Tauranga Private Excursion: Rotorua -Te Puia-Geysers & Kiwi's

After docking at Tauranga, you will be met by your driver/guide. Then enjoy the scenic drive to Rotorua. (approx 1.5hrs) The route takes you over the Tauranga harbor bridge and into downtown Tauranga area, past bucolic farmland and through the rock cuttings known as the Pyes Pa Canyons. Past kiwifruit and avacado orchards, plant nurseries and pine forests. Traverse the historic direct route to Rotorua. This is a very interesting drive to Rotorua city.

At Te Puia Maori Arts and Craft Centre, take a guided tour of the Whakarewarewa thermal valley, highlighting the amazing bubbling mud and steam vents of the Pohutu Geyser. The world-famous 100-foot (30-meter) Geyser erupts up to 20 times a day. Visit the kiwi house to spot the elusive native kiwi bird and experience the storytelling magic of a traditional Maori cultural performance. The Maori performance art brings the legends to life through song, dance and warlike stick games. Visit the NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, and talk with the students about what they are currently creating and what it feels like to be chosen to be learning at this wonderful establishment. You will see and learn many aspects of Maori life - both past ¤nt. You will then have opportunity to have some lunch at the on-site cafe (additional cost) before perusing their lovely shop complex.

Our next stop is at Kuirau Park - An active geothermal park situated in the middle of town, which boasts a colourful hot bubbling crater lake, mud pools, hot springs, and a free thermal foot bath, all set in a beautifully manicured setting dotted with flower beds and native flora. The thermal footbath is warm clear mineral water - Alkaline chloride pools are typically clear water springs forced rapidly to the surface by geothermal pressure. So, when you see a very clear, often colourful, boiling spring, you are looking at water from deep within the Earth’s core that recently arrived at the surface after a journey up the layers of heated rock below. This is a very special opportunity.

Government Gardens is one of Rotorua’s historic landmarks ,originally known as Paepaekumana. The local Māori iwi (tribe) gifted 50 acres of land to the Crown in the late 1800s “for the benefit of the people of the world”. The land contained a geothermal area with several therapeutic hot pools. In 1898 as an area where the thermal waters could be used and promoted as a health spa similar to those in Europe, the Tudor-style Bath House was built onsite and opened in 1908, and is noted as the first major investment in the New Zealand tourism as an industry. It now houses the Rotorua Museum and art gallery, but It is currently closed for renovation and earthquake strengthening. A short walk through the gardens will be most enjoyable.

Your return trip to Tauranga allows for a stop on the way at the lovely Kaituna Rapids & Trout Pool. Enjoy new Zealand's nature at its best - the Kaituna is steeped in local history and a pristine river providing both fun for the white water rafters and a favourite place to go for the keen trout fisherman. View some rapids and small waterfalls along the river.

On your return to the port of Tauranga - we will stop in an area called Paengaroa, situated in the midst of the Te Puke region which is reknown as the Kiwifruit capital of New Zealand. We will take this opportunity to stop at a Kiwifruit orchard so you can see & learn all about this wonderful fruit. It's health benefits and what it provides for us in the region as an industry. We are 2nd largest producer of Kiwifruit in the world.

Mount Maunganui’s Main Beach has been crowned the ‘Best Beach in New Zealand’ for quite a number of years, and ranks among the top 25 best beaches in the world. Just referred to by the loclas as "The Mount". Perhaps most iconic is Mount Maunganui, Mauao, which rises 232 meters from the sea. The walking tracks to the top of this extinct volcano provide 360 degree views which span the entire length of the Bay of Plenty. With over 22kms of white sandy beaches, & plenty of surf, great fishing and some of the most expensive real estate in the country - you will see why people of all ages enjoy the Main Beach year-round.