Happy birthday, Wynyard Quarter!

Get out your party poppers out - Wynyard Quarter celebrates its first birthday this weekend.

Last year on Saturday 6 August, the area known more for its tank farm and fish market became a vibrant mix of public spaces and restaurants overnight. And since then over 1.3 million people have visited and the area has won critical acclaim in the Urban Land Developments category at the 2012 New Zealand Property Council Awards.

Council organisation Waterfront Auckland is responsible for the development of the area including what was opened last year: Silo Park, the North Wharf bars and eateries, Karanga Plaza, the heritage trams, the Wynyard Crossing Bridge and the new Viaduct Events Centre.

Chief Executive John Dalzell says, “We’ve been blown away with the way locals and visitors to Auckland have taken to this new part of the city, it got off to roaring start with the Rugby World Cup and has continued ever since. Before August last year, the Wynyard Quarter was relatively unknown. Now, this prime waterfront location has changed for the good and a walk along the North Wharf promenade and a drink or meal at the eateries has become a quintessential Auckland experience.”

There's more to come, too. Over the next 20 years around 18.5 hectares of Wynyard Quarter will be transformed into a harbour-side community with parks, apartments, shops and offices alongside the traditional marine and fishing industries.

But this weekend it’s all about first birthday celebrations as Wynyard Quarter plays host this Saturday 4 August to a day of free activities for the whole family as outlined below:

Dawn Chorus | 7am
Get up early and you will be rewarded. Welcome the day with a singalong at sunrise in Karanga Plaza. It will be a choral delight with a few surprises and famous faces thrown in for good measure.

Walking tours | 10am – 4pm
Discover some of the untold stories and little known facts about the area with a walking tour. Tours leave from the Karanga Kiosk on the hour until 4pm.

Silo Climbs and Silo- 6 Pack Tours | 10am – 4pm
Scale the heights of the Silo 6-pack and be rewarded with a spectacular view over the harbour and across the city. Take a look inside the majestic Silo-6 pack and learn what is planned for the next phase of development within the Wynyard Quarter.

Welcome home of William C Daldy | 10am – 5pm
The William C Daldy will be officially welcomed home to her new berth on Hobson West in the Viaduct on Saturday 4 August. Built in 1935, the William C Daldy was one of the most powerful ship assist steam tugs built, with a career spanning 41 years.

Voyager NZ Maritime Museum | Open Weekend
Voyager opens their doors to all for the weekend of Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th August. It's a unique opportunity for visitors to visit the galleries for free and follow a specially designed trail that celebrates the changing face of Auckland’s waterfront.

SS Puke steaming trips | 11.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00 – 3.30pm
After helping welcome the William C Daldy to her new home at Hobson Wharf SS Puke will be running trips from the Tidal Steps at Karanga Plaza, Wynyard Quarter on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August. Steaming trips run between $1 for children / $2 for adults

Classic Yacht display | 10am – 5pm
Take a look inside some beautiful classic yachts on display in their new home at Silo Marina.

Wynyard Explorer| 10am – 5pm
Kids, jump on the tram and become a Wynyard Explorer. All explorers will be given a map when they hop aboard the tram. With fun questions to answer and clues to collect at each stop along the way as you learn about the Trams and Wynyard Quarter.

Lantern making workshop | 2pm – 5.00pm
Make and decorate your very own lantern and launch it from the Tidal Steps with a special lantern launching ceremony at dusk.

Silo Cinema | 6pm
Bring a rug and hot water bottle and watch the family friendly The Incredibles (2004) projected onto Silo 7.

Throughout the day there'll also be party games and food suitable for a first birthday!