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New Zealand
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Tauranga
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Shore Excursion: Rotorua and Te Puia including Maori Cultural Show from Tauranga
1 day
About this activity
You will be met at the end of your arrival wharf at 8:30am (or whenever your ship arrives), then depart for Rotorua. The first stop will be to admire the stunning beaches which stretch for miles along the coast. Hear about the earliest settlers to these shores, the Polynesians, how they got here and how they developed their unique Maori culture. Learn about the tectonic plates colliding beneath your feet and why there are volcanoes, geysers and boiling pools in the region.
Next up is Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty, known as the Kiwifruit capital of the world, where the modern fruit was first cultivated. Enjoy a quick orchard tour before sampling juices, fruit and liqueurs. It is also a great place to shop for gifts.
Next, head inland through timber plantations and volcanic landscapes before arriving at Okere Falls to experience subtropical rainforest and stunning rapids and waterfalls. Then, drive along beautiful lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua to Te Puia, the highlight of the day. The area is full of bubbling boiling pools and here you can see several geysers including Pohutu, which erupts about once every hour and sends a column of steaming water up to almost 100 feet into the air. Because of the boiling water, a valuable resource that could be used for warmth and cooking, Te Puia was settled by the early Maori and it is here you will see the Maori Cultural show and the schools of wood carving and weaving. Enjoy lunch at your own expense at Te Puia.
Visit the spectacular Government Gardens and see the oldest purpose built tourist venue in the Southern Hemisphere, the old Bathhouse. The early European visitors bathed in the medicinal mineral waters that bubbled out of the ground, heated by the volcanoes below. There are also beautiful gardens where, time permitting, you can enjoy with a short relaxing stroll.
Visit Kuirau Park. This unique park is right in the heart of Rotorua, surrounded by municipal buildings and houses and it is full of boiling pools, some of which are the size of a small swimming pool. As you leave Rotorua at approximately 3:00pm, you will have the chance to visit Hamarana Springs. This artesian spring water is so clear, it has to be seen to be believed. Enjoy the ducks and, if you are lucky, see the huge trout as they cool of in the heat of the summer.
Arrive safely back at your ship at approximately 4:30pm.
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Next up is Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty, known as the Kiwifruit capital of the world, where the modern fruit was first cultivated. Enjoy a quick orchard tour before sampling juices, fruit and liqueurs. It is also a great place to shop for gifts.
Next, head inland through timber plantations and volcanic landscapes before arriving at Okere Falls to experience subtropical rainforest and stunning rapids and waterfalls. Then, drive along beautiful lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua to Te Puia, the highlight of the day. The area is full of bubbling boiling pools and here you can see several geysers including Pohutu, which erupts about once every hour and sends a column of steaming water up to almost 100 feet into the air. Because of the boiling water, a valuable resource that could be used for warmth and cooking, Te Puia was settled by the early Maori and it is here you will see the Maori Cultural show and the schools of wood carving and weaving. Enjoy lunch at your own expense at Te Puia.
Visit the spectacular Government Gardens and see the oldest purpose built tourist venue in the Southern Hemisphere, the old Bathhouse. The early European visitors bathed in the medicinal mineral waters that bubbled out of the ground, heated by the volcanoes below. There are also beautiful gardens where, time permitting, you can enjoy with a short relaxing stroll.
Visit Kuirau Park. This unique park is right in the heart of Rotorua, surrounded by municipal buildings and houses and it is full of boiling pools, some of which are the size of a small swimming pool. As you leave Rotorua at approximately 3:00pm, you will have the chance to visit Hamarana Springs. This artesian spring water is so clear, it has to be seen to be believed. Enjoy the ducks and, if you are lucky, see the huge trout as they cool of in the heat of the summer.
Arrive safely back at your ship at approximately 4:30pm.
Included
- Port pickup and drop-off
- All activities
- Driver/guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Live commentary on board
- Bottle of water
- WiFi available on request
Not included
- Lunch
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Additional
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Full refund if your ship fails to dock for any reason
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- A maximum of 14 people per booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- To fully enjoy this tour you need to be mobile.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
Features
Tourism
100%
Cultural
55%
Aquatic
35%
Reviews
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It was an all day excursion, but we could have stayed hours more! Our guide was so friendly and knowledgeable. We stopped at an incredible kiwi farm and of course had a kiwi ice cream. Seeing the Maori culture show was great and inspiring. Topping it all off with seeing the gyeser spewing and the gyser pools bubbling plus all the greenery and almost seeing kiwi birds at Rotorua. Stopped for pictures along the way at such a picturesque beach and saw rapids on a river. Spectacular day and would highly recommend it!
Another great tour of NZ,Eight of us had a Great Day with our Coach Driver Simon Beaton, who was so very informative,and went out of his way to show us the Kiwi Fruit Orchard,on our way to Rotarua and Puia,and made us just in time to see the Guyser blow its Head of and the Steam Pouring out of the Rocks was magnificient returning us via another route on the Way back to Tauranga and the beaut Farm Land and Hills so green,reminds me of our Home State Tasmania.Cruise Tauranga really made our Day out, so much to see in a short time ,Keep up the Good work Boys n Girls.
I am looking forward to tasting the Golden Kiwi Fruit some day in the USA. We enjoyed seeing first hand how they are growing the Kiwi Fruit and getting a fresh sample to taste. We learned about the local plants while viewing the Okere Falls. It was a secluded spot and it seemed like we were the only people there. The Geothermal Valley was an amazing site. Best of all the Maori Cultural Show. The performers displayed their passion for us. Best of all, our guide. She was the best guide we have ever had on any trip.
What a difference a skilled, knowledgeable tour guide makes, particularly in multi-stop, varied locales. This was a remarkable, fun learning experience. At a beach, we learned about the earliest inhabitants. At a kiwi orchard, he took us into the orchard to show us details of how the fruit is grown and shipped. In a forest walk at a falls, he showed us plants with various medicinal qualities, even tasting one. At Te Puia, he knew the best places for viewing, and monitored geyser activity while we attended the show, trying his best to time our walk through the geyser field with an eruption. A master educator at all times, the tour finished with a stop at a park in central Rotorua with a large number of hot springs. We covered an enormous amount of things on this tour, with no wasted time. By that I mean we ate lunch quickly at Te Puia, and a small amount of time was allotted either for some shopping there or to view additional cultural exhibits. This was, by far, the most interesting excursion in a three week vacation. I highly recommend it.
Had a great day with a very noligable guide.