Top Tauranga Tours: Sightseeing & Cruises Explored

Tauranga, that gem nestled in the Bay of Plenty, well, it’s almost begging to be explored, is that it? From sprawling beaches to vibrant city streets, deciding just how to soak it all in, yes, that can feel a little overwhelming, very overwhelming even. So, to help you experience the very best this location has to offer, very best experiences perhaps, we’ve rounded up five amazing tours, five amazing ways I reckon, sightseeing spots and, yes, even cruises that show off Tauranga in all its glory. You see, whether you’re after something peaceful or something full of action, something calm perhaps, we’ve got options for you, we do. Let’s get started then, should we?

1. Dolphin Seafaris Tauranga: Making Waves on the Water

Imagine gliding across shimmering waters, the sun warming your face, the salty air filling your lungs, yes imagine all of it! Dolphin Seafaris Tauranga actually turns this dreamy picture into reality, into reality indeed. You know, these guys offer a truly special opportunity, a chance actually, to get up close with dolphins and other sea creatures in their home, their vast ocean home. Now, the tours are fun, very informative and surprisingly interactive, it’s fair to say, that is the case! The crew knows a heap of info about marine life and, believe me, they’re keen to share it, yep they do love sharing that information.

Here’s a little story, you see, I remember chatting to one of the guides on board, right, while there, they pointed out a playful dolphin calf and shared some cool facts, just cool facts, about dolphin behavior, is that not delightful? It just shows how much they care about education, genuinely care even, as well as, of course, having a great time, a great time on the water. The boat, right, is equipped with everything you need, just what you might need you see, including life jackets, shaded areas, areas covered from the sun too even, and even some refreshments. Remember to bring your camera to catch all the incredible moments. All those awesome moments really need a good camera! This is almost essential for, yes, memories of a lifetime, of a whole entire lifetime.

Read our full review: Dolphin Seafaris Tauranga Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Dolphin Seafaris)

2. Mount Maunganui Scenic Tour: Heights and Sights

For some awesome views and a fantastic walk, yeah, Mount Maunganui, or Mauao as it is known locally, that is, well it might be just the ticket for you, that could really fit your criteria perhaps? The Mount Maunganui Scenic Tour is an absolute cracker for people, yes people and humans, who appreciate getting great views with very little hassle. Most trips are fairly short, a couple of hours maybe, and can be enjoyed with local guides, often with some background info, often historical info as a matter of fact, that will definitely satisfy your curiosity, it most certainly could even.

As you drive around the base, yes, drive around this magnificent base, there are great photo opportunities, truly great ones that everyone can grab and, when you hop out and stroll the golden beach, golden sands even, you know it’s pretty delightful. Some guided treks take you further and higher, so that you can fully absorb that full 360° view, those beautiful sweeping scenic shots in fact. What is so, so special about this tour, very unique if I may say, is the flexibility, right. Whether you’re keen to gently potter or ramp things up a little with a short sharp hike, yep you can choose your own style of seeing all that beautiful landscape unfold before your eyes. Just the thing, really.

Read our full review: Mount Maunganui Scenic Tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Mount Maunganui Views)

3. Waimarino Kayak Tours: Paddle Power

Okay, if you like being active and enjoy some quieter exploration, if you love those kinds of adventures even, then Waimarino Kayak Tours really does float your boat, quite literally too that. Located on the banks of the beautiful Lake McLaren Falls, the still beauty perhaps, you will get to experience kayaking in some truly peaceful places. Actually, many people take a glow worm tour in the evening and this provides a totally different aspect to it all.

Now, you just can’t beat gently paddling as dusk arrives, you can’t really, when, there you go, the little glow worms do their thing to give some awesome twinkly displays, absolutely awesome even. Then, the kayaks are really stable and well maintained, well looked after as a matter of fact, and so that makes these tours ideal for total beginners, good for learners, or keen paddlers. As a matter of fact, guides know their stuff and will enhance, yes enhance, your experience with a sprinkling of local history, with extra local insights it seems. I’d really recommend this, oh I would very much indeed.

Read our full review: Waimarino Kayak Tours Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Kayak Now)

4. Rotorua and Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Tauranga: Middle-earth Awaits

Alright, mixing culture with movies, the amazing mixing perhaps, well, the Rotorua and Hobbiton tour from Tauranga has it all, it seems to me. You get to soak up a little bit of that wondrous Middle-earth magic plus some unique insights into rich Maori heritage. Yep, from the get-go, from that very start indeed, it is more than just a trip, you see it’s a total immersion, completely encompassing experience, that might almost blow your mind even.

Imagine first of all visiting Hobbiton, that adorable set used in the films, imagine! Then you wander among the cute Hobbit holes and start imagining what it was like while filming took place there. That tour guides share awesome anecdotes, funny and fabulous information too in truth, which brings everything to life, it gives the facts a heartbeat even! Following Hobbiton you might find yourself right into Rotorua and into the heart of Maori culture, which could certainly appeal. All very absorbing you understand. From geothermal areas puffing and steaming away, to awesome performances and, yes, maybe even a Hangi lunch, you may want to brace yourselves for some true culture immersion. A great pairing is probably an understatement, don’t you think?

Read our full review: Rotorua and Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Movie Time)

5. Tauranga City Highlights Tour: The Best Bits in a Breeze

Are you sort of short on time, just not that much time in truth, but desperate to see the main points, well Tauranga City Highlights Tour is where it’s really at, at it is really here it would appear. It hits those key locations without all the fuss and bother and stress that longer day tours tend to inflict on people. You can see, these tours offer just the ticket for those keen on history, the arts, and seeing some scenic splendor.

I’d recommend listening to some of the facts given out by tour guides, it helps paint a full picture, it’s amazing really, as you’re driven from spot to spot in style, oh you’re driven very much in style indeed! It is possible, as a matter of fact, to explore places such as the historic Brain Watkins House, often seen as a glimpse of olden days, as well as checking out modern art galleries, just modern styles maybe, and getting time to just relax at The Strand. Very varied indeed! Whether you’re traveling alone or with a big gang, a tour like this is easy and stress free, super relaxing, it almost guarantees a great appreciation of Tauranga’s unique soul, oh a very unique heart and soul it does indeed!

Read our full review: Tauranga City Highlights Tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (City Tours)

Right then, experiencing Tauranga to the maximum, right to the very fullest it seems, then, well, you might want to grab a tour, yes take up these recommendations to get to every corner, to explore every single nook actually. Whether it is dolphins you’re wanting, marine creatures to observe even, stunning scenery to photograph, those awe-inspiring snapshots perhaps, cultural insights to take in, all to absorb indeed, or something Middle-earth related to dive headlong into, to immerse yourselves inside indeed, you might discover there really is a little something for everybody, oh so much on offer. These tours make traveling so darn easy too, so stress free really! Let’s recap just a bit:

• Dolphin Seafaris Tauranga: Ocean encounters that give real, memorable moments, those memories for life even!
• Mount Maunganui Scenic Tour: Wonderful views, awesome walks, just fantastic for pictures.
• Waimarino Kayak Tours: Peace and quiet on Lake McLaren, a relaxed experience with lots of beautiful nature, yeah calm waters too.
• Rotorua and Hobbiton Tour: Get immersed into some movie magic plus get your teeth stuck into some Maori culture, oh what could be better I ask!
• Tauranga City Highlights Tour: For folks short on time it gives a brief yet great taste of city life, city soul even.

Find the best options and prices on TripAdvisor (Tauranga)