Private Van Full-Day
Maori first discovered this area in the 13th Century and named it "Tauranga" meaning 'the place of rest or anchorage.' The area has grown rapidly in recent years and now shines as a cosmopolitan city with a combined easy-going, friendly atmosphere. A stunning coastal paradise, this region offers a multitude of choices appealing to everyone for entertainment and activities. From the mountains to beaches, world-class culinary to outdoor markets, it will not be difficult to create very special memories when you are here.
Maori are the Tangata Whenua, the indigenous people, of New Zealand. They came here more than 1000 years ago from their mythical Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki. Today Maori make up 14% of the population and their history, language and traditions are central to New Zealand's identity.
After being met at the port area by your friendly, local driver/guide you can determine exactly what you would like to do for your day in port. Your customizable tour will be conducted in a comfortable, luxurious Mercedes Van with cool bottled water, snacks, and complimentary Wi fi. Maximize your day in port and create an itinerary that is suited just for you.
Tours start at Mount Maunganui, which is well-known among New Zealanders for its extensive stretch of immaculate Pacific beaches and several multimillion-dollar houses. A few options for a shorter 5-hour tour within a 30-kilometer radius of the Port and requires less time in an automobile, includes crossing the Harbour Bridge to Tauranga's old city, where you can see historic structures like the Elms Mission Station, an 1847 Georgian-style home set in beautifully Victorian landscaped gardens. Next take a 20-minute drive to the world's largest kiwifruit orchard, where you visit one of the area's original orchards and be mesmerized by the unique fruit that is hanging in abundance from the vine. Tour the battle locations of British and native Maori, that took place in the late 1800s, when the British suffered one of their few defeats as colonial ruler and later learned trench warfare that they used to their best benefit in the Great War 50 years later. Drive through some stunning neighborhoods with Hydrangeas and other garden flowers in full bloom. Visit McLaren Falls, then stroll along some cool, refreshing pathways lined with native plants on your route to a magical waterfall.
We will also encourage you to accompany us on a ride to one of the top viewpoints on Minden Road or Reid Road so you can gaze at the view of our topographically diverse coastal landscape (and take photographs with your friends and family). If the day is clear enough, you may catch a glimpse of Whakaari (White Island), which will most likely be puffing smoke.
Next tour white sandy beaches that stretch for 125km (nearly 80 miles), where lifeguards are on duty closer to your ship , so you can rest or enjoy the surf for an hour or two.
We also offer you a journey that includes picturesque locations for photo opportunities and lifetime memories:
- Lake and Mt Tarawera, my favourite lake with the Mountain in the background that erupted in 1886 devastating the surrounding landscape and destroying the Pink and White Terraces, at that time coined the 8th wonder of the world.
- Wai-O-Tapu, a 20 minute drive beyond Rotorua towards the centre of the Island and also sited upon the Taupo Volcanic Zone, where you can be mesmerised by the boiling mud pools, on show 24/7.
- Lake Tikitapu Reserve, the blue Lake, where we go off-piste into pristine, tranquil virgin New Zealand forest and imagine what it was like for the Maori (or the first Europeans that travelled through or broke in these lands to become a mainly pastoral nation) before the country was colonised in the 1800's.
- Redwoods, a grove of Redwood pines planted closely Rotorua some 80 years ago that are now protected that have become somewhat of a tourist attraction where you can walk on rope paths through the treetops.
- Skyline Gondola, where you can gain glorious views of Lake Rotorua and choose the option of wine-tasting in a venue at the top or descend with fun in Luges with the younger people in your group to the bottom to reboard the Gondola and do it all over again.
Getting out on the water is another great choice for the adventurous type. Ever tried river rafting? Rafting encompasses the complete range of excitement, from a peaceful glide through magnificent forested wilderness to a white-knuckled, wide-eyed excursion through rapids. If this is one of your preferred options, please notify us because advance reservations may be required and passable, suitable, and safe river conditions are necessary. Additional costs per individual for this activity is $75 USD. Please be aware that this activity will take 1.5 hours, so some local sightseeing will have to be compromised.
At the end of our tour or other activities in the Rotorua Lakes and Geothermal region, we return to Tauranga on a different path where you may sleep or enjoy the New Zealand beauty in Mangorewa Gorge for fantastic photos.
Please Note: The entrance fee to the Maori Village is $35 US per person (not included). Vehicles available for this tour accommodate groups of up to 11 or 14 guests maximum. Groups with more than 14 guests will need to book multiple vehicles. Please consider this information when booking. The Skyline Gondola is also at additional cost of $37 US per person including a Luge ride, or $24 US without, and approximately 30% cheaper for the kids.
About Shore Excursions Group
Learn More About Shore Excursions Group
ABOUT US
Shore Excursions Group was created with one goal in mind: to provide exceptional travel experiences to cruise passengers in the ports they visit around the world. To accomplish this, we have compiled an exceptional array of tours delivered by local experts with decades of experience serving travelers and delivering excellent tours. Our owners and management team are comprised of seasoned travel industry executives who leverage their considerable experience to deliver memories of a lifetime.
We are experts in providing exceptional shore excursions. We understand that in today's fast paced world, vacations have become an increasingly important way to relax, reconnect with family and friends, and experience new and interesting places. With this in mind, we provide the highest quality tours by performing extensive research, and detailed reviews. While other companies also offer excursions, we strongly believe our expertise and approach set us apart. The large cruise lines sell shore excursions - typically in very large groups visiting high traffic sites. We focus on smaller groups visiting more interesting and authentic locations using more personalized local operators. While the cruise lines are experts in delivering cruises, we are experts in delivering shore excursions.
Our Approach
We believe quality service is not only highly valued by customers, but ultimately leads to better experiences and higher satisfaction. Unlike the cruise lines and other tour companies that rely almost entirely on websites, we encourage customers to call us. We want to invest our time answering your questions, providing input, and selecting the excursions that best meet your needs.
Our Tours
Our goal is to provide customers a wide array of exciting, appealing, and enriching tours. For those customers who prefer to travel in smaller groups with more personalized service, we offer a wide variety of small group tours around the world. These tours generally range in size from 2-12 people compared to larger tours which can number up to 50 people. While exploring the destinations and ports on this website, feel free to search for these "Small Group Tours". For those customers interested in private tours, we offer many outstanding excursions that allow you to travel with your party alone and, in many cases, to fully customize your tour. Search for "Private Tours" if you are interested in this experience. Our "Scenic" tours provide up close and personal access to some of the most spectacular natural environments on Earth from majestic glaciers in Alaska to spectacular reefs in the Caribbean. Our "Cultural" tours allow customers to experience local customs, entertainment and culinary delights ranging from tribal dances in Alaska to an outstanding local meal in Santorini, Greece. Our "Active" tours offer a multitude of exciting and adventurous ways to experience our destinations. Our customers can kayak the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, hike to a spectacular waterfall in Hawaii, or bicycle through quaint villages in France. Our "City" tours allow travelers to see the highlights of great cities around the world with unique insights provided by our expert tour guides.
Our People
In our experience, exceptional travel experiences are almost always delivered by exceptional people. With that in mind, we utilize a comprehensive approach to select and employ the leading tour guides and tour providers around the globe. We hold our people to very high standards which we measure by our comprehensive Quality Control process and, most importantly, by our customer feedback, which we will actively seek from each of our customers.
Our Owners
Shore Excursions Group is owned by seasoned travel executives possessing extensive experience across many sectors within the travel industry.
Bradford J. Miller
Mr. Miller is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Abercrombie & Kent, the World's leading luxury travel company. In that role, Mr. Miller was responsible for contributing to Abercrombie & Kent's international growth through the development and acquisition of tour products and travel experiences around the world with a specific focus on cruising and land based experiences. Prior to joining Abercrombie & Kent, Mr. Miller held a variety of executive positions with Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises for more than a decade. These positions included Vice President of Guest Sales & Service, Vice President of Brand Development, and Vice President of Onboard Revenue (which included shore excursions). Mr. Miller also led Celebrity Expeditions, a collection of outstanding and unique tours around the World.
Michael Bonner
Mr. Bonner has over a decade of experience working in the cruise industry in a variety of roles for both Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Viking River Cruises. Most recently, Mr. Bonner was the Chief Operating Officer for The Scholar Ship, a Royal Caribbean program aimed at providing college students onboard educational programs in conjunction with enriching shore excursions around the world. Mr. Bonner also helped co-manage Viking River Cruises U.S. Operations, and he ran the corporate, strategic, and deployment planning functions at Royal Caribbean. While at Royal Caribbean, Mr. Bonner was responsible for forming Royal Celebrity Tours, Royal Caribbean's land-based tour operation in Alaska, which takes cruise passengers on multiple day tours through the interior of Alaska either before or after their cruises. Prior to working at Royal Caribbean, Mr. Bonner was a consultant for Booz Allen & Hamilton.
About Shore Excursions Group
ABOUT US
Shore Excursions Group was created with one goal in mind: to provide exceptional travel experiences to cruise passengers in the ports they visit around the world. To accomplish this, we have compiled an exceptional array of tours delivered by local experts with decades of experience serving travelers and delivering excellent tours. Our owners and management team are comprised of seasoned travel industry executives who leverage their considerable experience to deliver memories of a lifetime.
We are experts in providing exceptional shore excursions. We understand that in today's fast paced world, vacations have become an increasingly important way to relax, reconnect with family and friends, and experience new and interesting places. With this in mind, we provide the highest quality tours by performing extensive research, and detailed reviews. While other companies also offer excursions, we strongly believe our expertise and approach set us apart. The large cruise lines sell shore excursions - typically in very large groups visiting high traffic sites. We focus on smaller groups visiting more interesting and authentic locations using more personalized local operators. While the cruise lines are experts in delivering cruises, we are experts in delivering shore excursions.
Our Approach
We believe quality service is not only highly valued by customers, but ultimately leads to better experiences and higher satisfaction. Unlike the cruise lines and other tour companies that rely almost entirely on websites, we encourage customers to call us. We want to invest our time answering your questions, providing input, and selecting the excursions that best meet your needs.
Our Tours
Our goal is to provide customers a wide array of exciting, appealing, and enriching tours. For those customers who prefer to travel in smaller groups with more personalized service, we offer a wide variety of small group tours around the world. These tours generally range in size from 2-12 people compared to larger tours which can number up to 50 people. While exploring the destinations and ports on this website, feel free to search for these "Small Group Tours". For those customers interested in private tours, we offer many outstanding excursions that allow you to travel with your party alone and, in many cases, to fully customize your tour. Search for "Private Tours" if you are interested in this experience. Our "Scenic" tours provide up close and personal access to some of the most spectacular natural environments on Earth from majestic glaciers in Alaska to spectacular reefs in the Caribbean. Our "Cultural" tours allow customers to experience local customs, entertainment and culinary delights ranging from tribal dances in Alaska to an outstanding local meal in Santorini, Greece. Our "Active" tours offer a multitude of exciting and adventurous ways to experience our destinations. Our customers can kayak the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, hike to a spectacular waterfall in Hawaii, or bicycle through quaint villages in France. Our "City" tours allow travelers to see the highlights of great cities around the world with unique insights provided by our expert tour guides.
Our People
In our experience, exceptional travel experiences are almost always delivered by exceptional people. With that in mind, we utilize a comprehensive approach to select and employ the leading tour guides and tour providers around the globe. We hold our people to very high standards which we measure by our comprehensive Quality Control process and, most importantly, by our customer feedback, which we will actively seek from each of our customers.
Our Owners
Shore Excursions Group is owned by seasoned travel executives possessing extensive experience across many sectors within the travel industry.
Bradford J. Miller
Mr. Miller is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Abercrombie & Kent, the World's leading luxury travel company. In that role, Mr. Miller was responsible for contributing to Abercrombie & Kent's international growth through the development and acquisition of tour products and travel experiences around the world with a specific focus on cruising and land based experiences. Prior to joining Abercrombie & Kent, Mr. Miller held a variety of executive positions with Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises for more than a decade. These positions included Vice President of Guest Sales & Service, Vice President of Brand Development, and Vice President of Onboard Revenue (which included shore excursions). Mr. Miller also led Celebrity Expeditions, a collection of outstanding and unique tours around the World.
Michael Bonner
Mr. Bonner has over a decade of experience working in the cruise industry in a variety of roles for both Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Viking River Cruises. Most recently, Mr. Bonner was the Chief Operating Officer for The Scholar Ship, a Royal Caribbean program aimed at providing college students onboard educational programs in conjunction with enriching shore excursions around the world. Mr. Bonner also helped co-manage Viking River Cruises U.S. Operations, and he ran the corporate, strategic, and deployment planning functions at Royal Caribbean. While at Royal Caribbean, Mr. Bonner was responsible for forming Royal Celebrity Tours, Royal Caribbean's land-based tour operation in Alaska, which takes cruise passengers on multiple day tours through the interior of Alaska either before or after their cruises. Prior to working at Royal Caribbean, Mr. Bonner was a consultant for Booz Allen & Hamilton.
