Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean and P&O cruise lines all have ships visiting the Bay of Islands on New Zealand cruise itineraries. Their shore tours are popular with passengers to experience traditional Maori culture, visit the sites of earliest European settlement in the country, observe the world of nature with things unique to New Zealand, and go on activity based excursions.
Shore Tours Involving Maori Cultural Experiences
The New Zealand Maori culture is unique so many cruise ship passengers decide to go on these shore tours for experiences they will not find anywhere else in the world. They can choose from excursions that feature:
- A visit to a marae (meeting place) where passengers will be greeted with a traditional welcome, go into a carved meeting house, and enjoy informative talks about local traditions, legends and culture from tribal elders.
- From a local Maori guide, learn about the Treaty of Waitangi signed between Maori and Britain in 1840, and see the huge waka (canoe) and Maori meeting house in the Waitangi grounds.
- Don a lifejacket and go out in a waka, learning how to paddle the canoe in the calm waters of the Waitangi estuary.
Early European Heritage Shore Tours in the Bay of Islands
The settlements that were founded by missionaries in the early 1800s can be visited today.
- At Kerikeri see the Stone Store, the oldest stone building in New Zealand, and Kemp House, the home of early English missionaries.
- At Russell, a guided walking tour takes passengers along the foreshore to see historic buildings, including the oldest hotel in the country.
- At Waitangi visit the Treaty House and wander through the beautiful grounds.
- At Te Waimate, look through the beautiful old house that was part of the original mission station and farm in the 1830s.
Shore Tours to Explore the Natural World
From ancient forests to glow-worms to dolphin watching, there are shore tours that celebrate nature in the Bay of Islands and beyond.
- In Puketi State Forest go on a short walk to see some native kauri trees, the majestic giants of the New Zealand bush that can live to be more than 1000 years old.
- Visit Kawiti Caverns, and, with a local guide, explore a limestone cave system with stalactites and stalagmites and a wonderful grotto lit by thousands of glow-worms.
- Spend a half day out on the water dolphin watching. There may be an opportunity to swim with dolphins as well.
- On a full day tour, leave the Bay of Islands behind and travel across to the Hokianga to see the Waipoua Forest and Tane Mahuta, New Zealand's largest kauri tree, known to Maori as the 'God of the Forest'.
Action Packed Excursions
Many of these activities take place out on the sheltered waters of the Bay, amongst the beautiful islands.
- Kayak up the Waitangi River to the horse shoe-shaped Haruru Falls.
- Sail on a catamaran out to Cape Brett and the island which has the famous Hole in the Rock.
- Play golf at the Kauri Cliffs golf course, judged to be one of the best in the world. Enjoy the spectacular views from the clifftop location.
- Go out sailing on the R. Tucker Thompson, an historic tall ship.
- Try your hand at fishing in the spots made famous by the writer and big game fisherman, Zane Grey.
- While across at the Hokianga Harbour, go sand boarding on the massive sand dunes at the harbour entrance.
Some of the shore tours combine two or three of these categories for half day or full day excursions. For example, a tour might take in a visit to Kerikeri and a Maori cultural experience and a walk in the Puketi Forest.
Not all cruise lines offer all these tours. Check the shore tours list on the website of the cruise line you have booked with, to choose an excursion that will give you lasting memories of the Bay of Islands as a cruise port of call.
Wendy Craig - Wendy is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies and travel books in New Zealand and U.K.
