Pilot Bay

Daily Scenic Cruises – Maori Rock Carvings Please note we are changing our afternoon departure time from 1.30pm to 1.00pm from 1st November 2024. Our Daily Scenic Cruises depart from Berth #4 at the Taupo Boat Harbour on Cruise Cat. You’ll love cruising in comfort and style with fabulous views from both the top and bottom decks. Cruise Cat is fully enclosed with large outdoor decks to enjoy close up views of the Maori Rock Carvings.  Children are welcome, and we have colouring-in sheets and wheel certificates available for them.  Cruise Cat is also wheelchair and push chair/stroller accessible. An informative commentary is given on the volcanic history and Maori mythology surrounding Lake Taupo, and you’ll enjoy a complimentary hot homemade muffin and tea/coffee as you take in the fabulous views of secluded bays and the spectacular snow capped mountain peaks of the World Heritage Tongariro National Park.

Experience a fascinating journey through the culture, geothermal wonders, and natural beauty of the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua on this immersive six-hour adventure.

A 5-hour island day with wine tastings at top vineyards and a gourmet lunch right on the beach. Your local guide handles everything so you just show up and enjoy. No rigid itinerary, no cookie-cutter stops — just great wine, stunning coastal views, and a beachfront lunch you'll still be talking about at dinner. You'll visit three vineyards across the island, each one hand-picked for a reason. At every stop, you'll sit down for a proper tasting. Your Sommelier walks you through what you're drinking and why it tastes the way it does on this island and see why Waiheke's microclimate produces wines you genuinely can't get anywhere else. Then lunch — a gourmet beachfront meal at a hat-awarded restaurant, which if you're not from New Zealand is a seriously big deal. Think of it as the Kiwi equivalent of a Michelin star. Great food, your feet practically in the sand, a glass of something you just discovered you love, and five hours that feel like the best kind of day off.off.

Get picked up from your Rotorua accommodation between 8AM and 8:30 AM. Commentated scenic drive to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland for 1hr guided walk. See colourful hot springs, boiling mud, volcanic landscapes and experience the daily eruption of Lady Knox Geyser playing at 10:15 AM. Visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley to learn about the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption on a 1hr guided walk. Relax at the Waimangu Volcanic Valley Cafe for lunch at 12:00 PM. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour through Rotorua's premier cultural attraction Te Puia. Learn about Maori culture and history by visiting the woodcarving school, arts and crafts gallery, Rotowhio Marae, weaving display, kiwi house, and experience the Pohutu Geyser. Finish your day with a smooth drive around the local sights of Rotorua. Kindly note that for your visit to Te Puia, guiding services will be provided by their on-site staff. This adheres to the venue's specific operational policies. Tour operates from 8 am to 4 pm

Thousands of Years in the Making a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. The technical description for this remarkable place is that it’s part of an 18-sq. km active geothermal park at the northern perimeter of the Reporoa Caldera (a collapsed volcanic crater) formed 230,000 years ago within the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The ‘wow’ factor is much in evidence at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, the place we love to share with visitors from all corners of the globe. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland ‘one of the most surreal places on earth’ so naturally it’s high on the list of Rotorua’s must-see attractions. A place to marvel at nature’s artistic splendour, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is also committed to providing a safe visitor experience.

Join a small-group morning tour from Rotorua to explore two top geothermal parks: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Get picked up around 8-8:30 AM. See New Zealand's largest boiling mud pool, then enjoy a 1-hour guided walk through Wai-O-Tapu's colorful hot springs. Witness the Lady Knox Geyser erupt at 10:15 AM. Afterward, your guide will explain the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption in Waimangu Volcanic Valley during another 1-hour guided walk through its active hot springs. Have lunch at Waimangu Cafe around 12 PM (30min) before being dropped off by 1pm. Please note: Lunch is not include in price

Experience a night that will enlighten you - see, hear and taste Māori culture with a hāngī buffet dinner and cultural performance. Savour a delicious hāngī buffet at our Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, which overlooks a geothermal wonderland. Enjoy freshly sourced produce, traditionally cooked meats and vegetables, kai moana (seafood), and a selection of sweet desserts. Be captivated by a cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. The performance includes a pōhiri (traditional Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (chant), poi, and haka. Wrap up the evening with a stroll down to Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere and sip on hot chocolate. Please note that in summer, the order of events varies. This experience is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes long and suitable for all ages.

Hold on tight on an exciting 30-minute jet-boat ride on the Waikato River! Spinning and speeding your way to Huka Falls, New Zealand’s most spectacular falls, see the country’s beauty rapidly unfold as you zip past rugged cliffs and native bush.

Setting out from Rotorua, your Hobbiton Movie Set Tour starts with a scenic drive across to Matamata where your local driver guide will provide informative commentary and share stories about the region and its history. Take a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set and learn how this picturesque farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle Earth. Your guide will show you Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree, the Mill, and many other structures from the movies. You will also be able to venture beyond the door into an authentic Hobbit Hole interior on Bagshot Row. Then enjoy a tasty lunch at The Party Marquee before making your way back to Rotorua.

We offer two different Blackwater Rafting experiences through the Ruakuri Cave. The Black Labyrinth is the original, 3-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. You will jump off two small waterfalls (highest is 1.5 meters), float on a tube underneath an impressive display of glowworms and navigate through the cave’s natural streamway. All participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 45kgs. The Black Abyss is the ultimate 5-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. Abseil 35 metres into the cave and zipline across a river under a grotto of glowworms. You'll then float on a tube through the caves' natural streamway. All participants must be at least 16 years old and weigh 45kgs. An average level of fitness and mobility is required for both of our tours. It is important to understand that these tours take you into a completely natural cave environment. Please understand that your guides have final discretion of whether you will be able to participate on our tours.

Enjoy a full day, all-inclusive adventure in Wellington, the home of middle-Earth. Visit some amazing locations from the Lord of the Rings movies, enjoy a delicious lunch and visit the famous Weta Workshop, where the films were created. We are Wellington's original Lord of the Rings tour and have been operating since 2002. Formerly Rover Rings Tours [before Covid], Welly Rings Tours is proud to show you Wellington as Middle-earth. Our fans-turned-guides will share with you fascinating stories of the making of these movies that you likely won't hear anywhere else - mainly because some of our guides were actually there!

Our vehicles and our tours are designed to provide you with the best possible comfort, exceptional value and mixed with personal interaction to ensure you can enjoy your day stress free knowing we have everything sorted for you! We are the only Tauranga based tour company with a Hobbiton trained tour guide. When you join us on tour you will also have free Wi-Fi and USB charging points in the vehicle. We are also provide refreshments and snacks during our tour. You and your travelling companions can experience the best of Tauranga and the renowned 'Hobbiton' with assurance of knowing we have you in mind.

Spend one adrenaline-crammed hour of white water rafting down the Kaituna River on this tour from Rotorua. Start at a spot where wild waters meet subtropical rainforests and canyons engraved in the earth. Raft over beautiful cascading waterfalls, including the stunning Tutea Falls, and even take the opportunity to do some swimming through some of the rapids. This tour is good for novice and expert rafters. Free Sauna included.

Come and explore the Rotorua Lakes on a truly unique and magical kayaking experience. This amazing evening adventure takes you along the lake shorelines in a guided scenic kayak tour as you discover small caverns home to a galaxy of glow worms. One of New Zealand's premium glow worm experiences this tour is designed to create a magical and special trip for every customer. Groups are limited in numbers to each of our personal and expert guides ensuring your adventure is the very best it can be. Our authentic, eco-friendly outdoor tours are led by grassroots leadership. We are an activity provider who strives daily to lead by example creating strong connections, positive contribution, and thoughtfulness to the environments we explore.

Waiheke's most booked wine tour. Four vineyards, sit-down tastings, and local guides who know every winemaker on the island. This is the day out on Waiheke everyone's talking about. Your guide's a local. They live here. They know the winemakers, they know which table to grab, and they know the little stories behind the island and the people who live here. The lunch stop is Batch Winery — the highest point on the island — with the most stunning views, food, and wines, of course. Sit down with something delicious, a glass of something delicious, and just take in the views stretching out over the water and meet the other awesome people on the tour. After lunch, more wine tastings at Stonyridge, then the grand finale — Mudbrick Vineyard. The most iconic vineyard on Waiheke. A final glass with the Hauraki Gulf sparkling below you. After that, it's back to the ferry — or we'll drop you somewhere on the island to keep enjoying your day. The best day out on Waiheke Island. Trust us

Hold on tight on an exciting 30-minute jet-boat ride on the Waikato River! Spinning and speeding your way to Huka Falls, New Zealand’s most spectacular falls, see the country’s beauty rapidly unfold as you zip past rugged cliffs and native bush.

Spend one adrenaline-crammed hour of white water rafting down the Kaituna River on this tour from Rotorua. Start at a spot where wild waters meet subtropical rainforests and canyons engraved in the earth. Raft over beautiful cascading waterfalls, including the stunning Tutea Falls, and even take the opportunity to do some swimming through some of the rapids. This tour is good for novice and expert rafters. Free Sauna included.

A 5-hour island day with wine tastings at top vineyards and a gourmet lunch right on the beach. Your local guide handles everything so you just show up and enjoy. No rigid itinerary, no cookie-cutter stops — just great wine, stunning coastal views, and a beachfront lunch you'll still be talking about at dinner. You'll visit three vineyards across the island, each one hand-picked for a reason. At every stop, you'll sit down for a proper tasting. Your Sommelier walks you through what you're drinking and why it tastes the way it does on this island and see why Waiheke's microclimate produces wines you genuinely can't get anywhere else. Then lunch — a gourmet beachfront meal at a hat-awarded restaurant, which if you're not from New Zealand is a seriously big deal. Think of it as the Kiwi equivalent of a Michelin star. Great food, your feet practically in the sand, a glass of something you just discovered you love, and five hours that feel like the best kind of day off.off.

Get picked up from your Rotorua accommodation between 8AM and 8:30 AM. Commentated scenic drive to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland for 1hr guided walk. See colourful hot springs, boiling mud, volcanic landscapes and experience the daily eruption of Lady Knox Geyser playing at 10:15 AM. Visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley to learn about the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption on a 1hr guided walk. Relax at the Waimangu Volcanic Valley Cafe for lunch at 12:00 PM. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour through Rotorua's premier cultural attraction Te Puia. Learn about Maori culture and history by visiting the woodcarving school, arts and crafts gallery, Rotowhio Marae, weaving display, kiwi house, and experience the Pohutu Geyser. Finish your day with a smooth drive around the local sights of Rotorua. Kindly note that for your visit to Te Puia, guiding services will be provided by their on-site staff. This adheres to the venue's specific operational policies. Tour operates from 8 am to 4 pm

Thousands of Years in the Making a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. The technical description for this remarkable place is that it’s part of an 18-sq. km active geothermal park at the northern perimeter of the Reporoa Caldera (a collapsed volcanic crater) formed 230,000 years ago within the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The ‘wow’ factor is much in evidence at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, the place we love to share with visitors from all corners of the globe. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland ‘one of the most surreal places on earth’ so naturally it’s high on the list of Rotorua’s must-see attractions. A place to marvel at nature’s artistic splendour, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is also committed to providing a safe visitor experience.

Join a small-group morning tour from Rotorua to explore two top geothermal parks: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Get picked up around 8-8:30 AM. See New Zealand's largest boiling mud pool, then enjoy a 1-hour guided walk through Wai-O-Tapu's colorful hot springs. Witness the Lady Knox Geyser erupt at 10:15 AM. Afterward, your guide will explain the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption in Waimangu Volcanic Valley during another 1-hour guided walk through its active hot springs. Have lunch at Waimangu Cafe around 12 PM (30min) before being dropped off by 1pm. Please note: Lunch is not include in price

Experience a night that will enlighten you - see, hear and taste Māori culture with a hāngī buffet dinner and cultural performance. Savour a delicious hāngī buffet at our Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, which overlooks a geothermal wonderland. Enjoy freshly sourced produce, traditionally cooked meats and vegetables, kai moana (seafood), and a selection of sweet desserts. Be captivated by a cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. The performance includes a pōhiri (traditional Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (chant), poi, and haka. Wrap up the evening with a stroll down to Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere and sip on hot chocolate. Please note that in summer, the order of events varies. This experience is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes long and suitable for all ages.

Setting out from Rotorua, your Hobbiton Movie Set Tour starts with a scenic drive across to Matamata where your local driver guide will provide informative commentary and share stories about the region and its history. Take a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set and learn how this picturesque farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle Earth. Your guide will show you Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree, the Mill, and many other structures from the movies. You will also be able to venture beyond the door into an authentic Hobbit Hole interior on Bagshot Row. Then enjoy a tasty lunch at The Party Marquee before making your way back to Rotorua.

Enjoy a full day, all-inclusive adventure in Wellington, the home of middle-Earth. Visit some amazing locations from the Lord of the Rings movies, enjoy a delicious lunch and visit the famous Weta Workshop, where the films were created. We are Wellington's original Lord of the Rings tour and have been operating since 2002. Formerly Rover Rings Tours [before Covid], Welly Rings Tours is proud to show you Wellington as Middle-earth. Our fans-turned-guides will share with you fascinating stories of the making of these movies that you likely won't hear anywhere else - mainly because some of our guides were actually there!

Daily Scenic Cruises – Maori Rock Carvings Please note we are changing our afternoon departure time from 1.30pm to 1.00pm from 1st November 2024. Our Daily Scenic Cruises depart from Berth #4 at the Taupo Boat Harbour on Cruise Cat. You’ll love cruising in comfort and style with fabulous views from both the top and bottom decks. Cruise Cat is fully enclosed with large outdoor decks to enjoy close up views of the Maori Rock Carvings.  Children are welcome, and we have colouring-in sheets and wheel certificates available for them.  Cruise Cat is also wheelchair and push chair/stroller accessible. An informative commentary is given on the volcanic history and Maori mythology surrounding Lake Taupo, and you’ll enjoy a complimentary hot homemade muffin and tea/coffee as you take in the fabulous views of secluded bays and the spectacular snow capped mountain peaks of the World Heritage Tongariro National Park.

Experience a fascinating journey through the culture, geothermal wonders, and natural beauty of the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua on this immersive six-hour adventure.

We offer two different Blackwater Rafting experiences through the Ruakuri Cave. The Black Labyrinth is the original, 3-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. You will jump off two small waterfalls (highest is 1.5 meters), float on a tube underneath an impressive display of glowworms and navigate through the cave’s natural streamway. All participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 45kgs. The Black Abyss is the ultimate 5-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. Abseil 35 metres into the cave and zipline across a river under a grotto of glowworms. You'll then float on a tube through the caves' natural streamway. All participants must be at least 16 years old and weigh 45kgs. An average level of fitness and mobility is required for both of our tours. It is important to understand that these tours take you into a completely natural cave environment. Please understand that your guides have final discretion of whether you will be able to participate on our tours.

Our vehicles and our tours are designed to provide you with the best possible comfort, exceptional value and mixed with personal interaction to ensure you can enjoy your day stress free knowing we have everything sorted for you! We are the only Tauranga based tour company with a Hobbiton trained tour guide. When you join us on tour you will also have free Wi-Fi and USB charging points in the vehicle. We are also provide refreshments and snacks during our tour. You and your travelling companions can experience the best of Tauranga and the renowned 'Hobbiton' with assurance of knowing we have you in mind.

Come and explore the Rotorua Lakes on a truly unique and magical kayaking experience. This amazing evening adventure takes you along the lake shorelines in a guided scenic kayak tour as you discover small caverns home to a galaxy of glow worms. One of New Zealand's premium glow worm experiences this tour is designed to create a magical and special trip for every customer. Groups are limited in numbers to each of our personal and expert guides ensuring your adventure is the very best it can be. Our authentic, eco-friendly outdoor tours are led by grassroots leadership. We are an activity provider who strives daily to lead by example creating strong connections, positive contribution, and thoughtfulness to the environments we explore.

Waiheke's most booked wine tour. Four vineyards, sit-down tastings, and local guides who know every winemaker on the island. This is the day out on Waiheke everyone's talking about. Your guide's a local. They live here. They know the winemakers, they know which table to grab, and they know the little stories behind the island and the people who live here. The lunch stop is Batch Winery — the highest point on the island — with the most stunning views, food, and wines, of course. Sit down with something delicious, a glass of something delicious, and just take in the views stretching out over the water and meet the other awesome people on the tour. After lunch, more wine tastings at Stonyridge, then the grand finale — Mudbrick Vineyard. The most iconic vineyard on Waiheke. A final glass with the Hauraki Gulf sparkling below you. After that, it's back to the ferry — or we'll drop you somewhere on the island to keep enjoying your day. The best day out on Waiheke Island. Trust us