Top Tauranga Tickets & Passes

Take a shore excursion to the Hobbiton Movie Set and sightsee Rotorua with a guide when your cruise ship pulls into port at Tauranga. Journey to Middle-earth and The Shire of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fame, featured in the popular LOTR trilogy and ‘The Hobbit.’ Then learn traditional customs at the Maori village of Whakarewarewa before strolling past the spouting geysers and steaming hot springs of thermal Rotorua. Numbers are limited to 19 participants in this small-group tour to the land of hobbits and hot pools.

Go white water rafting on the Kaituna River for a thrilling outing from Rotorua. Your guide leads you on an action-packed 1-hour ride down 14 rapids at Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall at 23 feet (7 meters). This warm water rafting trip takes place in a gorgeous jungle canyon and is suitable for active people, no prior rafting experience required.

Get up close to wild dolphins in their natural habitat during a 5-hour dolphin cruise from Tauranga. You can watch from the boat or interact with these playful marine mammals as you swim and snorkel alongside them in the water. Hear informative live commentary and enjoy hot drinks and muffins on board. Tour operates during summer months from November to May.

When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, take a small-group shore excursion that showcases Maori culture and New Zealand's natural beauty. Highlights include the Living Maori Village, the geothermal geysers, kiwi orchards, and traditional cultural performance. Indulge in a deluxe 2-course lunch and a sightseeing tour of Rotorua before a walk among the redwoods of the Whakarewarewa Forest and a visit to the Tudor-style design museum. Your small-group tour includes admission fees, lunch, and round-trip transportation from the cruise port.

Kia Ora! Welcome to V8 Trike Tours, New Zealand As seen on Travel Guides NZ · TV Programme 2021 Join us for a unique and thrilling experience on a V8 Chevrolet trike as we explore the beautiful Bay of Plenty. Designed and built in New Zealand, our awesome trikes are powered by 5700cc Chevrolet motors. It’s the ultimate in power and excitement. With a low centre of gravity, our trikes provide a smooth ride with an impressive grip around corners. Suitable for ages 2+ and all abilities including disabled. Registered as cars not motorbikes therefore seatbelts are compulsory not helmets.

Swap the Tauranga cruise port for the Shire, featured in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, on a Hobbiton Movie Set shore excursion. Your tour includes movie structures such as hobbit holes, the party tree and the Mill. Sip a drink at the Green Dragon Inn, and then suit up in a favorite LOTR costume with a stop at McLaren Falls Park.

Explore the sets from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ movie series at Hobbiton during this shore excursion. Cross Tauranga Harbour and head through the Kaimai mountain range en route to Hobbiton, the movie set location for the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy. Meet your guide at the Shires Rest to start your guided tour. Discover top sites including the famous party tree in Bag End. Finish your tour with an ale in the Green Dragon Inn and imagine yourself among your favorite characters.

See the highlights of Rotorua on a full-day shore excursion from Tauranga. You’ll travel to one of New Zealand’s famed regions in the North Island, observing otherworldly landscapes and Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa’s thermal springs. Visit Okere Falls at the Bay of Plenty; receive a traditional welcome at an authentic Maori village where you’ll watch a 'haka' (war dance); and view the Government Gardens, a historic bath house and more in Rotorua.

When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, experience the wonders of New Zealand's North Island in a small group on this full-day tour to Rotorua. Take in sights such as Mount Maunganui, Sulphur Bay on Lake Rotorua, hot springs around Rotorua, and places of importance to the Maori people. Taste fresh kiwi fruit at an orchard, stroll through the Redwood Forest, and admire the manicured grounds of Government Gardens. Your small-group tour includes guide, entrance fees, air-conditioned transportation, and port pickup and drop-off.

This Tauranga shore excursion stands out from others by offering a 2-course lunch and a visit to a Polynesian spa. The basics of local shore excursions are included too: travel with a small group to the Rotorua geothermal geyser, mud pools, and steam vents, and then see a Maori dance performance. At the spa, soak in hot mineral springs with views of Lake Rotorua.

Explore traditional Maori culture and discover movie history in the New Zealand hills on this full-day Hobbiton and Te Puia combo shore excursion from Tauranga. Travel through the breathtaking Kaimai Mountains in Waikato. Explore the Hobbiton movie set with your guide and discover famous sites such as the party tree and the hobbits’ dwellings. Head through the forests of the Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua, and admire top attractions like the Bath House and Government Gardens. In Te Puia, see the famous Pohutu geyser and learn of Maori traditions and culture.

Spend a day off your cruise ship and get out of the city on this day trip to two popular North Island attractions, Whakarewarewa and Hobbiton. Save time hiring a car and getting used to New Zealand roads; your guide meets you at the port and heads straight into the heartland. Visit Whakarewarewa, a bubbling geothermal landscape and home to the local Māori iwi (tribe), then head across the Kaimai Ranges to Hobbiton, an authentic movie set from the Lord of the Rings.

Learn how New Zealand’s Maori people have adapted to life among the geothermal activity of Rotorua on this small-group shore excursion from Tauranga. At the Living Maori Village, see how residents integrate natural elements like bubbling geysers, mud pools and steam vents into daily tasks, and watch a live cultural performance. You’ll also drive past gorgeous beaches, walk through an ancient redwood forest, and taste local kiwi fruit fresh from the farm on this immersive Bay of Plenty highlights tour.

Experience the magic of New Zealand’s North Island on this evening glow-worm kayak tour in Tauranga. Begin your tour with refreshments including wine from the award-winning Mills Reef Winery and delicious New Zealand cheeses on the banks of Lake McLaren. As day turns to night, hop into your kayak and paddle with your guide to the glow-worm canyon at the head of Lake McLaren. Marvel at the millions of bright green glow-worms clinging to the towering cliff sides, and gain insight into the life cycle of these fascinating creatures.

Explore one of the North Island’s most impressive natural wonders and see the national symbol of New Zealand on this shore excursion from Tauranga. Walk through the caves to see stalagmites and stalactites before boarding a small boat to the incredible Waitomo Caves, filled with glittering glow-worms. Then visit the Otorohanga Kiwi House to learn more about the native birds. Port pickup and drop-off is included.

Experience the mythical world of Middle Earth on a half-day tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set from Tauranga. Explore the magnificent film set and admire original props from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies on a guided tour; see iconic sites such as Gandalf's cutting, Bag End, and the Green Dragon Inn; and enjoy a Hobbit-themed lunch (own expense) at the Shires Rest Café.

This Tauranga shore excursion allows cruise passengers to explore Whakarewarewa and Wai-O-Tapu—one of New Zealand’s most colorful and diverse geothermal attractions. With a guide in the lead, there’s no need to worry about navigation, just take your time visiting geothermal landscapes and famous geysers. After a morning in Wai-O-Tapu, visit the Living Maori Village, and take a drive through Rotorua—also known as “Sulphur City” for its sulfur-rich air.

Once your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, get the most out of your time in port with this combo trip to the Geothermal Valley and a local kiwi fruit orchard. With a guide teaching you about the geology and history, explore the geysers, hot pools, and steam vents in the valley, then head to the kiwi orchards to learn about New Zealand's most famous export. Tastings of jams, juices, and different kiwi varieties included.

Make the most of your time at shore and explore the beautiful Tauranga Harbour during this half-day tour. Visit beautiful beaches, orchards, historical landmarks and more as you listen to engaging commentary from your guide about the history and culture of the region. You even get to sample local produce such as Manuka honey, kiwifruit, and avocado.

When your ship pulls into port in Tauranga, explore Rotorua on a guided shore excursion. Your full-day itinerary includes a welcome concert at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia, where you’ll explore the extensive geothermal grounds, see a flax-weaving demonstration, and visit the nocturnal Kiwi House. Then tour Rotorua highlights such as the Government Gardens and stop at Okere Falls and Kiwi 360 for tastings.

Discover golden sand beaches, kiwi fruit orchards, historic buildings and traditional New Zealand culture on this Tauranga shore excursion including Mt. Maunganui. Travel along Pilot Bay with your guide and gaze across Tauranga Harbour to Matakana Island. Discover evidence of ancient Maori settlements near Mt. Maunganui. Soak up the sunshine at Mt. Ocean Beach, admire the affluent Marine Parade and visit a kiwi orchard. Then, head into the hills for panoramic city and harbor views.

Design your own perfect shore excursion with a 6-hour, private tour from the Port of Tauranga that’s tailored to your cruise schedule and interests. Explore the geothermal landscape of Rotorua, step into Middle Earth at Hobbiton, or visit a Maori marae to see traditional carving, crafts, and dances. This 6-hour tour includes pickup and drop-off at your cruise port, and accommodates your private group of up to 15 people.

Discover geothermal activity among top North Island attractions in New Zealand on this full-day shore excursion to Te Puia from Mt Maunganui Port. Visit a kiwifruit orchard with your guide in Te Puke. Head through the geothermal valley of Whakarewarewa to the mud pools in Te Puia and see the famous Pohutu Geyser erupt. Discover ancient Maori arts and crafts, and watch a performance of the ‘haka’ — the traditional Maori war dance. Take in top Rotorua attractions including the Government Gardens, the Bath House and Rachel's Pool.

When your cruise ship docks in Tauranga, gain insight into New Zealand’s natural and cultural heritage on a shore excursion to Rotorua. At the Te Puia Maori cultural center, discover boiling mud pools and Pohutu Geyser on a walk through the Whakarewarewa geothermal valley; learn about Maori customs at the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute; and spot the elusive kiwi bird.