Oahu North Shore Fun: Waimea Waterfall & Turtle Snorkeling
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Oahu, USA
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Exchange Waikiki for Oahu’s North Shore on a day trip aboard the Surf Bus. Hop off at all the hot spots including the surfing beaches of Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. Choose from one activity and lunch or two activities like snorkeling, bike riding, a waterfall swim, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), learning to surf, or relaxing on the beach. A guide points out the green sea turtles, and you have time to explore Haleiwa Town.
- Oahu day trip from Waikiki hotels to North Shore beaches
- Informative guide shares commentary aboard the Surf Bus
- Visit art galleries and shave-ice stands in Haleiwa Town
- Select your choice of activities with the option of lunch
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
- Choice of Use of snorkel gear, bicycles, kayaks or stand-up paddle board (USD$36 value per person)
- Admission to Waimea Falls Park (USD$25 value per person)
- Cooler with Ice to keep your drinks chilled
- Best of Hawaii Tour Guides
- Air-conditioned vehicleNew 25 pax Mini Bus
- LunchInstead of Rental Gear
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Please make sure to note the instructions for your pick up location. If you're booking within 12 hours of departure, TEXT to confirm your booking.
Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
Oahu's Windward Coast (Pass By)
1
Tropical Farms (The Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet)
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
North Shore
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Sunset Beach Park (Pass By)
3
Banzai Pipeline
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Waimea Botanical Gardens, Oahu
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Waimea Bay (Pass By)
5
Shark's Cove
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
6
Haleiwa
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Dole Plantation (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Buses do not have a wheelchair lift, but we can take foldable wheelchairs.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 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
Featured review
Spencer_W
This trip was absolutely amazing!! Our tour guide, Greg or Cousin G, was OUTSTANDING. He really went above and beyond to make this experience one of a kind. From his knowledge of the island, to his humor and dad jokes, the tour never had a dull moment. Even his playlist on the bus was on point! We went paddle boarding, swam at a beautiful waterfall, and took a 30 foot jump off a rock!! Highly recommend doing this tour. North shore is so beautiful is trip my wife and I will never forget. Thank you Cousin G!
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,944 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
GABRIEL_M, Jul 2026
Best tour that covers the east and north island. Snorkeling at sharks cove was great, but beware of sea urchins on the rocks when snorkeling. Kayaking was so much fun. After kayaking walk the little town and grab some delicious shaved ice or food.
Manuel_P, Jul 2026
Was an amazing tour, Sam our tour guide was great n gave us tips. Wailea falls had an amazing waterfall. The walk thru the garden was filled with beautiful scenery. The food there was also very good for the price. Waygu burgers n Kaluha pork were delicious. My only part was the kayaking, the man in charge was very grumpy? Maybe had a bad day or fed up with tourist? All in all Surf Tours did ab amazing job.
Deede_C, Jun 2026
We loved our Tour and tour guide! Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and made our trip so much more enjoyable. We’re able to pick two activities to participate in. We hiked to the waterfall and swim. Then we took a kayak up the river to the third bridge.. Wonderful food was available at each stop.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
A custom adventure with a waterfall hike and a river paddle is the perfect way to explore. We appreciate your kind words about our friendly guide and the great food available at every stop. 🛶
Linda_M, Jun 2026
The North Shore tour was awesome, definitely a must do. Sam our tour guide has a great sense of humour and was very interactive with the group. He was very informative throughout the whole day providing lots of interesting historic and current facts. Always keeping us amused.
I like that this tour is like a choose your own adventure, as you get to select which activities you wish to do. You can choose to have a real active day or do one activity and then relax and walk around the town of Hale’iwa. You get nearly 5 hours free time to explore rather than feeling like you’re sitting on a bus all day.
We had a great experience and would book a tour with the The Surf Bus again.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Five hours of free time to explore Hale'iwa is the best way to dodge that trapped-on-a-bus feeling. It is awesome that you loved the flexibility, and Sam definitely kept those history facts entertaining. We cannot wait to have you back on the surf bus 🚌 for round two. Your praise means the world to us!
Vilma_Z, Jun 2026
Overall, the experience was great. While the weather impacted some of the planned activities, the tour was still enjoyable. If I had one suggestion, it would be to reduce the number of shopping stops, as there seemed to be quite a few throughout the day.
The ride itself was long and we encountered a bit of traffic, but Cousin G made the journey engaging by sharing interesting insights about the island along with his own personal experiences. His charisma, sense of humor, and storytelling helped make the time pass quickly.
I would also suggest offering more than one lunch option, as some guests may have dietary restrictions or allergies. That said, Cousin G was very accommodating and did his best to ensure everyone had a positive experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Cousin G has a remarkable talent for turning a rainy, high-traffic drive into an entertaining storytelling session. We deeply value your constructive notes regarding our shopping stops and lunch options 🌤️
Bozena_M, May 2026
Fabulous day! Sam is great guide. The whole trip was superb. Relaxing with plenty of time at the stops and very flexible options to suit different needs. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Sam always ensures a flexible, stress-free pace for everyone. Much mahalo for the superb review! 🤙
David_L, May 2026
A good way to get to North shore while still experiencing a bunch of the island and doing some of the cool activities!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Big Mahalo for cruising the North Shore with us! 🍍
Trudy_T, May 2026
Great way to see the north shore & snorkel. The Waimea falls & Haliwea town was an amazing place to visit
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Splashing into Waimea Falls 💦 and snorkeling the North Shore makes for an unforgettable day. Aloha!
Lana_J, May 2026
I have taken this tour a total of three times. All 4 of my kids flew out from different parts of CA and we took this tour our first day in Waikiki. Sam was Amazing! Highly recommend this tour over any others. Coming back with friends in June and will do it a fourth time!
Response from Host, May 2026
Wow, a fourth time! Bringing your family together from California for their first day in Waikiki sounds like an unforgettable reunion, and Sam loved hosting you all. We cannot wait to welcome you and your friends back this June. Warmest island wishes! 🌊
Daylyn_L, May 2026
10/10 experience!! Sam was a great tour guide. Loved how you can pick what activities what you wanna do me and my mom had a great time! Also just have to say the staff and customer service is outstanding and kind! it's a must if coming to waikiki and want to explore north shore!🤗
Response from Host, May 2026
Exploring the beautiful North Shore is even better when shared with your mom! 🤙 We are so proud of our team's outstanding customer service and glad Sam made your customizable adventure unforgettable. Aloha!
Marissa_L, May 2026
This was a really fun and informative experience. Our guide, Kevin, was very knowledgeable and personable. We were able to customize our activities to our liking and learned a lot about the places we visited.
Response from Host, May 2026
There is nothing quite like the beauty 🌴 of discovering Hawaii for the very first time. We are so glad Kevin could help tailor your perfect day. Aloha!
Pamela_B, Apr 2026
We had a great time on the surf bus. We are a 3 generation family and this tour was perfect. We are the grandparents- we went to the waterfall/botanical gardens option. The gardens are amazing. Our younger members snorkeled and kayaked. They had a ball our tour guide, Sam, did an outstanding job of keeping our interest. Don’t hesitate
Response from Host, Apr 2026
It is so special when an entire Ohana can make memories together! 🌴 We are thrilled Sam kept every generation entertained, from the gardens to the waves. Thank you for joining us, Pamela!
Savanna_F, Apr 2026
This experience was so much fun!! Sam knew everything you need to know about the island and was a great tour guide. 11/10 experience and definitely recommend this company
Response from Host, Apr 2026
An 11/10 score really makes us smile! It was a joy having you learn about the island with Sam. Sending you so much Aloha! 🌺
Ron_T, Feb 2026
What a great experience! Fun activities and plenty of time to enjoy them. Our tour guide/bus driver/camp counselor was Sam. He was very knowledgeable about Hawaii (or more specifically Oahu) including everything from Hawaiian history and culture to what movies were filmed at the various locations we passed. He was also very entertaining and took a personal interest in each of the guest. Since it was a small group Sam helped make sure everyone got to know the other “campers”.
Everyone had a choice of two activities, which no matter what you did was quite special by the very fact that it was in a beautiful location - lbicycling on a bike trail next to the perfect beach, hiking up a tropical river valley / botanical garden with a waterfall at the top of the trail, kayaking from the beach into the Hawaiian “jungle” (we’ll sort of), to shopping
In an old Hawaiian one street town known for its shaved ice.
And what I really liked that was very special and different about this tour is that you had enough time on your own to enjoy what you were doing without feeling rushed. And then on to the next adventure!!!
I definitely recommend this tour, especially if you don’t like those “everyone back on the bus in 10 minutes” 40+ people bus tours.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We love that 'Camp Counselor' Sam brought everyone together like true Ohana, Ron! 🌴 Skipping the 40-person mega-buses so you can actually enjoy the waterfalls, kayaking, and shave ice on island time is exactly what we are all about. We are absolutely stoked this was your best Oahu experience. Come back to camp soon! 🍧🚐🤙
Samiuddin_A, Sep 2025
Great way to experience the North Shore! Sam was an unreal guide! One of the best we've had and we've done a lot of tours. A true local with awesome stories that kept the ride very interesting. Got to spend hours snorkeling at Shark's Cove, lunch, and explore Haleiwa. 100% worth it.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
So happy you had such an awesome North Shore experience! 🤙 Sam’s stories and local touch always make the day special. Mahalo for joining The Surf Bus and for the great review! 💛🌴
Marc_T, Sep 2025
We had a wonderful time on our Surf Bus 1/2 Island Circle/North Shore tour. It was a great way to explore the island of Oahu. The best part for us was snorkeling at Shark's Cove. Sam was a friendly and informative guide who provided a lot of information about the Hawaiian history and culture. We would definitely recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks so much, Marc! 🌺 We’re glad you enjoyed exploring Oahu and snorkeling at Shark’s Cove — one of our favorite spots too! Sam will be stoked to hear your kind words. Mahalo for choosing The Surf Bus! 💛
isaac_o, Aug 2025
We booked a few tours this one was our favorite. Sam was excellent at giving us fun facts and stories about Hawaiian culture and history. He's a funny guy too. The stops were great because it offered different choices at each stop. For people wanting to see different beaches I recommend this tour.
Amir_M, Aug 2025
It was a great experience. We had snorkeling in the best part of the island. We a lot of fishes and a sea turtle too. We tried Hawaiian coffee and macadamia. We enjoyed stand up paddle and kayak. Sam was great in explaining things around the island. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Mahalo Amir 🌺 We’re so happy you got to snorkel with turtles, taste local coffee, and enjoy paddling! Sounds like the perfect North Shore day. Sam will be stoked to hear your kind words 🤙
John_H, Jul 2025
Our tour guide and driver, Sam, was outstanding! We really enjoyed the day snorkeling at Shark’s Cove and paddleboarding in Haleiwa. The website description could be clearer in explaining exactly which activities can be chosen during the two stops.
Victoria_S, Jun 2025
Great way to spend the day getting to know the north shore... flexibility in activities (not just 20 mins at each stop) and our guide Sam was wonderful and very knowledgeable and helpful 👍
Veronica_M, May 2025
You can choose your trip. And get to know the North shore. Sam was super helpful and make a great tour. Is kind of Taylor made 😄. Thank you!!!
Response from Host, May 2025
Aloha and thank you so much for your great review!
Jesse_D, May 2025
Great experience with expert guide. A few key spots along the beautiful north shore and plenty of time to enjoy the beach and Waimea waterfall.
Response from Host, May 2025
Aloha, Jesse and much Mahalo for your five star reviews of The Surf Bus. Let us know next time you're on the islands and will give you a repeat customer discount. A hui ho, The surf Bus
Joel_W, Mar 2025
Great tour with lots of variety! Sam was great with lots of information and tidbits. Went to the macadamia nut farm, Pipeline, Waimea Falls, Food Trucks and Paddle Boarding. Was lucky enough to see a turtle swim by while paddle boarding as well! A highlight of our trip.
Teresa_S, Mar 2025
Uncle Kevin was entertaining and professional. He was considerate of each guest’s needs and interest and more importantly, he emphasized on safety!
The tour was perfect for first-timers to the North Shore allowing enough time to enjoy sights and activities. Uncle Kevin provided advice on time at a particular area to optimize the experience. Lucky to have been touring with a group that was quite punctual!
A highly recommended tour and tour guide!!!
Lonna_V, Mar 2025
Uncle Kevin was a blast. He shared lots of information about the areas we visited and had a great sense of humor. We appreciated the options to do various activities. The Waterfall and Botanical Garden were beautiful. I was even able to stay upright while kayaking! Great day and great way to see the North Shore. The bus was comfortable and tempature was perfect.
Steve_S, Jan 2025
Terrific day. Uncle Kevin was an amazing guide and ambassador for the island. Great for an active person who wants to try new things. We went home happy, fed, tired, and with some amazing photo memories.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Happy sad and tired is a great way to end your day. Making great memories is the best thing you can do in life and we’re happy to give you a five star day on the original Advest North Shore activity tour!
Joy_M, Dec 2024
The tour operator was knowledgeable and friendly. The tour offered several options for a variety of ages and abilities. We loved learning about the people and history of this beautiful island.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Aloha Joy and Mahalo for your five star reviews of the original North shore tours and activities, the Surf Bus. We hope to be able to share some Aloha with you on your next trip to Oahu!
LAURA_M, Nov 2024
10/10 tour! For those who want the freedom to swim, hike and/or paddle, this is the perfect choice. Cousin G was an amazing tour guide, providing ample history about the island, yummy food recs and nonstop jokes! Solid way to explore the island.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Mahalo for taking our tour of choices. All the elements are in place for a great day. Cousin G is a great person to experience the day with. We are the original and best North Shore activity tour!
Frank_L, Sep 2024
Our tour guide Cousin G was fabulous. He was very accommodating and made sure that each person got to do the things that they wanted lots of flexibility.
He was very knowledgeable of the area. I would say it was one of the best tourist that we took.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
You can always have a good time on The Surf Bus because of all the choices and flexibility to have a great day off the bus instead of sitting in on it all day. Cousin G is a great tour guide and make sure your day is one of the best of your vacation. Please tell your family and friends about the original and best North Shore Activity tour!
Lilly_H, Aug 2024
Amazing. The whole trip was incredibly worth the price. Sam was a wonderful, wonderful guide and so very knowledgeable! We got to see so many beautiful sights and stopped by a ton of local shops/food spots on our way up the North Shore. 10/10 experience, if you’d like to experience the North Shore and all its wonder with a trustworthy company, book the Surf Bus.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
We are happy you had such a great day with our guide Sam who has been doing tours on this island for a very long time. We offer some of the best days on the island with the greatest guides. We appreciate you coming on our choose your own adventure tour and having a great day! Mahalo!
From $167.53
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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