Top Tauranga Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

Swap the Tauranga cruise port for the Shire, featured in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, on a Hobbiton Movie Set shore excursion. Your tour includes movie structures such as hobbit holes, the party tree and the Mill. Sip a drink at the Green Dragon Inn, and then suit up in a favorite LOTR costume with a stop at McLaren Falls Park.

Take a shore excursion to the Hobbiton Movie Set and sightsee Rotorua with a guide when your cruise ship pulls into port at Tauranga. Journey to Middle-earth and The Shire of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fame, featured in the popular LOTR trilogy and ‘The Hobbit.’ Then learn traditional customs at the Maori village of Whakarewarewa before strolling past the spouting geysers and steaming hot springs of thermal Rotorua. Numbers are limited to 19 participants in this small-group tour to the land of hobbits and hot pools.

See the highlights of Rotorua on a full-day shore excursion from Tauranga. You’ll travel to one of New Zealand’s famed regions in the North Island, observing otherworldly landscapes and Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa’s thermal springs. Visit Okere Falls at the Bay of Plenty; receive a traditional welcome at an authentic Maori village where you’ll watch a 'haka' (war dance); and view the Government Gardens, a historic bath house and more in Rotorua.

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.

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.

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.

This Tauranga shore excursion stands out from others by offering a 2-course lunch and a visit to a Polynesian spa. The basics of local shore excursions are included too: travel with a small group to the Rotorua geothermal geyser, mud pools, and steam vents, and then see a Maori dance performance. At the spa, soak in hot mineral springs with views of Lake Rotorua.

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.

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.

See the summery Bay of Plenty from a different perspective – as you’re freefalling from 10,000 feet in the air! It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time skydiver: on this tandem skydive, learn as you go as you fall with your instructor, who takes the lead and offers personalized guidance when you want to take over. Enjoy bird’s-eye views of local landmarks, from Maunganui and White Island close by to the Rotorua Lakes, Mount Ruapehu and, if the visibility’s good, even Mount Taranaki.

When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, gain insight into New Zealand’s natural and cultural heritage on a shore excursion to Rotorua. At the Te Puia Maori cultural center, discover boiling mud pools and Pohutu Geyser on a walk through the Whakarewarewa geothermal valley; learn about Maori customs at the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute; and spot the elusive kiwi bird.

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.

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.

Learn how New Zealand’s Maori people have adapted to life among the geothermal activity of Rotorua on this small-group shore excursion from Tauranga. At the Living Maori Village, see how residents integrate natural elements like bubbling geysers, mud pools and steam vents into daily tasks, and watch a live cultural performance. You’ll also drive past gorgeous beaches, walk through an ancient redwood forest, and taste local kiwi fruit fresh from the farm on this immersive Bay of Plenty highlights tour.

Easily explore the area outside the Port of Tauranga during this guided tour that includes port pickup and drop-off. First visit a New Zealand kiwi orchard, and get the chance to taste the native fruit yourself. Catch sight of natural wonders such as Okere Falls, Blue Lake, and Whakarewarewa Forest before going to taste New Zealand honey at a local farm (time permitting).

Explore exquisite Tauranga in style, riding in a luxurious modern Mercedes tour-vehicle as you cruise from hilltop to seaside and sample along the way some of New Zealand’s finest honey and kiwifruit export produce. After learning about and tasting the delights of rural Tauranga this tour returns you to port comfortably, and contented - stopping at a scenic lookout to take in the natural beauty of the Bay of Plenty from above.

Take a tour in your own private minivan with an experienced local guide. This Private tour is for a group of up to 8 people. Your day will vary from stunning white sandy beaches, to boiling mud pools and beautiful forests. There is so much to see and experience in this stunning part of New Zealand. Choose an attraction to visit or enjoy all the "Freebies" this area offers. I can customise your day. Do as much or as little as you choose. Its "Your Day Your Way". Have a great day out with your own Private guide. "FREEBIES": - Sandy Beaches and beautiful countryside - Honey and Kiwi fruit tasting and orchard visit - Lake Rotorua and the Redwood Forest - Rotorua City Government Gardens - Kuirau Park Geothermal area with bubbling mud, hot springs and a footbath OPTIONAL EXTRAS: - Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village - Te Puia Geotherrmal Park and NZ Maori Atrs & Craft Institiute - Skyline Gondola & luge - Agrodome Sheep show - Waiotapu

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 2:00pm Winter 3:00pm Summer. A tour of Tauranga city taking in the sights of early european settlements, the battle of Gate Pa, views of the harbour, local history and how Tauranga grew to be the city it is today. Finishes with a complimentary glass of wine or beer at The Clarence boutique hotel.

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.

Enjoy wet’n’wild adventure with the family at the Waimarino Adventure Park in Tauranga, New Zealand. Inside the park, choose from a whole host of exciting rides, slides and chutes. Bounce on the water trampoline, test your head for heights on the climbing wall, fly through the air on the Tarzan swing or challenge a friend to a gladiator duel. Hire kayaks and pedalos, or simply soak up the rays at the water’s edge. With all activities included on the pass, enjoy excellent value for money all day long.

Once your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, get the most out of your time in port with this combo trip to the Geothermal Valley and a local kiwi fruit orchard. With a guide teaching you about the geology and history, explore the geysers, hot pools, and steam vents in the valley, then head to the kiwi orchards to learn about New Zealand's most famous export. Tastings of jams, juices, and different kiwi varieties included.

Explore the thermal wonderland of Wai-O-Tapu and see Pohutu Geyser blow its top at Whakarewarewa during this full-day private Tauranga shore excursion to the Rotorua region. Witness colorful thermal springs, hissing steam vents and bubbling mud pools as your guide details the area’s geothermal activity, then discover traditional customs at New Zealand's only living Maori village. Port pickup and drop-off by private vehicle included.

On this full-day shore excursion, take a journey deep into Middle Earth without the stress and strict scheduling of a large group tour. Drive from Tauranga into the heart of the Waikato with a small group and guide and visit Hobbiton, the iconic filming location from Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. But this is more than just a there-and-back-again Lord of the Rings tour: also spend some time in the secluded New Zealand bush at McLaren Falls Park and see the striking titular waterfall.