Auckland Harbour: Waitemata, Devonport and the North and South Shore

Day breaks ove the Hauraki Gulf and the Auckland Container Terminal.
Day breaks over the Hauraki Gulf and the Auckland Container Terminal.

It was another morning of brilliant and clear sunshine and whilst making the breakfast in our hotel room I couldn't resist taking another shot of the container terminal where a Maersk Line ship was unloading. She was the Lexa Maersk and it looks from MarineTraffic as if she is on a regular run between New Zealand ports and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia.


Established in 1999 Tanjung Pelepas has grown rapidly to become the 16th largest container port in the world and handled over 7.7 million 20 foot equivalent containers in 20112. The port is close to the shipping lanes on which Singapore grew rich and it has rapidly become an important trans-shipment hub. The port straddles the Europe-Asia, the Inter Asia, the Pacific and the Asia-Australasia shipping lanes and is 30% owned by Maersk, the world's largest container shipping group. It has no tidal restrictions, a big deepwater channel and is well protected from adverse weather conditions. It is presumably also cheaper to operate than Singapore.

Another beautiful day, another container ship in the Auckland termnal with Rangitoto Island and Motutapa Islands on the left and Waiheke and the distant Coromandel Peninsula on the right.
Another beautiful day, another container ship in the Auckland termnal with Rangitoto Island and Motutapa Islands on the left and Waiheke and the distant Coromandel Peninsula on the right.
Hanjin Iwagi unloading coal at Auckland Harbour.
Hanjin Iwagi unloading coal at Auckland Harbour.
The Auckland whaves and the turquoise waters of the Waitemata Harbour.
The Auckland whaves and the turquoise waters of the Waitemata Harbour.
Ships coming and going all the time at the Auckland Container and bulk goods terminals.
Ships coming and going all the time at the Auckland Container and bulk goods terminals.
The Messina Strait heads out into the busy shipping and 'boatie' lanes beyond the North Head of Waitemata Harbour.
The Messina Strait heads out into the busy shipping and 'boatie' lanes beyond the North Head of Waitemata Harbour with the moountains of the Coromandel Peninsula looming in the background.
Tight squeeze: the Kota Limat and APL Jeddah continaer ships passing in the entrance to the Waitemata Harbour.
Tight squeeze: the Kota Limat and APL Jeddah continaer ships passing in the entrance to the Waitemata Harbour. There are much-contested plans afoot to expand the container terminal.
Cyclone Lusi closing in on the Auckland Container Terminal.
Cyclone Lusi closing in on the Auckland Container Terminal.
Cyclone Lusi at full pitch over the Auckland Container Terminal
Cyclone Lusi at full pitch over the Auckland Container Terminal.
The container terminal at Auckland port and bulk carrier Hanjin Iwagi unloading coal.
The container terminal at Auckland port and bulk carrier Hanjin Iwagi unloading coal.
The Auckalnd downtown skyline under the heavy skies left after Cyclone Lusi's passage.
The Auckalnd downtown skyline under the heavy skies left after Cyclone Lusi's passage.
Incoming shipping down the Rangitoto Channel: the Vega Auriga (previously the MedBay out of Limmasol) and now the 'Hanse Reliance'.
Incoming shipping down the Rangitoto Channel: the Vega Auriga (previously the MedBay out of Limmasol) and now the 'Hanse Reliance'.
The Queen Victoria at her birth on the Auckland waterfront.
The Queen Victoria at her birth on the Auckland waterfront.
The Ferry Building on the Auckland waterfront in brilliant late summer sunshine.
The Ferry Building on the Auckland waterfront in brilliant late summer sunshine.
Auckland port tug boat.
Auckland port tug boat.
Auckland Harbour Baord gate crest.
Auckland Harbour Baord gate crest.
Aucland and the Hauraki Gulf are popular destinations with the super-rich. Here super-yacht 'A' is in town for a million dollar service before touring with owner Russian billionaire, Andrey Melnichenko,
Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf are popular destinations with the super-rich. Here super-yacht 'A' is in town for a million dollar service before touring with owner Russian billionaire, Andrey Melnichenko.
The Voyager of the Seas cruise ship tied up at the Auckland waterfront in March 2014.
The Voyager of the Seas cruise ship tied up at the Auckland waterfront in March 2014.
A shag catching some rest on the ferry piers on the Auckland waterfront.
A shag catching some rest on the ferry piers on the Auckland waterfront.
The container terminal and cruise berths at Auckland Harbour.
The container terminal and cruise berths at Auckland Harbour.
The Esplanade Hotel in Devonport, opposite the Auckland CBD.
The Esplanade Hotel in Devonport, opposite the Auckland CBD.
Devonport.
Devonport.
The Royal New Zealand Navy base at Devonport with one of its eleven ships on display.
The Royal New Zealand Navy base at Devonport with one of its eleven ships on display.
Old volcanic cone - Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) - at North Head, Devonport, Auckland Harbour.
Old volcanic cone - Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) - at North Head, Devonport, Auckland Harbour.
Bastion Point, Mission Bay and St Heliers Bay on Auckland's prestigious South Shore.
Bastion Point, Mission Bay and St Heliers Bay on Auckland's prestigious South Shore.
Bastion Point on the South Shore.
Bastion Point on the South Shore.
Bean Rocks light and West Tamaki Head on Auckland's South Shore.
Bean Rocks light and West Tamaki Head on Auckland's South Shore.
Desirable residences along the North Shore of Auckland
Desirable residences along the North Shore of Auckland
The Marina at Hobbs Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. The Tiritiri Ritangi Ferry calls here befroe the short hop to the island which sits at the end of the peninsula
The Marina at Hobbs Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. The Tiritiri Ritangi Ferry calls here befroe the short hop to the island which sits at the end of the peninsula.
The end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
The end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
The super-yacht 'Imagine' built by Alloy Yachts of New Zealand and winner of the 211 Super Yacht. Click for details.
The super-yacht 'Imagine' built by Alloy Yachts of New Zealand and 2011 Super Yacht of the Year. Click for details.
Messing with the post-Cyclone Lusi wind in the Motukorea Channel off Auckland's South Shore.
Messing with the post-Cyclone Lusi wind in the Motukorea Channel off Auckland's South Shore.
The Lexa Maersk heading for the open sea of the Pacific Ocean via the Rangitoto Channel and the Hauraki Gulf.
The Lexa Maersk heading for the open sea of the Pacific Ocean via the Rangitoto Channel and the Hauraki Gulf.