15 Tauranga Tours, Weighed Against Each Other

1.Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 311 reviews Our pick

Paddle Lake McLaren near Tauranga as daylight fades, then enter a narrow canyon lit by glowworms. Waimarino guides such as Ellie, Lucy, Darragh, and Frosty provide equipment, stories, and help on the water. Expect about 3 hours 15 minutes, a small-group feel when numbers are low, and some towing near the hydro unit.

“We had a fantastic time with Lucy & Darragh as our guides! It was simple, it was fun, and we enjoyed the new adventure of kayaking as neither I nor my husband had done it before. The glow worms (which aren’t actually glow worms as we’ve coincidentally figured out) were gorgeous! It was also lovely knowing the science and the Māori knowledge behind them. Thank you for a fun experience we’ll continue to look fondly back on!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.15,000ft Tandem Skydive in Tauranga – Bay of Plenty

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 305 reviews · from $332

Meet your instructor at Tauranga Airport, complete a safety briefing, then take a 20 to 25 minute scenic flight above Mt. Maunganui and the Bay of Plenty. Freefall for up to 40 seconds at more than 200kph, then enjoy a five-minute parachute ride back to the airfield. Photos and video cost extra.

“It's a great experience. Must do activity. Very friendly team. Make me feel safe an supportive. Enjoy the dive”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 206 reviews · 3 hours · from $134

Meet in Bethlehem, then ride through rolling countryside to Lake McLaren for a local cheese, honey, and kombucha tasting. After a safety briefing and warm gear fitting, paddle into Mangapapa Canyon at dusk. Guides such as Ellie, Aaron, and Ollie explain glowworms, Māori stories, and the night sky during this calm, beginner-friendly three-hour outing.

“Great time with Ollie! He was very knowledgeable and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour with him.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Swim With Wild Dolphins in Tauranga

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 189 reviews · from $102

Set out from Tauranga Bridge Marina on a six-hour search for wild common dolphins in the Bay of Plenty. Your professional crew chooses the route based on sea and wind conditions. Watch from the boat or, if the dolphins and conditions allow, put on the supplied wetsuit and snorkel gear for a supervised swim. Tea and coffee are included.

“The crew are lovely and very reassuring, and they know a lot about the beautiful dolphins that you swim with. Also watching a pod of dolphins play beside the boat in there own habitat.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.15,000ft Tandem Skydive in Bay of Plenty

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 180 reviews · from $309

Meet the Skydive Tauranga team at Mount Maunganui, complete a clear safety briefing, then take a 20 to 25-minute scenic flight before your tandem freefall from 15,000 feet. Your instructor handles the jump while you take in views of Mount Maunganui, White Island, Rotorua Lakes, and possibly Mount Taranaki. Photos and video cost extra.

“Everything was well organized and fun. People were very friendly and answered any questions we had. Freefalling was great and didn't feel any jerk when the parachute opened.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 152 reviews · from $69

From Mount Maunganui, a small-group guide such as Jan, Terry, Duncan, or Stephen takes you through Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. Expect Gate Pa, a kiwi orchard, Minden Lookout, McLaren Falls, coffee and muffin, kiwi and manuka honey tastings, and hokey pokey ice cream.

“A really outstanding trip. We really enjoyed it from start to finish. Stephen was a fantastic guide, had loads of information for us and made us feel very welcome. The Muffin from the coffee shop was the largest i have ever seen. The walk to and from the falls was not too far and was really good. I’d highly recommend thus trip”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Half-Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 151 reviews · 5 hours · from $98

Join Dolphin Seafaris NZ Ltd in Tauranga for a five-hour search for wild common dolphins in the Bay of Plenty. Heidi, Lizzie, and the crew handle the boat, safety, and marine-life briefing while you watch from the deck, snorkel, or swim when conditions and dolphin behavior allow. Tea, coffee, fruit, gear, and free parking are included.

“The crew were really lovely and we saw various dolphins and 2 hammerhead sharks!! It was an incredible day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Tauranga Shore Excursion: History & Kiwifruit Tasting – 4 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 146 reviews · from $65

Spend four hours with a local driver-guide, often Russell, visiting Mount Maunganui, Tauranga’s port area, Minden Lookout, and a kiwifruit orchard. You’ll hear local history, see harbour and beach views, and sample kiwifruit, avocado, and locally sourced tea. Pickup and drop-off at the Port of Tauranga are included.

“Very interesting, lots of history. Guide certainly knows his stuff. Russell was fun and gave us plenty of time in each stop to do photos and absorb the atmosphere.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.TAURANGA City & Scenic Sightseeing 2-hour Local Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 124 reviews · from $49

This two-hour Tauranga and Mount Maunganui tour combines city sights, harbour views, kiwi and avocado orchards, and a photo stop at Minden Lookout. A local driver-guide such as Norm, Jude, Gary, or Alan provides commentary from an air-conditioned 18 to 40-seat vehicle with Wi-Fi. It is designed for cruise passengers with limited time.

“Good tour Jude was very friendly and knowledgeable. Really pleased that she told people not to talk during commentary as soon as we got on the bus and enforced it. Only criticism is that because of older demographic a toilet stop would be great and should be considered.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Half Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise – Tauranga

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 103 reviews · from $108

Cruise Tauranga’s Bay of Plenty aboard the 18-metre Bay Explorer, looking for wild dolphins, penguins, seals, whales, sharks, orca, and sunfish. Captain and crew, including guides such as Emily, Brandon, and Amy, provide commentary. You get indoor seating, an open sun-deck, and views of Mount Maunganui and offshore islands.

“It took awhile to find the dolphins but very fun when we did. The captain tries really hard to communicate with other boats to locate them He was accommodating dropping us off at our cruise ship. Very nice! Nice people”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Waimarino Adventure Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 102 reviews · from $36

Spend roughly three hours or more at Waimarino Adventure Park, where your admission covers water trampolines, climbing, pedalos, kayaks, rope challenges, slides, and swimming. Bring swimwear, a towel, food, and BBQ supplies. The park suits families with mixed ages, though children need adult supervision and extra kayak time costs more.

“This place is a hidden gem! We had a fantastic day out. Family of 4 (with 6 & 8 yo) So much to do and older kids would love it also with more adventurous activities my kids were not brave enough for. Staff are all lovely, so friendly and cannot do enough for you. Highly recommend. Tip if coming from the cruise port, take an Uber not a taxi as it was half the price.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 96 reviews · 5 hours · from $104

Set out from Tauranga at 9 am aboard Bay Explorer for a 4 to 5 hour wildlife cruise. Jamie, Taylor, Emily Dee, James, and Jordan are among the crew members praised for lively commentary and careful wildlife spotting. The open-deck boat offers 360-degree views, onboard bathrooms, and a bar selling drinks and snacks.

“very good saw so many dolphins, people were all respectful of one another and staff were friendly and helpful”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Mount Maunganui Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 89 reviews · 1 hour · from $23Best value

Spend an hour aboard the Kewpie, a 70-year-old, 52-foot ferry built from native kauri timber. Your English-speaking skipper shares local stories as you pass Mount Maunganui, the working port, beaches, islands, and possible wildlife. If conditions allow, you can leave the boat at Matakana Island for a beach walk, swim, fishing, or picnic.

“Lovely trip! Enjoyed walking along the beach on the Island!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Kiwifruit Destination and Sights Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 69 reviews · 4 hours · from $74

Join guides such as Stephen, Alan, or Dave for a four-hour Tauranga shore excursion in a luxury mini-coach. Visit a private organic kiwifruit and avocado orchard, see McLaren Falls, explore Tauranga Historic Village, and enjoy bottled water, snacks, and homemade brownies along the way.

“We had a terrific day with Stephen on our tour of Tauranga. The van was comfortable, snacks were tasty ( homemade brownies yum) and the stops were interesting. Stephen was knowledgeable and easy to listen to. He took us to the Marine Parade, beach, orchard, historic village, waterfalls, Gate Pa battle site and a park. Layton was so knowledgeable about organic kiwi farming. It was a small group and we actually went over our time and still were offered choices for our drop off. I would recommend Stephen and this interesting tour around Tauranga and the rural area around the city. Thank you for a great day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Skydive over Mount Maunganui

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 57 reviews · 1h 30m · from $319

Meet Skydive Tauranga at Mount Maunganui for a 90-minute tandem jump over the Bay of Plenty. After a 15-minute safety briefing, enjoy a 20 to 25-minute flight above Mauao, beaches, and distant volcanoes before freefalling at more than 200 km/h. Choose a 12,000 or 15,000-foot jump, with photo and video sold separately.

“An unreal experience from start to finish! The team was professional, fun, and made me feel completely safe. Freefalling over Mount Maunganui with those insane views was beyond words. Pure adrenaline, breathtaking scenery, and an experience I’ll never forget. Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review