Bay of Islands: Nature & Culture Highlights

Discover Bay of Islands’ wonders: waterfalls, glow worms, ancient forests, and art. Join our 4-hour guided tour for an unforgettable adventure.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kawiti Caves - Embark on a journey to the Kawiti Glow Worm Cave, where a local Kawiti tour guide will lead you on a gentle walk. With just a few steps, enjoy the mesmerizing Galaxy of Glow Worms during a 45-minute tour through the cave.
  • Opua Kauri Walk - Take a brief stroll through the magical forest of Kauri trees, some over 800 years old,…
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Admission fees
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Live commentary on board
  • Driver/Guide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Embark on an enchanting 4-hour Nature Adventure tour of the stunning Bay of Islands. Starting in Paihia, the tour takes you to the Haruru Waterfalls for an intimate encounter, followed by a trip to the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves. With the guidance of local experts, enjoy a picturesque walk among the shimmering glow worms. The adventure continues with a…

Location
Waitangi Wharf
Te Karuwha Parade
Will pick up from the Tender wharf for Cruiseship passengers. Non Cruiseship passengers, we will meet outside the I-site (69 Marsden Road, Paihia)
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(8 Ratings)
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Alan_k
Mar 20, 2026
Perfect overview of the Bay of Islands experience - Terrific, varied day tour with Willie, an amazingly knowledgeable and engaging guide. We loved the glow worm cave, the introduction to Māori culture, and the beautiful scenery in this part of New Zealand.
Review provided by Viator
Colleen_k
Mar 18, 2026
Great tour. Driver/guide... - Great tour. Driver/guide Willie was engaging and knowledgeable. Comfortable small bus with 22 people.
Review provided by Viator
Shawnvandy
Feb 2, 2026
Good Excursion Made Much Better By Our Guide. - First, I have to say that our guide ‘Willie’ made all the difference. We had four couples total (none of us knew each other before the tour). We started out at the waterfall - now, truth be told, this was by far the least impressive part and honestly was pretty weak. After the waterfall we headed for the cave and the glowworms, which was totally cool! The glowworms were awesome - but not being able to take any photos was a negative. After the caves, we headed to the most photographed toilets in the world - they were actually pretty interesting, inside and out. Our last stop was at the Ōpua Forest Conservation Park for a hike. The scenery in the park was really great. Now - all that said, Willie made the difference. He was personable, funny and knowledgeable which took an average excursion and made it a good excursion. Without a really good guide, this excursion would be just okay.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kamela_h
Jan 28, 2026
Thank you Elite Excursions - Our guide Nicki was so smart and interesting. The van was comfortable and we enjoyed the small group size as we were coming off of a cruise ship
Review provided by Viator
Iris_l
Jan 27, 2026
A perfect trip! - We really loved this tour! Even tough we were a small group it took place and everything was perfectly organized. Our guide Nikki was a true gem and made the tour funny and informative, caring for every group member. We really appreciated her warm nature and how she shared her knowledge and even insights into local life and culture! The waterfalls were really cool especially after the rain lately, the glow worm caves absolutely magical and the kauri forest relaxing and majestic! It's perfect to go around exploring and learning about many lovely places of this beautiful area while relaxing without driving yourself.
Review provided by Viator
Rebecca_f
Jan 21, 2026
Highly recommended - Glow worm cave was magnificent wonderful tour guides for whole tour, flexible for unusual heavy rain
Review provided by Viator
Heatherkirk22
Nov 9, 2025
Natural wonders, and a surprise! - Fantastic way to see just a wee bit of NZs natural beauty. Our tour guide, Willie, provided an insightful, interesting, informative and entertaining commentary throughout the tour. This tour had it all; glow worms, majestic forests, spectacular waterfalls and very unusual toilets! Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_j
Mar 19, 2026
The guide was new and he... - The guide was new and he missed one of the stops. We had to turn around and go back, which cost us about 45 minutes length on the tour. We ended up being dropped off at the wharf instead of Pahia town to explore because we had to go back on the cruise ship. Would suggest to have more experienced tour guides. The glow worms caves was great
Review provided by Viator