Top Tauranga Audio Guides

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 walk around Tauranga and see the city’s landmarks and attractions on this self-guided audio tour. Instead of getting crammed  into a stifling hot tour bus or waiting for other travellers, stroll along the waterfront at your own pace while learning about the history of local iwi (Māori tribe) Te Arawa, then visit significant sites like the Strand, The Elms Mission House and the old cannon at Monmouth Redoubt.

The focus of this historical and cultural self-guided audio tour is the tales and myths that surround Mount Maunganui, also known as The Mount, including the arrival of the Maori in New Zealand. Perfectly suited for discovery on foot, our self-guided audio tour allows you to set the pace and explore at your leisure as you uncover the stories of this exciting city. Wander along white sand beaches while listening to the stories of the natives’ past. Learn about the battles that took place between the Maori and the European settlers, and the lore that brings the mountain to life. To discover this wonderful city in your own time and at your own pace just download this self-guided audio tour, pop in your headphones, open the map that comes with your download and start walking. The tour will take approximately two hours, but you can pause the audio guide when needed. Grab a bite to eat or do some shopping along the way. Please note that this tour is only available in English.

Optional: Buffet lunch at Skyline Gondolas "Stratosphere" Restaurant with panoramic views See Mount Manganui's surf beach, island walk, water falls, geothermal activity, boiling mud & hot water pools. We take a short walk to beautiful Mototuriki Island. On this tour, you will see kiwifruit & avocado orchards, lakes district, lush farmland, native bush, and pine forest plantations as we pass through different regions. See and experience Rotorua's most famed hot spots and highlights as well as its hidden secrets as your tour guide takes you from place to place, I know the area like the back of my hand. A visit to Kuirau geothermal park, boiling mud, hot water pools, steam vents and visit a Maori ancestral house. A short walk through the enchanting giant 75 ft high Redwoods Forest. Explore Rotorua lake front and the wonderful Govt Gardens, Racheal's boiling hot water pool and an architectural gem, the Old Spa Bath House before return to Port Plenty to see and do on this tour.

Private tour: exclusive to your group only. After leaving Tauranga Port we tour downtown Mount Maunganui, a popular Kiwi holiday destination and it's stunning white sandy surf beach, voted best in New Zealand. Driving to Rotorua we pass through Kiwi fruit & avocado orchards, lush farmland, native bush, pine forest plantations and the scenic lakes district. New Zealand hinterland at its best. At Te Puia, see, smell & hear "Pohutu Geyser" the biggest geyser in the southern hemisphere, rumbling noisily as it erupts, steam and boiling water up to 100ft. Marvel at the display of bubbling mud & hot water pools in a steaming volcanic landscape! See NZ's iconic kiwi bird, pre-European Maori village, wood carving, and flax weaving. Optional: Experience a traditional Maori welcome, an entertaining cultural performance, and the fierce Haka. We explore Rotorua's lakefront, highlights, govt gardens, and historical architectural gem the Elizabethan Spa Bath House before returning to port.

Experience the magic of New Zealand’s North Island on this evening glow-worm kayak tour in Tauranga. Begin your tour with refreshments 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.

Enjoy a magical 5.5 to 6-hour tour to the Hobbiton Movie set, used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series. Leaving the Port of Tauranga, we first travel past the stunning beaches of Mount Mauganui, a top NZ holiday destination, then across the harbour and out into country, up and over the Kaimai mountain ranges and then down into the lush farming district of the Waikato, location of Hobbiton. At Hobbiton there is time to buy a light lunch at The Shires Rest cafe, browse the extensive souvenier shop or just realax and take in the stunning views. The Hobbiton guide will then join us for a 2 hour guided tour. This is a coach-based tour of up to 36 passengers, which allows us to book our own private guide at Hobbiton, though on some days we do operate with 12 to 24 seat vehicles. As the ships arrival time in port varies so much, we adjust the start and end times each day to suit. When your booking is accepted by us, we will confirm the tour start time for the day.

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 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.

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).

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.

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.

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.