Where Cruise Ships Dock in New Zealand's South Island

Cruise ship docked at Picton, New Zealand

Here's a round-up of the South Island ports where cruise ships visit on around New Zealand itineraries.

Picton: This small port at the head of the Marlborough Sounds is the terminal for inter-island ferries and is becoming increasingly popular as a port of call for cruise ships. The ships dock at Waitohi Wharf. As you can see from this photo, it is very close to town. A paved walkway leads from the port into the township or you can take the free shuttle bus that runs all day.

Cruise ship at anchor in Akaroa Harbour

Akaroa: Since the big earthquakes that devastated Christchurch and its port of Lyttelton, cruise ships have been visiting Akaroa. They anchor out in the harbour and passengers are taken ashore by tender. The wharf where you'll disembark is right in the little township. The ride in the tender takes between five and ten minutes.

Two cruise ships at the commercial port, Port Chalmers, near Dunedin

Port Chalmers (for Dunedin): Situated on the shores of Otago Harbour, Port Chalmers, which is a working commercial operation, is the nearest port to the city of Dunedin. There is a bus transfer (charged for) from the wharves into the Octagon, the heart of Dunedin city. The bus stops right outside the information centre. The scenic journey along the harbour shoreline takes about 20 minutes.

If you'd like more details about each port of call in New Zealand, search this blog and you'll find accounts of what we did and where we went at each stop on our round New Zealand cruise. It was great!