Top North Island Day Trips

Enjoy an intimate small-group tour of Coromandel Peninsula highlights with hotel pickup from Auckland. Visit Hot Water Beach, when tides allow, to dig your own natural spa, and explore Cathedral Cove with scenic walks and beach time. Snacks and refreshments are included so you don’t need to pack a picnic. Relax and focus on the stunning coastal scenery while someone else drives.

This is the best way to experience the highlights of Auckland’s West Coast. Enjoy a private tour with no need to rush — the itinerary is always tailored to your pace and interests. We will visit Arataki Visitor center, Karekare Falls, Mercer bay loop and Piha beach We are happy to add destinations or adjust the schedule based on what you’d like to see. Minimum required for this tour is 2 people

Enjoy one of New Zealand’s original tourist attractions: a tour of the magnificent Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Your guide—who may be descended from the Māori chief who first discovered the caves—leads you underground and tells you about the cultural significance of this site. Hop into a boat and glide on an underground river, enjoying the light show put on by millions of tiny bioluminescent insects hanging above.

While many travelers come to Cathedral Cove to relax on the beach, this is a marine reserve so there’s so much to see beneath the surface of the ocean. Take a look on a glass bottomed boat ride, and jump in with a snorkel if you want to get up close to the fish. Learn all about the history of this important area while relaxing and enjoying the views of the rock formations and pinnacles.

Sample local wine and produce on a Waiheke Island wineries tour. Ferry tickets are included for easy access from downtown Auckland. Visit three vineyards to taste artisan wines and enjoy a 2-course lunch at one winery restaurant. Stop at an olive grove for local olive-oil tastings. This tour offers a relaxed pace on Waiheke Island's renowned wine route.

Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set on a full-day tour from Auckland that explores New Zealand's "Middle-earth," where "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films came to life. Travel through a landscape of lush farms, then take a guided tour of the 12-acre (4.8-ha) Hobbiton Movie Set, from hobbit holes to gardens and the Green Dragon Inn. With free time to shop and explore, this tour includes transportation from selected locations in Auckland for your convenience.

Experience two of the North Island’s highlights on a small-group day tour from Auckland with hotel pickup. Visit the Hobbiton™ Movie Set for a guided tour of filming locations, ideal for fans of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. Then head to the Waitomo Caves and go underground to observe the resident glowworms. Enjoy a relaxed pace without the stress of self-driving from Auckland.

Sample several of Waiheke Island’s award-winning wines at vineyards across the island before stopping for a gourmet meal at a beachfront restaurant on this half-day tour of the island. Gaze out over the Hauraki Gulf while you dine and then continue your tour, setting off to taste yet more wine.

On this full-day tour from Tauranga, take a journey deep into Middle-earth—to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set—without the stress of driving yourself on unfamiliar rural roads. Be driven from Tauranga into the heart of the Waikato with a group and guide. Also spend some time in the secluded New Zealand bush at McLaren Falls Park and see the striking waterfall of the same name. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.

Swap Auckland for an exciting day trip showcasing the best of Rotorua. With stops at Wai-O-Tapu and Te Puia included, you can skip ticket lines and explore the area’s famous geothermal wonders with ease—including geysers, hot springs, and vivid landscapes. To help you get more out of your day, cultural performances are also part of the experience. Hotel pickup from Auckland CBD is included for added convenience.

See the marvels of the Hobbiton movie set in one day with this guided luxury coach tour. Travel from central Auckland CBD across the Waikato plains to explore filming locations from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. This adventure includes a drink at the Green Dragon Inn and a Hobbit feast in a party marquee.

Explore the Waitakere Ranges and Auckland’s rugged west coast, including Piha Beach, during an afternoon tour with a guide knowledgeable about New Zealand flora and fauna. From the Arataki Centre, admire sweeping views of the ocean and distant city. Learn about Māori history, stroll on the black-sand beach, and take a nature walk through a lush rainforest while you experience one of Auckland's largest regional parks.

Make the most of your time in Auckland on a small-group tour that crams all the city’s best bits into just one day. Cover more sights in less time as you're transported by air-conditioned vehicle, rather than focusing on the road as you drive yourself. Gaze over the coastal scenery from Achilles Point; see Auckland historic Mt. Eden, the highest volcano on the isthmus; and enjoy lunch in historic Riverhead.

Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing through Tongariro National Park on a full-day guided trek that explores a spectacular volcanic landscape. Cover several miles of trail past volcanic craters, mountain springs, and vivid alpine lakes, with views of active volcanoes. Traveling with a guide means you are fully prepared and equipped for the challenging terrain of Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's gorgeous in summer or winter.

Enjoy this full-day tour visiting the best of the Far North on board our purpose built coach. Let our drivers immerse you in the culture and history of the Far North while taking in the amazing scenery of places like Te Oneroa-a-Tohe (90 Mile Beach). Cape Reinga with its cultural significance. Te Paki Sand Dunes and the unique scenery that makes up the Far North. Look out for wild horses on your travel and be prepared to sand surf the sand dunes when we stop for sand boarding likely on 90 mile beach (Conditions permitting).

The fictional, yet globally famous, village of Hobbiton™ and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves rank among New Zealand’s top attractions. Visit both sites in one day on a small-group tour that includes hotel pickup, a delicious lunch, and personal attention from your guide. Avoid the hassle of self-driving from Auckland and admire scenic views en route. A must-do tour for nature and movie lovers short on time in the North Island.

The lakeside resort town of Rotorua is renowned for its geothermal wonders and rich Maori heritage. On this full-day tour from Auckland, benefit from the personal touch of a small-group excursion and a chance to customize your itinerary with a choice of tour options. Visit the bubbling pools of Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland in the morning, then choose from a variety of activities to spend your afternoon: visit the Te Puia Maori Village, explore the Redwoods Treewalk, relax at the Polynesian Spa, or soak in the Secret Spot Hot Tubs.

Immerse yourself in the movie magic of Hobbiton—and enjoy a hassle-free way to explore—on this full-day tour from Rotorua. Following morning pickup from select hotels, head straight to Hobbiton, passing pretty scenery along the way. Upon arrival, head right in with your included admission tickets, go for a guided tour of the highlights, and even enjoy a tasty lunch before you go.

Step into Peter Jackson's Middle-earth with this guided group tour of the Hobbiton™ Movie Set from 'The Lord of the Rings' film trilogy. Learn more about the movies than you ever would by exploring by yourself with the help of your local guide. And with a shuttle service at your disposal, you enjoy a truly seamless Matamata experience.

This day experience takes visitors to the famous geothermal sites of New Zealand, departing from Mount Maunganui and travelling to Rotorua, before returning to the former when the tour is over. Pass by Tauranga and the Harbour Bridge before stopping at the Pohutu Geyser and Okere Falls in Rotorua.

Auckland is a big city, but this handy small-group tour makes it easy to get out of the urban jungle and experience its more natural side. Ideal for cruise-ship passengers, the tour picks up from hotels or the cruise port. Head west to Mt. Eden volcano, walk on black-sand Piha Beach, admire gushing Karekare Falls, and visit a winery for an including wine tasting.

Enjoy a magical 6-6.5 hour tour to the Hobbiton Movie set, used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series, which has made NZ famous. Leaving the port, we first travel past the stunning beaches of Mount Maunganui, a top NZ holiday destination, across the harbor bridge and into the country, over the Kaimai mountain ranges, into the lush farming district of the Waikato, the location of Hobbiton. At Hobbiton you can visit the Shires Rest Cafe, browse the souvenir shop or just take in the stunning views before joining the 2.5 hour guided tour, explore inside a Hobbit home and finish at The Green Dragon Pub with a complimentary Ale. As Cruise ship arrival times varies so much, we adjust the start time to suit, which we confirm to you when your booking is accepted, always having you back at the ship in good time for its departure. Please see the Additional Info section for details of our cancellation policy should the ship cancel its port of call within 24 hours of arrival.

This small-group adventure is an easy and efficient way to see the highlights of the Coromandel Peninsula—without spending hours planning an itinerary. Enjoy convenient hotel pickup from Auckland, then follow a well-paced itinerary featuring Hahei Beach, Hot Water Beach, and Cathedral Cove, with a delicious picnic lunch included along the way.