What an Auckland Harbour Sail Is Like
Check-in at the Viaduct, the safety briefing, steering and grinding, heeling, wind limits, what to wear, seasickness and kids on an Auckland harbour sail.
A sail on the Waitematā is the most hands-on way to see Auckland from the water. You board a yacht in Viaduct Harbour, the crew raise the sails, and for an hour and a half to two and a half hours you sail past the Sky Tower, towards the Harbour Bridge and across to Devonport, with the chance to take the wheel yourself.
Three sailing trips leave the Viaduct: a 90-minute harbour sail on a 50-foot cruising yacht, a two-hour sail on a former America’s Cup racing yacht, and a 2.5-hour dinner sail. No experience is needed for any of them. Here is what happens from check-in to the dock.
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Checking in at the Viaduct
All three sailing trips are run by Explore Group and leave from its booking kiosk on Quay Street in Viaduct Harbour, diagonally opposite the New Zealand Maritime Museum. It is not the Downtown Ferry Terminal and not Princes Wharf, and the Red Boats cruises leave from Westhaven Marina further west, so check the meeting point on your ticket before you set off.
Arrive about 15 minutes before departure. On the America’s Cup sail, departures run at 1pm from April to October and at 11am and 2pm from November to March, and the times can shift with the tides. Leave large bags at your hotel: the America’s Cup and dinner sails do not allow luggage on board, and there is not much room on any yacht deck.
Each sailing needs a minimum number of guests. If it is not met, Explore offers you another date or a full refund, and the same applies if the weather stops the sail. Every one of these trips can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours ahead.
The safety briefing and casting off
Once aboard, the skipper introduces the crew and runs through a safety briefing. On the America’s Cup yacht you are issued a life jacket and weatherproof jacket as required. The 90-minute sail has ponchos, and the dinner sail provides weatherproof jackets and blankets.
The yacht motors out of the Viaduct, and once there is room the crew raise the sails. From there the route depends on the wind, but the 90-minute sail lists the Harbour Bridge, Westhaven Marina, Devonport and the city skyline, with the skipper talking through the history of the harbour and the America’s Cup on the way. On the shorter sail you get your choice of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and a cookie.
At the end, the crew drop the sails and the yacht motors back into the Viaduct, where you step off at the same spot you boarded. The Viaduct’s bars and restaurants are a few steps away, which makes the afternoon sails easy to follow with an early dinner and the morning ones with lunch.
A toilet is on board the 90-minute and dinner yachts.
Helping the crew: helming and grinding
You can do as much or as little as you like. On the America’s Cup yacht the crew will hand you the wheel, and you can take a turn on the grinders, the big winches that haul in the sails. Guests describe helping to raise the sails, winding the winches and steering, and one group of 13 found everyone had a turn at the helm more than once. A 78-year-old first-time sailor wrote that it was not as challenging as expected.
The two America’s Cup yachts are NZL 41, built for Japan’s Nippon Challenge in 1995, and NZL 68, built for a German syndicate in 2003 and later used by Team New Zealand as a trial boat. Both are about 80 feet long with a 113-foot mast, which is a lot of sail to feel pulling when the breeze fills in.
On the 50-foot cruising yacht the atmosphere is gentler. You can try the helm or help the crew, and plenty of people simply sit on deck with a hot drink and take photos.
Heeling, wind and when the yacht stays in
A sailing boat heels, leaning to one side, when the wind pushes on its sails. On a breezy day that means the deck tilts and you sit on the high side with your feet braced, which is half the fun on a racing yacht. When the boat tacks or gybes, turning through the wind, the lean swaps sides, so listen for the crew’s call before you move.
The America’s Cup yachts were designed to sail mainly in light winds. There are wind limits for the safety and comfort of passengers, and the skipper makes the final decision on the day. Spring, especially October, is usually the windiest time of year in Auckland, so that is when a sail is most likely to be called off. If it is, you choose between another date and a refund.
What to wear and bring
Wear comfortable shoes, ideally flat with a good grip; all three listings ask for comfortable footwear (more in our guide to what to wear on an Auckland harbour cruise). Add a hat, sunscreen and a camera for a daytime sail. Even in summer it is cooler on the water than in the city, and the dinner sail asks guests to bring warm clothing for the evening.
The dinner sail has a licensed bar, and you must be 18 to drink alcohol in New Zealand. Smoking is not allowed on board.
Seasickness
The inner Waitematā is sheltered by the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, so a harbour sail is usually calmer than a trip out into the open Gulf. If you are prone to seasickness, take whatever you normally use before you board, and keep your eyes on the horizon. If you are worried, the 90-minute sail is the shortest commitment.
Children and accessibility
The America’s Cup sail is suitable for children aged 10 and over, and it is not recommended for pregnant women or people with medical conditions, who are asked to contact the operator first. The 90-minute sail is open to all ages, and children aged four and under go free, though they must still be added to the booking. The dinner sail is not suitable for children under five. None of the three sails is wheelchair accessible. The crew do help people on and off: a guest in her eighties on the dinner sail praised them for exactly that.
The 90-minute, America’s Cup and dinner sails compared
| Sail | Boat | Length | From | Rating | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbour Sailing Cruise, 90 minutes | 50 ft cruising yacht | 1.5 hr | $65 | 4.7 (318) | Commentary, hot drink and cookie, ponchos |
| America’s Cup Sailing Experience | Former America’s Cup racing yacht | 2 hr | $123 | 4.6 (341, Viator) | Sail as crew, safety briefing, life jacket and weatherproof jacket |
| Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner | 50 ft cruising yacht | 2.5 hr | $103 | 4.5 (519, Viator) | Three-course dinner, welcome drink, jackets and blankets |
Prices are per person in US dollars as GetYourGuide quotes them.
The 90-minute Harbour Sailing Cruise is the relaxed introduction: the harbour, the bridge and the skyline, a hot drink and the option to steer, for $65. Our breakdown covers it stop by stop.
The America’s Cup Sailing Experience is the active one. It costs $123, runs half an hour longer, and puts you to work on a proper racing yacht. It is rated 4.6 from 341 reviews on Viator.
The Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner is the evening one, at $103. Canapés are shared, then you choose a main such as lamb rump or market fish and a dessert, supplied by The Lula Inn in the Viaduct. You pick your menu and note dietary needs when you book. One guest found eating on a moving sailboat a little challenging, and several mention the city lights coming on after dinner.
Our sailing experience page sets the three side by side, the dinner cruise page compares the sailing dinner with the motor-boat buffets, and the homepage comparison table lists every cruise. For the right season, see the best time guide, and for everything else on the water, the guide to choosing a cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need sailing experience for an Auckland harbour sail?
No. The crew sail the boat and show you what to do if you want to help. You can steer, grind or simply sit back.
Can you steer the yacht?
Yes. On all three sails the crew offer guests a turn at the helm, weather and numbers permitting.
What should I wear on an Auckland sailing cruise?
Flat, comfortable shoes with grip, a warm layer, a hat and sunscreen. Ponchos, weatherproof jackets or blankets are provided depending on the sail, and large bags are not allowed on the America’s Cup or dinner sails.
What happens if it is too windy to sail?
The skipper decides on the day. If the sail is cancelled for weather, you can move to another date or take a full refund. The America’s Cup yachts have wind limits because they were built for light airs.
Can children go on the America’s Cup sail?
Yes, from age 10. The 90-minute sail is open to all ages, with under-fives free, which makes it the better choice for younger children.
How long is the America’s Cup sailing experience?
Two hours on the water, plus about 15 minutes to check in beforehand. It costs $123 per person and is rated 4.6 from 341 Viator reviews.
Sail the Waitematā on a 50-Foot Yacht
Ninety minutes under sail from Viaduct Harbour, past the skyline towards the Harbour Bridge, with a hot drink, a turn at the wheel if you want it, and free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
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