Viaduct Marina is thrilled to serve as the host location for many of Auckland's waterfront events this summer. In this section, you'll find information about events happening in and around our marinas from December 2023 through until April 2024.
Ocean Globe Race – Auckland stopover recap
Starting their expedition from Southampton in September last year, a fleet of 15 privately-owned classic yachts built before 1988, carrying over 160 sailors competing in the Ocean Globe Race (OGR), set out on a 27,000-mile journey divided into four legs. During December and January, Viaduct Marina warmly welcomed the participants as they arrived in Auckland at the conclusion of the second leg of their rigorous eight-month voyage.
Jellicoe Harbour buzzed with activity until mid-January when the race contenders departed to Westhaven, from where they initiated the third leg of their global adventure. The diverse and international crews rely solely on a sextant, paper charts, and the stars for navigation, forgoing GPS, high-tech gear, and computers, with all communications by HF SSB radios.
More information about the OGR can be found on their website here.
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series – Auckland stopover wrap-up
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series made its inaugural splash on our shores at the end of January, marking the sixth stop and grand finale of the season.
Since 2009, this cliff diving event has been testing the sporting skill and aerobatic artistry of divers as they launch from platforms up to 27m from iconic buildings, gorges, cliff faces and even historic bridges. The athletes perform spectacular and intricate dives into calm rivers and choppy azure seas, all within the three or so seconds it takes before they impact the water at up to 5Gs.
Our very own Jellicoe Harbour played host to this adrenaline-charged spectacle, transforming the area into an action-packed hub, despite some less than ideal weather at times. Over Auckland Anniversary weekend, more than 55,000 spectators flocked to our waterfront spaces, coming together from all corners of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to witness the diving firsthand.
Experience a snapshot of the event through the photos below. For further details and highlights, please visit Red Bull's official event webpage linked here.
Moana Auckland – 23 February to 24 March 2024
Last year, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited announced Moana Auckland, New Zealand's first ocean festival celebrating our city’s love affair with the ocean with a range of events and activities both on and off the water.
A festival hub will be set up on Te Wero Island, offering entertainment for the whole family – from live music performances to admiring classic boats, along with indulging in some of Auckland’s delicious culinary delights.
Nine events are so far confirmed to be part of the festival, including the Auckland Boat Show, Z Manu World Champs, New Zealand Millennium Cup superyacht regatta, Sculpture on the Gulf, inaugural Wooden Boat Festival, Harbour Classic, and a satellite hub at the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre in Ōrākei for small boats and waka ama events. Many of the events will be free to attend.
For all the festival and event details, please visit the Moana Festival website linked here, or get in touch with the festival team by email at MajorEvents@aucklandnz.com.
Auckland Wooden Boat Festival – 1-3 March 2024
The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival is about Auckland’s history and bringing people together, and it will take place within Jellicoe Harbour. In conjunction with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the Auckland classic yacht community, the National Maritime Museum and Eke Panuku, the festival acknowledges the working waterfront of Auckland and our indigenous navigation heritage, the natural environment, and sailing and boating as a sport and as a way of life.
To find out more about this festival, please visit the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival page linked here.
PIC Insurance Brokers Harbour Classic – 8-9 March 2024
A flagship event within the Moana Auckland Festival, the Harbour Classic invites sailors of all skill levels to converge on the Waitematā Harbour for a weekend of nautical excitement and camaraderie. Viaduct Marina will be at the heart of the experience, with the creation of a sailing village at Jellicoe Harbour.
This regatta is more than just a yacht race. Drawing inspiration from the renowned Barcolana Regatta in Trieste, Italy, the Harbour Classic merges the thrill of a race with the festive spirit of celebration. It serves as a jubilant homage to the essence of sailing, welcoming lifestyle sailors, families, and competitive enthusiasts alike.
Yachts of diverse sizes and types, including keelboats, multihulls, trailer yachts, sport boats, and sport multihulls, will converge at the same starting line for the 17-nautical-mile race. Beginning at North Head, the course winds along the picturesque north shore beaches to Torbay before returning to North Head through the Rangitoto Channel.
For further details and to register, please visit the Harbour Classic website linked here.
Auckland Boat Show – 14-17 March 2024
The Auckland Boat Show returns to Wynyard Quarter this year, promising to transform Jellicoe Harbour into a lively aquatic venue and fill the Viaduct Events Centre with on-land exhibits. This event reinforces the bond between the traditionally maritime neighbourhood and its contemporary role as a bustling urban centre, fostering a connection between Aucklanders and the sea.
Over the years, the Auckland Boat Show has developed a reputation as a hub for the new releases and innovations of the marine industry. There will be a wide range of exhibitors presenting high quality products from across the marine sectors. We’ll be there too, sharing information about what our marinas have to offer, so please feel free to stop by and say hi to us at stand 206 on level two within the Viaduct Events Centre.
You can find out more about the Auckland Boat Show and buy tickets to the event via their website here.