3-Day Bay of Islands Tour from Auckland
Overview
Available languages
72 hours
Mobile ticket
This comprehensive 3-day tour of the Bay of Islands is ideal for the first time visitor to New Zealand. With natural beauty, rocky islets and pristine beaches, the Bay of Islands is the water playground of the North Island. Learn about Maori culture, travel to the northernmost point of New Zealand and take a cruise through the famous "Hole in the Rock".
Additional Info
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
Independent touring - this is not a group tour - we use local suppliers & you will have a different coach & driver each day.
Please note that the coach from Auckland to Paihia and return is an intercity coach (full size tour coach, however, with little to no commentary)
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What‘s Included
Russell township tour
Commentary by local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off from Auckland
Hole in the Rock' Cruise (weather permitting)
Transportation by air-conditioned coach
Lunch
2-nights accommodation in the Bay of Islands
Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Auckland – Bay of Island
Accommodations
Kingsgate Hotel or similar
Paihia
Depart from Auckland City Centre and make your way to the township of Paihia. Along the way, see the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the golden sand beaches of the Hibiscus Coast, and the Northern City of Whangarei.
Russell
This afternoon you will take the ferry from Paihia to Russell where at 1.00 pm you will join a sightseeing tour of this historic township.
enjoy a cruise to Cape Brett and Piercy Island and discover the Bay’s highlights from the water. Sea conditions permitting travel through the cavernous Hole in the Rock and marvel at what nature has created. Spot dolphins frolicking, seals and more. Returned to Paihia late afternoon.
Day Two: Cape Reinga Day Excursion
Accommodations
Kingsgate Hotel or similar
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Manginangina Kauri Walk
Today you will travel even further north and make a visit to the beautiful Puketi Kauri Forest and get close to majestic giant kauri trees and native bush. Walk along a specially built walkway while giant trees surround you.
Ninety Mile Beach
Travel along the aptly named 90 mile beach as waves crash beside your custom-built coach. You'll make a number of stops along this journey (weather depending) as you continue on north.
Cape Reinga
Arrive at the northernmost tip of New Zealand and look out over the vast ocean at Cape Reinga. Visit the iconic lighthouse and see the point where the Tasman Sea and the mighty Pacific Ocean meet. After you will also enjoy a delicious lunch (included) on the tour and a stop will be made at a local museum. Your tour will return to Paihia in the early evening.
Bay of Islands – Auckland
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
This morning you will visit and have a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds the site of the historic treaty between the Māori and European pioneers. View a magnificent Māori meeting house and large war canoe.
Auckland Central
Early afternoon transferred back to the wharf in Paihia to join your coach returning to Auckland. Late afternoon arrive in Auckland you will be transferred to your central city accommodation at which time your tour will conclude.
Options
Triple Share
3-Day Bay of Islands Trip from Auckland in triple share accommodation
Pickup included
Twin Share
3-Day Bay of Islands Trip from Auckland in twin share accommodation
Pickup included
Single Room
3-Day Bay of Islands Trip from Auckland in a single room
Pickup included
Reviews
38 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Varied, full program
Malcolm W,
Apr 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent content. Varied, full experience - cruise, bus tour to Cape Reinga and guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Ground
Bay of islands is...
Georgina M,
Mar 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Bay of Islands is beautiful. Russell is such a pretty town. The bus up was 30 mins late and there is no time factored in for lunch after leaving Auckland at such an early hour. It was not in the itinerary that we would spend over 2 hrs on the beach which was very disappointing as I had not brought swimwear. On the return to Auckland the bus again was 30 mins late and there was no pickup taxi waiting. This wasn't too much of a problem for me because my hotel was nearby but I would be an issue if your hotel was further away. While the scenery was beautiful if I was to do this trip again I would organise it myself.
A great day out
francesd282,
Jan 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The GOR drive was spectacular. So many different landscapes,, rock formations , coastlines & forests. Our guide, Simon H, was superb: just the right balance between information -local & indigenous knowledge shared, humour & being sharp eyed! He spotted a Koala, don’t know how but despite his best efforts no kangaroos appeared. I rate the trip & Simon 5/5.
Easy to follow the program
jacolien w,
Jan 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Easy to follow the program . You experience all the highlights of The Bay Of Islands Very good spot to go see The hotel was excellent with a nice view
Beautiful memories
Fiona C,
Sep 3, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00I totally enjoyed the whole experience. The hotel I stayed in was excellent and the people were very kind.. I was very lucky the weather was so good the day tour around the Bay of Islands. X
Beautiful Bay Tour
Carol G,
Mar 3, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Busy trip, but a good trip. They organized it well.Everything went according to plan. Really enjoyed the Hole in Rock cruise and saw pod of dolphins putting on a show for us.
Excellent
Jann M,
Jan 17, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00A series of tours put together. Instructions easy to follow from point to point. It worked like clockwork.
Beautiful Introduction to New Zealand.
Barbara P,
Dec 2, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Tina (Tiana?) to Point Reigna and 90 mile Beach was excellent. She is such a hard worker, driving the bus, providing commentary, serving lunch, and keeping track of everyone. Our guide in Russell was excellent also. They both made the tour a lot of fun. We loved Urupukapuka Island on the Hole in the Rock cruise- we could have spent an entire day there. The tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds was beautiful and educational. Since our hotel was so close to the bus station, the taxi was unnecessary - in fact, upon return, we did not see the cab and walked back. To the driver’s credit, she followed up and attempted to locate us. In the future, maybe make taxi pickups optional. The motel choice was excellent - next to the water and outstanding room design and layout plus it was immaculately clean.
Good trip
Gary H,
Dec 13, 2019
- Review from Viator
4.00We visited the quaint town of Paihia. The bus trip to Cape Reinga was very interesting. We had lunch early because of the tide. After lunch we went onto Reinga to see the lighthouse and the meeting of the pacific ocean and tasman sea. We then went to the dunes and the 90 miles beach ride. We then went back to Paihia. On the Wednesday we went on a boat trip to the hole in the rock. We could not go through it as the weather was not good. We saw some dolphins on the way back. Landed at Russell and went on a mini trip to see Russell. Very interesting. Left Paihia to get back to Auckland
Great trip
Donald L,
Nov 25, 2019
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great day today on the trip up to the top of New Zealand. Particularly fascinated by the drive on the beach
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