Tours off the Ship

Tours for Cruise Ship Passengers

If you fancy taking a local tour but haven’t booked one through your ship, there are plenty of other options you can pre-book or organise on the day.

We only sell Qualmark-rated tours so you can be confident our local tour operators are the very best in the business.

All tours are available to cruise ship passengers and leave from right outside the port gates. Our operators guarantee to get you back on time for departure! No tour group has ever had their ship sail off without them. But our operators do take full responsibility for getting you to your next port should disaster ever strike.

Our local tours are the best way to see the Bay of Plenty’s top attractions and sights.

Each group tour is limited to a small number of people (usually around 11) so you won’t waste time waiting for lots of fellow passengers to get on and off the bus or get themselves organised.

Our experienced driver/guides will also provide a commentary, so you can see more, learn more and do more during your day ashore.

An organised tour is the only way you will be able to visit Rotorua or Hobbiton to experience Maori culture, our geothermal landscape or the Lord of the Rings movie set. There is no public transport available to either of these inland destinations that will return to your ship in time for your departure.

Discover our coastal region’s culinary highlights, best views, history, culture and attractions like The Elms Mission House, Comvita, McLaren Falls Park, Mills Reef winery and more.

We recommend you pack a light jacket or wind-breaker in spring or autumn, and wear warm clothes in winter as Rotorua and inland Bay of Plenty are not as warm as on the coast. Sunscreen and a hat is a must during summer and you’ll need sensible footwear all year-round.

It’s a good idea to pre-book local tours to avoid missing out as only limited spaces are available. Or you can book and pay on the day at our Information Centre when you disembark. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. You can also pay in NZ, Australian, Euro or US dollars.