 | Auckland Viaduct Basin Reviews | 1 - 10 of 13 |  |
Sail in a real America's Cup racing boat.
Adults $125
Children $110
2 hr trip, sailing daily, no experience needed.
This is great if you really want to experience sailing a racing boat. There are no comforts, no comfortable lounge to sit in. So you are very exposed to the weather, which can be rather volatile down here in the South Pacific. So be sure this is what you want to do before you do it.
All that aside, and with your sealegs and passion for sailing, you can have a very envigorating sail on a very fast boat.
Have fun!! Leave a Comment Address: Viaduct Basin, Downtown Auckland.Phone: 09 - 359 5987Directions: America's Cup Village, Viaduct Basin.Website: www.sailnewzealand.co.nz Other Contact: 0800 - SAILNZ
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If you are tired of shopping and want a wander around the water front, extend your walk around Viaduct Basin, past the restaurants and cafes and move on towards Halsey Street. Halsey Street once hosted the bases for the America's Cup yachts, but is now slowly being turned into waterside apartments. You will see remnants of some of the old bases as well as new apartments. Leave a Comment Address: Halsey Street, Auckland CentralDirections: If you are in a car - Head along Fanshawe Street and turn into Halsey Street. If you are walking from the City walk around the waterfront area from The Loaded Hog in the Viaduct Basin.
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The Viaduct Basin is a small harbour area on the west side of the Auckland CBD. It's just a short stroll from most of the major hotels in the city. In 2003 and the end of 2002, it was the home to the America's Cup Village. The America's Cup is probably the most prestigous race in the yachting world. There were syndicates from Italy, the USA, Sweden, France, Great Britain, Switzerland (yes that's right - landlocked Switzerland), and of course NZ competing.
The Viaduct Basin used to be a rundown area of the waterfront where the fishing boats would dock. Now it's all apartments and trendy eateries. It has a great atmosphere on a warm sunny day. You can take $20, 45 minute watertaxi trips around the basin and see the syndicate bases and get a commentary on the place and its history. Often there are free concerts in the area too, especially in summer. Stroll around and have a look at the superyachts belonging to the "other half". The Maritime Museum is on Hobson wharf at the east end of the basin. Leave a Comment Address: Central Auckland.Directions: An easy short walk from most inner city hotels and backpackers. Plenty of parking in the nearby Downtown Centre Parking Building.
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This is really something: the experience of sailing in one of the boats which were built for the America's Cup, the world's oldest sporting trophy and most prestigious watersport event. The NZL 40 and NZL 41 were originally built for the America's Cup 1995, but the first one was not finished in time and was used as a trial boat for the 2000 America's Cup in Auckland, and the second was raced by the Japanese Nippon Challenge which sailed in the Louis Vuitton semi-finals (this is a kind of preliminary competition of the America's Cup). Later it was used as a training boast and raced in the America's Cup Julilee 2001.
Both boats have been changed as little as possible to give passengers an authentic experience. The most surprising thing is that the boats are so basic and do not even have a toilet... ;-) They really use buckets in the case of emergency! And there is no room for comfortable seats. Depending on which side you stand, either you are high above the water and fear to fall onto the passengers on the other side, or you sit on the lower side with your bottom nearly touching the waves... A little scary for non-sailors and fascinating at the same time.
These boats have nothing to do with the million-dollar cruise ships of the billionaires that anchor in Waitemata Harbour. They are pure racing boats for races that last some hours. The crew encourage the passengers to become crew, take the helm or wind the grinders. But it is also allowed to just sit back against the railing and let the others do the work, sailing though Auckland Harbour and under the Harbour Bridge.
The sailing tour takes two hours and costs NZ$135 for adults, 110 for kids (Jan. 2007), a match race like at the America's Cup takes three hours and costs NZ$ 195/175. Address: Viaduct HarbourPhone: (09) 359 5987, (0800) 724 569)Directions: If you walk down Quay Street to Viaduct Harbour the boats are at the first pier on the left, opposite the i-site. There is also a ticket kiosk. Another ticket office is on Quay Street, between Queens and Princess Wharfs.Website: www.sailnewzealand.co.nz Other Contact: info@sailnz.co.nz
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What do you do with a run down marina? Renovate it into high priced restaurants and apartment buildings aimed for the posh downtown nightlife crowd, of course!
With major sporting events like the America's Cup yachting race, the All Blacks rugby matches versus Australia and the world, amongst others, this area has become quite the international social scene now. There are also high end souvenir shops and the Maritime museum.
Enjoy the bars, restaurants, and nice waterview! If you make it down here around the daytime, you can also enjoy sailing a real America's Cup yacht! Leave a Comment
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Viaduct Harbour and America's Cup Village. About 5 years ago the viaduct was a backwater for a small collection of craft and fishing boats. When Team New Zealand won The America's Cup yachting race, the viaduct, which is now known as America's Cup Harbour, set about making a huge upgrade. Its now become a compound of Plazas and promenades, luxury apartments, challenge syndicate's compounds, marinas and has seen some of the big names in international boating. It is reputed to be the best America's Cup venue ever. At any time of year you can enjoy the many restaurants that now down there. Leave a Comment Address: Downtown Auckland.
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Great place to sit and have lunch. It was raining when i was here on the first day, but i came back a few days later with some sushi. You can have a little browse of the maritime museum, but i think there is an entrance fee (and since i was traveling on a tight budget) i didnt enter.
The viaduct basin has a few nice (and expensive i reckon!) cafes too, so u might want to spend the afternoon here for lunch and admire the tranquility of auckland's beautiful harbour. Leave a Comment Address: Quay StDirections: Walk all the way down Queen st to Quay St.
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Auckland citizen are crazy about sailing! In the America's cup village, in Auckland's port, you can shop, take a stroll and view the most beautiful sailing boats in the world, maybe take a sailing tour on a race boat, have a bite to eat in the surrouding restaurants, or just hang out! Leave a Comment
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