Auckland boat rental
The city of Auckland lies on an isthmus between the Mangere Inlet and the Tamaki River. Two harbours are surrounding this isthmus: Waitematā Harbour to the North, which opens to the Pacific Ocean and Manukau Harbour to the south, which opens West to the Tasman Sea. What better location could you think of to start your boat rental holiday in New Zealand. The surrounding hills are covered in rainforest, and the landscape is scattered with dormant volcanoes. Experience a multitude of natural beauty on land with tours and walks and water with speed boat and catamaran rental. The added options of water activities are almost limitless with whale watching, scuba diving, kayaking, and surfing. Take your pick but also choose your time in the Southern Hemisphere as Auckland has a subtropical climate with heavy rain from May to December, and summer and autumn from November to April, are peak travel times. The heart of Auckland sailing is the Viaduct basin at the bottom of the central city and near the main ferry terminal. Don’t forget to stop at one of many bars and restaurants for a glass of New Zealand Chardonnay.
Why rent a boat on holiday in Auckland?
The isthmus of Auckland was described as early as 1853: "In all seasons, the beauty of the day is in the early morning. At that time, generally, a solemn stillness holds, and a perfect calm prevails..." Whether prose interests you or not, try a boat rental in Auckland and make up your own story. There is a tradition of world-class sailing in Auckland that includes the America's Cup, and the Auckland Boat Show is the only boating expo in New Zealand where visitors can experience such a wide range of vessels on and off the water. If you are a real sailing enthusiast, these should tick all your boxes. The harbour is beautiful, there are 38 yacht clubs and more boats per capita than any other city in the world, so it is an excellent place for boat rental.
When is the boating season in Auckland?
Boat rentals are available all-year-round in Auckland, with cruises and boats on the Harbour enjoying the wide range of recreational activities that abound on the Gulf. Even on weekdays, you can see locals out on the water, either fishing, sailing, or simply enjoying the beautiful weather and Harbour views. However, the yachting season in Auckland falls from December to April, which is the official summer season in New Zealand. Summer is the warmest season and best for nature-based shore excursions with temperatures averaging 20 degrees Celsius or more.
Rent a boat for a day in Auckland
If you can only make one day free for boat rental in Auckland, depart from near the Viaduct and sail to one of the nearby islands. Not all islands allow public access, but private boats can land. Rangitoto is an extinct volcano; it is also the iconic image of Auckland. No bush or beaches, just volcanic rock. Go ashore and take a one hour walk to the top for spectacular views. Continue to Motutapu, a small island attached to Rangitoto by a causeway. It is excellent for bushwalks, white sand beaches, and swimming. Keep island hopping to Motuihe, another smaller island nearby with similar attractions all accessible by boat rental.
Rent a boat for the weekend in Auckland
If you have an overnight boat rental, then the best place to go is Waiheke Island. From Auckland Harbour head North where the beaches are the best. Oneroa has a white sandy beach with many boats moored off here in summer. You can take a dinghy to the beach and walk 100m to the town centre. The main town center with shops, cafes, takeaways, plus a few bars and restaurants. Keep going to Palm Beach, a smaller beach, and not so crowded. Little Palm beach, at one end, is the local nudist beach. Boats can often anchor off here. There is a restaurant & sundry store at one end of the beach. Not beached out yet? Onetangi is a fantastic white sand beach, almost 2km long. On the Eastside there is Man-o-War Bay.
A more remote bay where the main attraction is Man-o-War Winery, one of 30 wineries on Waiheke, requires a car to access. There are 30 boutique wineries on Waiheke, and due to the unique microclimate, they produce some of New Zealand's best red wines. If you head South sail to Matiatia, a small bay for anchorage. Anzac Bay / Kennedy Point has yacht moorings, useful as an anchorage of the weather is unfavourable from the North. The Bay of Islands may be too far for a weekend boat rental trip, but if you have a week, then go for it. Most boat rental companies offer a one-way option where you pay them extra to return the boat to base.
Auckland boat rental for a week
The beautiful Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is dotted with scenic bays and islands, offering many opportunities for fishing, diving, swimming, and a host of recreational activities. A week-long boat rental will allow you to explore these incredible islands, where your yacht brings you to a different destination every day. A sample itinerary for 6 days of island hopping from Auckland can include the following:
Day 1: Waiheke Island
Home of 22 established vineyards, enjoy a wine tour on the island where you get to visit farms, and go on a wine-tasting tour. Afterward, you can visit the cafes and dining options, swim in the beaches, or take a hike on a clifftop. Its hub is Oneroa, where you can shop for supplies and buy some souvenirs.
Day 2 & 3: Great Barrier Island
With 70% conservation land, this paradise in the native bush is famous for its hot mineral pools. You can also swim on the beach, enjoy a horseback ride, or rent a mountain bike through the forest. There's also a restaurant where you can enjoy afternoon tea and snacks. Other adventures on this island include 8x8 adventures, fishing, and hiking the top of Mt. Hobson for some spectacular views.
Day 4 & 5: Bay of Islands
One of the most popular yachting destinations in Auckland, there's so much to do here that one day simply isn't enough, you'd have to spend two days on the island to truly enjoy what it has to offer. After all, it has 144 islands all around it, choose which ones to explore.
Day 6: Goat Island
For scuba diving enthusiasts, Goat Island is definitely a must. Its underwater world is like a giant aquarium, where divers get to see rich marine life such as huge snappers, stingrays, and if you're lucky, even orcas and dolphins.
Day 7: Auckland
Make your way back to Auckland and marvel at the beautiful islands you'll get to pass, before heading back to the marina.
Rent a boat for diving in Auckland
Diving is available year-round in Auckland. January to June is considered the best time to dive the Northern dive sites of North Island. Spectacular wreck diving can be had on either the HMNZS Canterbury or the Rainbow Warrior (Greenpeace’s flagship vessel, bombed by the French Secret Service). Both wrecks are now encrusted in abundant fish life and beautiful reefs. Poor Knights Islands, a protected marine reserve, also offers divers drop-offs, walls, caves, arches, tunnels, and spectacular marine life. The Coromandel Peninsula is dotted with islands with many good dive sites. In the summer months, large kingfish school with giant boarfish, and tarakihi. Goat Island is New Zealand’s oldest marine reserve featuring a variety of diving environments, including rocky shores, deep reefs, underwater cliffs, canyons, and sand flats.
Rent a boat for whale watching in Auckland
If you are wondering when the best time to go whale watching in Auckland, the answer is ‘every day’. Sperm whales feeding off the coastline happen all year round come here to feed upon the abundance of food in the nutrient-rich waters of the Kaikōura Canyon. During these months’ we most commonly have the opportunity to view ‘pods’ of whales as they pass by, usually in pods of between six or more, several times a month. Other visitors to Kaikōura include humpback whales, pilot whales, blue whales, and southern right whales. For instance, during the months of June to August, humpback whales leave Antarctic waters for the winter and head North to the warmer tropical waters of places like Tonga and Australia, stopping off in Kaikōura on their way for a rest before continuing on their journey. For the best opportunity for seeing sperm whales and migrating whales, June to August is the best time to go whale watching. Don’t forget to look out for common Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Southern Right Whale Dolphins, Elephant Seals, and Leopard Seals.
