New Zealand · SHORE EXCURSIONS

The 15 Best New Zealand Shore Excursions

65 tours  ·  from $50

A cruise stop gives you seven hours and a hard deadline. The 15 below are built to that clock from Tauranga, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Napier and Port Chalmers, with prices and the return times each operator guarantees.

Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights - The road from Tauranga to Rotorua
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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights

1.Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 427 reviews · from $152Our pick

Travel from Tauranga to Rotorua for geothermal wonders at Whakarewarewa, a Māori village welcome and performance, Pohutu Geyser, kiwi tasting, redwoods, Government Gardens, and Kaituna Falls. Guides such as Stephen and Rolf provide commentary. Lunch is at your own expense.

“This was a tour of an authentic Mauri village built over hot springs and geysers. Twenty five families still live here. Tour was led by a Mauri resident and the performance was great. The Pohutu geyser fully erupted. We even got to taste ears of corn cooked in a boiling pool. Tour also included a visit to a kiwi fruit orchard with tasting, a stop at the Whakarewsrewa Forest, government gardens, and Kaituna Falls. The tour began at the ship’s port and our guide was very careful to watch the time all day in order to get us back to the ship in plenty of time.”

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Bay of Islands Glow Worm Caves & Scenic Shore Excursion - Makana Chocolate Factory is a tasting stop, not lunch
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Bay of Islands Glow Worm Caves & Scenic Shore Excursion

2.Bay of Islands Glow Worm Caves & Scenic Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 317 reviews · from $139

Travel from Waitangi Wharf or your Bay of Islands hotel with guides such as Dyson, Rob, Greg, or Gareth. See Haruru Falls, sample Makana chocolate, walk among ancient kauri, and join a 40-minute guided tour through the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves. Cruise passengers return to the wharf.

“Thank you for an amazing day of adventure especially the glow worms - highlight of the day. The guide was very informative and communicated well. We enjoyed our stop at the pie shop and loved the chocolate tasting - definitely don't miss this stop. We highly recommend this tour you will love it”

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6.5 hour Small-Group Rotorua Naturally Shore Excursion - Tauranga - Kuirau Park: geothermal activity without an entrance fee
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6.5 hour Small-Group Rotorua Naturally Shore Excursion – Tauranga

3.6.5 hour Small-Group Rotorua Naturally Shore Excursion – Tauranga

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 283 reviews · from $135

From Tauranga, you’ll ride with a local guide such as Simon, Richie, or Alistair to Rotorua for bubbling mud pools, steaming lakes, a geothermal foot bath, a Māori village stop, glow worms, and the Redwoods Treewalk. The small group is limited to 20 people.

“This is a tour to Rotorua where you will see some hot steaming lakes and can put your feet in hot spring water. Then there is a short visit to a Maori village where a lunch is offered, which consisted of a stuffed filo dough hot pocket. After that there is a visit to a canopy walk between redwoods. We found that the highlight of the tour. Quality of the guide was good and the bus was new, though very tight for the knees at some seats.”

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Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula - Dunedin Railway Station is the architectural centerpiece
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Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

4.Dunedin Shore Excursion: Small-Group Tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 270 reviews · from $86

Join a small group of up to 15 for a 3.5-hour shore tour from Port Chalmers with guide Chris or another local driver. See Baldwin Street and Dunedin Railway Station, then follow scenic Otago Peninsula roads to a beach where New Zealand sea lions may be resting.

“It was ok not too much excitement. Drive around and made some short stops. The beach stop was the highlight.”

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Hobbiton Movie Set Shore Excursion from Tauranga (6 Hours) - Crossing the Kaimai hills into Waikato
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Hobbiton Movie Set Shore Excursion from Tauranga (6 Hours)

5.Hobbiton Movie Set Shore Excursion from Tauranga (6 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 267 reviews · from $198Top rated

Travel from Tauranga through Mount Maunganui, the Kaimai hills, and Waikato farmland to Hobbiton. A local driver such as Gary, Grant, or Isabel provides commentary before a Hobbiton guide leads the 2.5-hour visit, including a furnished Hobbit home and a drink at the Green Dragon.

“We booked a Hobbiton tour independent of our cruise ship and couldn’t have been happier with the experience. From the beginning, the instructions were clear, simple, and easy to follow, which made getting to and from the tour completely stress-free. Our guide was excellent — informative, organised, and very clear about how the tour would run at every step along the way. We always knew exactly what was happening, which was especially reassuring when coordinating around cruise timings. Hobbiton itself was a true bucket-list experience for me, and it absolutely lived up to expectations. We were lucky to have beautiful weather, which made the setting even more magical. A special…”

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Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula and Christchurch City Sights Tour - Christchurch Botanic Gardens: a short green pause
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Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula and Christchurch City Sights Tour

6.Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula and Christchurch City Sights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 228 reviews · from $89

Travel from Akaroa through Banks Peninsula to Christchurch on a guided coach tour. See the Botanic Gardens, earthquake-damaged Cathedral Square, Sumner, Lyttelton, and Port Hills viewpoints. Guides such as Scotty, Ian, Phil, and Bruce are known for strong local commentary, but city time can feel short.

“the tour was well organized and went the full time. the country side was absolutely stunning. our guide was setev and he gave a good running commentary going through some history and local tales. actual time spent in Christchurch was disappointing as we parked at the botanical gardens and were given little detail about where we were . we wandered around for the couple hours we were there but it could have been better organized. 8/10 on a rating and it was an enjoyable day .”

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Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City Sights - Mona Vale Gardens gives you a quiet first stop
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Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City Sights

7.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City Sights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 209 reviews · from $62

Meet near Lyttelton port for a guided Christchurch outing with Mona Vale Gardens, earthquake recovery stories, Cathedral Square, Riverside Market, and wide views from the Sign of the Takahe. Guides such as Scottie and Joseph bring local detail and humor to the drive.

“Be sure of dates and weather. Tour provider is confusing. Booked tour. Received email correcting date but tickets with wrong date. Took several attempts to get ticket corrected. When weather interfered with ability to do our tour there was no consideration despite having booked several other tours. Enquired about change in time of tour without success. Can’t in good conscience recommend provider.”

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Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour - Crossing toward the Otago Peninsula
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Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour

8.Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · from $86

Join Andrew from Experience Dunedin for a one-hour V8 trike ride from the Octagon through central Dunedin, St Clair, and the Otago Peninsula. Expect open-air views, running commentary, a five-minute photo stop, provided jackets and sunglasses, and a maximum of four people.

“No helmets required which was great. Extremely comfy seats Could have done it for hours, lots of fun.”

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Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Antarctic Center - Lyttelton Harbour: a practical starting point
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Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Antarctic Center

9.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Antarctic Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 194 reviews · from $114

Travel from Lyttelton with a local driver-guide such as Scotty or Joseph, stopping at the Sign of the Takahe, Mona Vale, Cathedral Square, Riverside Market, and the International Antarctic Centre. Expect Antarctic cold, blue penguins, a Hagglund ride, and a full day built around your ship’s schedule.

“The Antarctica Center was amazing! We had been to Antarctica the year before and the “freeze” room was very accurate. The guide is what brought it down to a 3. She spent every opportunity to talk about the trauma of the 2011 earthquake, including how many people died and she detailed the death of a baby because a TV fell on him. Seriously, this is a vacation. A very brief discussion of the earthquake in generalities would have been more than enough. She said her home had minimal damage so it was is if she was living vicariously through the suffering of others. Of course, the occasional digs at her…”

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Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier - Getting ready with Raft Fish NZ
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Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

10.Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 179 reviews · from $139

From Napier, Deon and his team take you by bus to the Mohaka River for a two-hour float through native bush and canyon scenery. Class II rapids keep it gentle, while local stories, swimming, supplied gear, photos, and a homemade lunch round out this family-friendly shore excursion.

“Deon was a great host, the views and the river are awesome, is more panoramic than rafting, but very fun., and has a deli lunch at the end”

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Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour - Four or five cellar doors, with some variation
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Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour

11.Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 165 reviews · from $155

Meet your guide at Picton i-Site, then ride a comfortable minibus through Koromiko Pass to four or five Marlborough cellar doors. Guides such as Bruce, Lucinda, Lisa, John, and Marsley share local wine knowledge, with a vineyard walk, lunch stop, and chocolate tasting included.

“This tour was disappointing. Four or five winery tastings were advertised. Only three were provided. A complimentary subpar glass of wine was provided at a lunch we paid for so I guess that’s how they came up with 4. Unfortunately only one of the three wineries visited could be considered by someone who enjoys wine as an above average Marlborough vineyard. The other two lower tier wineries included an organic vineyard and a two acre vineyard winery in the hills outside of Marlborough valley. Disappointingly, this winery didn’t produce a Sauvignon Blanc which is what Marlborough is known for. The only better than average winery visited, the tour only provided…”

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Shore Excursion Guided Sea Kayaking through Akaroa Marine Reserve - Meeting near the harbor in Akaroa
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Shore Excursion Guided Sea Kayaking through Akaroa Marine Reserve

12.Shore Excursion Guided Sea Kayaking through Akaroa Marine Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 160 reviews · from $83

Join guides such as Jake, Joey, John, or Seamus for a roughly three-hour sea-kayak trip from Akaroa’s harbor area. You’ll paddle stable tandem kayaks through sheltered volcanic bays, learn about local geology and wildlife, and may spot Hector’s dolphins, penguins, seals, or native birds.

“Jake was our Kayak tour guide and could not have been more perfect! We were fortunate enough to see four Hector dolphin sightings and Jake's insight into the dolphins and other marine life was amazing. He has an in-depth knowledge of various birds, plant life and marine life. We loved all of the staff, very nice and efficient. Thank you!”

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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour - Te Puna shows where New Zealand kiwi fruit comes from
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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour

13.Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 152 reviews · from $69

From Mount Maunganui, ride with guides such as Jan, Terry, Duncan, or Stephen through Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. Walk in McLaren Falls Park, taste kiwi fruit and manuka honey, enjoy a cafe muffin and hot drink, take in Minden Lookout, and finish with hokey pokey ice cream.

“We had a fantastic day. Our tour guide Stephen was very friendly and gave us a very informative commentary. I would highly recommend this excursion.”

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Auckland Shore Excursion: Half-Day Guided City Tour - Queen Street and the central city
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Auckland Shore Excursion: Half-Day Guided City Tour

14.Auckland Shore Excursion: Half-Day Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 148 reviews · from $65

This three-hour Auckland shore tour uses an air-conditioned mini-coach for up to 17 people. You’ll see Queen Street, Ponsonby, Narrow Neck Beach, Mount Victoria, Westhaven Marina, and Auckland Domain, with guides such as Wayne, Jason, Murray, and Kelly providing local stories and practical tips.

“Wayne was both my travel guide and driver. He shared a wealth of information and a lot of "dad" style jokes. His sense of humor made the time fly on the tour. I appreciated that he gave us a laminated tour sheet with most of the stops we made.”

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Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and the International Antarctic Centre - A short introduction to Christchurch Botanic Gardens
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Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and the International Antarctic Centre

15.Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and the International Antarctic Centre

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 135 reviews · from $124

Travel from Akaroa through Banks Peninsula to Christchurch, with a short city visit and entry to the International Antarctic Centre. Expect an Antarctic storm, blue penguins, a Hagglund ride, and guides such as Scotty or Rob, depending on the day. Port transfers and on-time return protection are included.

“The weather was not great!. We made a 45 minute stop in Christchurch, but there was not much we could do because it was raining. We ducked into the art museum and ran thru the botanical gardens. We drove to the International Antarctic Center where they were not prepared for the crowds. They did not have enough help nor enough food for us! After eating rapidly, they escorted us thru the center at a much too rapid pace. We did not have time to look at displays or enjoy the center!”

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New in Shore Excursions

★ 5.0Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston TourFrom $17981 reviews
★ 4.5Dunedin Nature & City Tour – Full Day Cruise ExcursionFrom $5887 reviews
★ 4.0Dunedin Shore Excursion City Sightseeing & Tour of Larnach CastleFrom $10866 reviews
★ 3.5Dunedin Shore Excursion – Sightseeing, Larnach Castle, Chinese Garden & MuseumFrom $12413 reviews
★ 5.0Totally Local Wildscene Private Shore Excursion With 8 travelersFrom $1084 reviews
★ 4.5Otago Harbour Wildlife Cruise (Dunedin Shore Excursion)From $8616 reviews
★ 5.0Larnach Castle Tour & Wildlife Cruise (Dunedin Shore Excursion)From $12125 reviews
★ 5.0Marlborough Wine Tour – Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion TourFrom $17628 reviews
★ 5.0Private Shore Excursion: Explore Marlborough from Picton4 reviews
★ 5.0Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Region Tour from PictonFrom $14871 reviews
★ 5.0Puketi Rainforest Guided Walks .This is not a Shore Excursion product .From $8320 reviews
★ 4.0Shore Excursion: 4 Hour Premium Hawke’s Bay, Napier Art deco TourFrom $8637 reviews
★ 4.5Shore excursion – Napier sight seeing/Art Deco Tour,From $613 reviews
★ 3.5Napier Shore Excursion: City Sights and Hawke’s Bay TourFrom $936 reviews
★ 4.5Napier Shore Excursion: Wine & Art Deco TourFrom $1026 reviews

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