Waitangi

Tours

On the scenic tour, you'll climb aboard your trike, buckle up, and settle in for one of the most exciting tours of your life. Venture out onto the open road, take a short burst out to the half moon-shaped Haruru Falls, and then continue back to Waitangi Lookout. Capture the breathtaking, 360-degree views of the Bay of Islands on your camera, plus get your picture taken behind the handlebars of the big beast.  The thriller tour includes an action-packed, 30-minute tour on the V2 Chek Trike. Zip off to the picturesque Opua and return with photos and even more adrenaline-pumping thrills as you cruise down this awesome, winding coastal road. The combo tour includes a one-hour tour around the scenic Bay of Islands. Visit the beautiful Haruru Falls before continuing to Waitangi Lookout for breathtaking views. Wind your way through the hills of the idyllic Opua before a thrilling ride back to Paihia. This option works as combination of the first two and is the best choice for adrenaline-seekers.

Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, New Zealand’s premier historic site, with a 2-day pass. Valid for two consecutive days, your pass includes an informative 50-minute guided tour, introductory film, and 30-minute cultural performance. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are where New Zealand’s most significant document was signed. Watch an introductory film about the Treaty of Waitangi. Embark on a 50-minute tour with a local guide, with headsets provided so that you can hear clearly. Stroll through the beautiful grounds and admire panoramic views of the Bay of Islands. See the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe, and stand in the spot where the treaty was signed. Visit the Museum of Waitangi Te Kongahu to see permanent and changing exhibits, and explore the educational center. Make use of multimedia and visual displays as you admire taonga (treasures). Enjoy a 30-minute cultural performance at the magnificently carved meeting house. Te Pitowhenua, a performing arts group, will invite you inside with a traditional Maori powhiri (welcome). Poi twirling, Maori weaponry, stick games, heavenly harmonies, and a traditional haka dance will leave you spellbound.

Set off on a 5.5-hour sightseeing tour of the Bay of Islands, often referred to as “the birthplace of New Zealand”. The tour commences at 9:00 AM from the Waitangi Wharf, where the cruise ship's tenders will bring you to shore. The first stop is at the Kawiti Glowworm Caves, where you'll experience this magical glowworm phenomenon on a 1-hour guided tour. From Kawiti, the tour moves onward to Kawakawa, also known as “Train Town”, as the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway runs down the middle of its main street. From this point you will proceed toward Puketi Forest, a 15,000-hectare forest containing magnificent stands of kauri and a rich ecological diversity. The next stop is Kerikeri, also known for its successful horticulture, niche food products, fabulous chocolates, boutique vineyards, art galleries, and crafts. Here, watch the making of chocolate, taste some treats, and do some shopping during a visit to Makana Chocolates. You will see the “The Stone Store”, New Zealand’s oldest building, and the adjacent “Kemp House” (without allotted time for entrance). Heading back to Paihia, stop at the Haruru Falls, a breathtaking waterfall in a horseshoe shape. Departing the Haruru Falls, the final stop is at the Waitangi Look Out Loop, providing stunning views over Waitangi and the Bay of Islands. The tour will either return you to the tenders in Waitangi or drop you to the township of Paihia, should you wish to explore further before catching one of the shuttles back to the tenders.

Take an epic road trip from Auckland to one of the most spectacular parts of New Zealand, the Bay of Islands. This route offers breathtaking scenery of rugged mountain ranges, rainforests, deep gorges, and the clear blue ocean. You will be travelling in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz, in the company of a highly knowledgeable local tour guide.  First, board a boat to make your way through the pristine islands towards the Cape Brett Peninsula and its historic lighthouse. If conditions permit, sail safely in the hands of your knowledgeable skipper through the majestic "Hole in the Rock". Marvel at the bottlenose dolphins and a host of other marine life en route.  Next, enjoy an inspiring cultural experience at the birthplace of New Zealand, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Enjoy an informative tour with your local Maori guide, as well as a high-energy Maori cultural performance. You will also have ample time to explore Waitangi’s heritage buildings, such as the Treaty House, home to the first British resident. Watch live demonstrations in the Carving Studio, and take photos beside the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe. Visit the Museum of Waitangi, which holds a stunning collection of treasured objects called "taonga" that brings to life the history of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of New Zealand.