Tour Tauranga

Our vehicles and our tours are designed to provide you with the best possible comfort, exceptional value and mixed with personal interaction to ensure you can enjoy your day stress free knowing we have everything sorted for you! We are the only Tauranga based tour company with a Hobbiton trained tour guide. When you join us on tour you will also have free Wi-Fi and USB charging points in the vehicle. We are also provide refreshments and snacks during our tour. You and your travelling companions can experience the best of Tauranga and the renowned 'Hobbiton' with assurance of knowing we have you in mind.

Enjoy a magical 6 to 6.5 hour tour to the Hobbiton Movie set, used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series. Leaving the Port of Tauranga, we first travel past the stunning beaches of Mount Maunganui, a top NZ holiday destination, then across the harbour and out into country, up and over the Kaimai mountain ranges and down into the lush farming district of the Waikato, the location of Hobbiton. At Hobbiton there is time to visit the The Shires Rest Cafe, browse the extensive souvenir shop or just relax and take in the stunning views before boarding the Hobbiton coach for a 2.5 hour guided tour. Since December 2023 you can now also explore inside a Hobbit home, re-created by the film makers with amazing attention to detail. As the cruise ship arrival times varies so much, we adjust the start time of our tour to suit. When your booking is accepted, we will confirm the tour start time for you, always planned to have you back at the ship in good time for its departure.

The Ultimate 2-Hour Tour of Tauranga & Mount Maunganui! Jump on for a quick, fun-filled ride exploring Tauranga and Mount Maunganui’s hidden gems! Kick off with a scenic drive around the Mount, cruise over the Harbour Bridge, and check out cool spots like the Elms Mission House and Old Post Office. We’ll pass by lush kiwi and avocado orchards before heading to the Scenic Lookout – your perfect photo stop with epic views of the Coromandel and White Island. After the tour, you’ll have free time to wander the charming shops, cafes, and beaches of Mount Maunganui or take a stroll along the stunning Mauao or the main beach!

*** We run ALL these tours to fit with cruise ships arrival & sailing times**** Are you looking for a short tour where you get to feel the heartbeat of this region but still have time to peruse the shops near by? Step off your cruise ship and join us in exploring some of the fun things which makes Tauranga, the Bay of Plenty. Enjoy a short tour covering an extensive mix of attractions, activities, and places, pristine white beaches, arts and crafts, history, culture, & fine foods, some of which are unique to Tauranga. 4 Hours with a small group – guaranteed to see plenty. • Idyllic seaside resort of Mount Maunganui • Interesting city centre • Learn about Historic Landmarks – The Elms Mission station, • Visit Maori Battle grounds, to name but a few sights. • Beautiful rose gardens – Nov/Feb • Kiwifruit tasting • Walk in native rainforest • Beautiful Waterfalls • Impressive Photo Opportunities Enjoy a Freshly baked muffin and great coffee at cottage cafe.

***ALL OUR TOURS START & END TO FIT THE CRUISE SHIPS' ARRIVAL & SAILING TIMES*** Rotorua is the 2nd most visited city in New Zealand by all tourists. As you only have a small window of opportunity to visit we have created an itinerary to showcase some of what we think makes this place so special. The two main interests which make people visit is Maori Culture & Geothermal Activity. This tour showcases the area where your ship is docked (Mount Maunganui) before we depart for the city of Rotorua. Enroute we showcase all which creates the namesake of the Bay of Plenty. Arriving at Rotorua's only Living Maori Village of its kind – Whakarewarewa – you will receive a traditional welcome and invited by a local to join them on a guided tour of this unique place. A village which lives on top of an active geothermal valley and has learnt to harness the powers of mother nature to aid their daily living needs for 100's of year. See geysers, steaming fumaroles , bubbling hot pools and much more.

Experience the unique and special natural beauty of Rotorua, the literal hot spot of the geothermal region of New Zealand, just 1 hour's drive from Tauranga. See and learn about the geothermals and its significance to the Maori people, the first to settle in New Zealand over 800 years ago. Entry is not included to the commercial geothermal reserves, but we do see boiling mud pools, crystal clear bubbling hot springs and volcanic lakes. Relax at the foot bathing pools in Kuirau Park, (towels provided) while your guide gives insight into the geothermal waters and their use by locals. We stop by Whakarewarewa village to pick up our lunch snack where you can take a peek at the Maori village (entry not incl.) before our final stop, the Redwoods Forrest. Here we can walk among the treetops on a network of easy-to-use rope swing bridges, with access by a gentle spiral ramp, so no steps are needed. Please note that the tour start time will be confirmed when your booking is accepted.

This popular and relaxing cruise journeys through the beautiful inner harbour of Tauranga with the Grand Kaimai range and Mount Maunganui as a stunning backdrop. The KEWPIE has two cruise decks and plenty of room to soak up the amazing views. It also boasts a fully licensed lounge bar and bar snacks are also available. Scenic highlights of this great value cruise include: The Statue of Tangaroa guarding the harbour entrance A diversity of landscapes from untouched white sandy beaches, lush green forests, islands and small village settlements, contrasted by the massive highly developed port infrastructure Occasionally you may see some seasonal wildlife on your cruise like blue penguins, sea birds or NZ fur seals

Visit Te Puia home of the famous Pohutu Geyser. The largest geyser in the southern hemisphere. Your guide will take you on a tour of the natural bush, geysers and mud pools with a remarkable walk along the Te Whakarewarewa geyser terrace.

Standard tour times 10:00am – 4:00pm (we will confirm with you prior). On arrival into Port of Tauranga, a day of sightseeing, story telling & cultural connection awaits… ​ Bound for Rotorua (appx 1.5hr), enjoy an array of our all inclusive snacks & bottled water, sit back and take in the many beautiful scenic views. We begin with a visit to the Government Gardens, you'll see the Whangapipiro Rachel Pool known for its therapeutic water. Come face to face with the big Californian Redwoods at Whakarewarewa Forest, over 55,000 hectares. Take a walk at Kuirau Park, discover hissing, roaring & bubbling geothermal activity. Take off your shoes & enjoy a warm foot spa in one of the foot pools (towels provided). Next stop Lake Tarawera, meaning burnt spear, one of the largest lakes in New Zealand. Time permitting, we may stop at Te Puia for souvenir shopping. On our journey back to your ship, sit back and enjoy the memories you made while you were exploring “our backyard”.

Pick up from Ports of Tauranga and travel 40 mins to Okere Falls. Walk down through our native forest to the waterfall that is on the Kaituna River – you may be lucky enough to see some of our local rafters coming over the fall. Next travel into town and head out to visit 3 of our lakes. Stop at the lookout between Blue and Green lakes. Stop at Tarawera Lake lookout for picture opportunities and visit Rangiruru Bay to take some pics on the jetty. Travel into town and walk through the Redwood Forest at your own leisure. At your own expense you can take a tour through the forest from above (this takes 45 minutes). Redwoods Treewalk offers suspended bridges high amongst the trees, adorned with intricate wooden lanterns and history of the trees on each platform between the trees. Head to Rotorua Lakefront/Sulphur Point, take a stroll through Government Gardens, wander through Kuirau Park, and have a foot soak in the heated foot pools and take in the bubbling mud pools.

Your Half Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise begins as you’re welcomed aboard the Bay Explorer at Tauranga waterfront jetty. You will explore the Bay of Plenty coastline where we will showcase the amazing diversity of marine wildlife including dolphins swimming along side our vessel. Watch seasonal seabirds, penguins, seals, whales, sunfish, school fish, sharks, orca…even turtles! Our dolphin & wildlife cruise is tailored to those wanting a genuine kiwi experience in nature. It’s a story about our human intrigue with amazing marine animals and their habitat. Participate by searching on the large top deck for that once in a lifetime wildlife encounter. We have limited our passenger numbers for comfort and to enable a more personal experience. Our large spacious boat is also ideal for families.
 The Captain and experienced crew lust to share their marine knowledge with you. Don’t forget your camera as we are able to get up close to wildlife, making it a photographer’s dream.

Paddle out to the middle of the wonderfully calm Lake McLaren in a 18 seater canoe if you are from a Cruise Ship, where serenity takes a new name. On days when there is no Cruise Ship in the Port of Tauranga you will be in kayaks

PLEASE NOTE: This tour no longer operates in conjunction with cruise ships docking at the port of Tauranga. All other days will operate as normal. A must do for all Lord of the Rings fans! Join us for a magical journey to Middle Earth where you can become part of the wonder that was created called Hobbiton! The Hobbiton Movie set was used for the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' film trilogies and is situated on a family run sheep farm close to the town of Matamata in the Waikato province. It is now a Tolkien tourism destination, offering guided tours of the set.

Mount Maunganui and Tauranga are the central areas for this kayak tour – it uses double kayaks on the calm sheltered waters of Lake McLaren. The tour operates in the evening due to the visibility of the glow worms.. Relax on the edge of Lake McLaren with refreshments, while watching the swans and ducks go about their evening’s preparations. Let your guide lead you onto calm Lake McLaren at dusk. Gently paddle into the night and discover the magic of the enchanting glow-worm canyon.

Leaving Tauranga you head south through rolling farmland and forestry, past Lake Rotorua and on to the magical Waimangu Valley where your guide will take you through the world’s youngest geothermal valley. Starting at the head of the valley you will wind your way down the 4 klm walk, passing a range of geothermal activity, hot springs, volcanic craters, and wildlife. Some highlights to look out for include the world's largest hot spring, and the brilliant blue Inferno Crater. The trails ultimately lead you down to the lake, where you’ll enjoy a relaxing 45 minute cruise around the tranquil waters of Lake Rotomahana. On the cruise, you'll encounter stunning geothermal activity only accessible by boat, as well as rare native birdlife, and stunning views across the lake at the imposing Mount Tarawera. You can also listen to the onboard commentary of the historic stories of the lake, and hear about the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption that covered and destroyed the pink and white terraces.

Your hosts are a Māori whānau (family) business, steeped in the ancestry of the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty tribes. With education backgrounds, both international and in Aotearoa (NZ), our experiences are based upon real-life experiences, and tailored to value learning outcomes across cultures. Your authentic Māori guide is a storyteller, geared to take you on a journey of cultural discovery, connecting you with culturally signigficant sites, stories, and ancient tribal customs. Feel the presence of our ancestors as we take you on a journey dating back to 925AD. This is not just a window to our culture, you are immersed in it. This is an experience of a life time. In your small van group, your warm friendly and knowledgable guide will ensure you are part of the family by journey’s end. Experiencing our Rotorua/Tauranga Māori cultural tour will provide you with a deep understanding and appreciation of our history. It is a wonderful day of conversation, reflection and learning.

Travel Ed is a Māori whānau (family) operator, steeped in the ancestry of the Tauranga tribal area. With education backgrounds, both international and in Aotearoa (NZ), our experiences are based upon real-life experiences, and tailored to value learning outcomes across cultures. Your authentic Māori guide is a storyteller, who will take you on a journey of cultural discovery, connecting you with significant sites, stories, and ancient tribal customs. Feel the presence of our ancestors as we take you on a journey dating back to 925AD. This is not just a window to our culture, it's an immersion. Travel Ed is an experience of a life time. In your small intimate group your warm friendly and knowledgable guide will ensure you are part of the family by journey’s end. Experiencing our Tauranga Māori cultural tour will provide you with a deep understanding and appreciation of our history. It is a wonderful day of conversation, reflection and learning. Minimum of 3 passengers to operate.

Exclusive tour taking you to a private Kiwifruit and Avocado orchard. We provide you with a VIP experience, including modern European vehicles with snacks and refreshments during the day. We explore some of the best Tauranga destinations, offering a truly unique, informative, and special journey for all our guests. Visiting an organic orchard is unique alone; however, this orchard is operated by one of the industry leaders in the New Zealand growers network. A picturesque setting with our local 190 Hectare Park and a visit to our historical village make this day a special Tauranga excursion with the best bits on offer.

Download a vibrantly-narrated mp3 audio guide combined with a map detailing the area of your tour. Immerse yourself in the historic and picturesque city of Tauranga on this self-guided audio tour of the city. Tauranga is the arrival point of the Māori in New Zealand. In this audio tour, you will explore the beautiful waterfront and hear the tales of how the Māori crossed the Pacific Ocean in the Arawa Canoe. Visit the Monmouth Redoubt with its old cannon to learn about the battles between the natives and the European colonists at The Elms Missionary. You will also see the Strand, Robbins Park, the Mission Cemetery, the Tauranga Domain Wharepai Reserve, the Old Post Office, the Art Gallery and Brian Watkins House. A diverse and interesting tour with lots of Māori history, myths and legends. This tour takes the frustration out of not knowing what to do, where to go or how to get there. Your tour. Your pace.

Bring your family, swimsuits, barbecue supplies or picnic and make a day of it with our supreme adventure park pass options, or if you’re short on time, come down and rent a kayak by the hour.