3 Day Bay Of Islands Tour from Auckland including Waitangi and Cape Reinga
Overview
Available languages
3 days
Mobile ticket
Visit the beautiful Bay of Islands, tropical Northland, a year-round destination and birthplace of our nation. Journey to New Zealand's northernmost point, Cape Reinga. Discover our cultural heritage at Waitangi Treaty Grounds and experience the natural beauty of the region on a scenic cruise.
This is an Independent coach tour, where you travel on a combination of touring coaches and sightseeing services with commentary and/or point to point coaches which may not have commentary. You will be with different people on each part of the tour and different drivers. The maximum number of people on the tour is between 25-45 pax. You have free time to explore on your own and are free to choose where and when to eat, meals are not included unless specified.
Additional Info
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Auckland to Paihia and Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Accommodations
Choose from 3-Star or 4-Star hotel accommodation in Paihia
Paihia Harbour
Leaving central Auckland, set out on your journey to the Bay of Islands. Travelling by coach, listen to your driver's commentary as you cross Auckland Harbor Bridge, and head out of the city through the farming countryside and sub-tropical bush, stopping along the way for morning tea (own expense) before eventually reaching your first destination, Paihia.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Join a guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the historic site where the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, was signed. Learn more about New Zealand's history and Maori heritage as you explore the Treaty House. Visit a traditional Maori meeting house, and marvel at the 35-meter-long hand-crafted Waka (canoe) which is still used today.
Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach Day Tour
Accommodations
You have the choice of 3-star or 4-star hotel accommodation in Paihia
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Vegan/Vegetarian options available. Please advise any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Cape Reinga Lighthouse
Set out by coach on a full-day tour to Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. Along the way, stop to explore the ancient Puketi Kauri Forest, visit the famous Ninety Mile Beach where you can experience the thrills and spills of sand surfing (optional). On arrival at Cape Reinga, walk out along the coastal cliffs to the Cape Reinga lighthouse and hear about the area's Maori legends as you gaze out across the meeting point of the Tasman and Pacific Oceans. Lunch option of chicken salad or falafel salad before heading back to Paihia and returning in the early evening. Please let your travel agent know about your lunch preferences.
Take a cruise to the famous 'Hole in the Rock' before returning to Auckland
Ipipiri Bay of Islands isite Visitor Information Centre
Board your cruise and take in the stunning views as you glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over and Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the ‘Hole in the Rock’. If conditions permit, your skipper will expertly guide the ship through the narrow space. Keep an eye out for common and bottlenose dolphins, whales and other marine life during your cruise, and have your camera ready as you get up close to the action. Please check with your agent about the winter schedule as they will only be running once a day at 10 am.
Following the cruise, hop aboard your coach for a relaxing sightseeing tour from Paihia to Auckland. The afternoon departure time allows you to spend a full day in the beautiful Bay of Islands before returning to Auckland. Your local driver may point out scenic highlights as you travel through farmland and past native forests. At the end of your journey, enjoy the spectacular views from the Auckland Harbour Bridge as you arrive in Auckland's central city by night.
Options
Standard
3-Star Hotel
Superior
4-Star Hotel
What‘s Included
2 nights accommodation in Paihia
Hole in the Rock cruise
Return transport Auckland to Auckland
Air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch
Experienced coach drivers
Guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach tour
Meals unless specified
Pre and post tour accommodation
Gratuities
Travel insurance. We recommend travel insurance for all tours
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Reviews
19 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Never again
kolbsusanne,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00I was very disappointed with the organisation of this tour, as it wasn’t a fully organised tour with a tour guide, a dedicated coach and a tour group. You’re taken to the Northland on a public bus, and for a long time I wasn’t sure if I was even on the right bus. Afterwards, I wasn’t sure how I’d be picked up either, because there was no taxi at the wharf. It later turned out that the bus had arrived too early and Emely (the taxi driver, who was really lovely and a highlight of the tour) didn’t know this, so she arrived too late to pick me up. I also had to organise and pay for further transfers from the hotel to the wharf myself! On top of that, I was completely on my own for the whole three days. In other words, I wasn’t in a group I could chat with. That’s just not on. The tour operator simply booked individual tours and sold them as a package. The individual tours were good, but if I want individual tours, I’ll book them myself!! Then I’ll know exactly where I stand and would be cheaper.
Mixed bag and dissatisfied
Stephen H,May 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00This is a mixed bag, the individual tours are good (although our bay of islands cruise was cancelled because of bad weather). The biggest issue is that this is not an integrated tour, you are booked on a public bus (with connecting taxi booking) which was uncomfortable and unreliable. When things go wrong (which they did for us) you can be left stranded. For the price paid, it was considerably overpriced and you would be much better off travelling independently and booking your own tours. In addition, the communication from the company about the tours was lacking, we had contacted them prior to the cruise cancellation to check if it was still on but did not receive any email from them prior to arrival in the Bay of Islands. We were told that they contacted our Australian number, but this was not usable in NZ (and there was no voicemail when we returned). In relation to the individual tours:- The Fuller tours company who operate the Cruise and Cape Reinga tours were incredibly helpful and commendable in looking after us when we were stranded (thank you so much Janice), and their guide Barry on the Cape Reinga tour was an absolute legend. The Copthorne Resort was good and so close to the Waitangi Treaty grounds (although the tour itself was so limited in time because of the need to catch a bus back to Auckland, which was 2 hours late) The taxi driver, Jeff Waters of Horuru cabs was great in inquiring after our safety with the hotel although the cab company could not be contacted when we were stranded.
A personalized tour to die for
RandR101,Jan 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you’re looking for a company to formulate a personal tour for you, this is it. We were looking for a tour that included a number of stops at different wineries around the country. Louise H worked with me and came up with an outstanding plan. Besides the four wine tours in all the hot spots of New Zealand. She also included visiting both islands with all the major attractions that we wanted. Great service, great ideas, and at a reasonable price. Kudos to Louise H!
Nice sights - long drives
Jolene P,Jan 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00Day one - It’s a long bus ride to get to get to the Bay of Islands. The boat tour to the Hole in the Rock was very good and we liked getting off in the island and walk around the hills with the sheep. The hotel was very nice. Day two - The drive to the light house was very long for a one hour stop at the light house. Then we got back on the bus for another long ride to go to lunch - which was not well managed. Some of the people on the bus got their food less than ten minutes before we left. We got our food at different times because there was a very long line for the fish and chips. Then we got on the bus to go to the 90 mile beach. The bus driver said that many entrances to the beach were inaccessible due to soft sand so he had to drive a long ways to get to an access spot. It was fun to drive on the beach and to slide in the sand but we were only off the bus for less than 45 minutes. Then we got on the bus again for another long drive back to the hotel. There are also two stops for tea that were longer than needed to be -we would have rather used that time at one of the destinations. It was about an 11 hour day most of that time was on the bus. It was nice to see everything but know you’re going to be in the bus for many long hours to see a few things. Day three - The Waitanga treaty grounds and the performance were good. Then we took another long bus ride to get back to Auckland. It was nice for us to not have to drive which is why we did this tour.
Nice sites. But way too much driving especially on a public bus
Carl O,Mar 29, 2024
- Review from Viator
2.00Waitangi and cape Reinga were both nice but not worth the 5 hr bus ride. Especially on a public bus that made about 10 stops they should have informed us about that.
Tour with Invisible person
RAJESH D,Mar 20, 2024
- Review from Viator
3.00There is complete invisible hand at working. We have to go at various place markout on our own. If we would have been aware of this tour plan, we would have done everything on our own online. It would have been more cost effective. Otherwise, yes Intercity double decker bus gives more better view, than tourist bus. Location are all good, whether you plan individually and go, because various tour operator are different.
Fantastic trip
Gillian G,Mar 18, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00The trip was very well organised everyone was so helpful. Waitangi Treaty centre was so interesting such big part New Zealand history The boat trip around Bay of Island so beautiful as dolphins followed the boat . The bus trip was a long way to see a lighthouse but helped by the great commentary by the bus driver about the countryside and New Zealand life
3 packed days
Arnold W,Mar 13, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Pavia was beautiful. Geat hotel. Cape Regina was interesting and 90 miles beach and sandboarding was fun.
Cape Reinga was the best,...
Alan V,Mar 2, 2024
- Review from Viator
4.00Cape Reinga was the best, followed by the cultural tour and the Bay boat tour. What disappointed us was using the public transportation for the trip to Paihia. Maybe if we had known that the bus was not a private coach we would have been more accepting of this method of travel. We were not sure of the correct bus to board or exactly where we were to get off, so many stops without knowing what was going on.
Whistlestop Waitangi Trip
Ann R,Jan 25, 2024
- Review from Viator
4.00Whistlestop visit to the North, our highlights: the Bay of Island Boat tour and the drive on the Ninety Mile beach. Also the robot waiter at the local Thai restaurant! It's not a group tour per se. Quite a lot of coach travelling from Auckland and the Cape Reinga day.
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Operated by Discover New Zealand