From 20 September to 5 October, Auckland’s annual Heritage Festival invites locals and visitors alike to explore the stories that shaped the city. This year’s theme, Auckland at Play, highlights how sport, recreation, and time on the water have brought communities together for generations. For anyone with a love of the sea, the programme features a strong nautical thread — from century-old steam ferries to tugboats, harbour histories, and hands-on fun for families.
A harbour alive with stories
Auckland has always looked to the water for both work and leisure. Regattas, picnics by ferry, and harbour excursions shaped the rhythm of life on the Waitematā, while vessels like the Toroa and William C Daldy became icons of a city defined by its harbour. The Heritage Festival celebrates these links by opening doors to restoration yards, inviting the public aboard historic vessels, and bringing history to life through guided tours and storytelling.
The journey begins in Parnell, where the Tides of History: Parnell Baths Heritage Walk uncovers layers of geology, Māori settlement, and seaside recreation. From there, the spotlight shifts across the harbour to Devonport, where the William C Daldy steam tug — a 90-year-old veteran — offers visitors a rare chance to step inside a working piece of maritime engineering.
The heart of the festival for many boaties will be the Toroa’s centenary, where Auckland’s last surviving steam ferry opens its restoration yard for public tours. Visitors can see the painstaking work that’s gone into bringing her back to life, and learn how renewable fuels may one day power her return to the harbour.
Play on the water
The festival isn’t only about preservation; it’s also about participation. Currents of the Past: Play and Purpose in the Waitematā Harbour offers an illustrated talk on the harbour’s social history, from regattas to daily working life. For younger visitors, Wind in Your Sails at Whangaparāoa Library brings maritime heritage into the present with mini-boat building and racing — a playful nod to Auckland’s sailing culture.
And while it’s already fully booked, the High Tea at Sea cruise aboard Nautilus — a 110-year-old motor launch — captures the spirit of the theme: Auckland at play on the water, with food, friends, and harbour views.
A history at play
By tying maritime stories to the broader theme of play, the Heritage Festival highlights how boats, beaches, and harbours have always been central to Auckland’s identity. Whether it’s children racing toy yachts, volunteers restoring steam ferries, or families cruising the Waitematā, the connection between Aucklanders and their waterways continues to define the city.
Event Summaries
- Tides of History: The Parnell Baths Heritage Walk
A guided walk exploring Judges Bay, the geology, Māori settlement, and the role of Parnell Baths in leisure history.
When: Sat 20 Sept, 2–3.30pm - Marine Heritage on the Harbour: William C Daldy Steam Tug Tour
Explore a 90-year-old ocean-going tug, from engine rooms to deck, and hear stories of its role in Auckland history.
When: Multiple dates, 20 Sept – 5 Oct, 10am–2pm - The Annual Steam Ferry Excursions and Toroa’s Centenary
Visit the restoration yard of the Toroa, Auckland’s last steam ferry, and mark her centenary year.
When: Sun 21, 28 Sept & 5 Oct, 10.30am & 1pm - Currents of the Past: Play and Purpose in the Waitematā Harbour
Illustrated talk on the harbour’s history of regattas, recreation, and community life, hosted by Parnell Community Centre.
When: Tue 23 Sept, 1.30–3.30pm - Wind in Your Sails
A playful family workshop building and racing small boats from natural materials at Whangaparāoa Library.
When: Thu 25 Sept, 11am–12pm - High Tea at Sea (Fully Booked)
Afternoon tea aboard Nautilus, a 110-year-old motor launch, cruising the Waitematā in vintage style.
When: Sun 5 Oct, 3–4pm
