Pre & Post Cruise Ship Tours

We operate a selection of tours from 1 day walks around Auckland to further a field tours to the Coromandel Peninsula or the Bay of Plenty, all departing from and arriving back at the Auckland cruise ship terminal.

ONE DAY TOUR TO WAITAKERE RANGES AND WEST COAST

After being met at your cruise ship by your Kiwi Dundee Guide we drive through the city of Auckland passing through the Auckland Domain and driving to the highest point in Auckland, Mount Eden. From here you have a 360 degree view of the city, both harbours and as far as the Coromandel Peninsula way out to the east.

Then a 40-minute drive through the western suburbs of Auckland brings us to the rain forest clad regional park of the Waitakere Ranges. Visit the Arataki Centre built into the rainforest with spectacular views of both the West and East coasts of New Zealand.

Take a stroll through beautiful rainforest full of giant Kauri trees, which grow amongst the worlds largest ferns. This semi tropical rainforest is unique to New Zealand and your guides will introduce you to the flora and fauna found here.

We are likely to see many of our native birds while walking along these bush trails. After a delightful lunch what better than to walk along a rugged west-coast beach with rocky islands and cave systems to explore if the tide is right. A visit to Karekare Beach where the film 'Piano' was made On the journey back to the city, visit a local winery to sample wines grown in this, the oldest wine region in New Zealand.

AUCKLAND - COROMANDEL - AUCKLAND COROMANDEL NATURE HIGHLIGHTS

You are met at your Cruise ship or hotel in Auckland by your Kiwi Dundee Adventures guide. Travel South to The Coromandel Peninsula via the seabird coast. Stop in the old gold mining town of Thames before heading over steep bush clad mountains to the Eastern side of the Peninsula. Enjoy a gentle walk through beautiful regenerating Kauri forest full of fern trees, along the old tracks of Puketui, the 1890's gold mining town. See glowworms in an historic old gold cave. Learn about the flora and fauna of this magic area. Lunch will be at a delightful cafe, or a delicious picnic with a chance to view your guide's spectacular collection of quartz, obsidian, minerals, old photos of the Coromandel and beautiful rocks full of gold. From the panorama of mountains and forest, travel to the contrasting coastal scenery with beautiful beaches, off-shore islands and magnificent cliffs decorated with ancient Pohutukawa trees.

Highlights may include: Visit to Hotwater beach (tide permitting) where you can dabble your feet in the natural hot-springs on the beach. A walk up onto the old Maori fortification to enjoy the spectacular panorama before beginning the scenic drive back to your hotel or cruise ship in Auckland city.

TAURANGA TO ROTORUA GEYSERS - LAKES - MUDPOOLS MAORI CULTURE

Enjoy a private, personalized tour with your Kiwi Dundee Adventures guide touring through back country farmland climbing 1000ft up onto the volcanic plateau of Rotorua, the thermal city built in the crater of a huge volcano. See spectacular waterfalls, where rafters and kayakers drop over the largest commercial drop allowed in the world!

Highlights of the day can include an optional walk in a thermal valley with bubbling mud pools, geysers, viewing New Zealand's famous kiwi bird & Maori Arts and Crafts and a traditional Maori concert. We take a scenic tour out past the Blue and Green Lakes, to Lake Tarawera, sitting below Mt Tararewa which last erupted in 1886 killing 160 people. Lunch at the Botanical Gardens, home to the museum at the historic Bath House. Enjoy a wine tasting at Mills Reefs winery in Bay Of Plenty if time allows before returing to your accomodation late afternoon.

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF THE BAY OF PLENTY

Your Kiwi Dundee Adventure Guide will give you a delightful day including a great chance to experience the local life way of life in this progressive region of New Zealand.

Your day will include a visit to a genuine working horticultural orchard with kiwifruit, avocados and export flowers -a fascinating glimpse at one of New Zealand's major export industries. Stop at the mural town of Katikati, famous for its open-air art painted by top New Zealand artists. Enjoy the variety of little shops including locally made art and crafts.

After a delicious lunch, enjoy a scenic drive through the still active old gold mining town of Waihi, home to the famous "Martha Mine', one of the richest ever in the world, then we go for a short but stunning walk into a rugged rocky gorge dotted with old golmines from the 1800's. Returning to the Bay of Plenty we visit Waihi beach for some wonderful photograpy from an old Maori Pa site looking out over the whole Bay.

To complete this day of variety, wonderful scenery, stop at a local winery for a wine tasting before returning to your cruise ship to continue your New Zealand holiday, where your Kiwi Dundee Guide will bid you a sad farewell.