Tauranga tours, things to do and tickets

Kaituna Cascades was the original company to explore and start rafting the Kaituna River, and is still locally owned and operated by two current raft guides - so you know you'll be in great hands!!
No where in the world can you raft down such a beautiful river that drops into a vertical walled canyon filled with raftable waterfalls and countless playful rapids. The water is deep and warm (most of the year) and is usually a highlight of peoples visit to NZ. All of our guides are handpicked, highly skilled professionals that come from an extreme whitewater background in Kayaking and Rafting. We will give you the safest and most entertaining trip on the river!
This is also most definitely the best value for money rafting in NZ too.
Our aim is have FUN, So come join us for this EPIC once in a lifetime experience.

Cheers & see you on the river - Pete & Blue

***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.

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.

See, hear, smell, touch and taste on this full-day shore excursion from Tauranga. Experience the unique and special natural beauty of The Bay of Plenty. You will visit some out of the way spots that not everyone knows about and will go where the big buses don't. This tour is not a shuttle and will not drop you off anywhere to explore on your own. It is a fully guided small-group tour with a knowledgeable, fun and friendly tour guide. Along the way you will see and learn about the uniqueness that is New Zealand and you will learn about the geothermal region of Rotorua and its significance to the Maori people. We do not visit the commercial geothermal reserves on this tour, but we do see boiling mud pools, crystal clear bubbling hot springs, volcanic lakes and picturesque forests. 
Please note that the ticket sent to you by Viator/TripAdvisor will show the standard tour departure time, we will advise an updated time when you book the tour which may be different, this is the one to use.

Join this tour for a must-do, once-in-a-lifetime adventure with friendly dolphins in their natural habitat!  Number 1 on Trip Advisor and Trip Advisor Award of Excellence 4 years in a row! We guarantee dolphins or whale sightings as we want you to have this amazing experience!

Get up close and personal with playful dolphins who love interacting with people. You can stay dry and watch the magic from the boat or get in the water and swim with these fantastic wild dolphins. Our vessel Guardian is a fast, stable, full facility power catamaran with a 100 percent safety record over the last 14 years.  Our crew is the most experienced in the Bay. 

Join us for the experience of a lifetime!!

This is the perfect tour for everyone so book now and don’t miss out!

Take the leap and Fall for Tauranga! You will start your experience with an incredible 20-25 minute scenic flight over the beautiful Bay of Plenty, offering up some of the most beautiful views in New Zealand. Take off to breathtaking views of The Mount and golden beaches expanding as far as the eye can see. Higher up, you’ll be able to see White Island, Mount Ruapehu, the Rotorua Lakes, The Coromandel and even Mount Taranaki. And if you still had some breath left after that, freefalling back towards Tauranga at 200km/h might help!

Enjoy delicious locally sourced refreshments by the lake with your guide. Paddle your kayak into the night to discover the magic of an enchanting Glowworm canyon.

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.

Departs 10:00am (Subject to cruise ship docking times). 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 Kiwifruit and Avocado industries and sample teas sourced locally and from around the world. At the completion of the tour your guide will transport you back to the port gates. - RUNS OCTOBER TO APRIL ONLY

Visit an authentic Living Maori Village deep in the geothermal region of Rotorua on this full-day excursion including a light lunch of a hangi pie, salad and corn. Tour with a local Maori guide and learn about how the villagers have adapted to the harsh geothermal environment. You tour will also include visits to the famous Government Gardens and Rotorua Lake. This is a small group tour with a group size usually up to 18 persons.

Please note that the ticket sent to you by Viator/TripAdvisor will show the standard tour departure time. As the ships arrival time in port varies so much, we adjust the start and end times each day to suit the ships time in port. When your booking is accepted by us, we will confirm the true start time for the day, which overrides the time printed on your voucher.

We use the correct times for the ship which we take from the Port of Tauranga web site.

*** 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.

Soar Over Waterfalls, fly through trees, and be enlightened by local guides during this Māori culture-infused Zipline experience that will have all ages and abilities fizzing.

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.

ALL OUR TOURS HAVE FLEXIBLE START / END TIMES TO MEET SHIP ARRIVAL & SAILING TIMES.
From port of Tauranga, taking a shore excursion to Rotorua will give you great insights into New Zealand's rich Maori culture. You will get up close to amazing geothermal hot springs, steamiing fumaroles and bubbling mudpools. You will discover Rotorua's natural thermal phenomena of Geyers and boiling mud. Your Immerse yourself into Te Puia Maori Cultural Centre - the most pristine attraction of its kind in New Zealand - which gives you the WoW factor. You will enjoy a fascinating cultural display including the Haka (war dance). You will get to travel through the North Island’s spectacular countryside of rolling farmland and forestry, alongside Kiwifruit orchards and bathe your feet in pure warm mineral waters which come up from under the ground. There really is something for everybody in this excursion.
Much moire than I cna put into words - it is a "must do" excursion to appreciate it all.

Enjoy a magical 5.5 to 6-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 Mauganui, a top NZ holiday destination, then across the harbour and out into country, up and over the Kaimai mountain ranges and then down into the lush farming district of the Waikato, location of Hobbiton.

At Hobbiton there is time to buy a light lunch at The Shires Rest cafe, browse the extensive souvenier shop or just realax and take in the stunning views. The Hobbiton guide will then join us for a 2 hour guided tour.

This is a coach-based tour of up to 36 passengers, which allows us to book our own private guide at Hobbiton, though on some days we do operate with 12 to 24 seat vehicles.

As the ships arrival time in port varies so much, we adjust the start and end times each day to suit. When your booking is accepted by us, we will confirm the tour start time for the day.

Kia Ora! Welcome to V8 Trike Tours, New Zealand
Gold Qualmark Operator *****
2021, 2022 & 2023 Traveler's Choice Award - Top 10% Attraction Worldwide!
As seen on Travel Guides NZ · TV Programme 2021
Join us for a unique and thrilling experience on a V8 Chevrolet trike as we explore the beautiful Bay of Plenty. Designed and built in New Zealand, our awesome trikes are powered by 5700cc Chevrolet motors. It’s the ultimate in power and excitement. With a low centre of gravity, our trikes provide a smooth ride with an impressive grip around corners.
Suitable for ages 2+ and all abilities including disabled.
Registered as a car with NZTA and not a motorbike therefore seatbelts are compulsory not helmets.
Suitable for age 2+ and all abilities, special needs, disabled or those with mobility issues.

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.

NB: From October 2024 this tour will no longer operate in conjunction with cruise ships docking at the port of Tauranga.

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.

A day of Epicurean delights, visiting a boutique brewery, top restaurants, medal-winning wineries and finishing with a cocktail and dessert at our last venue, overlooking our beautiful harbour. Clients enjoy the diversity of venues and the variety of tastings. A chance to treat your palate!
This approximately 6 1/2-hour small group tour has a range of great sights to see on the way and the starting time can be adjusted to accommodate variations in ship arrival time.

During your day's visit to Tauranga, experience the Geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. On the way there, marvel at beautiful beaches and multimillion dollar homes, before a 45 minute drive from the coast, ascending up the central plateau, through Kiwifruit plantations and typical NZ pastoral farmland to our furthest inland destination, Rotorua. Take in the most popular sites of interest - Blue & Green lakes, view Mt Tarawera (erupted 1886) across the most gorgeous lake, walk through NZ native bush full of ferns and tall podocarps like an 1800's pioneer or Maori warrior. Take a peek at the geysers (incl. famous Pohutu) from our secret viewing spot beside the geothermal region of Whakarewarewa.
We highly recommend you upgrade to our P5 tour - Geothermal Rotorua w/ Maori cultural performance, an additional USD35 each and you will be entertained by a famous Maori troupe known worldwide for their natural showmanship, and walk through a stunning steaming living geothermally active zone.