Rotorua

Rotorua Duck Boat Guided City and Lakes Tour

Rotorua, New Zealand

From $52.70

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Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
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Likely To Sell Out
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  • 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover Rotorua on a 1.5-hour duck tour. This sightseeing adventure takes you aboard a World War II amphibious vehicle — able to travel on land and water. Start with a city tour past Government Gardens, the Blue Baths and more before splashing down into Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Lake Okareka. Enjoy family fun along the way with a provided duck caller, and listen to live commentary about Rotorua’s history and local landmarks.
  • Rotorua City and Lakes Duck Tour
  • Enjoy a cruise along Lakes Tikitapu and Okareka
  • View historic sights of Rotorua's rich history
  • Ride in an authentic WWII amphibious "duck"
  • Tour local landmarks such as Lake Rotorua, Mokoia Island, Geothermal Sulphur Point, Government Gardens, The Museum and Blue Baths

What's Included

  • Driver/guide
  • Live commentary on board
  • 90-minute tour on authentic World War II amphibious vehicle
  • Free "duck caller" for every passenger
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • 1241 Fenton Street
    1241 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Start your duck tour in central Rotorua, where you’ll board an authentic WWII amphibious ‘duck’ that traverses land and water. This 90-minute adventure for all ages is the perfect introduction to Rotorua and offers entertainment for the whole family.

Watch Rotorua's history unfold as you ride past top landmarks and other highlights including Government Gardens public park near Lake Rotorua — punctuated by Mokoia Island; the thermal attraction of Geothermal Sulphur Point; the elegant Rotorua Museum (Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa); and the Blue Baths, established in 1931.

Hear live commentary and anecdotes about Rotorua’s past, and continue your tour with a splashdown into Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Lake Okareka. You’ll visit a lakeside community where the duck's elevation affords magnificent views of Mt Tarawera before returning to central Rotorua.

Lake Rotorua (Pass By)

Rotorua Duck Tours

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Blue Baths (Pass By)

Government Gardens (Pass By)

Lake Okareka Walkway (Pass By)

Blue Lake Track (Pass By)

Mt. Tarawera (Pass By)

Redwoods Treewalk (Pass By)

Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest (Pass By)

Rotorua Museum (Pass By)

Blue Baths (Pass By)

Sulphur Point (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
Kristine_B
Perfect experience and information supplied The staff were very friendly and informative. Would recommend this experience to all our friends. Children will love the experience especially when it goes from road to water then water to road

Reviews

5.0
348 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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0
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 348 reviews
great local fun
Heather_R, Apr 2023
Marcus and his multi level jokes. Very informative commentary. Good fun for all ages. As a local and having often thought "must do that with the grandies" - our experience was excellent, very smooth operation
Response from Host, May 2023
We love love love hosting our locals on our Duck Tours! We are so pleased to read you enjoyed your Tour with Marcus, he truly loves and his amazing at his job and it shows! Thank you again Heather for leaving your review! :)
Fun and interesting.
Barb_C, Apr 2023
We had a great time. It was great to get some history of the town as well as the lake rides. Beautiful scenery on the lakes. Very informative and funny. We were familiar with the song Pokarekare Ana, the famous Māori love song, and when I asked about the story behind the song we were given an in-depth and animated rendition of the legend as it revolves around the Lake called Rotorua. All the guides were very friendly and good blokes. We learned a lot about quite a variety of interesting facts like the Redwood trees and the volcanic activity in the area. Thanks Guys! Well done!
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Hey Barb Thanks for the wonderful review , so glad you enjoyed your tour and the story of our two famous love Birds . It was great to have you guys along Ollie
Calm, Placid Trip with some nice views
John_D, Apr 2023
Pleasant three hours touring Rotorua and two smaller lakes in the vicinity. If you are an active adventure traveler, this isn’t for you. If you like to sit quietly and take in the views, this will be a hit. Funny, talkative guide. Nice young man. He’ll learn soon that a little less is oftentimes more. Great energy though.
Response from Host, May 2023
Thank you very much for leaving a review John! The Rotorua Duck Tours team appreciate the kind words and tips for in future! Thank you again :)
Review
Kristine_B, Apr 2023
Perfect experience and information supplied The staff were very friendly and informative. Would recommend this experience to all our friends. Children will love the experience especially when it goes from road to water then water to road
Amazing, fun tour
Julie_R, Mar 2023
What an amazing trip. I took my 93 year old mum who has dementia and she loved it, laughed the whole time at the commentary from our guide Marcus who was hilarious and extremely knowledgeable. Definitely worth the money and would do it again if I ever get the chance.
a must do in Rotorua
rusty_b, Feb 2023
Marcus our host was incredible, very knowledgeable and funny at the same time. This is a must do in Rotorua!
Decent option
Frazer_W, Feb 2023
Good tour, with a guide who is a fascinatingly foolish guy, yet kept you interested. Rotorua and the lakes around are beautiful
Quak!
Chantelle_C, Feb 2023
Amazing experience around the lakes. Tour guide (Josh) was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. Highly recommend taking this tour.
Response from Host, May 2023
Thank you for your review on our Duck Tour and your kind words for our Driver Josh! We are glad to read you enjoyed the tour and again thank you for your kind review! :)
Great fun
Ros_R, Feb 2023
Great experience, lovely scenery & the guide was very knowledgeable & entertaining, a must do if you can!
Awesome experience
Paul_F, Jan 2023
An awesome experience…loved the whole thing, learned lots and the driver was highly educational and entertaining.
Terrible experience in Rotorua Duck Boat trip
ash_s, Jan 2023
Nothing memorable about this trip We booked three tickets a few months in advance, but we were allowed only two of us to travel. We were told that only two of us can travel, doesn't matter if we have tickets in advance. Best advice is to avoid using Viator, they don't honour their tickets. BTW overall boat tour is boring as told by other passengers and tour guide was not friendly as well.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Kia Ora Ash, I am sorry that this has been your experience with us. Unfortunately in our busy times we do end up fully booked, you had contacted us to move your tour and this had been done for you but you then turned up at your original booking time which had since been filled. We did manage to get you onto the tour as people had not turned up. We always do our best to try and fit people on for the tour that they booked for. We hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Rotorua! Nga Mihi
The tours to both lakes...
Helena_S, Jan 2023
The tours to both lakes and our awesome driver/tour guide. The best experience for our family especially mum.
Not too exciting!!!
Marthese_P, Jan 2023
None to share really. Not as exciting as I thought it would be - the advertising is a little over the top for it.
One thing to do in rotorua
Helen_T, Jan 2023
We loved the drivers humor that kept us entertained & learning more about the lakes in rotorua. We would definitely recommend this is a must do when in rotorua.
Our Fabulous , Fun Duck Tour
Kuini_S, Dec 2022
Our family enjoyed this very much, we had a wonderful, friendly and funny Tour Guide, Josh was amazing, we will definitely do yhis again. Thank you for a great and memorable time. Best wishes for the New Years Warm regards Kuini Auckland
Ducks in Rotorua
Alan_H, Dec 2022
Great way to spend a morning in Rotorua, seeing the sights and being entertained by Josh. Even the rain couldn’t dampen his humour!
Ma na na na do do do do do
Rochelle_M, Apr 2022
Your guide was great kept us entertained and very knowledgeable thanks for great experience. Beautiful sceneries and awesome truck/boat
Orsome
Pat_H, Apr 2021
All of it was great Good humorous commitary and very informative of the history around Rotorua and surrounding areas Also the info on the bird life in the lakes exelent
Awesome tour with Duck Tours Rotorua
Judith_N, Jan 2021
Loved the tour. Tour guide was very humerous and knowledgeable. Suitable for all ages - a really awesome thing to do.
Awesome, funny, knowledgeable and entertaining.
Judith_N, Jan 2021
We had so much fun from the time we checked in - the tour guides were a laugh a minute but also very informative and knowledgeable. The experience of being in the "duck" was an incredible experience. Highly recommend. I really wish we had done this when our children were younger as they have flown the coup now but children were 'wowed'.
Fantastic and entertaining excursion
Ray_F, Mar 2020
The tour was well worth it and Shelley (guide) was bright and interactive acted with the guests. BRILLANT
Response from Host, Jun 2020
In capital letters even! That's got to be a good sign. Thank you for this awesome review!
Amazing experience
Isobel_M, Feb 2020
Amazing experience. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable and the scenery was unforgettable.
Absolutely Brilliant
Michelle_B, Jun 2019
Fantastic! Nick did a fabulous job, entertaining , funny and very informative. Would do it again even knowing it now. Great for kids and families and couples. My husband was thoroughly entertained and loved the duck!. Can't recommend this tour if there is one thing you do DO THIS !!!
This was a great trip and enjoyed by...
Walter_G, Feb 2018
This was a great trip and enjoyed by my wife, myself and our two grand children. We has an excellent driver/ tour guide. the vehicle itself is a wonderful piece of history.
Relaxed and enjoyable way to see all...
GOPALAKRISHNAN V, Dec 2017
Relaxed and enjoyable way to see all the main sights at one go.
Our wonderful driver and tour guide...
Robin A, Nov 2015
Our wonderful driver and tour guide made this very, very enjoyable.
This was an awesome tour! We went on...
AB, Nov 2015
This was an awesome tour! We went on a rainy day unfortunately, but it was still absolutely worth it. Our guide, Grant, was funny and knowledgeable. Definitely a worth while tour!
My 8 and 12 year old sons enjoyed...
Amanda W, Apr 2015
My 8 and 12 year old sons enjoyed this tour in this unique vehicle. They liked the noisy yellow duck beak duck caller too. We enjoyed how the boat went on land and in the lakes and the information about the boat was very interesting. I would have liked to know more information about the Maori, European settlement and landscape rather than trivia about wealthy homes.
Excellent great fun and something...
Irene E, Jan 2015
Excellent great fun and something different Irene E
An enjoyable and enlightening tour. Our...
Tina_G, Jan 2015
An enjoyable and enlightening tour. Our guide was excellent.

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