Every wooden boat tells a story. Its story is in the mighty trees that were felled to make it. The craftsmanship of the builder, the people that sailed it, and the places it has taken them. The development of Auckland’s wooden boating legacy also mirrors the development of the region in its early decades.
This festival is about Auckland’s history, about living the past in the today, and bringing people together. In conjunction with the Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU), the Auckland classic yacht community, the National Maritime Museum and Eke Panuku the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) 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.
The Wooden Boat Festival is part of Moana Auckland, New Zealand's ocean festival. See the full lineup of events here.
Moana Auckland Festival Hub | Te Wero Island, Viaduct
Head along to the Moana Auckland Festival hub, the heart of the festival every Friday - Sunday till 17 March. Experience live DJs, captivating sunset sessions, and a magical mermaid parade. Indulge in a variety of culinary delights from food trucks, and enjoy a range of family-friendly entertainment options to learn more about our beautiful oceans. See the full line-up here.
Dive into an exciting line up of guest speakers and films showcasing real life experiences of wooden boat building, ocean voyaging, navigation and vessel restoration. Six engaging speaker sessions will take place each day at the museum, with films playing on rotation all weekend long. All are invited to join the celebration!
Saturday 2 March
10.30am - Ocean Sailing Adventures with Tony Whiting and Penny Whiting
11am - Pacific Voyaging and Navigating Waka Hourua with Matua Stan Conrad, Te Toki Voyaging Trust
12pm - Sky Gazing and Dark Sky Sanctuaries with Nalyani Davis, Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
1pm - Restoration of the Vessel Ngataki with Tony Stevenson, Tino Rawa Trust and Harold Kidd, Historian and Writer
2pm - The Legacy of Gerry Clark and the Totorore Voyage with Nicholas Keenleyside
3pm - Boat Restoration and Maintenance on a Budget with Nathan Herbert, Sam Harkin and James Dreyer
Sunday 3 March
10.30am - 40 Years of Ocean Adventures with Lin Pardey, Ocean Adventurer
11am - Boat Building Skills through Classic Shapes with Mike Birdsall, Training Advisor, MAST
12pm - Is There a Sustainable Future for Classic Boats?
1pm - Preservation of the Coastal Trading Vessel, Daring (1863) with Larry Paul
2pm - To be confirmed
3pm - The New Zealand Scow with Captain R J (Bob) Hawkins, Maritime Museum Foundation
Flat fee of $7 per day on weekends at Fanshawe Street carpark. Find out more.
Kids ride free on public transport on weekends and public holidays. Find out more.