In a significant milestone for Whakatāne tourism, a partnership with Inchcape Shipping Services McKay has paved the way to host an expedition cruise ship this summer. The visit marks a promising trial with the vision of establishing Whakatāne as a regular stop for the smaller cruise ships in the future.

The opportunity to capitalise on the re-emerging cruise sector comes at a welcome time for Whakatāne tourism, following a challenging period. 

Whakatāne District Council Tourism and Events Manager Nicola Burgess says hosting smaller cruise ships is an exciting opportunity to welcome back international visitors.

"While we don't have a port to host large cruise ships in Whakatāne, we're delighted with the opportunity to host the smaller, boutique cruise market. Taking inspiration from other successful boutique-cruise destinations like Timaru, our goal is for Whakatāne to become a regular stop on the small cruise circuit. We’re going to pull out all the stops to ensure our international visitors have a memorable time.”

French luxury expedition cruise company Ponant’s Le Lapérouse will anchor offshore on January 14 and 18, with passengers being tendered in to disembark at Otuawhaki Wharf, outside the Whakatāne isite Visitor Information Centre. This season passengers will then depart for pre-booked activities in Rotorua (booked up to two years in advance). However, plans are underway to collaborate with local tourism operators to develop specific cruise products, tailored for future seasons.

Ponant General Manager Sales and Marketing Asia Pacific, Deb Corbett says the company is excited about adding Whakatāne as an expedition stopover.

“We are thrilled to be working with small-sized ports and communities such as Whakatāne in this coming summer season. We are confident our vision of sustainable small-ship expeditions, which has been our company’s vision for over 35 years, will benefit the Whakatāne region and tourism.”

Before returning to the ship, passengers will spend time in Whakatāne town centre. The Whakatāne tourism team is working on putting together a riverfront event at the isite to showcase the breadth of activities, rich cultural heritage, arts and local products of the region.