Waitemata Harbour: Tours & Tickets

Unfortunately we didn't get to see any whales on the day that we went out, they simply weren't making themselves available. However, we did see hundreds of dolphins. Seeing dolphins out in their natural habitat is just incredible, it took a bit of time to find them on the day that we were out, but it was well worth the wait. The captain of the boat could not have worked harder to find them out in the open ocean, the whole trip was very professional from start to finish. I would definitely go out again in the hope of finding whales next time.

An awesome experience that combines great views, great commentary and a friendly, witty and knowledgeable staff. Tourists and Aucklanders alike can really enjoy this experience, as you get a great view of the city, Waitemata and Hauraki Islands from a perspective you wouldn’t get any other way. Our pilot shared a breadth of knowledge on the geography and history of the region, and did so with a healthy dose of humour. If you want see Auckland then I highly recommend this experience.

Honestly our arrival in Auckland was not a good experience at all, but then we booked a 3 hour tour with Paul, and we were the only ones that afternoon so could really ask a lot of questions. He is very knowledgeable about history of Auckland, and as a native to Auckland, has much experience in the city. He recommended a small side trip for us to Devonport, which we enjoyed. The small bus has seen better days, but did the job, so we totally recommend this intro to Auckland.

Paul has great local knowledge and nothing was too much trouble. He was punctual and went out of his way to accommodate us. The whole tour was well worth the money and we would never have seen as much if we had done the tour on our own. We weren't rushed at any stage, so able to spend enough time to explore if we chose to. there were plenty of opportunities for refreshments and toilet stops.

We did end up seeing pygmy blue whales and a bryde’s whale, along with several dolphins, and even penguins! The crew was extremely well-informed and informative. They took two samples of phytoplankton and zooplankton, and explained their environmental importance. It was an altogether engaging and memorable experience.