Top North Island Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

Take in the highlights of New Zealand’s largest city on this half-day tour of Auckland and benefit from your guide’s commentary. Admire views of Auckland Harbour and drive over the Harbour Bridge; gaze out over the city from the top of Mt. Eden; and see spectacular views of the Mission Bay beaches—all in just half a day, with plenty of photo stops along the way.

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.

Let seafaring experts show you the best of New Zealand’s Bay of Islands by land and by water on this adventure cruise. With 144 different isles, it can be hard to know where to start, but your captain and crew know all the best spots to swim, snorkel, and spot marine life. Hop off at two hand-picked islands for a hike to panoramic lookout points and see the famous Hole in the Rock.

Discover the wines and scenery of Waiheke Island on a half-day wine tour from Auckland. Hop the morning ferry (own expense) to join your guide and hear insightful commentary about the island and winemakers as you travel to different vineyards for included tastings. You have the option to purchase lunch at one of the stops, and you can either remain on the island at the end of the tour or return to Auckland by ferry.

Combine Napier’s Art Deco architecture with Hawke's Bay wine on a small-group shore excursion that includes wine and honey tastings. Fit a lot into just half a day on land. Start by exploring an Art Deco suburb, then visit two wine estates for tastings with stops at Bluff Hill and Napier Reef Garden in between. This is a great way to explore the area without the struggle of navigating.

This half-day shore excursion from Tauranga offers a relaxed tour of the Bay of Plenty’s highlights, including fresh kiwifruit and manuka honey tastings. Travel through scenic farmland and native rainforest in McLaren Falls Park, visit historic sites such as Gate Pa Memorial Reserve, and enjoy hokey pokey-flavored ice cream. The tour includes round-trip port transfers and a stop at a cottage cafe for a freshly baked muffin and coffee.

See Auckland’s major sights and attractions with a hop-on hop-off city bus tour featuring informative audio commentary. Perfect for first-time visitors, it’s a great way to explore the city. The bus tour takes about an hour to complete. Enjoy the flexibility of a 1-day or 2-day pass, hop off at key points including Parnell Village, the Auckland Museum, or the Sky Tower, and stay connected with Wi-Fi on board.

See and experience Napier’s highlights on this half-day shore excursion designed for travelers with limited time. Explore Art Deco Napier and Hastings, learning about the events behind this artistic style. Continue up Te Mata Peak by road for sweeping views of Hawkes Bay. The tour also includes a visit to Hastings, awarded NZ's best town, with drives through orchards and vineyards explaining the fruit industry.

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.

Visit two of New Zealand's must-see attractions on this combo tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Peek into Hobbit holes, frolic in the Shire, and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a guided tour of Middle-earth, followed by a café lunch. In the afternoon, explore Māori myths and history on an underground boat ride at Waitomo, surrounded by thousands of glowworms.

Cruise ship passengers who want an active adventure while on land will love this white-water rafting expedition from Napier. The rapids are an easy class II, so even first-timers and older kids can join in. Admire the views of the native bush, listen to birdsong, and even go for a swim in the gentle river if you like. Photos of your trip will be provided after.

Simplify your arrival in or departure from Auckland with a one-way private transfer between the airport and the city. Avoid navigating unfamiliar roads when you’re tired from a flight or anxiously lining up for a taxi when you have a flight to catch. You’ll be picked up in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan with plenty of space for bags and room for four adults, and child seats if you need.

Discover the wines of Waiheke on a day trip from Auckland with a small-group tour that visits boutique vineyards. It’s easy to hop a morning ferry and cross the Hauraki Gulf for the short ride to the island. Your guide meets you upon arrival and shares lively commentary as you head to local vineyards for tastings. Afterward, choose to have lunch in Oneroa with a transfer to the ferry, or stay longer and make your own way back to the ferry. Ferry tickets are excluded.

In the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, thousands of glowworms light up the cave walls with their bioluminescent light. Set out on a journey from Auckland to Waitomo on this full-day small-group tour, navigating craggy stalactites and stalagmites while marveling at the worms’ natural display and learning about the ecological significance of the caves, and the wildlife that calls them home.

Set out on a day of adventure and exploration, admiring the beauty of nature on this small-group full-day tour. Wander through the Ruakuri Caves, navigating by the toothlike limestone formations and keeping an eye out for glowworms adorning the walls before visiting the Otorohanga Kiwi House where you’ll have the chance to see New Zealand’s iconic national bird.

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.

Step aboard a classic wooden vessel and experience Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour from the water, one of the city’s best viewpoints. Departing from Westhaven Marina, this scenic evening cruise takes you through golden hour and into twilight, with beautiful views of the skyline, Sky Tower, waterfront, and harbour landmarks. Feel the charm of a heritage-style vessel as you cruise at a relaxed pace, with timber beneath your feet, sea air around you, and the harbour opening up ahead. A highlight of the journey is passing beneath the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge, opened in 1959 and still one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Enjoy relaxed live commentary from your crew, sharing stories of Auckland’s harbour, maritime history, and local sights along the way. As the sun lowers, the water glows, the city lights begin to sparkle, and Auckland reveals a softer, more magical side from the sea. Perfect for couples, families, friends, visitors, and locals.

Travelers short on time in Auckland will enjoy this small-group half-day tour that includes the city’s must-see highlights. Learn more about the City of Sails and enjoy views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, North Head Historic Reserve, Mt. Eden, and other attractions. The tour includes free hotel pickup and drop-off in the CBD and from nearby wharfs.

Enjoy a small-group tour of Coromandel Peninsula highlights with hotel pickup from Auckland. Visit Hot Water Beach for 1.5 hours when tides allow to dig your own natural spa, and explore Cathedral Cove with scenic walks and beach time. A picnic lunch is included so you don’t need to pack food. Relax and focus on the stunning coastal scenery while someone else drives.

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 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.

Cruise Auckland's Hauraki Gulf Marine Park on a 4.5-hour eco safari to spot whales, dolphins, seals, and rare seabirds. Enjoy expert commentary and close encounters with diverse marine wildlife in stunning island scenery, departing from downtown Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.

Combine three popular nature experiences into just one trip with this full-day tour from Auckland. Gaze up at the towering tree canopy at the Redwood Forest, watch the Lady Knox Geyser shoot into the sky at the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, marvel at the vibrant crystal-clear waters of Blue Spring, and much more.