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Shore Excursion: Geothermal Rotorua with Maori Cultural Performance at Whakarewarewa
Tauranga, New Zealand
- 6 to 8 hours
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, head out for a full-day tour of Mt. Maunganui and Rotorua. In Rotorua, learn about Maori culture, and see geothermal hot pools and the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa—The Living Maori Village. Sample New Zealand specialties such as manuka honey and kiwi fruit, and spend time checking out highlights including Lake Rotorua and Government Gardens.
- Full-day tour to Rotorua from Tauranga
- See bubbling hot pools and erupting geysers at Whakarewarewa
- View a Maori dance performance and craft demonstrations
- Take a driving tour of Mt. Maunganui and Tauranga city
- Purchase lunch at a cafe that overlooks Lake Rotorua
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Port pickup and drop off
- Local guide
- Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Meeting point
- Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand
Meet just past Port of Tauranga security you will be met there or at our vehicle in the carpark
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Begin your day with morning pickup from the Port of Tauranga.
Start with an overview of Mt. Maunganui, then head to Rotorua, stopping along the way to sample kiwi fruit, one of New Zealand’s top exports.
Continue by road past a redwood forest and Blue Lake on the way to Rotorua. More than 500 hot springs and 65 geysers are active around Rotorua. You'll visit Whakarewarewa, the Living Maori Village, which is home to the Pohutu Geyser and steaming hot springs, as well as Maori cultural exhibits like dance performances.
Next, drive through Government Gardens (Paepaekumana) and past the Polynesian Spa, then have lunch (own expense) at Lake Rotorua. See attractions like the Skyline Gondola and luge ride, and snap photos of Lake Rotorua from the cafe. You can sample New Zealand’s renowned manuka honey at Mossop’s Honey, before returning to Tauranga.
Start with an overview of Mt. Maunganui, then head to Rotorua, stopping along the way to sample kiwi fruit, one of New Zealand’s top exports.
Continue by road past a redwood forest and Blue Lake on the way to Rotorua. More than 500 hot springs and 65 geysers are active around Rotorua. You'll visit Whakarewarewa, the Living Maori Village, which is home to the Pohutu Geyser and steaming hot springs, as well as Maori cultural exhibits like dance performances.
Next, drive through Government Gardens (Paepaekumana) and past the Polynesian Spa, then have lunch (own expense) at Lake Rotorua. See attractions like the Skyline Gondola and luge ride, and snap photos of Lake Rotorua from the cafe. You can sample New Zealand’s renowned manuka honey at Mossop’s Honey, before returning to Tauranga.
Mt Maunganui Main Beach
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Kiwifruit Country (Pass By)
Mangorewa River
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lake Rotorua
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Government Gardens
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Polynesian Spa (Pass By)
Lake Okareka Walkway
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Tikitapu Nature Walk
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake)
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Buried Village of Te Wairoa (Pass By)
Mt. Tarawera
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Wai-O-Tapu
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 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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Reviews
4.5
44 reviews
Sheri_H, Mar 2024
Such a great excursion covering a lot! We began our day visiting the kiwi orchards which were to begin harvesting that day. Saw and tasted a new variety-the red kiwi! Yum! The government gardens were beautiful and the redwoods grow tall. The Māori Village was very interesting and the people warm and friendly. We enjoyed watching a few brave men learn the Haka dance. The geothermal activity in the region is impressive and we enjoyed seeing the Lakes district. A very busy and great way to see the area!
Neil_H, Feb 2024
Was a great trip lots of things to see
The geothermal village & Maori village was excellent also visiting the lakes was amazing scenery
Thirery our guide was excellent
joel_k, Jan 2024
Toby our guide was great took us to extra places big tour would not go to. Liked the geothermal and Maori experience.
Brenda_G, Jan 2024
Toby was awesome. Had a great day! Never seen thermal springs before and they exceeded my expectations. Maori presentation and people were great.
Nancy_W, Nov 2023
This tour ended up being a private tour for my husband and I. We really enjoyed the tour of Rotorua and the Maori performance.
Dawn_H, Oct 2023
Although cruise ships also sell shore excursions for some of the same places individuals can go on their own, it is so much better (and far cheaper) to book tours independently. This was definitely the case as Kerry shuttled we two couples around in the very comfortable, roomy Arrow Tours late model, mini coach. We did not have to wait in long lines to get on or off a bus, we were able to quickly ask questions to Kerry as he drove and narrated our tour. He individualized our tour also once he found out two of us were school teachers and had an interest in local education and the flora and fauna. We were able to soak in the beauty of not only the natural wonders around us, but the beautiful, friendly kiwi people. Kerry has spent his entire life in this area and loves to educate others. We highly recommend this company when booking tours in this area. Kerry was also amazing to just pull over on the side of the road if he saw something that would be interesting to a tourist and he also knew the best photo spots. This is a tour not to be missed! Although lunch was on our own on this tour, they did take us to a spot to have a freshly made, locally sourced meal which was also really enjoyed.
sarah_k, Apr 2023
This tour is well organized, tour guide ,Toby, has great knowledge of history for each highlight area, with 10 of us fit in comfortable van, we were amazing to see historic bubbling geothermal village, don't miss the concert, must see, our group had a lot of fun and enjoying this tour. I highly recommend to have Arrow Tour when you at Tauranga
Stephen_J, Mar 2023
We had been looking forward to this trip and wasn't disappointed. Kerry our guide was excellent, full of knowledge of all the areas we went to.
We saw, hot springs and mud, a Maori Cultural show, lakes, forests and beautiful scenery. Kerry made the trip memorable and it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Jenny_M, Mar 2023
The tour was relaxed and informative with a driver who clearly wanted everybody to have a good day. Went to areas with a more authentic feeling and less commercialised. Great knowledge by the driver who related very well with his passengers. Highly recommend.
trvlr1313, Mar 2023
Toby left us at the port with no tour saying he didn’t have room for us even though we booked months in advance. He had been in touch to tell us where to meet and we met with no problems. Toby then ran around the parking lot for about 30 minutes, then loaded up a group with everyone but us. He then told us there was no room, we should find a tour from the sellers at the port and he gave us a refund. He’d wasted so much time, there was only one tour that was not sold out and it did not go to Rotorua. Our one chance to see Rotorua and we were left at the port with no tour. He really shouldn’t be in the tourists business.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Yes, I really did get caught with my pants down on this one, as I had a large group who had not booked it as such but demanded that it be a private tour. I sincerely apologised to Virginia and gave her a full refund plus an extra $25, although I know this does not make up for this mistake and the fact that the girls missed out on their planned trip to Rotorua. I can only pledge that I will take them on a day tour of Rotorua if they ever have the chance to come to this part of New Zealand again. Once again sorry Virginia.
From $169.50
Price varies by group size
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Shore Excursion: Geothermal Rotorua with Maori Cultural Performance at Whakarewarewa
44
8 hours
Free Cancellation
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$169.50
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