Bay of Islands Cruise Tour: Explore Glow Worm Caves and Picturesque Landscapes

Create lasting memories on this half-day tour of the Bay of Islands from your cruise ships arrival at the Waitangi Wharf.

The Bay of Islands is a popular tourist destination in New Zealand. This guided tour shows you an abundance of breathtaking picturesque views giving you plenty of fantastic photo opportunities. The area is often referred to as \

Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Paihia Harbour - See the Paihia harbour as we drive through
  • Haruru Falls - View the waterfalls
  • Makana Chocolate Boutique - Sample some of the finest chocolates
  • Kawiti Caves - Stunning guided tour of the glow worm caves
  • Manginangina Kauri Walk - A beautiful short walk
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Expert driver/guide
  • Exquisite chocolate-tasting experience
  • Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
  • Convenient port pickup and drop-off
  • Engaging live commentary on board
  • All local taxes included
What's Not Included
  • Food and Drinks
Additional Information
  • At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
  • 100% refund will be issued if your ship can’t make it into port due to weather conditions.
  • If your ship is scheduled to arrive after 9.30am - the tour departure time will…
Location
P3HJ+8V Waitangi
We will be waiting at the end of the Waitangi Wharf - where your tender boats drop you with a sign saying "Bay of Islands Tours" If you are staying at a hotel - please list your hotel name when booking so we can pick you up from reception.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(284 Ratings)
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Young_p
Apr 25, 2025
The driver was... - The driver was knowledgeable and friendly. The cave was very interesting also scenery was beautiful. It was fun tour and my family enjoyed a lot.
Review provided by Viator
Mark_w
Apr 23, 2025
Bay of Islands Excursion - This excursion was a full day of education, local and NZ history. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided us with backstories and significant facts related to the various sites, locations, and points of interest. He provided us with an experience worth the time. There are many choices related to "off the ship" excursions you can take, but if you are coming off a cruise ship and only have a day to explore, this excursion is well worth your time.
Review provided by Viator
Quest15421050913
Apr 14, 2025
Cramped bit still worth it - A nice overview, stops, and the glow worms were amazing. Like others have noted, the ride is cramped due to being 100% full and very little leg room. Good guide and got is back in plenty of time to get back to our ship.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margo_w
Apr 14, 2025
Beautiful experience - This was such an amazing trip. Our guide Gareth was a wealth of information. The frequent photo stops at the beautiful Bay of Islands was really appreciated. The glow worms cave was fascinating. Be sure to wear shoes or sneakers with a good grip, as some of the walkways are slippery and it’s very dark. We did have lanterns to help light the way, as every fifth person got one to use. We are so glad we decided to book this trip.
Review provided by Viator
Carkeys1
Apr 14, 2025
I highly recommend! - Excellent tour of the area topped off with the glow worms. Our guide was highly informative and entertaining. Our scheduled time in port was a little tight based on the tour length. But we were assured that we would be back to the tender dock in plenty of time, and we were!
Review provided by Viator
Luvtravel88
Apr 14, 2025
An Excellent Tour - This was a very full day of interesting sights and beauty and pick up and drop off were at the yacht club at the end of the pier, where the tender dropped you off. The tour completed everything that was listed on the itinerary in an engaging, fun filled day. The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. The falls were lovely, the chocolate store was nice, the walk at Manginangina Kauri was beautiful and the Glow Worms in the cave were incredible. The only downside of the entire day was that no pictures are allowed in the cave! It was a great day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret_m
Mar 28, 2025
Outstanding day - Thank you for an amazing day of adventure especially the glow worms - highlight of the day. The guide was very informative and communicated well. We enjoyed our stop at the pie shop and loved the chocolate tasting - definitely don't miss this stop. We highly recommend this tour you will love it
Review provided by Viator
Judith_g
Apr 18, 2025
Enjoyed this tour with... - Enjoyed this tour with Greg. Only complaint was the incredibly narrow seats on the bus and no seat belts.
Review provided by Viator
David_w
Apr 14, 2025
Falls, trees and gloworms - A fairly lengthy trip with, for me, three significant highlights: the falls were pretty, the Kauri forest stunning, and the Glow worm caves spectacular. Our driver and guide Greg was very entertaining and displays a genuine pride of this part of New Zealand.
Review provided by Viator
Steven_s
Apr 14, 2025
Just a little disappointed … - The country-side tour was most enjoyable, and the glow worm cave was fascinating. That said, the tour guide did not seem to have the knowledge our other tour guides have had. Additionally, being on an excursion that stops at specific businesses - attempting to have the tourists make purchases - is VERY off putting.
Review provided by Viator
From $137
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).