Rotorua Highlights Tour
Tauranga, New Zealand
- 6 to 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Towels for foot spa
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 2 Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand
Meet at the TINO PAI TOURS sign board on the grassy mound directly opposite the port gates by the flag pole.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 10/16/2025 - 05/31/2026
Monday - Sunday : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- 10/01/2026 - 05/31/2027
Monday - Sunday : 12:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Itinerary
1
Sulphur Point
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Government Gardens
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Kuirau Park
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Mt. Tarawera
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Lake Tarawera
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Blue Lake Track (Pass By)
6
Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Most travelers can participate
- Comfortable footwear is recommended
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.1
based on 20 reviews
Dana_P, Mar 2026
Wonderful tour and great way to see the highlights of Tauranga. The scenery is beautiful and our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and a great entertainer! Definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia ora Dana and thank you for choosing Tino Pai Tours. We appreciate you sharing your experience and are so pleased you enjoyed discovering Rotorua’s beautiful landscapes with us. Great to hear Tom made such a positive impression—friendly, knowledgeable, and entertaining is exactly what he aim's for. We hope to see you again on our shores.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another tour soon!
Gloria_w, Mar 2026
Very knowledgeable and informative tour. We were able to see a lot of the area. We got to see Kiwi being grown. We also got to see and feel the geothermal.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia ora Gloria, Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and had the chance to explore the area, see how kiwifruit are grown, and experience the geothermal activity up close. It’s always great to hear that our guests found the tour informative. We hope to welcome you back again in the future! 🥝
Mark_W, Mar 2026
Wasn’t quite what we were hoping for. Our guide was fixated on politics and the “discrimination and persecution” of the Māori people. Lacking in enthusiasm for her own country.
Referred to “white” New Zealanders as Europeans.
I was personally offended.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Although the tour wasn’t exactly what you expected, it certainly gave us a thought-provoking perspective. Your guide, who shared that she was of both Māori and Pākehā descent, brought a uniquely personal dimension to the experience. We understand that the history presented was not politically motivated, but rather an effort to explain historical events and their lasting impact today.
Her background allowed her to offer what felt like a balanced and sincere view of New Zealand’s cultural history. In New Zealand the team “European” (Pākehā) is commonly used to refer to New Zealanders of European descent, which provide helpful cultural insight for international visitors.
Overall, we value the opportunity to hear a different viewpoint and to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities that have shaped the nation.
Anthony_C, Feb 2026
We were left in two minds about this tour and left wondering why? I think my expectation was for more information during what was a quite a longe drive to the Rotorua area. Lake Rotorua was interesting as were the gardens. The sulphur lakes were like nothing we'd seen before and Lake Tarawera is beautiful, but I think we felt we could have spent the time differently. On a more positive note, the tour did deliver what was promised, we just felt we should have done something else.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Kia ora Anthony, Thank you for choosing Tino Pai Tours. We value your honest feedback.
We’re sorry to hear the tour didn’t fully meet your expectations, particularly regarding the amount of information shared during the drive to the Rotorua area. We appreciate that the journey is a longer one, and your comments about adding more commentary are very helpful. We are pleased you enjoyed Lake Rotorua, the gardens, the sulphur lakes, and Lake Tarawera, and happy to hear the tour delivered what was promised. That said, we understand that every traveller hopes to spend their time in the way that suits them best. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.
ushmavasant, Feb 2026
Enjoyed the tour . Sherill was very passionate about New Zealand. On the trip she tried her best to share her knowledge and background facts whilst travelling in the van, but we couldn’t hear her clearly as no PA system with microphone available .. The company should seriously think of providing her with the microphone system as that could enhance the experience to 5** and make it memorable. We ran out of time to experience the tree climbing , glow worm caves and visit Kiwi plantations which we saw whilst driving . Credit goes to her time managing and made the decision to skip these so we arrived on time did not have to wave bye bye to the ship
Many thanks
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Kia ora Ushma and Thanks for choosing Tino Pai Tours. So glad Sherril made your day a memorable one. The highlights is a great way to see a lot in a short time frame. Thanks for the feedback regarding the sound system, we do have them in some vehicles unfortunately they don't fit across all the vehicles we hire for drivers. We are looking at a new system for the next season. We would rather miss a stop and get you back on time which is what we do if needed. Glad you enjoyed your day.
john_r, Feb 2026
This was an awesome tour; highly recommend. Our guide Tom was super friendly, knowledgeable and funny. Great combination. The drive is a bit long to get to the area but van was very comfortable and air conditioned. Plenty of bathroom stops and all were very clean. Tom had plenty of water and snacks since it was a long day. Wish we could have treated a kiwi.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Kia ora John and thank you for choosing Tino Pai Tours. Thrilled to hear you enjoyed your day with Tom, I will be sure to let him know. Totally agree it is a drive however Rotorua has so much on offer it is worth it. We hope to see you back on our shores again.
James_G, Dec 2025
The trip showed the sights of the Rotorua area. The driver could answer most questions. Some commentary was provided. Interesting sights and experiences with hot pools, forests and kiwi fruit groves
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Kia ora James, many thanks for choosing Tino Pai Tours. Rotorua has many sights to choose from and the pools are always a favourite. Glad you had a good day and saw a hint of what Rotorua has to offer. Hope to see you again.
Margaret_W, Nov 2025
Great time! Lots of activities throughout the tour showing several aspects of the area and it’s culture v
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Kia ora Margaret and thank you for choosing Tino Pai Tours. Pleasing to hear you enjoyed your Highlight Tour, it is alot packed in a short time but it certainly does give you a great insight into Rotorua. We hope to see you again on our shores.
J_R, Oct 2025
It is a highlights tour so there is a lot packed in a short amount of time. If you want to spend hours strolling government gardens then this is probably not the right fit. But our family thought it was perfect. Enough time to appreciate every stop but no so much the little one got bored. Our guide Tom was fantastic and shared a lot of his culture with us!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Kia ora, thank you so much for choosing Tino Pai Tours. Our highlights is designed to do exactly that, showcase as much we can so you get to see alot of Rotorua during you short time on our shores. Tom will appreciate your kind words, he certainly likes to see everyone have a great tour. We hope to see you again, enjoy the rest of your cruise.
Lisa_M, Mar 2025
Tom (the shortened version of his Māori name) welcomed our group with an original song that he accompanied with his guitar at the port; he was the kindest & sweetest man, but so knowledgeable as well about each of the 8 stops he took us to.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Kia ora Lisa and Kenneth, thank you so much for your kind words. Tom certainly has a way of entertaining our passengers with his guitar talent. We are so glad you enjoyed your day with Tino Pai Tours, we hope to see you again in New Zealand.
From $105.76
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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