Looking for the best tours in Tauranga? From glowworm kayaking on Lake McLaren to food and wine tastings, dolphin cruises out of the harbour and small-group day trips to Rotorua, tours in Tauranga suit cruise ship passengers, visitors staying at the Mount and locals showing friends around. Waimarino Kayak Tours and Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters are two of the operators worth knowing.
1Waimarino Kayak Tours
Waimarino Kayak Tours runs guided kayak and big canoe (kanu) tours on Lake McLaren, Lake Rotoiti and the Wairoa River, with its office in Bethlehem, Tauranga. Its evening tours set off just before sunset to paddle into the glowworm-lit Mangapapa Canyon, and daytime scenic paddles suit first-timers as well as confident kayakers. The Big Kanu tours are stable enough for all ages, including infants.
Services
- Evening glowworm kayak tour at Lake McLaren
- Starlight gourmet kayak tour
- Big Kanu glowworm and starlight tours
- Scenic kayak tours on Lake McLaren, Lake Rotoiti and the Wairoa River
- Cruise ship shore excursion kayak tours
Highlights
- Part of the Waimarino business started in 1975 by Barry and Barbara Anderson
- Accredited with Adventure Mark for outdoor safety
- Qualmark Gold endorsement
- Double sea kayaks, paddles and safety gear supplied from brands including Prijon and Mission Kayaks
Location & Contact
Name: Waimarino Kayak Tours
Address: 36 Taniwha Place, Bethlehem, Tauranga
Phone: 07 576 4233
Website: glowwormkayaking.com
2Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters
Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters is a small-group food, wine and brewery tour operator owned and run by Lyn and Paul Marston from Welcome Bay. Its tasting tours combine craft beer, wine presentations, lunch and dessert stops around the Bay of Plenty, and it also runs multi-day regional winery tours. Pick-ups are from local accommodation or ship-side at the Port of Tauranga.
Services
- Bay of Plenty Tasting Tour with a Rotorua winery visit
- Local Tasting Tour to Te Puna and the Minden Lookout
- Kwizine tour with kiwifruit and avocado orchard visits
- Regional and bespoke winery tours
- Group charters and celebration transport
Highlights
- Owned and operated by Lyn and Paul Marston for over twenty years
- Winery groups kept to a preferred maximum of 14
- 100% New Zealand owned and operated
- Tours can be customised to the group
Location & Contact
Name: Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters
Address: 14 Ridgemount Terrace, Welcome Bay, Tauranga
Phone: 07 544 1383
Website: tastingtours.co.nz
3Bay Explorer
Bay Explorer runs half-day dolphin and wildlife cruises from the downtown Tauranga waterfront, heading out into the Bay of Plenty to look for dolphins, whales, seals, penguins and seabirds. The crew is led by marine biologist Emily Dee, and the purpose-built boat also takes private charters for birthdays, work functions and Christmas events.
Services
- Half-day dolphin and wildlife cruise
- Private boat charters from three hours to a full day
- Onboard commentary on marine wildlife
- Gift vouchers
Highlights
- Endorsed by the Department of Conservation to interact with marine wildlife
- Qualmark Silver accreditation
- Crew led by qualified biologist Emily Dee
- Fully licensed bar on board
- Departs from the Waterfront Jetty on Wharf Street
Location & Contact
Name: Bay Explorer
Address: Waterfront Jetty, 4 Wharf Street, Tauranga
Phone: 021 605 968
Website: bayexplorer.co.nz
4Shore Trips and Tours
Shore Trips and Tours is the cruise excursion division of Mount Classic Tours, based on Newton Street in Mount Maunganui close to the Port of Tauranga. It runs small-group shore excursions from Tauranga to Rotorua and Hobbiton timed around ship arrivals, and also arranges private tours, group itineraries and self-drive rental cars for cruise passengers.
Services
- Hobbiton movie set tours
- Rotorua highlights tours to Te Puia and Whakarewarewa
- Private tours with a driver guide
- Group tours for larger cruise parties
- Self-drive rental cars for cruise passengers
Highlights
- Mount Classic Tours operating since 2002
- Qualmark endorsed tour and transport provider
- Full refund if the ship misses port
- Interest on advance payments donated to Waipuna Hospice
Location & Contact
Name: Shore Trips and Tours
Address: 117 Newton Street, Mount Maunganui
Phone: 07 574 1779
Website: shoretripsandtours.com
5Scott Tours
Scott Tours is a small-group day tour operator from Tauranga, run by Geoff and Trixie Allen, specialising in Rotorua trips to Whakarewarewa, Wai-o-Tapu and Te Puia as well as Hobbiton. Pick-ups are from cruise ships at the Port of Tauranga, Tauranga Airport or accommodation in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, and private charters can be built around a group’s interests.
Services
- Whakarewarewa living Māori village tour
- Wai-o-Tapu geothermal park tour
- Te Puia tour
- Hobbiton movie set tour
- Group and private charter tours for up to eleven people
Highlights
- Established in 1996 by George and Yvonne Scott
- Qualmark Silver endorsement
- Guides hold current New Zealand first aid certificates
Location & Contact
Name: Scott Tours
Address: 558 Old Highway, RD 8, Tauranga
Phone: 027 475 9578
Website: scott-tours.co.nz
Tours in Tauranga at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Waimarino Kayak Tours | Part of the Waimarino business started in 1975 by Barry and Barbara A... |
| Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters | Owned and operated by Lyn and Paul Marston for over twenty years |
| Bay Explorer | Endorsed by the Department of Conservation to interact with marine wi... |
| Shore Trips and Tours | Mount Classic Tours operating since 2002 |
| Scott Tours | Established in 1996 by George and Yvonne Scott |
How to Choose the Right Tours in Tauranga
- Match the tour to your time: cruise passengers should check that the operator plans around ship arrival and departure times and returns you well before sailing.
- Group size: small-group and private tours give more flexibility on stops than larger coach excursions.
- Type of experience: decide between on-the-water tours such as kayaking and wildlife cruises, food and wine tastings, or day trips inland to Rotorua and Hobbiton.
- Fitness and age: check activity ratings, age limits for tastings and whether a tour suits children or first-time paddlers.
- Accreditation: look for Qualmark endorsement, Adventure Mark for adventure activities and DOC permits for marine wildlife viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tauranga Tours
What kinds of tours are available in Tauranga?
Tauranga offers glowworm and scenic kayak tours, dolphin and wildlife cruises, food, wine and brewery tastings, and guided day trips to Rotorua’s geothermal parks, Māori cultural villages and the Hobbiton movie set.
Can cruise ship passengers book a tour from the Port of Tauranga?
Yes. Many Tauranga tour operators pick up at the port or the port gate and plan the day around the ship’s schedule. Always book with your ship’s arrival and departure times to hand and confirm the meeting point before the day.
Where do Tauranga tours pick up from?
Most day tours collect from accommodation in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui or ship-side at the port. Water-based tours usually meet at a set location, such as the downtown waterfront for harbour cruises or a lakeside launch site for kayak tours, so check your booking confirmation. Operators on this page are based in suburbs including Bethlehem, Welcome Bay and Mount Maunganui.
How long does a tour from Tauranga to Rotorua take?
Rotorua day tours from Tauranga generally run most of a day, as the drive takes around an hour each way before time at attractions such as Te Puia, Whakarewarewa or Wai-o-Tapu. Shorter local tours around Tauranga and the Mount run from a few hours.
Are Tauranga tours suitable for children?
It depends on the tour. Wildlife cruises and big canoe tours are often family friendly, while wine and brewery tastings are restricted to adults. Ask about age limits and fitness requirements when booking.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Kayak tours often run in light rain, but boat and water tours are postponed or refunded when sea or weather conditions are unsafe. Check each operator’s cancellation terms before booking a tour.
How can I check that a tour operator meets quality and safety standards?
Look for the Qualmark endorsement, Tourism New Zealand’s official quality assurance mark, and for adventure activities ask whether the operator is registered under the adventure activities regime administered by WorkSafe.
Are there rules for dolphin and whale watching tours?
Yes. Commercial operators need a permit to view marine mammals and must follow rules on approach distances and swimming with dolphins. The Department of Conservation sets out the marine mammal protection rules.
How We Chose the Best Tours in Tauranga
Every business in this guide was found by searching for tours in Tauranga, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Tauranga, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.