Tours and Trips in Tauranga

Fly by helicopter to White Island, New Zealand's only permanently active offshore volcano. On this 3-hour flight and volcano walking tour from Rotorua, the pilot soars over the Northern Lakes district with aerial views of the active crater before landing on White Island for a guided walking tour. Slip past steaming vents and colorful sulphur formations as you learn about the abandoned mining ruins left behind on its lunar-like landscape.

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.

When your ship pulls into port at Tauranga, take a shore excursion to McLaren Falls Park for a kayaking adventure on Lake McLaren. Paddle on the serene lake with an expert guide and look for myriad birds within reach. Peer at gentle streams that lap the tranquil water's edge and find photo ops against the scenic backdrop of steep-walled Mangapapa Canyon. A chocolate bar, bottled water and dry bag are provided along with round-trip port transport.

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.

When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, save time by booking ahead and see the best of New Zealand's North Island from the air. Choose a light-aircraft flight over the Bay of Plenty or a helicopter flight over beautiful White Island"”and upgrade to land for a walking tour with your pilot. See more of New Zealand from the skies in one day than you ever could on land.

Discover New Zealand's most active volcanoe on a White Island helicopter flight from Tauranga. Fly over to White Island, one of the islands in the Pacific Ring of Fire off the Bay of Plenty. With the blades of your helicopter whirring overhead, hear live commentary from your pilot via your headset earphones. Fly along the island's rugged coastline. See flocks of birds flying over the sulfur-yellow landscape and watch the waves for marine life.

This Tauranga Shore Excursion stands out from others by offering a two-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.

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.

Just steps from your cruise ship lies a coastal path to Mt Drury and Moturiki Island. Embark on an easy 2.5-hour walking tour while you're in port at Tauranga, exploring sacred Maori sites and natural history with an informative guide who points out a petrel colony and breeding little blue penguins. After your walk, rejuvenate in the outdoor saltwater pools at Mount Hot Pools in Mount Maunganui.

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.

Explore the sets from 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' movie series on this 5.5-hour Hobbiton shore excursion. Cross Tauranga Harbour and head through the Kaimai mountain range on 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 2-hour tour. Discover top sites including the famous party tree in Bag End. Finish your tour with an ale in the Green Dragon pub and imagine yourself among your favorite characters.

Discover golden sand beaches, kiwi fruit orchards, historic buildings and traditional New Zealand culture on this 3-hour 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.

This 5-hour 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.

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 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.

Enjoy a family-friendly half-day shore excursion to Waimarino Adventure Park when your ship docks in Tauranga. You can splash into the water as a human catapult, zip down the kayak slide, practice your climbing skills on the rock wall, jump on a water trampoline or take a relaxing spin in a kayak. Nibble on chocolate to keep your energy up for the fun while visiting New Zealand.