Bay of Islands 2-Day Small Group Tour from Auckland with Cruise
Overview
Available languages
1 day 12 hours
Mobile ticket
Experience the best of Northland with Cheeky Kiwi Travel on this fully guided Bay of Islands Small Group Overnight Tour, showcasing the region’s stunning scenery, rich Māori heritage, and coastal charm. Designed for flexibility, choose to have accommodation in Paihia included (single occupancy surcharge will be applicable to solo travelers) or book your own stay, the choice is yours.
Travel in comfort with a small group and enjoy a relaxed pace, personal attention, and the chance to explore hidden gems that larger tours miss. Our passionate guides bring each stop to life with engaging stories, local insights, and a touch of Kiwi humour.
Highlights include: a Bay of Islands Cruise to the world-famous Hole in the Rock, visits to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Waipoua Forest & Tāne Mahuta, and The Kauri Museum.
Discover the very best of the Far North with a fun, flexible, and premium Cheeky Kiwi experience.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. If you don't have a car seat one can be provided (with 24 hours’ notice).
Solo travellers will be required to pay a Solo Surcharge for Accommodation (+$150 NZD)
Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties
What To Expect
Auckland Central
Your tour starts in New Zealand’s largest city. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventure today but also point out and guide you past some of the area’s top highlights.
The Kauri Museum
Exiting Auckland, we travel west and follow the road through the kumara capital of New Zealand, Dargaville. Our first stop sees us visiting the Kauri Museum, to understand the remarkable story of New Zealand’s largest and most famous native tree.
Options
Excluding Accommodation
Duration: 2 days: Self booked accommodation in Paihia. Overnight in Paihia, return to Auckland the following day Minibus Pickup included
Accommodation (2+ Guests)
Accommodation in Paihia: Please select if two or more guests are travelling Duration: 2 days: Overnight in Paihia, return to Auckland the following day Minibus Pickup included
Accommodation - Solo Upgrade
Single Share Upgrade : Upgrade to single share if you are travelling solo (required) Duration: 2 days: Overnight in Paihia, return to Auckland the following day Minibus Pickup included
What‘s Included
Small Group and Fully Guided Tour
Accommodation in Paihia (if accommodation option chosen )
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entry to Kauri Museum, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Cruise tickets
Luggage allowance - 1 large & 1 small per person
Dinner
Breakfast
Lunch
Restroom on board
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
52 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Highly recommended 2-day Bay of Islands Tour
TimetoTravelTours,May 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Cheeky Kiwi Travel provides an excellent travel adventure to the Bay of Islands. Each stop was exceptional. The Kauri Tree Museum and the Waitange Treaty Grounds were informative and extremely well executed. Our Scenic Hotel Stay was comfortable and the dinner buffet delicious. We had some rough water at the Hole in the Rock and didn't go through but certainly experienced some crashing waves viewed from a distance instead. Also included was a stop for lunch and hiking which was a real treat! All around an exceptional tour!
Book it now!
Lydia j,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an excellent tour and I would highly recommend taking it. It showed us the highlights of the beautiful Bay of Islands and our guide Jeff was excellent. We’ve done a couple of tours with Cheeky Kiwi now and they’re a brilliant company who offer brilliant experiences.
Spectacular!
Krina P,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you ever want to spend a couple of days exploring the north of New Zealand, this is the tour to book! It was jam packed with activities (watching a cultural performance and learning the history behind the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, hiking around Urupukapuka island and cruising to the hole in the rock) while being incredibly well-paced and thought out. Despite the rainy weather predicted for the weekend, our tour guide Mark did his best to make the trip just as worthwhile. He was incredibly friendly and helpful, providing ample snacks and water for the trip, and was also super knowledgeable about the sights we were set to see. The accommodation was very spacious, with two double beds, an en-suite bathroom and amenities such as a TV (provides YouTube and Netflix), a mini fridge and toiletries. As a vegetarian, there were some lovely restaurants around the hotel in Paihia, so I was not short on food to eat! The only disappointment is that we didn’t manage to spot any dolphins and couldn’t go through the hole in the rock due to rough weather, but that isn’t always guaranteed due to ever changing weather. Nonetheless, this tour was fabulous - I learnt so much about the history of New Zealand and saw some beautiful landscapes, all the while meeting wonderful people. I would do this tour 10 times over. Thank you very much Cheeky Kiwi for making it so memorable!
A great insight into the Bay of Islands.
elizabethdG2871WF,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent experience. Ark looked after us every well. He knew so much about the area. Nice small group. Good accommodation. Of concern was a lady who was sick at the beginning of the tour. We were likely to catch something, which I did and now I am sick on my next tour. We should have been told she was ill, and we could have cancelled, or she should have not travelled with us.
We couldn’t do the whole...
Caroline S,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We couldn’t do the whole tour because of a storm and a lot of rain. But John did manage everything and brought us back to Auckland savely.
Bay of Islands tour
Nomad599025,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our 2-day Bay of Islands tour booked through Get Your Guide and with Cheeky Kiwi as the tour operator was fantastic. We wanted to get a better understanding of the Māori culture and history and get to see some of the North Island and this tour hit all the right spots. Our guide Vicki was knowledgeable and friendly, and was ready to answer all our questions as well as provide recommendations on where to eat. She also went out of her way to take us to see Glow Worm caves not too far from Paihia, a definite must-see and suggested tour addition for future tours. I would highly recommend this tour!
Stunning landscape orcas dolphins Maori culture
Expedition556503,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Matt was a fantastic guide and driver. He’s unflappable as a HUGE bird hit our windshield He effortlessly looked after our group of 7 getting a new vehicle replacement As he drove he informed us of what we were seeing, what was coming and communicated all the logistics clearly Timing for all of our stops and activities was bang on Thanks Matt
Fantastic Bay of Islands 2-Day Tour!
ADSWarwickshire,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a fantastic time with Matt on this 2-day tour. Excellent trip with lots of fascinating stops. This was a small group of 7 people, which made things a lot more fun! The hotel we stayed at in Paihia (Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands) was lovely. We were super lucky to see dolphins and orcas on our Bay of Islands tour and the stop over at Otehei was excellent.
Fantastic Tour
reginatU3735TZ,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a fantastic tour. It was just the two of us and Liam (our guide). He was very friendly and accommodating, and he took our wishes into account. Simply wonderful, including the weather!
This was an enjoyable...
Dao H,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an enjoyable trip. The environment was beautiful and peaceful. The tour guide was knowledgeable. He was nice and helpful
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