The meeting point for passengers off the cruise ships is on the grass by the flag poll just outside the port pedestrian exit gate on Salisbury Avenue. If you are not travelling on a cruise ship then this is still the meeting point unless you have made an alternative arrangement with us.
Description
This tour ticks all the boxes. If you only have one day to see the unique and special part of New Zealand then this tour is a great option. The tour is informative and fun, and our knowledgeable guides will provide a day of exciting discovery as you journey into the heartland of the North Island. We will visit places the big coaches do not go to and tell you the stories and legends of the land.
• Native bush and lush countryside
• Geothermal wonders - Geysers, boiling mudpools, bubbling hot springs and steaming sulphur vents
• Stunning volcanic lakes and crystal clear streams
• Visit the Maori arts and crafts institute and see a cultural performance including the famous Haka
• New Zealand's iconic Kiwi bird
Tour Options
Rotorua Discovery Te Puia Tour
Itinerary
Te Puia
Admission included180 min
You will have a guided tour of the geothermal valley at Te Puia, Rotorua's leading geothermal destination.
Followed by a Maori cultural performance in the Marae.
Time to also see New Zealand's native Kiwi bird in the special nocturnal enclosure.
Rotorua
60 min
We will show you the sights of Rotorua city as part of the tour
Tauranga
30 min
As we depart (or return) to the port of Tauranga you will travel through the city, one of New Zealand's fastest growing city and home to the country's largest port.
Mount Maunganui
30 min
As we depart the Port of Tauranga where you cruise ship is berthed, we will dry through one of New Zealand's most popular and also most expensive beach side suburbs of Mount Maunganui, driving along the sea front of Marine Parade past multi-million dollar home.
Te Puke
Pass by
We will be travelling through the world capitol of Kiwi Fruit, otherwise know as the town of Te Puke and its surrounding area. The region produces 85% of the countries Kiwifruit crop. You will see the extensive orchard and their impressive windbreaks on the way to or from Rotorua, out main destination today.
Government Gardens
15 min
We take a stop to enjoy the impressive formal Government Gardens in the centre of Rotorua. These were the first gardens of their type in New Zealand. We pause awhile by Rachels Spring, a natural geothermal spring, the water of which is used by the Polynesian Spa.
What's included
Included
Fully Guided Tour with commentary
Comfortable air-conditioned transport
Port pickup and drop-off
Maori cultural performance
Experienced professional guide
Not included
Lunch
Personal expenses
Souvenir shopping
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
26 reviews
5
19
4
5
3
1
2
1
1
0
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Infant rates include own seat on the vehicle but please provide your own baby/child seat if required
Family Friendly Tour
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately. We suggest layers with hats and sunscreen
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Rotorua Discovery Te Puia Tour take?
Rotorua Discovery Te Puia Tour lasts about 7 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Rotorua Discovery Te Puia Tour cost?
Prices start at $164 per person for this Tauranga experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Rotorua Discovery Te Puia Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered.
What languages is Rotorua Discovery Te Puia Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infant rates include own seat on the vehicle but please provide your own baby/child seat if required Family Friendly Tour
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is Rotorua Discovery Te Puia Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 26 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Cruise Tours Tauranga.
Reviews(26)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
P
Paige L
May 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
An unforgettable day at Te Puia filled with culture, scenery and great memories
Our group of 10, aged between 40 and 75, had such a great day on the Te Puia tour. It was one of those tours that really had something for everyone.
The whole day was packed from start to finish — about 7 hours — but it never felt boring. The drive itself was beautiful with amazing scenery the whole way to Rotorua.
Te Puia was definitely the highlight. We learnt so much about Māori culture but in a really fun and interesting way, not like a history lesson. The geothermal valley was incredible to see in person, especially the steam, mud pools and the Pōhutu Geyser. Photos honestly don’t do it justice.
We also stopped at kiwi country for kiwi ice cream and little goodies to take home, which everyone loved. Such a nice little extra stop along the way.
The quick stop at the Redwood Forest was beautiful too, although we all wished we had more time there. The trees are absolutely massive and this is definitely where Mother Nature shows off.
A big shout out to our driver Richard as well. His local knowledge really added to the experience and he didn’t mind a bit of banter with the group, which made the day even more enjoyable and relaxed.
Overall, such a fun day out and well worth it. We all came home tired but happy.
Operator response
Thank you Paige for your very positive review. Richard really loves to show our guests around Rotorua and we do try and fit in as much as we can within the time the ship is in port. Te Puia is a stunning destination where you get up close to the geothermal activity. You will have to come back at some point, and we can then show you more great places. Regards Ian
J
Jean_C
May 5, 2026 · via Viator
John was an awesome guy...
John was an awesome guy plus the people at the village were extremely informative. We had a wonderful time visiting the village and Tauranga. Highly recommend.
Operator response
Thanks for your very kind comments, John will be happy to know you enjoyed the day, regards ian
K
Knut_W
March 11, 2026 · via Viator
Maori and geyser in combination!👍🏼
Beautiful insight into Maori culture. Interesting to see how the earth boils. And seeing kiwifruit was also very nice.
Operator response
Thanks for your review and pleased to hear you enjoyed the tour with Cruise Tours Tauranga. Regards Ian
M
martindeggbtinternet
March 2, 2026 · via Viator
Rotorua
Our guide John was very informative and knowledgeable throughout the tour. The highlight of the trip was seeing the geysers particularly Pohutu.
Operator response
Thanks for the review, it would be good to have known what issues gave rise to only a 4 star rating, regards Ian
X
X1085MHtraceyf
February 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome day
Fantastic day today. Picked us up from organised pick up spot near cruise ship. Saw everything on itinerary and Brian the tour guide provided plenty of information during the day. It was a fun informative day for our one day in Tauranga. We were back with over an 1.5 hours to spare before the ship left. Highly recommend if you have only a day to spend and are on a cruise ship.
Operator response
Thanks for your kind comments, Brian has been a guide for us for over 20 years and really does a great job. Pleased that you had a good time. Regards Ian
M
Mark_C
November 14, 2025 · via Viator
Great tour
Excellent tour. John was very knowledgeable and great driver/guide. Would recommend for a cultural experience.
Operator response
Thanks for the kind comments about your guide John, he will be happy to know you enjoyed the day with him. Regards Ian
J
Jerry_R
March 22, 2025 · via Viator
Only 13 minutes to see geysers
To me, the most important part of going on this tour was to see the geysers. But after going on their guided tour and hearing all about Maori we only got less than 15 minutes to walk through the whole geyser area. That was completely insufficient and so disappointing.
Operator response
We are sorry about the short time you had to view the geothermal areas at Te Puia. Please note that we are no longer able to show our guests through Te Puia with our own guides [as we had done for over 20 years before VOVID]. Now the Te Puia guides do this and we have no control of how they run the tours. We have taken this matter up with the general manager at Te Puia only last week as this is now a common problem at Te Puia. There is 90 minutes scheduled for the tour part of the visit but the Te Puia guides do not focus on what is the most important part of the visit, the geothermal sights. So we are really sorry you did not enjoy the visit and have enough time to see the geysers etc. I will copy your feedback to the GM at Te Puia. Regards Ian
M
Margarita_H
March 21, 2025 · via Viator
Interesting tour with professional guide
Our driver-guide Alistair was very professional and helpful. Gave us a lot of information, showed places that were not included in the program.
Operator response
Thanks for the very kind review. Regards ian
S
Steven_P
February 23, 2025 · via Viator
Local culture and scenic views
The visit to the Maori's was fantastic. Our enthusiastic Maori guide taught me so much about their history their art and their music. However the ride back and forth from Tauranga spent far too much time discussing the cultivation of kiwi.
Operator response
Thanks for the info, if we knew which guide you travelled with we could have a chat with him about your comments. Regards Ian
R
richardsF8673SM
February 21, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Might wait to turango for better experience
Depended on guide. Seem they have to learn themselves. Not exprts. Left early
L8t of walking. See movie and museuk to learn more. Figure 3-4 hrs. Can walk to l/from cruise tender dropoff
Operator response
Sorry you were only able to give us a 3 star review, but we can not understand your comments. Tauranga does not have a tender system, you just walk off the ship on the gangway, the tour is 7 hours duration overall, have you made an error in placing your review on the wrong tour?
