Auckland, New Zealand 

Auckland lies between two enormous harbours and is dominated by the peak of the volcanic Rangitoto Island. Enjoy island wine trails, forest walks and urban sophistication.

Your P&O ship docks at Princes Wharf and Queens Wharf, Central Auckland. The wharves that cruise ships dock at are all located at the water's edge of downtown Auckland. You will be in central Auckland the moment you disembark from your ship. To explore the different Auckland suburbs such as Newmarket, Parnell and Ponsonby, you can catch a free inner city bus (City Circuit bus).

Taxis are available at the pier and at designated taxi stands throughout the city.

Queen Street, Auckland’s main street, offers a range of boutiques, souvenir and clothing stores, banks and restaurants together with
arcades and shopping centres. Popular buys are wool and sheepskin items, Maori artifacts, greenstone (New Zealand nephrite jade), and woollen wear. Shopping hours: Mon-Thu: 9am to 5pm; Fri: 9am to 6pm (although some stores tend to stay open for longer); Weekends: 10am to 4pm.

Auckland is an international city, and cuisines from around the world are well represented here. Much is made here of ‘fusion’ foods that combine the very best styles, particularly from Asia and the Mediterranean, with fresh local produce, especially seafood. Outdoor cafes abound, and because Auckland is a city that embraces water, many cafes and restaurants have exceptional views. In the inner city you’ll find a wide choice of cafes, bars and restaurants around Karangahape Road, Princes Wharf, Viaduct Basin (of America’s Cup fame), Lorne Street and High Street. Alternatively, you might head
out to Parnell Village, Newmarket, Ponsonby, Mission Bay or Devonport.

Summer: High of 75F (24°C) low of 52F (11°C); Winter: High of 63F (17°C) low of 48F (9°C); Average rainfall of 1240mm and average sunshine of 2060 hours.

Tipping in New Zealand is optional. Tips are usually given only for exceptional service. Between five and ten percent of the bill would be reasonable in a good restaurant if the service has been excellent.

Major credit cards and charge cards are widely accepted. Automatic teller machines provide currency to foreign card holders.

Public telephones are available at the pier and throughout the city. To make an international phone call, you need to dial ‘00’ followed by your country code, area code, and then your phone number.

To make your day ashore as enjoyable as possible, please ensure that you wear comfortable, flat soled shoes and a hat, and bring along some sunscreen and bottled water. It’s also a good idea to bring a warm, waterproof jacket – just in case the wind comes up or it rains.

There are a variety of tours available for you to enjoy during your time in Auckland. Subject to availability tours may be booked onboard at the Shore Tours Desk. Passengers will meet at a specific location for each shore tour departure. Please refer to the daily onboard newsletter for the correct place and time. Your friendly Shore Tour staff will be at that location to assist you.