Top Tauranga Half-day Tours

Experience the magic of New Zealand’s North Island on this evening glow-worm kayak tour in Tauranga. Begin your tour with refreshments including wine from the award-winning Mills Reef Winery and delicious New Zealand cheeses on the banks of Lake McLaren. As day turns to night, hop into your kayak and paddle with your guide to the glow-worm canyon at the head of Lake McLaren. Marvel at the millions of bright green glow-worms clinging to the towering cliff sides, and gain insight into the life cycle of these fascinating creatures.

When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, experience the wonders of New Zealand's North Island in a small group on this full-day tour to Rotorua. Take in sights such as Mount Maunganui, Sulphur Bay on Lake Rotorua, hot springs around Rotorua, and places of importance to the Maori people. Taste fresh kiwi fruit at an orchard, stroll through the Redwood Forest, and admire the manicured grounds of Government Gardens. Your small-group tour includes guide, entrance fees, air-conditioned transportation, and port pickup and drop-off.

Explore one of the North Island’s most impressive natural wonders and see the national symbol of New Zealand on this shore excursion from Tauranga. Walk through the caves to see stalagmites and stalactites before boarding a small boat to the incredible Waitomo Caves, filled with glittering glow-worms. Then visit the Otorohanga Kiwi House to learn more about the native birds. Port pickup and drop-off is included.

Make the most of your time at shore and explore the beautiful Tauranga Harbour during this half-day tour. Visit beautiful beaches, orchards, historical landmarks and more as you listen to engaging commentary from your guide about the history and culture of the region. You even get to sample local produce such as Manuka honey, kiwifruit, and avocado.

This half-day shore excursion from New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty highlights the rural riches of the Tauranga region. Enjoy samplings of manuka honey in this tranquil corner of the North Island where rolling farmlands dot the landscape. Head into the Kaimai mountains and follow your guide on an easy walk to the waterfall at McLaren Falls Park. A maximum of 19 participants ensures a small-group experience.

Some of the Bay of Plenty’s most exciting towns and attractions are some way from the coast, which can make them tough to get to if you’re exploring the region on a cruise ship. This day-long tour to Rotorua solves that problem by picking you up direct from your cruise ship in Tauranga. Drive just under 50 miles to Rotorua and explore the town, including stops at Te Puia, a hub of local Māori culture and geothermal activity, the beautiful Government Gardens and the towering Redwood Forest.

Departs 10:00am. Enjoy this 4 Hour boutique tour of Tauranga. Picking you up from right outside the Tauranga port gates the local guide accompaning you will serve as your expert, connecting you with the natural beauty, history, culture, industry and people of Tauranga. See amazing views, beautiful beaches, historical sites, orchards and experience the taste of our world-renowned Manuka Honey, Kiwifruit and Avocado industries. At the completion of the tour your guide will transport you back to the port gates. 

Spend the afternoon tasting the fruits of Tauranga’s craft beer boom with your friends – all without the risk of drawing the short straw and ending up the sober driver. On this easygoing tour around a handful of the city’s breweries and brewbars, sample a range of beers made in the region and even go behind the scenes at a local brewery to discover how they make their lagers and ales.

When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, take a small-group shore excursion that showcases Maori culture and New Zealand's natural beauty. Highlights include the Living Maori Village, the geothermal geysers, kiwi orchards, and traditional cultural performance. Indulge in a deluxe 2-course lunch and a sightseeing tour of Rotorua before a walk among the redwoods of the Whakarewarewa Forest and a visit to the Tudor-style design museum. Your small-group tour includes admission fees, lunch, and round-trip transportation from the cruise port.

Step off your ship at the Port of Tauranga and enjoy a day around Rotorua and Mount Maunganui. Visit some of the hot pools and bubbling geysers of Rotorua and learn about how Maori traditions are woven with the landscape. Drive through the wide streets of Rotorua and see some of its beautiful locations with your guide, and visit a green kiwifruit orchard before returning to port.

Experience the mythical world of Middle Earth on a half-day tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set from Tauranga. Explore the magnificent film set and admire original props from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies on a guided tour; see iconic sites such as Gandalf's cutting, Bag End, and the Green Dragon Inn; and enjoy a Hobbit-themed lunch (own expense) at the Shires Rest Café.

Departs 9:00am. 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.

We take care to treat you with kindness and respect, Our motto is do unto others what you would have done to yourself. Our vehicles are very tidy and there is plenty of room to sit and enjoy the day with us.

A Visit to Middle Earth. Immerse yourself into the enchanting world of J.R.R Tolkien’s famous stories. After traveling thousands of miles to visit New Zealand you cannot miss this opportunity to experience this magical tour of the Hobbiton & Lord Of The Rings Movie Set. You may not come back this way again ... This two hour guided tour will take you into a world of breathtaking fantasy where these amazing films were brought to life by the world-famous New Zealand director, Peter Jackson. Nestled amid lush rolling farmland in a 12-acre valley is the Hobbit Village on the shores of the picturesque Long Lake and The Watermill. See Bilbo's house, The Water Mill, Green Dragon, the Arched Bridge, 44 Hobbit houses, gardens, wandering pathways, The Party Tree, lakes. Listen to the wonderful stories and tales of Gandalf, Frodo, and the villagers. If you haven't read the books or seen the movies you will still love it ... It’s a piece of history, and it’s magical.

our tour guides are multi lingual and have 10 years experience and we provide services so that our customers feel comfortable and enjoy their trip,our vehicles are fully air-condition with Luxury seats.

Departs 9:00am. Visit Kiwifruit Country and learn all about the kiwifruit industry before heading to Rotorua to take in the breathtaking sights of beautiful lakes, towering Redwoods, boiling mud pools and gushing geysers. Your guide will take you on a tour of the park sharing about the Maori culture, the history of the area and how the Maori lived day to day along with beautiful views of the geothermal areas. The tour will end with a cultural performance including a welcome on to the Marae or meeting house, examples of traditional songs and the famous haka.

After leaving Tauranga Port we tour downtown Mount Maunganui, a popular Kiwi holiday destination and it's stunning white sandy surf beach, voted best in New Zealand. We visit a kiwifruit orchard (3 billion-dollar horticultural industry in the region) Drive through lush farmland, native bush, pine forest plantations and scenic lakes district. New Zealand hinterland at its best. Arriving at Te Puia, see, smell & hear "Pohutu Geyser" the biggest geyser in the southern hemisphere, rumbling noisily as it erupts, a stream of steam and boiling water up to 30 meters (100ft) Marvel at the display of bubbling mud & hot water pools in a steaming volcanic landscape! All very safe. Experience a traditional Maori welcome, an entertaining cultural performance, and the fierce Haka. See NZ's iconic kiwi bird, pre-European Maori village, wood carving, and flax weaving. We explore Rotorua's lakefront, highlights, govt gardens, and historical architectural gem the Elizabethan Spa Bath House.

Experience an authentic living Maori village. The villagers have built their homes amongst erupting geysers, boiling mud, steam vents, and hot pools. They use natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their homes. As you walk amongst the wonders of the Whakarewarewa Valley, our guide explains the history of the village, where the Tuhourangi / Ngati Wahiao tribe has lived for over 200 years. See the world-famous Pohutu Geyser erupt up to 30 meters. Boiling mud, hot pools, thermal vents, surrounded by a steaming volcanic landscape. On this tour, you will see NZ’s best surf beach, stunning scenery, kiwifruit orchard, and fruit tasting. Drive through the scenic lakes district, beautiful farmland, native bush, pine plantations orchards & dairy farms. We take a short stroll through the breathtaking, giant, 70 ft high, 118 - year- old Redwood Forest and wonder at its natural beauty. Explore Rotorua’s lakefront, hotspots highlights and wonderfull pristine Government Gardens.

The Bay of Plenty’s culinary highlights aren’t limited to the restaurants in Tauranga city. On this day trip into the heart of the Bay of Plenty, discover some of those highlights. Instead of wasting your time on meticulously planning an itinerary, visit orchards, factories and specialist retailers scattered across the countryside. Drive through the charming Bay of Plenty farmland and sample the varied tastes and flavours of the region.

Journey into the heart of Middle Earth (Waikato, New Zealand), and visit Hobbiton - the original movie set from Sir Peter Jackson’s world-famous The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. On this half-day tour departing Tauranga you will learn how the Waikato plains were chosen as a setting for Tolkein’s lush green Shire and discover how the meticulously detailed movie set was made.

Discover & experience a truly special day of the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Witness erupting geysers, hot steam vents and bubbling mud pools on this cruise ship shore excursion from Tauranga. This valley has many stories just waiting to be shared with you. Learn about the Maori culture at the fascinating Te Puia Thermal Reserve, the magnificent Pohutu geyser, boiling mud pools, and the National carving and weaving schools. Visit the kiwi bird encounter where you can see the elusive kiwi bird. Upon leaving Te Puia, we take in the highlights of what Rotorua has to offer. The magnificent Rotorua museum building with its Tudor style design, the government gardens bursting with colour & fragrance then Rotorua lake front! Experience a working kiwi fruit orchard to learn all about this wonder fruit with taste testing of an assortment of different types of kiwi fruit products before your final journey back to your ship in plenty of time to board with this 6 hr Shore Excursion.

Explore the sets from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ movie series at Hobbiton during this shore excursion. Cross Tauranga Harbour and head through the Kaimai mountain range en route to Hobbiton, the movie set location for the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy. Meet your guide at the Shires Rest to start your guided tour. Discover top sites including the famous party tree in Bag End. Finish your tour with an ale in the Green Dragon Inn and imagine yourself among your favorite characters.

Discover golden sand beaches, kiwi fruit orchards, historic buildings and traditional New Zealand culture on this Tauranga shore excursion including Mt. Maunganui. Travel along Pilot Bay with your guide and gaze across Tauranga Harbour to Matakana Island. Discover evidence of ancient Maori settlements near Mt. Maunganui. Soak up the sunshine at Mt. Ocean Beach, admire the affluent Marine Parade and visit a kiwi orchard. Then, head into the hills for panoramic city and harbor views.

Take the opportunity to explore the countryside of the Bay of Plenty region on this relaxed short tour. Escape the city and see local horticulture at work at one of the thousands of local kiwifruit orchards. Learn about the pre-European history of the area, and find out why James Cook named it the Bay of Plenty. A delicious fish and chip lunch at a seaside cafe is included. Tie this all in with other scenic stops on this popular value for money tour. About us: Our team has been delivering world-class Shore Excursions for over 16 years - we have over 100 years combined tour guiding experience so you know you are in capable hands. Travel in a modern, air conditioned vehicle with a passionate local as your host. We specialise in small groups to allow an intimate and personalised experience. Every tour is commentated from start to finish - we delight in showing off our little corner of the world. And, we guarantee to have you back to the ship on time!