The Queen Elizabeth 2 berthed at Princess Wharf yesterday on her farewell voyage. Photo / Brett Phibbs
One of the world's most famous ocean liners, Queen Elizabeth 2, made her last visit to New Zealand yesterday when she called at Auckland as part of her final world voyage.
The legendary vessel's visit to the Queen City came 30 years after her inaugural call to Auckland
on February 14, 1978, and was her 22nd call to the city since her launch in 1967.
The visit fell midway through the cruise liner's 103-night farewell voyage touring South America, the Pacific and Asia.
QE2 left at 10 last night and is due to arrive in Sydney Harbour on Sunday for a royal rendezvous with her younger sister, the new Queen Victoria, which visited Auckland last Friday.
Since her launch 41 years ago, QE2 has pampered 2.5 million guests and hosted hundreds of famous people, including Nelson Mandela, George Bush, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, George Harrison and the Queen herself.
QE2 has sailed 5.6 million nautical miles - more than any ship in history and the equivalent to circumnavigating the Earth more than 258 times.
The 70,327-tonne liner is the fastest in the world, capable of up to 60km/h, and can also sail backwards faster than most ships sail forward (35km/h).
She carries up to 1778 guests, 1016 crew and boasts seven restaurants, an indoor and outdoor pool, the world's only seagoing synagogue and a Harrods boutique.
QE2 will leave the Southampton-based Cunard fleet in November to become a tourist attraction in Dubai.
View photos of the QE2 in Auckland