council

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New Zealand Cruises

🚢Cruise Port Guide to Napier, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to Napier and not sure what to do in port? Here’s a local’s guide to the best sights, activities, and tours — from enjoying Napier’s iconic Art Deco architecture to visiting the National Aquarium of New Zealand, exploring Bluff Hill for panoramic views of the port, or enjoying a wine tour through the famous Hawke’s Bay vineyards.

Couples • 50+ • Groups • Family • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • Car-free • Wine • Art • History • Boutique • Architecture • Design • Foodie • Romantic • Luxury • Adventure • Coffee • Outdoors • People & Culture • Photography • Relaxation • Wellness • Sustainable/Eco • Shopping

Free

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* Wellington Cruise Port Guide

Wellington

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🚢Cruise Port Guide to Wellington, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to Wellington and not sure what to do in port? Here’s a local’s guide to the best sights, activities, and tours in Wellington — from strolling the waterfront and discovering quirky laneways, to enjoying the views from Mount Victoria or discovering the magic behind New Zealand's most famous film effects and props at the iconic Weta Workshop.

50+ • Couples • Family • Groups • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • Car-free • Outdoors • Foodie • History • Coffee • Adventure • Photography • People & Culture • Shopping • Romantic • Relaxation • Slow Travel • Wine • Sustainable/Eco • Design • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Budget • Luxury

Free

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* Picton Cruise Port Guide

Picton

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🚢Cruise Port Guide to Picton, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to Picton and don't know what do in port? Here is a local's guide to the best sights, activities and tours in Picton, from visiting Marlborough's world class wineries, getting out on the water in the Marlborough Sounds or just chilling on the picturesque Picton waterfront.

50+ • Accessibility • Car-free • Couples • Family • Groups • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • Adventure • Outdoors • History • People & Culture • Romantic • Sustainable/Eco • Wellness • Wine • Relaxation • Coffee • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Design • Foodie • Luxury • Shopping • Photography • Budget

Free

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* Christchurch Cruise Port Guide

Christchurch

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🚢Cruise Port Guide to Christchurch, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to Christchurch and don't know what do in port? Here is a local's guide to the best sights, activities and tours in Christchurch, from strolling the gardens, punting on the Avon River or enjoying the local dining scene.

50+ • Car-free • Couples • Family • Groups • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • Adventure • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Coffee • Design • Foodie • History • Luxury • Outdoors • People & Culture • Photography • Relaxation • Romantic • Shopping • Sustainable/Eco • Wellness

Free

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* Timaru Cruise Port Guide

Timaru

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🚢Cruise Port Guide to Timaru, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to the Timaru and not sure what to do in port? Here’s a local’s guide to the best sights, activities, and tours — from discovering the region’s rich Māori and settler history to relaxing in Caroline Bay or and visiting the breathtaking landscapes around Tekapo.

Couples • 50+ • Family • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • Groups • Car-free • Adventure • Outdoors • Relaxation • History • People & Culture • Shopping • Wine • Romantic • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Coffee • Design • Foodie • Luxury • Photography

Free

Guide

* Dunedin Cruise Port Guide

Dunedin

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🚢Cruise Port Guide to Dunedin, New Zealand

Planning a cruise to Dunedin and don't know what do in port? Here is a local's guide to the best sights, activities and tours in Dunedin, from visiting New Zealand's only castle, viewing the unique wildlife or getting a behind-the-scenes tour of one of NZ's famous breweries.

50+ • Car-free • Couples • Family • Groups • LGBTQ+ • Female Solo • Adventure • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Coffee • Design • Foodie • History • Luxury • Outdoors • People & Culture • Photography • Relaxation • Romantic • Shopping • Sustainable/Eco • Slow Travel • Wellness • Wine

Free

Guide

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These guides are free for you to enjoy and access anytime. They do take quite a bit of time to produce so if you appreciate this work please feel free to show some love and support with a tip!

Feedback or Suggestions?

If you have any feedback, suggestions or questions, feel free to reach out. Some of the ports only receive a handful of cruise ships and so I have focused on the more busy cruise ports. But let me know if there is any other information you might like to see!

Happy cruising to New Zealand!

Anna @ New Zealand Cruises

For more information:

New Zealand Cruise Ports | What to See and Do in New Zealand | New Zealand Cruises

www.new-zealand-cruises.com