Group tour to Bay of Islands return from Auckland

Experience a delightful full-day excursion from Auckland to the Bay of Islands. This package includes pickup and drop-off from four designated hotels in Auckland CBD. Enjoy a 4.5-hour guided boat cruise with comprehensive commentary, along with a picturesque 3-hour drive each way, featuring scenic stops perfect for capturing stunning photos.

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Paihia Harbour - Embark on a cruise from Paihia in the Bay of Islands, exploring 144 islands in search of Bottlenose dolphins on a full-day tour departing from Auckland.
What's Included
  • Professional Driver / Guide
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • On-board WiFi
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • All entry tickets & guided tours
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Auckland City Center
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
Additional Information
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Infant seats must be requested at least 24 hours in advance (extra charges apply)
  • A minimum of 4 people is required for the tour to operate
Location
Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments
Princes Street
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(57 Ratings)
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1 star
Malenys_c
Feb 18, 2026
Do not miss this tour! - Simón was our guide and he made the ride go smooth and fun! He was so knowledgeable. Having him as your tour guide is like having a living, breathing walking encyclopedia. I appreciated his kindness and inclusion. I would say to the company: keep him happy. He is a valuable asset to your company. The Bay of islands tour was AMAZING. The views were spectacular! 100% recommended.
Review provided by Viator
N1c0l3tt3
Jan 19, 2026
A scenic but long day from Auckland. Well worth it though! - A long day but worth it to see the Northland and Bay of Islands landscape especially if you do not have your own transport. Raymond the driver/guide was educational and pleasant and the mini coach was pleasant with just 5 other passengers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janice0810
Dec 6, 2025
Great experience! - Amazing experience, Nancy our tour guide made it even more special for us - she was attentive, knowledgeable and so friendly. Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flyer57826183076
Dec 1, 2025
Mr,John, a person to guide my tour - Mr.John is gem of a person, he explained all the enroute spots very well, so friendly and smiling always. This trips unforgettable for me. Thank you John
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Asp273
Nov 26, 2025
Interesting Drive and Picturesque Boat Trip - We had such a fantastic day with our wonderful guide, Steve. He was knowledgeable, interesting, and was very professional. He is so enthusiastic about his country and all of the cultures that make it what it is today, plus he knows some great spots, even architecturally/artistically interesting toilets! We had a really long day and it involved a lot of time on the road, but the views were amazing and we could relax and take in the sights with the calm and confident driving of our guide. It was great to learn about the history of New Zealand and the impressive legislative changes that the country has introduced over recent generations to restore rights to the Maori population, all while heading to a beautiful boat trip around the Bay of Islands. The stopover at Otehei Bay was a great midway point and we enjoyed a picturesque lunch on the grass, overlooking a peaceful beach and jetty. Thoroughly recommended day out!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
179jaey
Nov 24, 2025
nice trip - nice trip. the island was amazingly beautiful: clean sea with various colors. being covered by tropical trees. meeting herds of sheep on the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lynne_m
Nov 24, 2025
Wonderful tour well worth the time & money. - Long day but worth it. Weather was lovely. Windy on boat but sun keeps you comfortable. Food & drinks @ the end on the island stop was great. Driver was fun, courteous and made interesting stops on the way. He was on time and no one had any problems meeting him.
Review provided by Viator
Nicolati2624ys
Nov 22, 2025
Nancy made the trip - The bay of islands are absolutely beautiful and well worth the drive. I thought that it would seem like a long day (12-13 hours) but it flew by. Nancy our tour guide included extra stops that she thought would interest us, as well as sharing lots of history and trivia. She made the trip extra special. The bus was very comfortable and as we were a group of 5 it made it easy to interact and get to know the group. A very relaxed day that created lots of memories :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johnej8613or
Feb 20, 2026
Fantastic day in good company and very well looked after - Great tour. Driver John was excellent informative polite and attended to our tour in an extremely friendly and professional manner.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nelidabeatriz_b
Feb 2, 2026
My experience with the Bay of Icelands excursion - 1) the local operator changed the pickup location (I don't know why!!!) And I had to contact Viator to confirm the place. I spent u$s 25 in communication 2) the excursion says duration 12 hs. But in my case this excursion was 13.hs and a half (and that was the last one they picked up and the first one they left. 3) there is no time for lunch buying food. It is better to bring lunch and snacks. 4) It is a worthwhile walk, but it is enjoyed more in good weather. In my case I had bad weather and the movement broke my stomach 4) the 3(normal) rating is just for recognizing Gabriela's work, which drove impeccably and took care to meet our requests , in addition to telling stories 5) If your English is learned and you do not speak as a native, you will only see landscapes. It is preferable that you get an excursion in your language!!
Review provided by Viator
From $270
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).