Tauranga

Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights

Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

From US$104.68

Select Date and Travelers

Non-refundable
You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
  • 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

  • 2 Salisbury Avenue
    2 Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand

Pickup point

  • Port of Tauranga Ltd
    2 Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Departure Point: Outside the Port of Tauranga main pedestrian gate Directions: After disembarking your ships gangway; please proceed along the pathway marked by safety barriers which run alongside your ship to the port of Tauranga exit gates. There will be port security staff and local ambassadors along this short walkway to direct you to the gates. Our local representative will be standing outside the port gates on the grass section directly under the flag pole with a name board held high with your names on. Your driver / guides will be dressed in uniform of black trousers, white shirts and the females may be wearing some orange apparel. The vehicles will be in the car park directly behind where you will be met, which is less than 100 meters.

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.

Tauranga (Pass By)

Te Puke (Pass By)

Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village

3 hours Admission Ticket Included

Okere Falls

15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Zealandier Tours (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes
  • Please bring sun protection and jackets for cooler weather
  • Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

  • 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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    Traveler Tips


    The thermal spa and Maori village fascinating this tour is a must.
    Being a genuine working village, visitors need to be respectful of the people.
    We'll worth the money spent to have a local show-casing her lovely part of NZ.

    Reviews

    4.5
    227 reviews
    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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    Reviews by Viator travelers.
    Showing 1-10 of 227 reviews
    Great trip
    Mary_S, May 2023
    Brilliant trip. Really interesting. Great driver and guide. Thoroughly recommend this. We saw the avocado farm (with samples), a sequoia forest and Tuaranga the real Māori village. Very special memories.
    Loved visiting the Māori...
    Eileen_M, Apr 2023
    Loved visiting the Māori Village. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and we appreciate the native way of life much better
    It was a very interesting...
    Tikva_N, Apr 2023
    It was a very interesting day. Our lady guide provided a lot of information, which added to our day. the most attractive experience was the visit in the Maori village.
    Cultural highlight at Rotorua.
    Michael_B, Mar 2023
    Seeing the incredible thermal activity at Rotorua including eating corn cooked in a boiling pool. We enjoyed the Maori dancers who gave a great display. On the way there we saw the immense fields of Kiwi friut vines. Our guide was very friendly, efficient and informative.
    Not a bad way to spend the day
    Robert_V, Mar 2023
    Visiting the native settlement was the highlight of this excursion. Primarily, plus a few stops, it was transportation to the show.
    All went to plan from pick up off the ship to return in time to board.
    MrsMareeA_T, Mar 2023
    Interesting places to visit, and knowledgeable, friendly guide. Concert at the village was fun and history was good to hear .
    Thoroughly enjoyable tour
    Deidre_B, Mar 2023
    We did this tour as a day trip while in port on a cruise and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The hot springs tour was memorable as the guide was a native from the local family and gave an informative overview about the history of the area.
    Good choice for cruise shore excursion.
    Carol_C, Mar 2023
    We traveled to Rotorua with Jan, with great commentary throughout the trip. She was an excellent tour guide. The Māori cultural village snd show was exceptional. We enjoyed the kiwi and honey tasting
    Great small group lead by...
    linda_c, Mar 2023
    Great small group lead by Jan and although we got stuck in traffic for over a hour she made sure we had the whole trip experience
    Maoris, Kiwis, geysers and hot water!
    anncoals, Mar 2023
    Great guide, very knowledgeable. Happened to be a smallish tour group (much smaller than the usual cruise fare). We were off a cruise ship and were met at the port gates. Returned for sailing in good time. Possibly my favourite tour this trip. The recent updates to the Maori Village saga were fascinating to hear.
    Great day out
    Desmond_Y, Feb 2023
    This was a great tour with Steve who was amusing and informative. We were lucky to be n a group of only four people but the whole experience was memorable
    Excellent trip
    Ian_P, Feb 2023
    Our visit to the Geo Thermal springs village was excellent. The local guide explained the culture of the village and people with such a passion. Our guide and driver Steven also made sure that the rest of the day was filled with interesting facts and stories of life in NZ.
    Taste of Area
    Janice_C, Feb 2023
    Enjoyed kiwi orchard, govt garden, water fall, redwood forest but highlight was thermal village and village tour and show
    Great visit to Rotorua
    Perry_S, Feb 2023
    This was a great excursion with a number of scenic stops and an entertaining time at the Maori Village. Our guide Jan wad friendly and knowledgeable.
    Exemplary service
    rdevgh, Dec 2022
    Jane was great! Our ship was delayed by 1.5hours - but the tour still accommodated all of us. Even with the compressed schedule, we were shown all the places, albeit a bit rushed(no fault of the tour). The knowledge of the guide was great!
    Great Rotorua tour
    Kathryn_C, Dec 2022
    Going to the Living Mauri village and seeing the geysers was great but also learned about kiwi growing, manuka honey and a lot of things about the area Steven was a great guide!
    Can't be blamed
    pang, Dec 2022
    It is a pleasant trip, the guide Joseph did a very good presentation during the tour. The geyser we saw is great.
    Tauranga Shore excursion
    Michelle_M, Dec 2022
    The tour was well organized. Stephen was a great guide very knowledgeable & helpful. We enjoyed the whole tour. We didn't get to go to the falls as we rang out of time as we were on a cruise & needed to get back to ship.
    Great tour!!
    Lynne_P, Nov 2022
    Seeing the Living Māori Village and how they use the geo-thermal pools in their village to cook and bath was amazing!!! We also saw waterfalls that were stunning!
    Response from Host, Dec 2022
    HI Lynne, thankyou for sharing about your wonderful days outing for others to read about. This is greatly appreciated by all. Wishing you many more wonderful travel experiences.
    Rotorua Highlights
    Lynn_B, Oct 2022
    Jan our guide. Jan was very friendly and knowledgeable. Loved the Mahdi village and show ( which included the Haka).
    Response from Host, Oct 2022
    Hi Lynn, thankyou for taking time to feedback your positive experience on your shore excursion to Rotorua's living Maori village with your tour guide Jan. This was our 2nd cruise ship visit in nearly 3 years - NZ is very slowly retuning to a new normal of post pandemic and we are so gratful to have visitors such as yourself come to visit us. Thankyou again
    ...

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