Top North Island Bus Tours

As New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington has a long history filled with stories of both Maori peoples and Western settlers. Explore the city on this half-day tour, riding the steep cable car to the summit to take in stunning views, discovering hidden gems around the city, and passing by some of Wellington’s most popular tourist attractions.

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.

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.

Explore Waiheke Island at your own pace with all-day tickets for a hop-on, hop-off island explorer bus. Plan the perfect day with help from the onboard host, then see the things that interest you most, choosing from 16 stops near vineyards, galleries, beaches, and trailheads. This full-day Waiheke Island experience offers a personalized combination of nature, culture, and food, and departs from Matiatia every 60 minutes from morning until evening.

As the largest and most populated city in New Zealand, Auckland has so much for tourists to see and do. After convenient pickup from your hotel, cruise ship, or CBD location, head out into the city to explore sights such as the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Mount Eden, and the Westhaven Marina on this half-day small-group tour.

Ideal for fans of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” this tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves starts with a scenic drive through the Waikato countryside. Take an underground boat ride on the Waitomo River, then learn about movie-making history at Hobbiton. A picnic lunch and a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn are included for your convenience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at several “The Lord of the Rings” locations around Wellington that will delight fans of the movies or books. See where scenes were filmed, take a forest walk through Tolkien’s Rivendell, and step into Weta Workshop for a movie production tour of digital special effects. Your guide shares insider gossip on how the movies were made and takes you to lunch.

Travelers in Rotorua don’t need to travel all the way to Waitomo to see twinkling glow-worms: there are groves in forests near the city, but you have to know where to look. Take an evening bush walk to see these increasingly rare creatures, and avoid getting lost as your guide leads the way. The evening timing means you can easily fit the tour into other daytime activities in and around Rotorua.

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.

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.

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.

Found on the northern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, the Bay of Islands is a subtropical micro-region home to dramatic landscapes, a fishing heritage, and historic treasures. On this half-day small-group tour, explore the areas of Waitangi, Paihia, Opua, and the Haruru Falls before riding a ferry across the bay for a visit to several local beaches and panoramic views from Flagstaff Hill.

Embark on a thrilling Blackwater Rafting adventure in Ruakuri Cave. Choose between two exhilarating tours: the original Black Labyrinth, where you'll float under glowworms and jump off waterfalls, or the longer Black Abyss, which includes abseiling, ziplining, and cave exploration. Both experiences offer unforgettable encounters with the natural beauty of the cave and take you to places impossible to reach on your own.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.