Scenic Short Hike Tour - McLaren Falls and Puketoki Reserve
Overview
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Escape the city and experience the natural beauty of the Bay of Plenty on this relaxing scenic hiking tour featuring native forest walks, tranquil lakes, panoramic viewpoints, and hidden local gems. RUNS SEPTEMBER TO APRIL ONLY
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What To Expect
Mount Maunganui
Escape the city and experience the natural beauty of the Bay of Plenty on this relaxing scenic hiking tour featuring native forest walks, tranquil lakes, panoramic viewpoints, and hidden local gems. Departing from the Tauranga Port Gates, the journey begins with a scenic drive past Mount Maunganui and a stop at the famous Mount Main Beach, where golden sands, ocean views, and the iconic Mauao create the perfect coastal introduction to the region.
McLaren Falls Park
From there, we travel through Tauranga City and into the rolling countryside toward the beautiful McLaren Falls Park, one of the Bay of Plenty’s most treasured natural areas. Our first walk follows the peaceful Glow Worm Track and lakeside paths, winding through native bush alongside the calm waters of Lake McLaren. Along the way, enjoy towering trees, birdsong, gentle streams, and the chance to spot glow worms hidden within the shaded forest areas. After the walk, we stop at McLaren Falls itself to admire the scenic waterfall and surrounding lake views before continuing across the countryside to the spectacular Minden Lookout.
What‘s Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
McLarens Falls Park walk (45min approx)
Puketoki Reserve walk (1 hour approx)
Local Driver / Guide
Live commentary on board
Port pickup / drop off
There will be a cafe stop during the tour
Gratuities
Souvenir Shopping
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
Scenic Short Hike Tour - McLaren Falls and Puketoki Reserve
Pickup included
Reviews
17 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent tour
darleneg c,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent hikes and information. Tour guide did a great job. Friendly, knowledgeable, and interesting.
New Zealand’s great outdoors
Kathleen S,Apr 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Enjoyed seeing New Zealand in the “bush”. Everything was informative and beautiful to see. Tracy was a great guide!
Mistletoe Bay Walk
Jacqueline R,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Was a great walk on a beautiful day with very friendly informative guides. Definitely worth what we paid.
Longer Time Hiking Than Expected
Jim W,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Due to some damage from a storm, the itinerary was changed but we were OK with that. We know that there would be hiking, but it was longer than expected as it was billed as a "Scenic Short Hike Tour". Going to the McClaren Falls was quick and easy as was the walk arounf the lake. However, the final hike was over an hour and involved stepping around lots of roots and going up and down hills in the jungle-like terrain. I ended up with 18.000 steps and over 7 miles on my Fitbit. Most of what we saw there was pretty much the same things so it could have been covered in 15-20 minutes. There was also a bit of confusion as we got to the meeting point at the end of the cruise pier about 30 minutes before it started. We were told to wait there until the 11:00 am start time which we did. When that time arrived, we were told where the van was in the parking lot. When we found it, all of the other passengers were already in their seats and the only open ones were in the last row. I sat back there and we asked the driver/guide if my wife could sit next to him in the front as she would have had a very difficult time trying to get to a back seat. It turned out OK, but we wondered why he didn't allow us to get to the van earlier since we were there well before the start time. We could recommend it to people if they knew how much hiking there would be.
Great nature hike
Donald H,Mar 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Russell was an informative and helpful guide. We took great hikes in a small group of 10 folks. He pointed out multiple varieties of birds and vegetation.
Fantastic day at the falls and bush.
Korinne S,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The guide was knowledgeable and very nice to work with. The locations wee were taken to were beautiful. The lunch spot was very nice and the food was good. The whole trip was well managed and the transportation was excellent.
WOW! That was fun!
Odyssey41650576371,Mar 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was AMAZING! Our tour guide was informational, interesting, and so funny! We only had my husband and I on the tour so it was a little more informal which I loved! We got to see so much around the Bay of Plenty from the beaches to the forests. The hike was mostly level with a few slightly steep trails but they were not for long. Would recommend to anyone who likes easy and beautiful hikes!
Excellent Value Beautiful Scenery
philengelman6570,Mar 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well planned and executed tour. The guide, Lloydy was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable and courteous. There was enough time at every stop to do and see. Due to local conditions, a hike through Puketon Preserve was substituted for the Papamoa Hills section due to local conditions. The substituted hike was amazing. McLaren Falls walk was approx 1/4 mile on an easy path. the preserve hike was about 2 miles and was moderate up and down, uneven trail at times with steps at the steeper sections. There were restrooms at both locations. The lunch stop (pay on your own) was at a local cafe with very good food and many choices. $$ Bring water and snacks; temps can be cool, so bring layers. Loved this tour!
Walking in Paradise!
KathyM438,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took this tour as an excursion from the cruise port. They were very easy to locate right outside of the pier. We enjoyed a fabulous day with Tracy our guide. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about his home town area. Once in the park, the walk to McLaren Falls was on an easy path, and Tracy pointed out many plants and their purposes. He even found some glow worms to show us along the way. We then stopped at an overlook of the Bay of Plenty for photos, then continued to a small boutique Cafe for lunch on our own. Service was fast and the food delicious! Due to a very bad storm a couple months ago that damaged the originally planned walking track, the next portion of the hike was changed to the Puketoki Reserve aka "The Bush". This trail was more narrow with mild to medium elevation changes, and the roots required more attention when hiking. The trail was shaded by the towering trees and ferns and it was a wonderful way to spend an hour immersed in this beautiful lush country, just what we had hoped to do! We would highly recommend this experience!
Nice tour and worth the time and money.
Maureen T,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a great experience of seeing the local beach, the falls and taking a hike through the bush! Tracy was a a informative and accommodating tour guide! I certainly would recommend this again to anyone.
From NZ$119.00
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Operated by Wicked Wanders Tours