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Rotorua Geothermal Wonderland and Lakes
4.6
48 Ratings
Mount Maunganui
Experience the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua on a small group deluxe cruise. Marvel at beautiful beaches, multimillion dollar homes, and stunning landscapes on the way. Upgrade to the P5 tour for a Maori cultural performance and a walk through a steaming geothermal zone.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Mt Maunganui Main Beach - Pause to appreciate New Zealand’s top beach and learn about its history, as Captain Cook named this area the Bay of Plenty.
- Te Puke - Visit one of the original Kiwi orchards in the Kiwifruit capital of the world. You’ll be amazed by the fruit-laden vines and the meticulous care involved in growing them, highlighting their importance to the local economy.
- Mangorewa River - Travel to Rotorua via a scenic route showcasing native fauna and offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean as we descend from the central Plateau.
- Ohinemutu - Explore this historic settlement on the shores of Lake Rotorua, see the steaming pools, and visit the old Church where Prince William and Kate were formally welcomed. Admission is by donation.
- Government Gardens - Wander through the beautiful Government Gardens, Rachel’s Pool, and the Blue Baths.
- Kuirau Park - Enjoy a soothing foot soak in Rotorua’s famous mineral waters, surrounded by steaming pools and picturesque gardens.
- Lake Rotorua - Choose from one of three reputable cafes in downtown Rotorua for a relaxing lunch with great food and ambiance.
- Tikitapu Nature Walk - Enter a world reminiscent of Jurassic Park, with a rainforest full of ferns, tall native trees, and the sounds of native birds. This experience mirrors what the Maori and early colonists would have encountered before much of the forest was cleared for pasture. Many customers highlight this as a tour favorite, especially compared to the Redwood Forest.
- Lake Tarawera - Drive past the blue and green lakes for a breathtaking view of Lake Tarawera and Mt. Tarawera. On a clear day, this is the perfect spot for photos. Learn about the 1886 eruption of Mt. Tarawera that devastated the area, killed over 100 people, and buried the famous Pink and White Terraces.
- Titokorangi Redwoods isite Visitor Information Centre (Rotorua) - Walk through the renowned Redwood forest planted in the early 1900s, where the trees have thrived in the local climate. If time is short, we may skip this part of the tour but will always include a visit to a unique grove of native New Zealand forest.
- Okere Falls - If time permits and you are physically fit, we will guide you down steep, sometimes wet stairs to witness the power of the Kaituna River and possibly see joyriders on inflatable rafts navigating the natural gully.
- Wai-O-Tapu - If time allows, we will visit this site, a 25-minute drive to the center of the North Island. Enjoy the mesmerizing boiling mud pools of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The site is a short walk from the parking area, with an optional 100-meter walk around the pool for those interested in a therapeutic experience.
What's Included
- Port pick-up and drop-off
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Knowledgeable guide
What's Not Included
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Lunch
- Entrance fees
- Whakarewarewa geothermal village. Inspect our Whaka P5 tour if you’d like to include this must do
Additional Information
During your day trip to Tauranga, explore the geothermal marvels of Rotorua. Enroute, witness stunning beaches, and luxury properties, before advancing on a 45 minute journey from the shoreline, climbing through the central plateau, past Kiwifruit farms and iconic New Zealand agricultural lands to reach Rotorua. Experience key attractions like the Blue & Green lakes, gaze at Mt Tarawera (erupted 1886) across the breathtaking lake, trek through New Zealand’s native vegetation abundant with ferns and towering podocarps like an 1800’s explorer or Maori warrior. Glance at the geysers (including the iconic Pohutu) from our exclusive viewpoint adjacent to the geothermal region of Whakarewarewa. Upgrade option to our P5 tour - Geothermal Rotorua w/ Maori cultural performance, for an additional USD35 each, is highly recommended. You’ll be treated to a performance by a globally renowned Maori group known for their outstanding performance skills, along with a walk through an awe-inspiring, steaming, and geothermally active region.
Location
4 Salisbury Avenue
Salisbury Avenue
Directly outside Port security gate, there is a grassy knoll with flagpoles where our guide will be waiting for you , he should be dressed in a black short sleeved collared shirt and cut a dashing figure.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(48 Ratings)
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Tim_n
Mar 7, 2024
Great views of the New Zealand countryside. - We loved the guide/driver’s insights and information about each of the sights we visited. Toby is great. He would take us to small, out of the way sights that were very significant for our enjoyment. Quick stops at the kiwi farm and at several key vantage points for excellent views of the countryside. It was a great day and we really appreciate his preparation for our trip.
Review provided by Viator
Grace_l
Mar 5, 2024
Amazing guide Terry - Terry was knowledgeable and friendly that made the tour an amazing experience. Tauranga is a beautiful port with loads to offer be it nature or cultural experiences. Will be back!
Review provided by Viator
Richard_o
Mar 4, 2024
New Zealand love shared - Kerry was a wonderful driver/guide on your journey around Tauranga. Because of his love of New Zealand and the area where he was born, he conveyed enthusiasm and excitement for sharing the journey with us. Every element of the tour highlighted another aspect of this area. Highlights for us were a visit to a kiwi farm and the Māori cultural show. We highly recommend this all-day tour from our cruise ship with an easy meet-up to start the tour and a return right on time.
Review provided by Viator
John_m
Feb 22, 2024
Great - Enjoyed small group travel w Thiery.
He was very personable and a great guide. Highest rating! Many great spots of beautiful scenery
Review provided by Viator
Douglas_t
Feb 17, 2024
Fantastic day - All of the places visited were fantastic. Kiwi fruit farm, blue and green lakes, the Māori village welcome. Ceremony and the close up visit to the geyser, boiling mud and water.
Review provided by Viator
Mike_w
Jan 6, 2024
Fascinating! - Our driver/guide, Thierry, was very knowledgeable and engaging. The tour was fascinating and we were mesmerized by our chance viewing of a Maori funeral procession. However, we were quite surprised by all the commercial and residential development surrounding the Rotorua geyser field.
Review provided by Viator
Maui2014nmr
Dec 12, 2023
Fabulous tour! - Our group of four adults spent the day touring a variety of places, including Maungauni Beach, a kiwifruit farm, Rotorua, a Maori meeting house, several beautiful lakes, Government Gardens, a redwood forest and more. Our guide, Kerry, was very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend this tour group when your ship docks in Tauranga.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Graham_f
Nov 24, 2023
Wonderful tour with Kerry - We Had Kerry take us on our tour he was wonderful full of knowledge and flexible to our needs it was good to do the tour In a small group and Kerry made a real effort and connected with our son. I would recommend this tour and also Kerry to everyone
Review provided by Viator
Martha_t
Mar 18, 2023
Super day trip from Tauranga. Excellent value, too. - Toby was a wonderful guide... very knowledgeable and personable and really looked after us. The entire experience was wonderful and I would highly recommend anyone visiting the Tauranga area to book this day trip. The Mauri village and performance was very interesting and also culturally enlightening.
Review provided by Viator
Brendaje3209au
Mar 1, 2023
Poor liaison with passenger cancellation - Booked eight people on this tour,but due to transport not being suitable for wheelchair participant and Covid six had to cancel, advised operator Arrow Tours, before due date and was told a refund would be forthcoming. It has now been over three months and still no refund from TripAdvisor. The two other passengers enjoyed their trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
