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As the sun set over Westhaven Marina tonight, I could feel the festive atmosphere developing. It’s a great day to be a Kiwi. Today is the day New Zealand brought home America’s Cup, winning 7-1 over Oracle Team USA. The highly sought after Cup will reside at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, overlooking Westhaven Marina to the South and the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf to the North.

Normally, I don’t stop at Westhaven Marina, although I see it often as we cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It’s the largest yacht marina in the southern hemisphere, and each time I look out at the nearly 2,000 boats, I fantasise that one of them is mine. It is no surprise that Auckland is nicknamed the City of Sails.

Boats at Westhaven Marina in Auckland New Zealand
Sunset over Westhaven Marina.
Auckland Harbour Bridge seen from Curran Street, on the west side of the bridge.
Auckland Harbour Bridge viewed from Curran Street, on the west side of the bridge.

Power boats docked at Westhaven Marina in Auckland New Zealand

The entrance to Westhaven Marina in Auckland New Zealand
The boating entrance to this Auckland Marina.
A yacht sails by Rangitoto Island as sunset approaches in New Zealand
A yacht passes in front of Rangitoto Island.
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is one of the country’s most prestigious yacht clubs and will once again be home to the America’s Cup trophy when it returns to New Zealand next week. Rangitoto Island is reflected in one of the windows, while you can see the festivities starting to begin in the other building.
Flags fly proudly in support of Emirates Team New Zealand
Flags fly proudly in support of Emirates Team New Zealand.

Yachts at Westhaven Marina in Auckland New Zealand

A bicycle leans against boardwalk fence in Auckland New Zealand
A bicycle leans against the boardwalk fence along the Auckland waterfront. You can see the Harbour Bridge traffic starting to build as rush hour approaches.
Auckland Harbour Bridge view from the boardwalk
Another Auckland Harbour Bridge view from the boardwalk.
Barnacles and mussels cling to the wall just outside Westhaven Marina in Auckland New Zealand
Barnacles and mussels cling to the wall just outside Westhaven Marina. Auckland city centre stands proudly in the background.
Sunset at the Auckland Harbour Bridge
Sun is setting beyond the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

More on Westhaven Marina and the Auckland Harbour Bridge

  • Auckland Council purchased Westhaven Marina in 2004 from Ports of Auckland for $46 million.
  • The Auckland Harbour Bridge is the longest road bridge on New Zealand’s North Island. It spans the Waitemata Harbour connecting Auckland to the North Shore.
  • By the end of 2017, the bridge will have all its lighting powered by solar-stored energy, a world’s first. The goal is to create colourful effects using over 90,000 LED lights and 200 floodlights.
  • The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is the club behind New Zealand’s America’s Cup campaigns and therefore houses the trophy when it is in New Zealand.
  • The club was established in 1871, the club patron is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
  • Take note of the warning signs in the marina car park. If you are a visitor, be sure to only park in the white spaces.

More on Boating in Auckland

If you are headed to Auckland or anywhere in New Zealand, don’t forget to pick up a copy of Lonely Planet’s New Zealand Travel Guide. It makes planning your adventures easy. Or, if you prefer a tour, Viator offers several day trips in and around Auckland that look great.

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Westhaven Marina is the largest yacht marina in the Southern Hemisphere, home to New Zealand's America's Cup, and a lovely spot to watch the sunset.

Don’t Miss: 25 Things to Do in Auckland at Night.

Have you been to Westhaven Marina? Did you watch the America’s Cup Racing?

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Comments

  2. Very nice set of images. I really like the bicycle in the foreground and the bridge in the background. The final sunset image is just really well done. Have a blessed week.

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  3. Awesome post! Congratulations NZ!! 🙂 I was also converted visiting Marinas when I went to SG Marina Club. I can definitely live in one of those yachts!

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  4. Wow, Westhaven Marina definitely lives true to Auckland’s title of the city of sails – beautiful but very busy scene! It’s nice to stop and explore a place you drive by so frequently 🙂

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  6. I will be visiting Australia nad New Zealand at the beginning of 2018 😀 I hope this is a good time to travel there. I’m really looking forward as it was alwasys my dream to visit these two countries. It’s gonna be a looong journey from Europe but I’m sure it’s worth it 😀

    Best,
    Kasia

    Reply

  9. We are awful America’s Cup fans. We live in San Diego, home port to Stars and Stripes and we have never made a point to visit. I am pretty sure that we have cruised past it a couple of times and couldn’t even identify it.

    Your photos are lovely. I particularly liked your opening shot of the harbor at sunset. The colors were beautiful.

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  10. Some beautiful sunset pics over the water and a perfect place for sailing – well done by the way. We’ve got plenty of wind here in Wales, unfortunately, they come with matching dark skies.

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    • Westhaven is the largest yacht marina in the Southern Hemisphere. Most are not this big, but from the right angle of photography, they can all look pretty large.

      Reply

  13. Ah, this post has me missing New Zealand, one of my favorite places. Like most visitors, I didn’t spend a lot of time in Auckland, but it looks like I missed out. Lovely photos.

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  14. You’ve captured some really beautiful shots! I lived in West Auckland – Titirangi for a while and loved hanging out at the marina!

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    • Agreed. Unfortunately, we rarely stop, as it’s at the base of the bridge, so we are usually in a hurry to either get to our destination or beat rush hour home.

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  19. Congratulations to NZ! And I agree with Paul’s comment..lol…funny but sadly true! Loved seeing the harbor in all different light and all those yachts!

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  21. Well this makes me want to go to New Zealand and get a yacht, but I’d settle for just a trip to New Zealand. Congrats on the big win!

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  33. Ah what a great win isn’t it. There are indeed a lot of boats in Auckland. Auckland is one of the few places I haven’t explored in New Zealand yet. Have to put it on the calendar one day 🙂

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  34. Forgive my ignorance, Rhonda, so from all I understand America’s Cup is a yacht race, right? Well, I’m not surprised that New Zealand won it then. Like you say, the Kiwis are great sailors. As for owning a sailing boat, it’s not exactly my ultimate desire. Laszlo is member of a yacht club and rents one once in a while, but I am not exactly comfortable out on the sea (to put it mildly). Beautiful pictures, like always.

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    • Yes, America’s Cup is a yacht race. The two teams that race are the defending champion (in this case Team USA) and the winner of the Louis Vuitton Yacht Race (in this case Team New Zealand). In reality, both boats were built in New Zealand, and a large percentage of the sailors are Kiwi or Aussie, before being picked up by their various teams.

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    • LOL – The photos may say it, but the weather doesn’t agree. Actually, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, the air temperature was probably about 12C last night when I took these shots.

      Reply

  42. Now you’re talking. Water, marines and boats. My kind of day. I’ve not been here, but if I was anywhere near I would visit. Walk the docks if I could. I love all things boats.

    Have a fabulous day., Rhonda. 🙂

    Reply

  45. Congratulations for the victory and 7 – 1, wow! I wonder if President Trump will say any negative thing about New Zealand’s victory? He’ll problem say it’s just fake news. Ha,ha,ha.
    There were so many beautiful ships in the harbour. I don’t want one but I would like someone just take me out for a ride on one of them. Have a great day Rhonda. See ya.

    Cruisin Paul

    Reply

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