Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights
Tauranga, New Zealand
- 7 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
See the highlights of Rotorua on a full-day shore excursion from Tauranga. Travel to one of New Zealand’s most famous places, Rotorua. Spend the day exploring the otherworldly geothermal landscapes, visiting the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa, towering redwood trees, and the beautifully manicured Government Gardens. Also receive a traditional welcome at a Māori cultural village, and more. Guaranteed return to your ship at the end of the day.
- Fit a lot into a day-long Rotorua shore excursion from Tauranga
- See hot thermal springs, bubbling mud, and spurting geysers
- Learn about Māori traditions at a cultural village
- Some local food tastings are included; meals are at your own expense
What's Included
- Driver/guide
- Live commentary on board
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship
- Tasting of local fare
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Port of Tauranga Ltd2 Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand
There is a flagpole directly outside the main port of Tauranga office buiding, which is on the corner of Salisbury Ave and The Mall. We will be standing alongside our large whiteboard positioned on the grass area under the flagpole.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.9:30 am
Itinerary
Start your shore excursion with pickup from the cruise port in Tauranga, departing Mt. Maunganui for a day trip through the North Island’s lake country, sprinkled with more than a dozen pristine lakes. En route to Rotorua, hear insightful live commentary on board the vehicle.
A short drive brings you to your first stop, in the town of Te Puke, considered New Zealand's kiwifruit capital. Visit an orchard and learn more about this special fruit.
Next, drive through rolling farmland and forests to reach Rotorua. Admire the towering redwood trees at the Whakarewarewa Forest, followed by the manicured Government Gardens. After lunch in Rotorua (own expense), visit the thermal wonderland of Whakarewarewa. Follow a Māori guide through a lunar-like landscape of hot springs and mud pools, and see the eruption of the Pohutu Geyser. Hear how the indigenous people used the jets of steam from the bubbling pools for everyday functions.
Discover more Māori customs at a Māori village, starting with a traditional welcome. Enjoy a performance of song and dance, including the war-like haka.
Complete your Rotorua shore excursion with a return to Mt Maunganui, stopping at Kaituna Falls en route.
This is a worry-free shore excursion: A timely return to the Tauranga port is assured. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See the terms and conditions for full details.
A short drive brings you to your first stop, in the town of Te Puke, considered New Zealand's kiwifruit capital. Visit an orchard and learn more about this special fruit.
Next, drive through rolling farmland and forests to reach Rotorua. Admire the towering redwood trees at the Whakarewarewa Forest, followed by the manicured Government Gardens. After lunch in Rotorua (own expense), visit the thermal wonderland of Whakarewarewa. Follow a Māori guide through a lunar-like landscape of hot springs and mud pools, and see the eruption of the Pohutu Geyser. Hear how the indigenous people used the jets of steam from the bubbling pools for everyday functions.
Discover more Māori customs at a Māori village, starting with a traditional welcome. Enjoy a performance of song and dance, including the war-like haka.
Complete your Rotorua shore excursion with a return to Mt Maunganui, stopping at Kaituna Falls en route.
This is a worry-free shore excursion: A timely return to the Tauranga port is assured. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See the terms and conditions for full details.
1
Mount Maunganui
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Mt Maunganui Main Beach (Pass By)
2
Te Puke
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Government Gardens
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Rotorua
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
7
Kaituna Falls
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Zealandier Tours (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes
- Please bring sun protection and jackets for cooler weather
- Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee
- ALL OUR TOURS HAVE FLEXIBLE START / END TIMES TO MEET SHIP ARRIVAL & SAILING TIMES.
- “As numbers are limited, we encourage booking only when you’re confident of attending. This allows us to operate comfortably and fairly for all guests.”
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
The guide was very informative and knowledgeable about the places he took us! He kept us entertained with his wit and expertise! The driver also added information as well and this gave us an extra insight into the areas that we visited! The Māori show was enjoyable and the guide was very passionate about his village and also very informative about their way of living! We also visited a kiwi fruit farm and the farmer informed us about the workings of his farm! We were even given a tasting of his fruit! Overall the day was great and we arrived back to the ship on time so no problem there!
Reviews
4.4
based on 468 reviews
Review summary
Last 12 months
46 reviews
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Travelers praise the authentic experiences at the Māori living village and kiwi farm, alongside memorable visits to geothermal areas and the redwood forest that showcase cultural and natural diversity. Guides and instructors are consistently noted for their deep knowledge, engaging storytelling, and authentic presentation of Māori culture, which enriches the experience by making local history and cultural insights accessible and memorable.
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Jan was a great tour guide very informative. Had the best day. Rotorua was amazing! Loved finding out about Kiwi Fruit and going to the vineyard.
Wow!
What an amazing experience, from Jan C our driver, our amazing guide, and to the families from the village.
Very informative, eye opening, once in a lifetime experience.
Felt like part of the family.
I’d highly recommend everyone to experience and enjoy this tour!
Fabulous tour and exceptional customer service. I made a grave mistake and showed up 45 minutes late (thinking I was 15 minutes early). Our tour had to leave without us - understandably! But Zealandiier tour operators did their best and got us on a different tour that met up with our original one and we were able to join it. Everything we saw was superb. The Māori performance was excellent- interesting and informative, and we are returning home knowing far more about kiwis than the average person. Our tour guide Jan was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Well
Done. I have no reservations about highly recommending this tour and this operator. Thank you!
Jen C was our guide and she was great! Visiting the Mauri village was wonderful and seeing into their beautiful culture is an experience we will never forget!
Ship cancelled port call. No refund yet. Where is refund?
No word from Viator or from tour operator.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi Ronald, your tour operator has nothing to do with your refund when you choose to book your tour with Viator. Viator has your monies, you paid them and they will refund you - have you requested your refund from them already? You need to, again the tour operator has no control over this. We have given Viator permission to refund all tours booked from your ship dated March 26th due to it not docking. Zealandier Tours has already refunded all those who booked their tours directly with us, so please reach out again to Viator as this will happen but you have to ask.
Visit to village was interesting - enjoyed the Haka warrior dance. Would have rather skipped lunch and returned sooner. Still a lot of driving to observe this experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi, I am sorry to read that you did not enjoy your days tour and wanted to get back onboard your ship early. In regard to visiting Māori culture and getting up close to see geothermal activity, you need to travel to Rotorua city from port of Tauranga. Rotorua city is the 2nd most visited city in NZ for all tourists and the reason your ship calls into port of Tauranga is to give passengers opportunity to experience this firsthand. Yes, it takes approx 1.5hrs travel each way to reach the city & return to ship.(i.e.-3hrs) You did get to spend near on 2hrs in the Māori village with the locals, we allow 45 mins for lunch, and a little bit of time in the Redwood forest, and at the river & waterfall with a last stop being made at the kiwifruit orchard for a tasting and orchard experience. So, all up 6.5 -7hrs of your day.
I think you maybe opted for the wrong tour to suit your needs - you possibly should have taken a Private your option whereas you can skip lunch opportunity and choose how long you want to be away from the ship. Or maybe opt for a half day sightseeing tour staying locally at port of Tauranga which does not travel to Rotorua to experience Māori culture or see geothermal activity up close as you do not see this if you only want a half day tour.
Sorry you did not enjoy or make most of your day out.
A great tour well organised the highlight was Rotorua, particularly the Māori cultural show. Also enjoyed the Kiwi fruit tasting!
Outstanding day. Steven and John were a great team. Mauri village tour was quite interesting. Waterfall was oversold. Kiwi fruit orchard was very nice.
Not my favorite tour but we’ve been on some really good ones recently. Too much time on the bus. Couldn’t hear the bus driver/narrator as he mumbled all the time.
Communication with the tour operatiin was superb from the start? When there was some confusion as to the timing of our ship docking the tour company changed the start time of our tour.
The actual tour itself was fantastic and gave a great insight into the area but also the culture. The visit to the Màori village and the guide we had could not be faulted. Everything about the day made it an unforgettable one that i would highly recomend.
Full day seeing lots of different places. Tour guide and the driver were very knowledgeable and funny. They were really accommodating with our cruise ship docking and leaving times. Thoroughly enjoyed the Maori living village. A great experience. Highly recommended.
Another great trip. Stephen and John were great tour guides and were full of interesting facts and details. We had a wonderful trip and their humour and natural manner made for a great time.
There was a lot to see in this jam packed tour package. The best part was the Living Mauri village visit. Perhaps the stop to see a questionable "waterfall" could be eliminated to allow for more time at the Redwood Forest. It was so beautiful, but was only used as a bathroom break. The kiwi farm was interesting. Lunch was very quick due to shortage of time.
Great fun, whilst learning about the Maori culture. Not too taxing, enjoyable afternoon. Nice ending to our cruise.
A long and mostly boring day. 80 minute drive to Rotorua. Short visit to Redwood forest modestly interesting. Mauri show and tour good, stop at kiwi farm a complete waste of time.
All encompassing . Thoroughly enjoyed Maori village where real people lived. Kiwi farm was a bonus. Had no idea.
The trip is easy going and very relaxed. Not much walking and is good for seniors. However, it won't give you a lot of time to explore things in depth other than the cultural village visit . It was worth noting that Terry who was tour guide/driver had demonstrated his in depth knowledge and attention to every details. He patiently answered every question asked. He really made a difference in this trip!
We started our excursion right outside the cruise terminal. The trip from Tauranga to Rotorua took about one hour. Mike, our guide/driver, gave interesting explanations along the way. Once in Rotorua, we had a tour of the Maori Living Village, with a local guide, which included a folk sing and dance presentation. very nice.
On the way back to the ship, we stopped at the Rotorua Lake, at a hot spring, at a waterfall and at a kiwi farm where we had a kiwi fruit tasting. Mike's commentaries where very entertaining. It was a very enjoyable experience.
The total excursion took a little over 6 hours.
The visit to the living Māori village is not to be missed. Geysers and a folkloric show. Excellent time.
The tour guide was at neither the 1st place nor the 2nd that Viator said he would be, so I was forced to call the Viator emergency phone #. It cost US $35 on my next cell invoice, and Viator refused to reimburse me. Two other Viator booking went wrong - See those reviews. There are many other companies who are more reliable.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Ken, I am the tour operator responding to you - all I can say is we were where we always say we are going to be - and very easy to find - with uniforms - sign written and two very large white boards with ALL passengers names on - you should book directly with us the tour operator and your communication and details would be 100% accurate .
Unfortunately we missed our excursion as a result of an approved change to our meet up time - our fault for the most part however it would have helped a lot if the reminders & electronic tickets we received had the adjusted time vs the regular scheduled time. When on a cruise & all the information you have to deal with in prep of travel etc along with the time changes - we had a 20 hr time change - it would have helped a lot to get a reminder re the actual time vs what was on the ticket etc. We did receive a voice mail when we were a no show but by the time we got the message it was already to late.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Drena, it is unfortunate that you did not answer your phone or your email when I was trying to make contact on the morning of. I understand your frustration with the conflicting information you got from Viator / Trip Advisor - the online booking platform who you choose to place your booking with - unfortuantely they can not update every single tour change for every single person - and their emails are generic - had you booked directly with us the tour operator you would not have this conflicting information sent to you.
I am sad for you that you did not get to go on this tour - we did hold the tour up for 10mins but we were bound by time constraints of your cruise ships time in port.
Great tour covering most of the key things to see in and around Tauranga. We visited the Māori village, geysers, redwood forest, a waterfall, and a kiwi fruit farm. Our guide Terry gave a great insight into the local area and was a mine of information.
We loved this tour. Seeing the village and culture of the people was awesome.. Great tour, great guide, highly recommend
Great experience with Rolf as our leader. We learned and experienced Māori life and growing kiwis. Easy to find after getting off the boat.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Māori living village - unbelievable that some people still live there with all the geo thermal activity! The Māori guide Kylie at the village was great & the show put on by the village was superb - particularly loved the performance of the Haka. Overall enjoyed the tour but I feel more time at the Redwoods and omitting the town & waterfall elements of the tour would have been better.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Helen, thanks for your feedback - I appreciate you wanting additional time in the Redwoods area - but its difficult to showcase as many places of interest including historic places - in the timeframes we have available. Our itineraries are a balance to expose you to as much as is possible, but the main attraction for this tour is the geothermal living Maori village and some of the other stops we make are to use bathroom facilities.
Trust you have had a lovely cruise around New Zealand.
For those planning adventures in Tauranga, I highly recommend this one. It was an incredible experience to immerse ourselves in the local culture. Our driver, Stephen, was incredibly knowledgeable, making our trips enjoyable and informative as we headed home.
One of the highlights of the tour was the stop at the redwood forest and the Kiwi farm. The Kiwi farm was surprisingly one of my favorite parts. Learning about Kiwis and witnessing them in their growing season was fascinating, and the taste of them was delicious!
I also appreciated the size of the group. It wasn’t too large, allowing us to explore additional sites.
It was a very informative and educational trip of the Maori tribe and their thermal village. The guide at the village was funny and a great teacher.
The trip is far from port (1.5 hours) so make sure to go to bathroom before you get on bus or perhaps tour guide can split that time up for us elderly folks. Our bus driver made a special stop and I am most Grateful!!
Heavy on Rorotunga. Great for learning about Maori and great tour of geyser area. The Maori guide was a little winded but entertaining. Nice look at Kiwi farm. Other sites just a drive by.
A wonderful authentic experience of mauri life and culture at a real mauri village. Not to be missed
First off the communication was wonderful since we were on a cruise ship and our times changed a bit. The tour only had 6 people and that made it GREAT. Since our time was shortened, we all opted out of time for lunch so we could see more sites. We say so many things: lakes, waterfalls, kiwi farm, redwood forest, geothermal/cultural area. The guide was wonderful and he supplied samples of dried and real kiwi, manuka honey. We were back right on time and had a super full day. Way more than any offered cruise tour and very private!
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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights
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