Day Trips and Tours from Tauranga

Tauranga, located in the popular Bay of Plenty area, is undoubtedly one of the best places to stay when visiting New Zealand’s North Island.

While Tauranga has a lot to offer visiting tourists, there are many wonderful things to see and do just outside of the harbourside city.

Whether you want to experience the nearby thermal geysers or visit a local Maori village, there is a day trip from Tauranga to satisfy your interests.

Discover the incredible natural beauty of the surrounding areas, learn more about famous sites and immerse yourself in local culture.

Rotorua Wai-O-Tapu Geysers

One of the most popular day trips from Tauranga is to the Rotorua Wai-O-Tapu geysers. A visit to these awe-inspiring and world-renowned geysers is the ideal day trip for nature lovers and adventurers.

Located just 90 kilometers inland from Tauranga, the drive up to the Wai-O-Tapu geysers is absolutely breathtaking and you’ll get to see some of the best views that the North Island has to offer during the 1.5-hour drive.

The Taupo Volcanic Zone, which stretches from the Pacific Ocean to Mount Ruapehu, has one of the world’s highest geothermal activity ratings— resulting in the area’s large number of geysers and geothermal pools.

Wai-O-Tapu’s Thermal Wonderland is a geothermal park that is made up of a series of sulphuric mud baths, colorful pools and explosive geysers.

One of the most popular attractions is the iconic Champagne Pool, which bubbles just like a glass of champagne.

Tours to the Wai-O-Tapu geysers, located just outside of Rotorua, provide a plethora of incredible photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera along with you for the journey.

Most tours also make stops at additional geysers and geothermal sites along the way, providing a fully comprehensive experience.

Take the opportunity to learn about the North Island’s fascinating geothermal activity and see the geysers in action with a day trip to Wai-O-Tapu geysers from Tauranga.

Hobbiton Movie Set

Visiting the Hobbiton movie set is an absolute must-do for fans of the “Lord of the Rings” books and movies. The movie set is located less than an hour from Tauranga’s city center— making for the ideal day trip destination for the entire family.

The drive between Tauranga and the Hobbiton movie set is incredibly beautiful and you'll be treated to some incredible local scenery along the way.

Hobbiton is located on a sheep farm with the Kaimai mountain ranges looming in the distance. The movie set has been well-maintained over the years, and you’ll be impressed by how much the set looks just as it did in the movie trilogy.

You’ll enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the movie set, where you’ll see some of the locations of the most iconic scenes from “Lord of the Rings”.

Explore the Hobbit Holes and lush green pastures of the Shire, and don’t forget to take photos to commemorate the bucket-list experience.

Before making your way back to Tauranga, you'll also be given some free time to sit down and have lunch at The Shire’s Rest Cafe, have a glass of ale at the Green Dragon Pub and browse the extensive onsite souvenir shop.

Explore the world of Frodo and Bilbo with a Hobbiton day trip from Tauranga.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are one of the North Island’s top-rated natural attractions, and thousands of people from around the world visit the caves each year.

The underground caves are located around 150 kilometers southwest of Tauranga and the 2-hour drive is well worth it.

When the caves are lit up by the resident glow worms at night the scene looks like something out of a fantasy movie.

The caves are home to a large population of Arachnocampa Luminosa, which is a type of glow worm species that is only found in New Zealand.

Most tours include a boat ride through the glowworm grotto, which makes for a truly breathtaking experience as the light from the glow worms is reflected onto the water.

The famous glowworm cave is part of Waitomo’s streamway systems which also includes Ruakuri Cave and Tumutumu Cave.

The area is exceptionally beautiful, and many tour operators make stops at some of the nearby attractions on their way to the caves.

Of course, it is best to visit the caves after dark, when you’ll be able to see the glowworms in action. Most tours depart Tauranga in the afternoon so that you reach the caves around dusk.

Experience one of nature’s most spectacular light shoes by participating in a day trip to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves from Tauranga.

Te Puia Maori Village

A day trip to Te Puia Maori Village is the ideal way to learn more about Maori culture, history and tradition from the Maori people themselves.

The village is located in Rotorua’s geothermal region and is filled with an array of explosive geysers and mud pools.

The Te Puia Maori Village is located roughly an hour south of Tauranga, and the scenic drive offers incredible views of the local countryside.

The Maori Arts and Crafts Institute provides insightful information about Maori culture, and you’ll get to see a variety of traditional handmade items.

Your guide will tell you more about the materials used in various pieces, as well as what the items are used for.

As you walk through the village and surrounding area, you may be lucky enough to spot New Zealand’s famous yet elusive kiwi bird.

The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly the traditional Maori cultural performance that includes singing and dancing.

The performance brings local legends and stories to life in an innovative and engaging way. In addition to song and dance, the performance also includes fight sequences. The storytelling ability of the performers is truly breathtaking.

On your way back to Tauranga, most tour operators make a few stops at other attractions in Rotorua to provide you with a comprehensive day trip experience.

Embrace local culture and tradition when you book a Te Puia Maori Village day trip from Tauranga.