Bay of Islands 2-Day Small Group Tour from Auckland with Cruise

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Auckland, New Zealand

1 day 12 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Travelers short on time will love this easy overnight small-group tour of the Bay of Islands from Auckland. Sit back and enjoy the journey north to Paihia, stopping en route at scenic Whangarei Falls. This tour includes natural and cultural attractions including the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and a cruise to the Hole in the Rock, where you can admire the islands that give the bay its name.

Avoid the hassle of driving from Auckland with a guided tour
Includes cruise tickets, snacks, and water for your convenience
Look out for dolphins and other wildlife during the cruise
Upgrade to include 3-star accommodation or make your own booking

What's Included

Small Group and Fully Guided Tour
Entry to Kauri Museum, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Cruise tickets
Accommodation in Paihia (if accommodation option chosen )
Luggage allowance - 1 large & 1 small per person
Air-conditioned vehicle

Dinner
Breakfast
Lunch
Restroom on board

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

*If no pickup is selected at time of booking, you will be allocated our default meeting point (SkyCity Hotel). You are welcome to update this at any time. If your location isn’t listed, please choose your nearest available option & meet us there. *Pick-ups can begin up to 20 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on location. To ensure a smooth start, please be ready and waiting outside 5 minutes prior to your specific pickup time. *Pick-up locations are carefully planned for each tour and may vary by day. If your pick-up location changes, kindly inform us in advance. *Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. We are unable to wait for late guests.

Operating hours
.6:30 am

Itinerary

Auckland Central (Pass By)

The Kauri Museum

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Tane Mahuta Walk

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Opononi

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Waitangi Treaty Grounds

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Paihia

14 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Bay of Islands

4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Urupukapuka Island

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Paihia

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Auckland (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. If you don't have a car seat one can be provided (with 24 hours’ notice).
Solo travellers will be required to pay a Solo Surcharge for Accommodation (+$150 NZD)
Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Dao_H

This was an enjoyable trip. The environment was beautiful and peaceful. The tour guide was knowledgeable. He was nice and helpful

Reviews

4.9

based on 51 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

We couldn’t do the whole...

Caroline_S, Apr 2026

We couldn’t do the whole tour because of a storm and a lot of rain. But John did manage everything and brought us back to Auckland savely.

This was an enjoyable...

Dao_H, Mar 2026

This was an enjoyable trip. The environment was beautiful and peaceful. The tour guide was knowledgeable. He was nice and helpful

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Kia ora! Great to hear you had an enjoyable trip up to the Bay of Islands. It’s a beautiful and peaceful part of the country, and it’s nice to know your guide helped make the experience smooth and informative along the way. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

Do not book the lodging option if you are travelling as a family!!

Emily_K, Jan 2026

Families: DO NOT BOOK THE LODGING OPTION. The lodging option is presented as "twin share accommodation." This is defined as 2 separate beds with 2 occupants in the room (unless perhaps someone requests one single bed). We travelled as a family of 4. We had 2 adults, one 13 year old boy, and a 10 year old boy. I expected 4 separate beds (twin beds are fine) in 2 separate rooms. Instead, I was given the "Family Room" at the Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands. This consisted of 2 twin beds and 1 queen bed in a room. I DID NOT ask for a queen bed. It was incredibly presumptuous to assume the 4 of us wanted to be in the same room and that 2 people would need to share a bed. My husband is a large guy and it's very difficult for me to share a queen bed with him, and my children want their own beds. The two solo travelers on my tour each got their own separate rooms while the 4 of us were crammed in one room. We should have gotten 2 rooms, but the hotel and/or the tour group (Cheeky Kiwi) cheaped out and this was the only room they offered. They would not remedy the situation during the tour and neither after the tour when I complained. My husband had to pay out of pocket for a second room. Other travelers on our tour booked their own rooms at different hotels with MUCH better locations. If I had known how they would cheap out on our "twin share accommodation" for 4 people, I never would have paid for that option. I would have booked two separate rooms for our family so that we wouldn't be crammed together sharing one bathroom. Tour Group Customer service was completely lacking when trying to help me in this situation which is why I am only giving 3/5 stars. It's great when it's great, but when I have an issue, I expect more help than what I received.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Kia ora Emily, Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. I’m genuinely sorry that the accommodation setup didn’t meet your expectations, particularly when travelling as a family. I can understand how frustrating it would be to arrive expecting separate beds and feel put on the spot with an arrangement that didn’t work for you, especially when it affected your comfort and meant additional cost. You’re right to call out that the term “twin share” can be interpreted differently, and your experience has highlighted that we need to be clearer for families booking this option. While hotels often default to family-style rooms due to their own policies around children, that doesn’t change how disappointing it is when expectations aren’t aligned, and I’m sorry we didn’t resolve this to your satisfaction at the time. I do appreciate you acknowledging the parts of the tour you enjoyed, and I’m glad the overall experience wasn’t defined solely by this issue. Your feedback is being taken seriously and will help us improve how we communicate accommodation arrangements for future family travellers, so others can make fully informed choices. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and I wish you and your family all the best in your future travels. Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

Mark is a very...

Andrea_G, Apr 2025

Mark is a very knowledgeable guide. He looked after all four passengers, attentively and respectfully. It was a fantastic experience. Thank you, Andrea and Maureen

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Kia ora Andrea and Maureen, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience exploring the beautiful Bay of Islands with Mark — he really does take great care of our guests and loves sharing his knowledge. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure with us someday soon! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

2 day Bay of Islands NZ

Pamela_J, Mar 2025

Fab tour full of history and fun. Tour guide/driver Mark very knowledgeable and considerate of people's needs. Small group so much better than a large coach load of people.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Kia ora! Thanks for your fantastic review of the Bay of Islands tour! We're delighted you had a fun and informative experience. Mark is indeed a great guide, and we’re glad he made the journey enjoyable while catering to everyone’s needs. We agree that small group tours create a more personal experience. We hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

A Special Trip

Lily_M, Mar 2025

It was wonderful fun. It's a comfortable drive through rolling hills, with views of the oceans both side. Fish and chips in a glorious bay with turquoise water. Then up to Waitangi and the ceremony on a sunny day. The accommodation was nice and breakfast yummy. The next day on the cruise was relaxing and interesting seeing all the islands. Dean was a great driver, friendly and interesting, he really made our trip a delight. We would highly recommend this tour and company.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Kia ora! It's awesome to hear about your wonderful experience on the Bay of Islands 2-Day Tour! It sounds like you had an unforgettable time enjoying the stunning views, delicious fish and chips, and the enriching visit to Waitangi. We're thrilled that Dean made such a positive impact on your trip with his friendly and engaging approach. Thank you for the high recommendation—we’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

Excellent tour

saran_s, Feb 2025

This tour was excellent covering all our interest with an exceptional guide Matt Van Veen. Matt was excellent and gave lot of information.

Outstanding experience

Theresa_E, Dec 2024

Wonderful tour. We enjoyed all the stops. Our guide Brendan was outstanding. The hotel was great, clean, and good breakfast.

The best way to visit the Northlands!

Emma_V, Oct 2024

This overnight tour with Cheeky Kiwi to the Bay of Islands in the Northlands was the best I’ve taken during my eight weeks in Aotearoa NZ!! After searching for a way to get to the Northlands without renting a car, I was delighted to come across this tour and booked it immediately. The itinerary is thoughtfully planned and includes visits to places unique to NZ like the Waipoua Kauri Forest (home to the world’s oldest and most significant kauris Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere), the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and a boat tour of the Bay of Islands departing from Paihia with opportunities to see marine mammals like dolphins and whales. I will treasure the memories of this trip forever!! Day 1: After an early morning pick-up from Auckland CBD and meeting our awesome and informative driver John, the first stop of the tour was to the Kauri Museum. The small museum is informative and newly renovated and helped me to learn more about the cultural and historical significance of the kauri tree for NZ (I especially loved the cross sections of kauri giants that include timelines of historical events that correspond with the tree’s growth!). Our next stop was to visit the Waipoua Kauri Forest - a truly magical experience that moved me to tears!! While we weren’t able to visit Tāne Mahuta during my visit (the trail to him is closed until the summer as a protective measure against kauri dieback disease), the walk up to visit Te Matua Ngahere (the father of the forest) was incredible taking you past other kauri giants on the way. After a quick kiwi lunch (sandwiches, pies, etc), we hit the road again and arrived at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds — a must visit for anyone who wants to learn more about Māori and NZ history. The visit to the treaty grounds began with a Māori culture presentation (including a walk on to the Te Whare Rūnanga marae) and guided tour (led by a young historian) — I learned so much!! The final stop of the day was to our hotel in Paihia, an adorable Northland beach town. The hotel (the Kingsgate) was located across the road from the beach and was walkable to cafes, shops, and restaurants in downtown Paihia. The rooms were comfortable and my dinner at the Blue Door was delicious and relaxing after an action packed day. Day 2: After grabbing breakfast and coffee at the Paihia Bakery to eat overlooking the beach, our group met up the next morning for the quick walk (less than 5 minutes) to the wharf for our hole in the rock dolphin cruise (run by Fullers GreatSights). This was another highlight of the trip!! Our driver John was full of great tips and gave me a heads up that the best place for spotting dolphins and whales was at the bow of the ship. I’m so glad I braved the cold and listened to John’s advice because I had incredible views of bottlenose dolphins that swam right up along the boat as well as a Bryde’s whale and her calf — such a magical experience!! With favorable weather conditions on our side, our captain was also able to take us through the hole in the rock which was another incredible experience. For lunch, we stopped over at Urupukapuka Island. After an exciting morning of spotting ocean wildlife, lunch at the cafe on the beach was relaxing and the views from the short hike up to the top of the island were beautiful to take in. The ride back to Paihia was quick and we all came off the boat feeling relaxed from a wonderful morning on the ocean. The boat ride marked the end of our time in the Northlands, and the drive back to Auckland was a pleasant experience thanks to the great playlist and conversation with John and the group. Would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting NZ who is based in Auckland!!