Auckland’s Shore Excursions
Visiting Auckland by cruise ship and wondering how to see the city? The Auckland Explorer Bus is a flexible hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour that departs just one block away from Princes Wharf and Queens Wharf. It offers a reliable and easy way to explore Auckland’s top attractions at your own pace while ensuring you return to your ship on time.
What are the best Auckland shore excursions?
The best shore excursions in Auckland allow you to control your own schedule rather than sticking to a rigid group tour. The Auckland Explorer Bus gives you total flexibility to visit the highlights you actually want to see.
In our experience welcoming thousands of cruise passengers every season, the most common feedback is how much people appreciate the freedom to choose their own stops and travel at their own pace.
How our hop-on hop-off tour works for cruise passengers:
- Easy Access: No shuttles needed. We are located just one block from the cruise terminal (across the road from the Movenpick Hotel Auckland).
- Total Flexibility (9am–4pm): With buses departing every 30 minutes, you have full control to explore at your own pace and plan your return to the wharf well before your ship departs.
- Complete Control: You decide which attractions to visit and how long to stay at each one.
How to find Auckland Explorer Bus?
There are two cruise ship wharfs in Auckland: Princes Wharf and Queens Wharf. Both are a short, easy walk from the bus stop.
From Princes Wharf: Walk down the wharf onto Quay Street. Walk one block south to Customs Street and turn left. Our stop is located across the road from the Mövenpick Hotel Auckland.
From Queens Wharf: Walk down the wharf onto Quay Street. Walk south to the next block over from Quay Street, and turn left. The stop is across the road from the Mövenpick Hotel Auckland.
See Auckland’s Major Sights and Attractions
The Auckland Explorer Bus connects you to the city’s most iconic locations across two distinct routes. During the summer cruise season (October to April), your pass includes both the Red Inner Tour and the Summer Bonus Blue Tour. From May to September, the Red Inner Tour continues to offer a comprehensive circuit of Auckland’s central highlights.
Red Inner Tour (Available Year-Round):
- Downtown Auckland: Easy access from the cruise ship, Britomart, and the waterfront.
- Sky City: Home to the Sky Tower, Wētā Workshop Unleashed, and the All Blacks Experience.
- Art Gallery & Queen Street: Shopping, Town Hall, and Albert Park.
- Newmarket: Upscale retail district and designer fashion boutiques.
- Auckland Museum: Discover New Zealand, Māori, and Pacific history.
- Holy Trinity Cathedral: Beautiful Pacific Gothic style architecture.
- Parnell Village: Boutique shopping and eateries amid historic buildings.
- Okahu Bay: Coastal area with a beach and park.
- Takaparawhau / Bastion Point: Panoramic views over the city and harbour.
- SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s: View marine life including sharks, stingrays, and penguins.
Summer Bonus Blue Tour (Operating October to April):
- Auckland Museum (Transfer Point): A central hub for switching between the Red and Blue tours.
- Wintergardens: Historic glasshouses with exotic plants with free entry.
- Mt Eden / Maungawhau: Walk to the top of an extinct volcano for stunning city views.
- Kingsland / Eden Park: Home of the famous All Blacks rugby team.
- Auckland Zoo: See native New Zealand animals up close, plus lions, tigers, and giraffes.
- MOTAT: Museum of Transport & Technology with interactive science exhibits.
Who is this tour perfect for?
This is the ideal overview of Auckland for independent cruise travellers who want to make the most of their port time without sacrificing comfort or freedom.
Families: Take breaks when the kids need them, rather than being stuck on a strict group schedule.
Seniors: Travel comfortably between attractions with minimal walking required, or simply stay on the bus for a scenic overview.
Couples: Enjoy a relaxed day out together without the pressure of keeping up with a large tour group.
Small groups: Travel together easily while letting everyone pick and choose the stops that interest them most.
Independent Explorers: Choose exactly where you want to go and skip the attractions you do not care about.
Photographers: Hop off the bus to take your time capturing the perfect shot at places like Mt Eden or Bastion Point.
BUYING A PASS
Secure Your Spot Pass availability is restricted per day. To avoid disappointment on busy cruise days, we recommend booking online prior to departure.
- Mobile Tickets: Simply show the ticket to the driver when you board and they will scan the QR code to validate. You can hop-on hop-off as many times within the time period of your pass.
- Ticket Options: Tickets can be purchased for 24 or 48 hours of travel.
Tickets can be purchased for 24 or 48hrs of travel.
Our street sellers are also located around the city or you can purchased from the travel desk inside the Ferry Building or the i-SITE Information Centre.
CRUISE SHIP CREW
Cruise ship crew with ID can buy an all day bus pass for just NZD$20.
Available from our street sellers only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Auckland Explorer Bus, including where to buy tickets and how often the buses run.
Our friendly reservations team is also ready to assist with any other questions you may have – feel free to get in touch.
Our tours have regular departures throughout the day – approximately every 35 minutes from all stops*.
We add buses to the route according to demand, especially on days when large cruise ships are visiting Auckland.
*timings may vary due to traffic conditions and season.
Yes, cruise ship crew members with valid ID can purchase an all-day bus pass for just $20 NZD. These are available directly from our street sellers.
No, but as ticket availability is restricted per day we highly recommend pre-purchasing tickets to avoid disappointment or delays. Book your tickets here.
It’s easy to buy Auckland Explorer Bus tickets:
- You can buy tickets online here,
- From our street sales ambassadors located at Stop 1 (on Customs Street East) and Stop 2 (outside the Sky Tower on Victoria Street West).
- Or from one of our agents around town including the isite Visitor Centres and the Harbour Information Centre inside the Downtown Ferry Building.
No sorry, we only accept New Zealand dollars.
Please note that our street sales ambassadors cannot accept cash payments, but our team can accept payment through most major EFTPOS and credit card providers, including Alipay.
If you have purchased a voucher from one of our agents, please show it to our street sales ambassadors at Stop 1 (on Customs Street East) or Stop 2 (outside the Sky Tower on Victoria Street West) and they will exchange it for your Explorer Bus ticket.
We have both 24-hour and 48-hour pass options. Your pass expires 24 or 48 hours after you begin travelling with us.
If you’ve bought an attraction ticket can be used up to 24 hours after your bus pass expires.
Yes, but you will need to visit either Stop 1 (on Customs Street East) or Stop 2 (outside the Sky Tower on Victoria Street West) to validate your ticket with our Street Sales Ambassadors after you start your tour. After this, you can hop on and off at any stop along the tour route.
The length of the tour is up to you! Your Auckland Explorer Bus tour can be as short as a one-hour sightseeing tour, or it can be all day (last tour departs Downtown Auckland at 4 pm, finishing at 5 pm).
Auckland Explorer Bus is a hop-on hop-off service, so you choose which attractions you’d like to hop off and visit and how long you would like to spend there. When you are ready to continue the tour, simply return to the bus stop and catch the next Auckland Explorer Bus.
A child is defined as anyone from the ages of 0 to 14 years. Passengers aged 15 or over are defined as adults.
A family is defined as two adults and up to 2 children, 5 to 14 years of age.
Unfortunately, we do not offer discounts over and above our standard prices.
We can offer a group discount for groups of 15 or more people, subject to availability. Please email info@explorerbus.co.nz to enquire.
Our usual yellow buses are wheelchair accessible – sometimes we may use extra buses in times of higher demand, which may not be wheelchair accessible.
Our buses are a distinctive bright yellow with Auckland Explorer Bus signage.
On busy cruise ship days, we may add extra buses to the service that aren’t in our usual branding, but they will be displaying Auckland Explorer Bus signs in the window.
Yes, there is full commentary in English on the bus.
Yes, Auckland Explorer Bus operates 364 days of the year (closed on Christmas Day). However, if you want to travel on public holidays such as New Year’s Day or Easter Sunday, some of the attractions may be closed. We recommend checking the websites of the selected attractions you would like to visit ahead of time.
You’re welcome to bring small carry-on items such as handbags, backpacks, and collapsible strollers with you. Our buses do not have any luggage racks or undercarriage storage, so we cannot carry large luggage items.
Sorry, we do not offer hotel pickups.
You will need to show your ticket to the driver each time you board the bus, so keep it somewhere safe but easily accessible. If you lose your paper ticket you may be required to buy another to continue your tour.
If you have left something on one of our buses, please advise the driver of the next bus. They will communicate with our other drivers and let you know if it has been found. If the item has not been found, you can share your contact details with them so we can contact you if it is found later in the day.