Riverhead Tavern Cruise
Grab your group together and experience the most unique cruise up to the Riverhead Tavern, New Zealand's oldest riverside bar and restaurant. Hire the whole boat to yourself with our private Riverhead Tavern Cruise, or book individual tickets through the Riverhead Experience.
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Best for
Everyone! But a great way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, work parties, hens and stags do, family day trips, long lunches, or just dinner and drinks.
Time
Total 5 1/2 hours. The historical Riverhead Tavern is nestled on the edge of the upper Waitemata Harbour. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there. You will spend 2.5 hours ashore, and then cruise back to Auckland City for another 1.5 hours. This cruise is tide dependant.
Schedule
Go ashore and eat at the Portage Bar, Landing Restaurant, or Boat House for approximately 2.5 hours (venue booked at the same time as your cruise). The total return trip is 5 1/2 hours.
Cost
Public charters — $43 adult return, $22 child return (under 5's free). $35 for seniors. Private charters — from $1,290.
Amenities
Licensed bar, flushing toilet, Eftpos, sound system, indoor and outdoor seating, dance floor. Please wear soft, comfortable, and supportive shoes — no gumboots, penny heels, and work boots.
Boat capacity
The Riverhead Ferry can comfortably fit up to 40 passengers.
Private Riverhead Tavern Cruise
Book a private return Riverhead Tavern Cruise for your group of family, friends or colleagues.
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Experience just over 5 hours of a Classic Kiwi Experience.
Grab your group together and experience the most unique cruise up to the Riverhead Tavern, New Zealand's oldest riverside bar and restaurant. Hire the whole boat to yourself with our private Riverhead Tavern Cruise, or book individual tickets through the Riverhead Experience.
Which venue should you choose?
At the time of booking, you can choose your preferred venue at the Riverhead Tavern, where you will spend 2.5 hours. The Boat House (Sunday Live) is open to the public in the summertime, however please reach out to enquire for private functions.
VIEW SHARED CHARTER CALENDAR
The Portage Bar
A classic Kiwi neighbourhood bar. A place to unwind with a cool beer and good old chin wag. Here you’ll find tales being told, pool balls being shot, live sport on big screens and hearty food being savoured. On the walls you’ll see Riverhead’s history – stories about people who lived here way back when. Now it’s up to you to make a few stories of your own.
Families are welcome, and when the sun is shining you can make the most of our outdoor courtyard.
Learn more
The Landing Restaurant
The Riverhead's a la carte restaurant is ideal for groups of up to 20 people. Connected to an airy outside deck surrounded by 100 year oak trees, Talented chefs insist on using only the freshest, premium quality, local and regional ingredients. These creations are matched with a handpicked cellar of fine wine & a wide range of refreshing premium & craft ales. Whether you’re settling down for a romantic meal, catching up with friends or treating the family, The Landing is a place you’ll love, and love to return to.
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The Boat House
The Riverhead's wedding and function centre. This architecturally designed space flows out to expansive decks and extensive lawns. It’s a versatile space that can be arranged to suit most gatherings. Weddings are a specialty, plus big birthdays, corporate events and community events.
And of course, they make it happen with our highly polished service and top-notch food and beverage. So simply sit back and let them take care of everything.
Learn more
- Venue
- Portage Bar
- The Boat House
- The Landing Restaurant
The Cruise
What you'll see
The cruise is 1.5 hours each way, taking the route of the early settlers, and leaving the city behind as you slide under the Auckland Harbour Bridge, cruise past the Chelsea Sugar Factory, and leave Herald Island to port venturing up the sheltered waterways to the top of the harbour.
Drop off & pick-up.
Your pick-up and drop off location is Z Pier, Westhaven Marina. Find out how to get to us here.
Onboard the ferry.
Enjoy the beautiful harbour scenery with a drink in hand while relaxing on our indoor and outdoor seating in the back and front of the boat. For private charters, you can play your own music our sound system. We also have a microphone for karaoke and speeches!
Food & Drink
We have a licensed bar on board for drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) during your cruise. At the time of booking, you can choose your preferred venue at the Riverhead Tavern, but for Private Cruises you'll need to confirm this with The Riverhead by emailing functions@theriverhead.co.nz. See the delicious menus at each of the venues at The Riverhead: The Portage Bar, The Landing Restaurant, or Boat House.
Health & Safety
Your safety is important to us. To ensure that your journey is smooth sailing please make sure you; use handrails when moving around the vessel, remove luggage/bags from seats and aisles, ensure you listen to safety announcements on departure, familiarise yourself with the location of the life jackets on your particular vessel, climbing, jumping or running on board the vessel is not permitted at any time, and do not stand on seats or sit on railings. Please note: doorways on our vessel are 45 centimeters wide (0.45 meters). Please wear soft, comfortable, and supportive shoes — no gumboots, penny heels, and work boots.
Refunds & Cancellations
All our cruises are designed with your safety and comfort in mind. In the event of unsafe sea and weather conditions, we may have to cancel the charter in the interests of your safety. If we need to cancel your trip due to bad weather, we will re-schedule your cruise for a new date or offer a full refund. A pre-warning will be provided 3 days before your departure time, but our owner & skipper will make a final call on the day. If for any reason you cannot make this trip, you will receive a refund minus a $3 booking/admin fee per person only if you give more than 48hrs notice (28 days for Christmas Cruises in November/December even if you book through the Riverhead Experience page). For private charters, the date and time you've requested are still available to others until the deposit or the total amount is paid. Your booking will be confirmed when we receive the deposit amount. A refundable deposit is required for up to 28 days before departure. Full payment is due 28 days before the date or paid in full if booking within 28 days before your chosen date. Once full payment has been made, it will not be refunded if the charter is cancelled. If you need to cancel the charter due to unforeseen circumstances we can reschedule the charter to an alternative date.
Terms & Conditions
To ensure the safety of our guests, if anyone turns up intoxicated and is not fit for travel, the intoxicated guests will be left behind, or the charter will be cancelled with no refund. If while you are on board and anyone participates in inappropriate or disorderly behaviour, the charter will be cancelled and we will return back to the marina. BYO alcohol is not permitted on the boat as we have a licensed bar on board. Drinking in the Westhaven Marina car park before and/or after the charter will not be tolerated. If you bring your own alcohol onto Riverhead Ferry we will have to cancel the charter with no refund. No drugs or illicit substances are permitted onboard any of our charters. For private charters, if any of the previously specified behaviour is seen during the charter, or any damages are made to the boat due to drunk or disorderly behaviour, Riverhead Ferry holds the right to charge $500 to the credit card on file as a bond. However, we do love to have a good time, so make sure you dance the day or night away! Riverhead Ferry is not responsible for loss of personal items, or external costs, e.g., accommodation or restaurant bookings. For group charters, increasing the number of passengers is possible but not changing to a lesser number after four weeks before departure.
The Destination
Where is it?
The historical Riverhead Tavern is nestled on the edge of the upper Waitemata Harbour. It is a 1.5-hour boat journey from Westhaven Marina.
How long should I stay?
The total trip time is 5.5 hours. You will spend 2.5 hours at your chosen venue at the Riverhead Tavern, and the cruise is 1.5 hours each way. It's the perfect day or night out.
What are the food options?
How do I book?
Click here to book a shared cruise to the Riverhead Tavern, it is here you choose your venue of choice too. For private charters please email info@riverheadferry.co.nz.
What can I do?
Celebrate any occasion with a drink as you cruise under the Harbour Bridge, watch the beautiful scenery go by as you float up the river, and spend quality time with friends or family while you dine at New Zealand's oldest riverside tavern. All your group needs to do is soak in the views, enjoy a drink or few, and be merry!
