Cruise Ship Passengers

Cruise Ship Passengers

With over 100 cruise ships visiting Port Chalmers/Dunedin every season we are well used to accommodating cruise ship passengers for your tour and transport needs.

We have 3 tour options for our Cruise ship customers.

Our most popular offering for cruise ship passengers is our Water Taxi and Shuttle to Larnach Castle. Link

This is the quickest and most fun way to visit New Zealands only castle. Your fare includes entry to the Castle and gardens.
We have 2 options available depending on your schedule. Both options are “one way” If you leave from Port your trip ends in the city. This trip suits most of our Cruise ship customers, as you get to see the castle in the morning and still
have plenty of time to explore the city sights and maybe a bite to eat
before heading back to the ship for boarding in the late afternoon.
There is an option to return to Port on our water taxi depending on
availability and our other bookings, for a discounted price of $30NZD per
person.
If you board one of our later trips from Steamer Basin in the city, your trip will end back at Port Chalmers. This trip suits those who wish to see the city sights first, then visit the castle, then get a “free” ride back to Port to board your ship.
From 8.30am until 12.30pm we have trips departing from Port Chalmers
(where your cruise ship terminal is)
From 11.00am until 2.00pm our trips depart from Steamer Basin in Dunedin and conclude back at Port.

From the cruise terminal, Port Chalmers, walk around past the Log wharf to our Back Beach departure point. It’s about a 10-minute walk. Our Water taxi/Ferry leaves from one of the floating jetties on either side of the boat ramp. Link  
From the Octagon, in Dunedin city it’s a 10-minute walk via the historic
Dunedin Railway Station. We depart from the Floating jetty under the shiny
“Ray White” building. Link 
We take you on a fun and scenic ride across the harbour to a harbourside
village called Macandrew Bay. Here you will transfer to our shuttle van for your ride up the hill for your self-guided tour of the castle and gardens.
Depending on the time of your tour you will have 1.5 to 2 hours to explore the castle and world-renowned gardens.
You will be told where and what time to meet your ride back down the hill to re-board the water taxi for your ride either into the city, or back to Port if you are on one of our later trips.
Options for getting back to Port are –

  • The cruise ship organized shuttle busses that leave every 20
    minutes from the city.
  • Local taxis and Ubers.
  • Water Taxi/Ferry ride back to Port. $30NZD per person. This can be
    arranged on the day. Trips leave at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm,
    4.30pm
For those who want to see some of the amazing wildlife that Dunedin and the Otago Harbour is famous for, from the unique perspective of a boat on the harbour. This trip leaves from Steamer Basin in Dunedin at 2.00pm or you can be picked up from Back Beach, Port Chalmers, a short 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal at 2.30pm. Duration is 2 hours from Steamer Basin or 1.5 hours from Back Beach. Your skipper will point out places of interest, some of the history of the harbour and keep an eye out for some of the abundant wildlife. Our ultimate destination will be Taiaroa Heads, the headland at the entrance to the harbour and the home of the only mainland breeding colony of the Northern Royal Albatross. Watch as these majestic birds swoop and glide around the headland and sometimes right alongside the boat. This trip concludes back at Port Chalmers at 4.00pm for you to board your ship.
Link
This is the best and most cost-effective option for our cruise ship customers. You get to visit the Castle and gardens, visit the city for a couple of hours then join our Harbour, Albatross and Wildlife cruise on the harbour before being dropped back to Port at 4.00pm to board your ship. For the best experience it is best to book one of our earlier trips from Back Beach so you have plenty of time to explore the city between your Castle tour and the Harbour cruise. Your entry ticket to the Castle is included in the price. Your tour of the Castle and gardens is self-guided as is your visit to the city. You will rejoin the water taxi at Steamer Basin at 2.00pm for your Harbour, Albatross and Wildlife cruise. The trip concludes back at Port Chalmers at 4.00pm in time to board your ship.
Link
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