There are only two ways to get to New Zealand by water - as part of a round-the-world cruise or by crewing on somebody's yacht, and picking up a berth in South America or Australia. Most cruise ships call at Auckland Harbour in February, stopping for a couple of days before continuing on their way.

The Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand, is some 3,200km (2,000 miles) of lumpy water that can cut up rough at the drop of a hat. The Pacific Ocean between South America and New Zealand is also renowned for being mischievous. This probably explains why the majority of visitors prefer to fly. However, Auckland's popularity as a cruise stop is still growing.

Auckland is the ‘City of Sails' and the harbour is extremely important to the city's economic and cultural life, which is primarily one of outdoor hedonism. The titular sails are those of an enormous number of private yachts, which compete for space with privately owned pleasure boats ranging from single-engine put-puts to luxury cruisers, upon which people sip cocktails while watching the back wash and listening to the bumble bee-like drone of jet skis hooning around.

Auckland Harbour is located in central Auckland, on the Waitemata Harbour (opposite Queen Elizabeth II Square), and is New Zealand's maritime hub, providing shipping links to 160 ports in 73 countries. Ports of Auckland (tel: (09) 366 0055; website: www.poal.co.nz) owns and operates ports in the east and west coast of North Island, including Auckland Harbour.

The main passenger sectors are the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Queens Wharf and Princes Wharf, which stand alongside each other, off Quay Street, right at the heart of Auckland Harbour. Cruise liners call at the Overseas Passenger Terminal and Queens Wharf, where facilities are numerous. Since this was the focus of the America's Cup, the whole area is awash with smart restaurants, trendy pubs and other entertainment options.

Ferry services: Ferries operated by Fullers (tel: (09) 367 9111; website: www.fullers.co.nz) depart from the ferry terminal on Quay Street. Destinations are largely limited to local routes, such as Devonport, Bayswater, Birkenhead and Stanley Bay (see Getting Around). However, there are also regular services to the Hauraki Gulf Islands, particularly Great Barrier and Waiheke islands; competing with these services is the Sealink (tel: (09) 300 5900 or 0800 732 546; website: www.sealink.co.nz) which also runs from the wharfs of the ferry terminal on Queen Street.