New Zealand Shore Excursions


SHORE EXCURSIONS · BY REGION

15 Best New Zealand Shore Excursions

The best days ashore.

The 15 most popular new zealand shore excursions for cruise passengers. The trips worth your hours ashore, what each one runs, who operates it and how to be back before all-aboard.

15 Best New Zealand Shore Excursions

Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights - Mount Maunganui Pickup and Timing the Day Around Your Ship
New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tauranga, Tour Reviews, Tours

Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights

1.Tauranga Shore Excursion: Rotorua Highlights

Full-day Rotorua shore excursion from Tauranga: Whakarewarewa geothermal wonders, Pohutu Geyser, Māori village show, kiwifruit stop and more.

Most Popular 4.5

“The guide was very informative and knowledgeable about the places he took us! He kept us entertained with his wit and expertise! The driver also added information as well and this gave us an extra insight into the areas that we visited! The Māori show was enjoyable and the guide was very passionate about his…”

Check Availability →Read the review →

6.5 hour Small-Group Rotorua Naturally Shore Excursion - Tauranga - The geothermal taste test: Kuirau Park, Sulphur Point, Government Gardens
New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tauranga, Tour Reviews, Tours

6.5 hour Small-Group Rotorua Naturally Shore Excursion – Tauranga

2.6.5 hour Small-Group Rotorua Naturally Shore Excursion – Tauranga

Get Rotorua’s geothermal sights, a Māori village snack stop, plus Redwoods treetop rope bridges and a glow worm cave on a cruise-friendly day.

4.5

“This tour exceeded our expectations. The Tour Guide Simon was the most knowledgeable and personable Guide we’ve ever had - after experiencing many tours over the years. We visited all locations as described plus a couple of extra interesting stops. I would thoroughly recommend this tour and Simon as a Guide.”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Hobbiton Movie Set Shore Excursion from Tauranga (6 Hours) - How the 6-hour day really plays out (without rushing you off a cliff)
New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tauranga, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hobbiton Movie Set Shore Excursion from Tauranga (6 Hours)

Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier - The story part: how the guide turns time on the bus and time on the river into meaning
Napier, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

4.Shore Excursion: Scenic Rafting from Napier

Easy grade 2 white-water rafting on the Mohaka River near Napier, with culture stories, a homemade lunch, and cruise-friendly timing.

5.0

“Rafting was very fun. The guide, Deon, was very entertaining. We floated for 2 hours and were treated to a lovely lunch at his home by his wife. I especially liked they provided us with all the equipment we needed.”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour - Stop 1 at Waitohi Picton i-Site: what to expect when you arrive
Cruises & Boat Tours, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Picton, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wine Tours

Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour

Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour - Mt. Maunganui pickup and the harbor crossing: a fast start with big views
New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tauranga, Tour Reviews, Tours

Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour

6.Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour

4.5-hour Tauranga shore excursion with McLaren Falls, kiwifruit and manuka honey tasting, Minden Lookout views, Gate Pa, plus muffin, coffee, and hokey pokey ice cream.

4.5

“Probably the most boring shore excursion for five hours that we ever experienced. We sat on the bus for 15 minutes in the heat, waiting for the driver Duncan to arrive with the remaining guests, instead of putting on the air conditioner for us. Then we drove through what the brochure said was the cultural…”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Tauranga Shore Excursion: History & Kiwifruit Tasting – 4 Hours - Tauranga Harbour Bridge and the Port: How Work Shapes the City
Food & Drink, Historical Tours, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tauranga, Tour Reviews, Tours

Tauranga Shore Excursion: History & Kiwifruit Tasting – 4 Hours

Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour - University of Otago: Student Culture Without the Long Campus Detour
City Tours, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Port Chalmers, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

8.Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

A 4-hour small-group Dunedin cruise excursion from Port Chalmers: Signal Hill views, Baldwin Street, Otago highlights, and free time downtown.

5.0

“We were told by the driver that the Viator information was not what was offered by Iconic. We were rushed at times with the timing differences. Also the bus driver would not organise a bathroom stop until several guests explained the need. TRead more”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Wellington Shore Excursion City Sightseeing Tour - Thorndon’s government buildings: Parliament and the Beehive from the road
City Tours, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington

Wellington Shore Excursion City Sightseeing Tour

9.Wellington Shore Excursion City Sightseeing Tour

A well-paced Wellington shore excursion with port pickup, big-city sights, and mountain and harbor views plus an optional cable car ride.

4.5

“Dennis picked us up promptly, exceptionally kind, patient, knowledgeable and enjoyable. Kept us moving & on schedule with humor. We saw so much! He made it all we hoped! If your goal is to see Wellington, this would be it.”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore Excursion - Getting set up at Switched on Bikes: helmets, gloves, and a quick confidence test
Cruises & Boat Tours, Cycling Tours, E-Bikes, Guided, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington

Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore Excursion

10.Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore Excursion

Ride an e-bike along Wellington Harbour and coast, then use turbo power up Maupuia for 360° views with a coffee stop.

5.0

“The bikes were top quality. The two guides, Tara and Dylan, did an excellent job. Tara was very knowledgeable. It was a very windy day and returning from the ride into the wind was quite difficult. I believe our guides kept us safe in what could have been a dangerous condition. The sites were beautiful.…”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Shore Excursion: Napier/ Hawke's Bay & Premium Wineries tour - Napier’s Art Deco hour: what you should look for
Napier, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion: Napier/ Hawke’s Bay & Premium Wineries tour

11.Shore Excursion: Napier/ Hawke’s Bay & Premium Wineries tour

Half-day Napier and Hawke’s Bay shore tour with Art Deco stories, Bluff Hill views, two premium winery tastings, plus extra stops.

4.5

“Our guide, Tery, was great. Lots of knowledge and a lot of fun. Highly recommend! Brewery and winery were top notch. Appies were nice at brewery. Jalapeño bites and dumplings. Yum.”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Shore Excursion: Napier and Surrounding Countryside Scenic Tour - Pier pickup and getting on the bus without stress
Napier, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion: Napier and Surrounding Countryside Scenic Tour

Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch & Willowbank Tour - Lyttelton Harbour, Sign of the Takahe, and Mona Vale: quick hits with real views
Christchurch, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch & Willowbank Tour

13.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch & Willowbank Tour

Christchurch city highlights plus Willowbank Wildlife Reserve kiwi viewing on a cruise shore excursion with live guide commentary.

4.5

“Highlight tour of Christchurch on a beautiful day plus admission for self guided visit to Willow Park animal preserve. We got to see a kiwi in the nighttime created environment for the kiwi. Wandered through to see all the bird & animal residenRead more”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour - Dunedin quick-hits: Baldwin Street, Signal Hill, and city orientation
City Tours, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Port Chalmers, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

14.Shore Excursion: Dunedin City, Otago Peninsula, Castle Gardens & Olveston Tour

Small-group Dunedin and Otago Peninsula shore tour with views, Olveston House, and Larnach gardens, plus easy Port Chalmers pickup.

5.0

“Had a great time on this tour. Made the absolute most of our shore excursion in Dunedin. Our guide “Tree” was great. She shared a ton of local and general information and was very conscious of our timeline and making sure were able to see the most possible during our time ashore. Thanks for a…”

Check Availability →Read the review →

Shore Excursion: Local Tasting Tour from Tauranga - Meeting Your Driver at the Port Gate (and Getting on With Your Day)
Food & Drink, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tauranga, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion: Local Tasting Tour from Tauranga

15.Shore Excursion: Local Tasting Tour from Tauranga

Port-to-vine tastings in Tauranga: craft beer, wine at Skyline’s gondola, plus dessert and cocktails. Small group, pickup included.

5.0

“Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. He showed us around Tauranga before heading to the distillery. However, there are no wineries open close to Tauranga any more so we had to drive to Rotorua. We picked this tour specifically because not a lot of driving was involved. We were not totally disappointed though as…”

Check Availability →Read the review →

More New Zealand Shore Excursions

Scroll to Top

Explore by Cruise Region

Every coast a ship calls at, and the best of every port day.