Tauranga

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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights

Name: Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights
Brand: Zealandier Tours
SKU: 6050PRTTRGRTFD
Price: 115.64 USD
Rating: 4.5 (325 reviews)

Tauranga, New Zealand

7 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

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.

Rotorua shore excursion from Tauranga
Visit the Okere Waterfalls
See hot thermal springs, bubbling mud and the famous Pohutu Geyser
Learn Maori traditions and watch the famous Haka dance at an authentic living Maori village
Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship

What's Included

Driver/guide
Live commentary on board
Transport by private vehicle
Port pickup and drop-off
Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship
Tasting of local fare

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

2 Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand
There is a flagpole directly outside the main port of Tauranga office buiding, which is on the corner of Salisbury Ave and The Mall. We will be standing alongside our large whiteboard positioned on the grass area under the flagpole.

Start time

09:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Start your shore excursion with pickup from the cruise port in Tauranga, departing Mt Maunganui for a day trip through the North Island’s lake country, sprinkled with more than a dozen pristine lakes. En route to Rotorua, hear insightful live commentary on board the vehicle as you travel past the lovely waterfront and Bay of Plenty.

A short drive brings you to your first stop in the town of Te Puke, considered New Zealand's kiwifruit capital. Visit Kiwifruit Country, and learn more about this special fruit.

Next, drive past rolling farmland and pine tree forests then disembark for a brief stroll to Okere Falls, a small town popular for its waterfalls and lakefront views. Stop for lunch beside Lake Rotorua (own expense) before visiting the thermal wonderland of Whakarewarewa in the afternoon. Follow a Maori guide through a lunar-like landscape of hot springs and mud pools, and see the eruption of Pohutu Geyser. You’ll hear how the indigenous people used the jets of steam from the bubbling cauldrons for everyday functions.

Discover more Maori customs at a Maori village, starting with a traditional welcome. Enjoy a performance of song and dance, including the warlike haka. After, go sightseeing in Rotorua city. View the Government Gardens, historical bath house and natural hot springs at Whangapipiro (Rachel's Pool) as well as Lake Tarawera if time allows.

Complete your Rotorua shore excursion with the return to Mt Maunganui, following a scenic route via the Tauranga city center before crossing the harbor bridge to the port.

Worry-free Shore Excursion:We will ensure your timely return to the Tauranga port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.

Mt Maunganui Main Beach (Pass By)

Te Puke

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Government Gardens

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Rotorua

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Kaituna Falls

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Zealandier Tours (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes

Please bring sun protection and jackets for cooler weather
Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee
All our tours are designed to fit with cruise ship arrival & departure times - the start time is flexible and moves to suit the ships.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 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 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

Reviews

4.5

325 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 325 reviews

Highlights in Tauranga

Dennis_S, Apr 2024

Steven was an excellent guide. Learned lots about kiwi fruit and the Māori village was far eye informative. Show was amazing…. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to see a kiwi bird To do that would have been a separate tour.

The excursion would be...

farla, Apr 2024

The excursion would be wonderful if you didn’t have to go to a food court in a mall for lunch. A sit down authentic lunch would make the tour perfect. Our driver John and hostess Jan were the best. All stops were very interesting but the lunch stop put a damper on the day.

A full day that flew by

dougd047, Apr 2024

The maori village and their 40 minute song and dance presentation. Stephen, our guide, was filled with information about everything we saw as we traveled along. Waterfalls, visiting kiwi fields, sampling kiwi juice, and tasting the different kiwi fruits. Stephen made every presentation filled with in depth information a joy to listen to.

Just When You Thought you Did It All & Seen It All, Then You Have Life Moment !?

ROBERT_B, Apr 2024

What can you say about a tour that was 5👍from the beginning. Our guide was top notch & you could tell that that this wasn't her first time at the rodeo- Jan killed it.

Wonderful and Informative

Susan_J, Apr 2024

Jan was an excellent guide. Very informative. The village was wonderful and the Redwood forest magical. Learned all about kiwi and tasted them, delicious.

A great day at the Maori Village

Jeff_C, Apr 2024

The Maori Village is a great cultural experience must see in NZ. This tour was a great way to get to the site. Jan was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide.

Tauronga

chris_w, Apr 2024

Māori village was interesting with seeing the geothermal areas along with the dancing and singing. Poor experience with going to a food court for a 1/2 lunch. Kiwi plantation trip was cancelled since they were already harvested. I feel many aspects of the trip were not presented correctly and therefore lowered my overall rating of the experience.

Great option for port day in Tauranga.

Cheryl_N, Apr 2024

John was a great host and driver. He brought fresh and freeze dried kiwi to share with us. Loved seeing the amazing houses on the waterfront as we left the port. Enjoyed the Māori village. Show was good. Fun to experience the cooking of sweet corn in the geo thermal “pool”. It is a distance to travel to the village, good idea to read the fine print about the excursion

Very authentic

Melinda_H, Apr 2024

Whakarewrewa Living Maori Village was a very authentic experience. The tour guide Steven was very friendly and informative. I would highly recommend this tour.

Excellent

Barry_C, Apr 2024

Excellent introduction to this fascinating district. Maori guide at village so helpful. Rolf was brilliant.

Tour company went above and beyond what I expected.

George_R, Apr 2024

First, the tour company provided a generous snack bag with all sorts of goodies because the restaurants were closed because of good Friday. The tour of an old Maori village was very enlightening and getting to see a live Haka dance, a great experience!

Fantastic

Debbie_D, Apr 2024

Great tour and the guide was fantastic. Learned lots of new information and the sights were great. Loved stopping at the Kiwi farm.

Great tour to learn a lot about this part of NZ

Kevin_B, Mar 2024

All up a great tour. Māori village and performance was a highlight. Jan and John a great team, Jan was entertaining but so informed on all we saw, redwood forest, kiwi farms all a wonderful part of the day. Highly recommend

a memorable experience

Irina_K, Mar 2024

This was a memorable experience. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the geysers and learning about the Maori culture.

Fabulous Day Out

Elaine_W, Mar 2024

This was one of the best tours we’ve done. Pick up from Tauranga port was quick and efficient. The guide Jan gave a wonderful commentary throughout the day. First stop was the kiwi fruit farm, followed by a fruit tasting as we stopped in the tall redwood forest. The Living Village was the highlight as we walked around and immersed ourselves in the Māori culture. The dance and entertainment provided was exceptional which we thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend.

Great Excursion

Marion, Mar 2024

Our guide was excellent. He shared so many great stories of his growing up and explained a lot about the Māori culture. The performance was great as well.

Great authentic Māori experience.

Cynthia_J, Mar 2024

Loved this excursion! It was well organized and the tour director was very informative and accommodating. Loved the village and seeing the kiwi orchard up close.

Perfect tour to see Rotoua and the surrounding area

Gerald_Y, Mar 2024

We had a wonderful time with this tour with all the sights. Visiting a kiwi farm and tasting different kinds of kiwis was the highlights of this tour. We also really enjoyed the living Māori village and seeing the water geysers. We also enjoyed the Māori Haka dance. John was a wonderful guide.

A trip to New Zealand is incomplete without this excursion!

Imelda_T, Mar 2024

This was the best excursion in my Australia, New Zealand trip. I was so glad I booked this with Viator! The visit to the living Maori Village was incredible and the highlight of the excursion. It was fascinating to learn the culture and history of the Maori people and how they use the geothermal valley in their day to day activities. What made this excursion extra special were the other activities included in the itinerary. The Redwood Forest, sampling kiwi, visit to a kiwi orchard, stop at the Okere falls, driving through the city garden of Rotorua were all interesting. I thank our tour guide, Jan, for sharing her knowledge and the beauty of this part of New Zealand.

Thermal pools

Betty_B, Mar 2024

We really enjoyed our day here! We've had wonderful guides on every trip! We enjoyed the village and the thermal pools!

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