New Zealand North: 3-Day Bay of Islands & Cape Reinga Adventure

This is a mixed bag, the individual tours are good (although our bay of islands cruise was cancelled because of bad weather). The biggest issue is that this is not an integrated tour, you are booked on a public bus (with connecting taxi booking) which was uncomfortable and unreliable. When things go wrong (which they did for us) you can be left stranded. For the price paid, it was considerably overpriced and you would be much better off travelling independently and booking your own tours. In addition, the communication from the company about the tours was lacking, we had contacted them prior to the cruise cancellation to check if it was still on but did not receive any email from them prior to arrival in the Bay of Islands. We were told that they contacted our Australian number, but this was not usable in NZ (and there was no voicemail when we returned). In relation to the individual tours:- The Fuller tours company who operate the Cruise and Cape Reinga tours were incredibly helpful and commendable in looking after us when we were stranded (thank you so much Janice), and their guide Barry on the Cape Reinga tour was an absolute legend. The Copthorne Resort was good and so close to the Waitangi Treaty grounds (although the tour itself was so limited in time because of the need to catch a bus back to Auckland, which was 2 hours late) The taxi driver, Jeff Waters of Horuru cabs was great in inquiring after our safety with the hotel although the cab company could not be contacted when we were stranded.

If you’re looking for a company to formulate a personal tour for you, this is it. We were looking for a tour that included a number of stops at different wineries around the country. Louise H worked with me and came up with an outstanding plan. Besides the four wine tours in all the hot spots of New Zealand. She also included visiting both islands with all the major attractions that we wanted. Great service, great ideas, and at a reasonable price. Kudos to Louise H!

Day one - It’s a long bus ride to get to get to the Bay of Islands. The boat tour to the Hole in the Rock was very good and we liked getting off in the island and walk around the hills with the sheep. The hotel was very nice. Day two - The drive to the light house was very long for a one hour stop at the light house. Then we got back on the bus for another long ride to go to lunch - which was not well managed. Some of the people on the bus got their food less than ten minutes before we left. We got our food at different times because there was a very long line for the fish and chips. Then we got on the bus to go to the 90 mile beach. The bus driver said that many entrances to the beach were inaccessible due to soft sand so he had to drive a long ways to get to an access spot. It was fun to drive on the beach and to slide in the sand but we were only off the bus for less than 45 minutes. Then we got on the bus again for another long drive back to the hotel. There are also two stops for tea that were longer than needed to be -we would have rather used that time at one of the destinations. It was about an 11 hour day most of that time was on the bus. It was nice to see everything but know you’re going to be in the bus for many long hours to see a few things. Day three - The Waitanga treaty grounds and the performance were good. Then we took another long bus ride to get back to Auckland. It was nice for us to not have to drive which is why we did this tour.

Waitangi and cape Reinga were both nice but not worth the 5 hr bus ride. Especially on a public bus that made about 10 stops they should have informed us about that.

There is complete invisible hand at working. We have to go at various place markout on our own. If we would have been aware of this tour plan, we would have done everything on our own online. It would have been more cost effective. Otherwise, yes Intercity double decker bus gives more better view, than tourist bus. Location are all good, whether you plan individually and go, because various tour operator are different.

The trip was very well organised everyone was so helpful. Waitangi Treaty centre was so interesting such big part New Zealand history The boat trip around Bay of Island so beautiful as dolphins followed the boat . The bus trip was a long way to see a lighthouse but helped by the great commentary by the bus driver about the countryside and New Zealand life

Pavia was beautiful. Geat hotel. Cape Regina was interesting and 90 miles beach and sandboarding was fun.

Cape Reinga was the best, followed by the cultural tour and the Bay boat tour. What disappointed us was using the public transportation for the trip to Paihia. Maybe if we had known that the bus was not a private coach we would have been more accepting of this method of travel. We were not sure of the correct bus to board or exactly where we were to get off, so many stops without knowing what was going on.

Whistlestop visit to the North, our highlights: the Bay of Island Boat tour and the drive on the Ninety Mile beach. Also the robot waiter at the local Thai restaurant! It's not a group tour per se. Quite a lot of coach travelling from Auckland and the Cape Reinga day.

Fabulous trip especially if you have limited time in the Bay of islands. Hike in the rock and 90 mile beach real fun.