Bay Of Islands 2-day Small Group Tour From Auckland With Cruise

We would highly recommend Cheeky Kiwi Travel. We took this awesome trip to the Bay of Islands, First of all, our guide Vicky was outstanding, not only was she funny, she played great music for our journey, and most of all she made sure all of our comforts were met. The Tour itself was interesting and informative. We also loved the fact that the tours our small groups, we had 7 in our group, very nice group from all over the world.

Cheeky Kiwi Travel provides an excellent travel adventure to the Bay of Islands. Each stop was exceptional. The Kauri Tree Museum and the Waitange Treaty Grounds were informative and extremely well executed. Our Scenic Hotel Stay was comfortable and the dinner buffet delicious. We had some rough water at the Hole in the Rock and didn't go through but certainly experienced some crashing waves viewed from a distance instead. Also included was a stop for lunch and hiking which was a real treat! All around an exceptional tour!

This was an excellent tour and I would highly recommend taking it. It showed us the highlights of the beautiful Bay of Islands and our guide Jeff was excellent. We’ve done a couple of tours with Cheeky Kiwi now and they’re a brilliant company who offer brilliant experiences.

If you ever want to spend a couple of days exploring the north of New Zealand, this is the tour to book! It was jam packed with activities (watching a cultural performance and learning the history behind the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, hiking around Urupukapuka island and cruising to the hole in the rock) while being incredibly well-paced and thought out. Despite the rainy weather predicted for the weekend, our tour guide Mark did his best to make the trip just as worthwhile. He was incredibly friendly and helpful, providing ample snacks and water for the trip, and was also super knowledgeable about the sights we were set to see. The accommodation was very spacious, with two double beds, an en-suite bathroom and amenities such as a TV (provides YouTube and Netflix), a mini fridge and toiletries. As a vegetarian, there were some lovely restaurants around the hotel in Paihia, so I was not short on food to eat! The only disappointment is that we didn’t manage to spot any dolphins and couldn’t go through the hole in the rock due to rough weather, but that isn’t always guaranteed due to ever changing weather. Nonetheless, this tour was fabulous - I learnt so much about the history of New Zealand and saw some beautiful landscapes, all the while meeting wonderful people. I would do this tour 10 times over. Thank you very much Cheeky Kiwi for making it so memorable!

Excellent experience. Ark looked after us every well. He knew so much about the area. Nice small group. Good accommodation. Of concern was a lady who was sick at the beginning of the tour. We were likely to catch something, which I did and now I am sick on my next tour. We should have been told she was ill, and we could have cancelled, or she should have not travelled with us.

We couldn’t do the whole tour because of a storm and a lot of rain. But John did manage everything and brought us back to Auckland savely.

Our 2-day Bay of Islands tour booked through Get Your Guide and with Cheeky Kiwi as the tour operator was fantastic. We wanted to get a better understanding of the Māori culture and history and get to see some of the North Island and this tour hit all the right spots. Our guide Vicki was knowledgeable and friendly, and was ready to answer all our questions as well as provide recommendations on where to eat. She also went out of her way to take us to see Glow Worm caves not too far from Paihia, a definite must-see and suggested tour addition for future tours. I would highly recommend this tour!

Matt was a fantastic guide and driver. He’s unflappable as a HUGE bird hit our windshield He effortlessly looked after our group of 7 getting a new vehicle replacement As he drove he informed us of what we were seeing, what was coming and communicated all the logistics clearly Timing for all of our stops and activities was bang on Thanks Matt

Had a fantastic time with Matt on this 2-day tour. Excellent trip with lots of fascinating stops. This was a small group of 7 people, which made things a lot more fun! The hotel we stayed at in Paihia (Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands) was lovely. We were super lucky to see dolphins and orcas on our Bay of Islands tour and the stop over at Otehei was excellent.

It was a fantastic tour. It was just the two of us and Liam (our guide). He was very friendly and accommodating, and he took our wishes into account. Simply wonderful, including the weather!

This was an enjoyable trip. The environment was beautiful and peaceful. The tour guide was knowledgeable. He was nice and helpful

Our guide Ben was so great! Personable, funny, and knowledgeable. The tour was amazing and just as advertised; there were only about 7-8 of us in the van, so not crowded at all. Got to see so many great things. Paihia is a cute little resort town with LOTS of restaurants to choose from for dinner, all very walkable, and the bay of islands cruise was amazing; we had perfect weather and saw some dolphins and I saw a flying fish, in addition to all of the islands and the hole in the rock. On the way back to Auckland, Ben took us to see some fascinating architecture at Hundertwasser, and a stop for gelato, and to a pub, and we also stopped under the north edge of the harbor bridge for a great view of the city skyline. Very enjoyable tour, and Cheeky Kiwi is highly recommended for making seeing all the big tourist stuff so easy!

This was an excellent experience from start to finish. It was a very small group which was really nice. The first day was well paced and I enjoyed the Kauri museum more than I had anticipated. Visiting the giant Kauri trees and then Waitangi was really good. We were entertained with Māori songs and dance and had plenty of time in the treaty house and saw the huge ceremonial canoes. The guide at Waitiangi was very verbose but that is not remotely anything to do with cheeky kiwi. The next day brought strong wind and heavy rain and we made a decision not to take the pre arranged hole in the rock boat trip, largely on the strongly worded advice of the crew. I think this was an excellent decision but it then left the whole day ahead with no immediate plan other than returning to Auckland by early evening. I have to say, at this point, things got even better. After a brief phone call to base, Sam crafted a spontaneous bespoke tour that included glow worm caves which I had mentioned I wanted to see. Also walks in rain forests, more Kauris, several spectacular waterfalls and a great lunch stop in Whangarei. Sam was great company and we had some really interesting conversations. Not that it was needed, but perhaps the icing on the cake was that Cheeky Kiwi immediately refunded the unused boat ticket which was so kind. The refund was in my bank account within minutes. This is extraordinarily good service, particularly when I had chosen not to do the it trip due to the heavy seas and rough conditions, even though it did go ahead. All in all, the level of care and service I received, and the way that Sam was empowered and able to use his knowledge and initiative and create a trip from scratch was truly outstanding. A big thank you and shout out to Sam and Cheekykiwi. I would not hesitate to book a further trip or recommend to others. Liz

The tour was extensive and included many very interesting places I liked everywhere we went. I was a bit misguided by the initial description of a sailing tour from Auckland. We didn’t sail until paihia. Also no meals were included which I thought a bit mean for the cost of the tour. At least breakfast at the hotel! Vicki was an excellent driver and tour guide keeping us informed all the way.

A great way to see the north island with limited time with a small group. Ali, our driver and tour guide was outstanding and very knowledgeable and accommodating. A fantastic experience!

Pearl was a great guide who took excellent care of us. Loved all the information on the Kauri tree and all the Maori cultural information that Pearl was able to provide in addition to what we learned at the stops.

This was overall a really great experience. I especially enjoyed the ride on the ferry out to Urapukapuka Island, and having an hour and half over there, while a short amount of time, was still good for a nice tramp into the bush. Lots of folks went for a swim or a snorkel, and that looked fun too. The hole in the rock was stunning. And the captain was an amazing narrator. Our tour guide Matt made sure we had everything we needed to enjoy the trip. He narrated the trip with both facts and local color which I appreciated, and broke up the long drive segment into enjoyable pieces, with stops for stretching our legs and getting a snack. Being in a small van, with only eight of us, created a much more intimate and relaxing experience than a big tour bus. If I had anything to suggest it would be a little better motel (the Kingsgate). But I don't think the selection is very far ranging in the bay of islands!

The tour was fantastic from start to finish. The icing on the cake was the cruise around the bay of islands, stunning! We also visited the Treaty grounds which was really informative and fascinating.

Fabulous trip to a beautiful place. Stopped off at some excellent museums and forest areas on the way. Saw dolphins on the cruise which was fantastic. Kim was a great guide and personalised the trip so we could go swimming at a beautiful beach on way back.

The two-day tour to the Bay of Islands was a great experience. Even though the weather wasn’t perfect, we had a wonderful time. Our guide John was fantastic – very knowledgeable, friendly, a great driver, and he created a really nice atmosphere. It was a lot of fun and the memories will last forever. Thank you so much to Cheeky Kiwi Travel and especially to John!

We had a wonderful trip with the right amount of history, nature, culture and fun. The hotel was conveniently placed in Paihai to walk to shops and food. Vickie was a great tour guide! Personable and knowledgeable!

Fantastic trip despite the weather on the 1st day. Kauri museum was amazing, didn’t get to see Tane Mahuta due to the weather. But didn’t let that dampen the trip even when the rain tried. The boat trip around Bay of Islands was great but choppy and got to see the Hole in the Rock, we even met Michael Portillo!! Fantastic commentary by our awesome driver Vicki who answered our many questions. Would highly recommend Cheeky Kiwi Tours if you want to go anywhere.

it was a good trip with only five passengers so plenty of room on the mini bus. Our driver and Guide Vicki was wonderful. The weather was pretty dismal as in rain and gusty winds for much of the trip, which limited the experiences we could have in Bay of Islands. That's not the fault of cheeky Kiwi but unfortunately no way to modify the itinerary to do alternate activities that could've been more enjoyable in bad weather.

The tour was well organized, we didn't have to worry about anything thanks to our tour guide Vicki! It is a beautiful experience and 100% worth it.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this tour. Our guide Vicki was thoughtful, helpful, knowledgeable, and fabulous. Everything was well organized. We would highly recommend this experience. The scenery was spectacular, and information very interesting.

Families: DO NOT BOOK THE LODGING OPTION. The lodging option is presented as "twin share accommodation." This is defined as 2 separate beds with 2 occupants in the room (unless perhaps someone requests one single bed). We travelled as a family of 4. We had 2 adults, one 13 year old boy, and a 10 year old boy. I expected 4 separate beds (twin beds are fine) in 2 separate rooms. Instead, I was given the "Family Room" at the Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands. This consisted of 2 twin beds and 1 queen bed in a room. I DID NOT ask for a queen bed. It was incredibly presumptuous to assume the 4 of us wanted to be in the same room and that 2 people would need to share a bed. My husband is a large guy and it's very difficult for me to share a queen bed with him, and my children want their own beds. The two solo travelers on my tour each got their own separate rooms while the 4 of us were crammed in one room. We should have gotten 2 rooms, but the hotel and/or the tour group (Cheeky Kiwi) cheaped out and this was the only room they offered. They would not remedy the situation during the tour and neither after the tour when I complained. My husband had to pay out of pocket for a second room. Other travelers on our tour booked their own rooms at different hotels with MUCH better locations. If I had known how they would cheap out on our "twin share accommodation" for 4 people, I never would have paid for that option. I would have booked two separate rooms for our family so that we wouldn't be crammed together sharing one bathroom. Tour Group Customer service was completely lacking when trying to help me in this situation which is why I am only giving 3/5 stars. It's great when it's great, but when I have an issue, I expect more help than what I received.

The bay of islands is just beautiful, the accommodation was perfect and Matt, our tour guide really knows the area. He accommodated everyone’s needs. Knew where to get the best food too.

Cheeky Kiwi provided an excellent tour, covering the highlights with a comfortable bus, good accommodation and an excellent and friendly guide (Matt). Highly recommended.

The long drive to and from the Bay of Islands was worth it as the tour was full of beautiful scenery and you also get to find out more about Māori culture and the history of New Zealand. Our tour guide Dave was fantastic, he was very knowledgeable and also added some extra interesting stops on the way to and from the bay. He also gave us some great ideas for the rest of our trip to add to our itinerary.

Mark is a very knowledgeable guide. He looked after all four passengers, attentively and respectfully. It was a fantastic experience. Thank you, Andrea and Maureen

There were only 2 of us on this tour and coincidentally we were both staying at the the same hotel in Auckland for the pickup. Our driver guide was Mark and he really made the trip exceptional! Since we were a smaller group, we basically got to customize the experience with his guidance and the views were everything!!! Extra special were the bottleneck dolphins that joined us on our way to the hole in the rock. Highly recommend this tour.

I have been wanting to explore Northland and the Bay of Islands for a while, and this tour did not disappoint. Matt is a wonderful tour guide who is eager to share his knowledge of his homeland with others. I learned so much about the history of New Zealand. A big thank you to Matt and Cheeky Kiwi!

The Bay of Islands is one of New Zealand's most popular destinations for good reason. It's stunning natural beauty. I'm so glad I found this tour. I am too afraid to drive on the other side so needed to get there somehow. I can't imagine spending only 1 day there. The 2 day tour was just right. I went Feb 23 & 24 with Cheeky Matt as my guide. He's got great playlists. The tour starts early, so your first stop is breakfast. We stopped at the Tulip Cafe. They had baked items and hot food. Now would be a good time to take a Dramamine if you're prone to car sickness. Next, is the Kauri Museum. You learn about the magnificent Kauri trees and the history of the logging industry. They have real historical equipment moving and on display. They showcase how the old pioneering settlers lived during this time really well. The boarding house was very cool and felt like you'd been transported back in time. I was particularly fascinated with the amber colored "gum" the Kauri trees produce. There's a whole gum room. I now own a piece I got in the gift shop. After learning about the Kauri trees, we took a very windy road to Waipoua Forest to see Tāne Mahuta, New Zealand's largest living kauri tree, known as the Lord of the Forest. It is worth the drive. Just wow. All 177 feet of it. From here, we continued on out of the forest and to the gorgeous coast. We stopped for lunch in Opononi, a very small beach town. Pretty setting at the cafe over looking the water but the food was pretty slow to come out here - even a salad. Next, we arrived at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It's location couldn't be more scenic. You get a guided tour around the grounds, see the enormous waka tua (war canoe), and experience a Māori cultural performance. At the end of our first day, we checked into our hotel for the night at Kingsgate Hotel in Paihia. It's a waterfront auto lodge, nothing fancy and also not too shabby. It did the job. They had A/C and a pool! Wifi wasn't working but I was way too tired to care. Our group dispersed for the night. I headed down the street to find dinner, there were a couple of options to choose from 5 minutes away. Everyone went somewhere different. I ended up at Holy Guaca-moly. Then, I headed back to the hotel and jumped in the pool. The next morning, I had a quick and easy breakfast at the hotel and checked out before reuniting with the group. We walked down to the dock to board the boat for a 4.5 hour Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise. We lucked out with calm seas and a sunny day making the surroundings look extra stunning. We cruised around the beautiful islands. There were so many little places I'd love to explore. We headed past the Cape Brett Lighthouse, to the famous Hole in the Rock, and were instantly greeted by 2 bottlenose dolphins! On a calm flat day boats travel through the hole. There was too much swell when we got there. That's ok. I can live without having done it. I'd rather have swam with the dolphins! We saw a seal too. The boat captain provided amusing commentary throughout the tour. From here, we headed to our last stop, the island of Urupukapuka, a recreational reserve. It's the largest island in the bay. We had 1.5 hours. Here, there are several hiking trails, you can kayak, swim, or just sit on the beach. I saw some rays in the bay near the dock. There is a restaurant & bar. Oh, and they have toilets! The food was good and came out surprisingly quickly considering how many people ordered food at the same time. There's a tiny gift shop with some beautiful artwork. When the boat arrived back at the dock, we headed back to Paihia. We got back in the van and started heading towards Auckland. I'm so glad I did the 2 day tour. Otherwise imagine driving to Paihia for 3 hours, getting on a boat for 4.5 hours, and then driving back another 3 hours. Nearly ever tour I took in New Zealand, made an ice cream stop. We made a quick stop in Whangarei's waterfront Town Basin. What a colorful and unusual place. We watched the dizzying Rolling Ball Clock, saw glass blowing, and peaked into the whimsical Hundertwasser Art Center gift shop before getting our ice cream, and that was the grand finale. Back to Auckland by dinner. I took 7 tours while in New Zealand, and I enjoyed every one of them so, it's hard to rank them, but this one is up near the top, maybe even tied for 1st place. I'd definitely do it again.

Fab tour full of history and fun. Tour guide/driver Mark very knowledgeable and considerate of people's needs. Small group so much better than a large coach load of people.

It was wonderful fun. It's a comfortable drive through rolling hills, with views of the oceans both side. Fish and chips in a glorious bay with turquoise water. Then up to Waitangi and the ceremony on a sunny day. The accommodation was nice and breakfast yummy. The next day on the cruise was relaxing and interesting seeing all the islands. Dean was a great driver, friendly and interesting, he really made our trip a delight. We would highly recommend this tour and company.

Excellent itinerary, all key points are well covered, professional and courteous driver/guide. We first considered driving ourselves - luckily decided to leave it to the professionals. By ourselves we wouldn't have covered it all. Most certainly recommended. Notes: - in order to cover it all you would have to get up in some ungodly hours. We had to be at the meeting point at 6 a m. on the first day. - they use small buses - 15 people. It keeps the logistics convenient, but: - if you are taller than ~6' don't sit in the last two rows - worse than Ryan Air or Frontier Airlines - the roads in NZ are bumpy, even though they may look smooth, and the little bus' shocks could be rough. Don't plan to read while driving - there are no USB jacks nor AC power available. Take with you a power pack for your phone - the hotel is quite basic (like Motel 6 in the U S ) but serviceable All this notwithstanding, a great tour and a great experience. We are glad we took this tour

This was a great two day tour. The guide was knowledgeable, the van was comfortable and the scenery was fantastic. The boat tour of the Bay was a highlight. We would definitely recommend for anyone who is in Auckland but wants to visit the area.

This tour was excellent covering all our interest with an exceptional guide Matt Van Veen. Matt was excellent and gave lot of information.

Everything was so great. Our guide Alessandro did the most amazing job. Seeing sites I never would have seen without this tour. Small group of 8 people which were perfect! Really felt like he gave us something xtra special with the stops we did on the was to Bay of Islands and also on the way back. Being very present and what a great accommodation as well. Can only recommend this to everyone! Also traveling alone and being safe at the same time, so grand.

Fantastic tour - great way to see the beautiful north of New Zealand! Tour guide John was very knowledgable and great company. We had some amazing experiences without the tour feeling too packed. Highlight was the Kauri museum and the boat trip.

Our tour was a fantastic experience and even the poor weather couldn’t dampen our spirits as Arani, our fabulous guide, ensured we got the most out of it!!! The first day was arguably the better of the two and if Cheeky Kiwi were able to tweak the schedule slightly, it would be great to have a little more time at the amazing Kauri museum (it doesn’t look much from the outside, but quite incredible on the inside) and the forest. The treaty grounds were also a wonderful experience and whilst the hotel is ‘ok’, it’s just a bed for the night and there are lots of places to eat in the town. The cruise is harder to comment on because the weather was shocking!! Most people opted against it and those that stayed needed sturdy sea legs, but undoubtedly some beautiful scenery and I’d love to see it again in the sun sometime!! Arani returned us safe and well at a decent hour to Auckland - throughout she was down to earth, great fun and clearly passionate about her people and her country. She was also happy to tweak timings here and there to suit what we wanted to do, which only served to improve the trip further!!

The Bay of Islands trip was fantastic -Saw great places and was very informative on NZ culture. Our guide David made the trip fun, relaxed and looked after us spectacularly -Lots of photo stops and information. It felt like going away with friends. Totally recommend this trip.

Matt was a friendly, thoroughly professional guide . The stops were very well chosen and had a variety .Paihia and the cruise were awesome . We saw a whale and calf ! The visit to The Treaty grounds and cultural event was really enjoyable as well as informative- a must for all New Zealanders A very beautiful trip.

Thank you very much Marc. We have had a wonderful 2-day journey to the north of Auckland. You professional guiding has made our tour "Bay of Islands" an unforgettable excursion. Kind regards Juerg & Edith

This was hands down the best tour I've done in New Zealand. It fits in so much without feeling rushed. Bay of Islands is such an amazing place to visit and the forest on the west coast was amazing. We got to see dolphins and whales on the cruise which was so cool. I can't recommend this tour enough.

Wonderful tour. We enjoyed all the stops. Our guide Brendan was outstanding. The hotel was great, clean, and good breakfast.

Another excellent tour with Cheeky Kiwi. Delighted to have John as my driver again, his good humour, personal experience and excellent information made the experience extra memorable. Day one included a wonderful trip to the Kauri Museum and a walk among some kauri trees. The museum was so detailed and the care the staff put into each display was incredible. Day two comprised of a 4.5 hour tour among the Bay of Islands that was truly spectacular and we were lucky enough to spot some pilot whales and dolphins. As with my first trip with Cheeky Kiwi, the timing of each experience was perfect and the long drives were made enjoyable by John. Can’t wait to do even more tours with Cheeky Kiwi! Cannot recommend them enough.

We really enjoyed our trip, from seeing baby dolphins on the bay of island boat to stopping at various beautiful locations on the way. Our guide Dean was very friendly and knowledgeable and made us feel welcome. Unfortunately part of the forest walk was closed the day we went but dean took us somewhere else which was very appreciated. Highly recommend both the tour and the guide! A way to see the northlands without your own transport

This overnight tour with Cheeky Kiwi to the Bay of Islands in the Northlands was the best I’ve taken during my eight weeks in Aotearoa NZ!! After searching for a way to get to the Northlands without renting a car, I was delighted to come across this tour and booked it immediately. The itinerary is thoughtfully planned and includes visits to places unique to NZ like the Waipoua Kauri Forest (home to the world’s oldest and most significant kauris Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere), the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and a boat tour of the Bay of Islands departing from Paihia with opportunities to see marine mammals like dolphins and whales. I will treasure the memories of this trip forever!! Day 1: After an early morning pick-up from Auckland CBD and meeting our awesome and informative driver John, the first stop of the tour was to the Kauri Museum. The small museum is informative and newly renovated and helped me to learn more about the cultural and historical significance of the kauri tree for NZ (I especially loved the cross sections of kauri giants that include timelines of historical events that correspond with the tree’s growth!). Our next stop was to visit the Waipoua Kauri Forest - a truly magical experience that moved me to tears!! While we weren’t able to visit Tāne Mahuta during my visit (the trail to him is closed until the summer as a protective measure against kauri dieback disease), the walk up to visit Te Matua Ngahere (the father of the forest) was incredible taking you past other kauri giants on the way. After a quick kiwi lunch (sandwiches, pies, etc), we hit the road again and arrived at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds — a must visit for anyone who wants to learn more about Māori and NZ history. The visit to the treaty grounds began with a Māori culture presentation (including a walk on to the Te Whare Rūnanga marae) and guided tour (led by a young historian) — I learned so much!! The final stop of the day was to our hotel in Paihia, an adorable Northland beach town. The hotel (the Kingsgate) was located across the road from the beach and was walkable to cafes, shops, and restaurants in downtown Paihia. The rooms were comfortable and my dinner at the Blue Door was delicious and relaxing after an action packed day. Day 2: After grabbing breakfast and coffee at the Paihia Bakery to eat overlooking the beach, our group met up the next morning for the quick walk (less than 5 minutes) to the wharf for our hole in the rock dolphin cruise (run by Fullers GreatSights). This was another highlight of the trip!! Our driver John was full of great tips and gave me a heads up that the best place for spotting dolphins and whales was at the bow of the ship. I’m so glad I braved the cold and listened to John’s advice because I had incredible views of bottlenose dolphins that swam right up along the boat as well as a Bryde’s whale and her calf — such a magical experience!! With favorable weather conditions on our side, our captain was also able to take us through the hole in the rock which was another incredible experience. For lunch, we stopped over at Urupukapuka Island. After an exciting morning of spotting ocean wildlife, lunch at the cafe on the beach was relaxing and the views from the short hike up to the top of the island were beautiful to take in. The ride back to Paihia was quick and we all came off the boat feeling relaxed from a wonderful morning on the ocean. The boat ride marked the end of our time in the Northlands, and the drive back to Auckland was a pleasant experience thanks to the great playlist and conversation with John and the group. Would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting NZ who is based in Auckland!!