Toledo Cruiser Posted August 19, 2010 #1 Share Posted August 19, 2010 We're arriving on the Sun Princess on Oct 16 at the Bay of Islands. We'll be tendering at this port and are scheduled to be there from 8am until 5pm. I'm having problems deciding how to spend our day. The Waitangi Treaty House, Grounds and Canoe sound interesting. (Although we will be going to Te Puia at our stop in Tauranga.) The Waipoua Kauri Forest on the West Coast sounds interesting. And a half day Dolphin Cruise (or shorter Mac Boat Cruise) sounds like fun. Sooooooo, to the experienced New Zealand Cruisers, what would your recommendations be? Thanks for your answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercedMike Posted August 19, 2010 #2 Share Posted August 19, 2010 We did the Dolphin Search in Bay of Islands. It was a lot of fun. As it happens, we did not get to see any dolphins! But the other activities were great. My wife loved the boom netting from the boat! Check out our review and pics at http://users.elite.net/thehalls/australiapics.html Have a GREAT cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glaciers Posted August 19, 2010 #3 Share Posted August 19, 2010 If you would like a leisurely day there is a ferry over to Russell that we took and enjoyed just walking around the small town. The cemetary is worth a visit. A stop at the "Pub 'round the corner" is a good place for a cold beer, if you're inclined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanc61 Posted August 20, 2010 #4 Share Posted August 20, 2010 We did the Hole in the Rock cruise about 20 years ago, it is dependant onthe size of your boat and the tide whether or not your boat can actually go through the rock and out the other side. http://www.dolphincruises.co.nz/dolphin-cruise/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moyaroo Posted August 20, 2010 #5 Share Posted August 20, 2010 I could have sworn I posted a note about this, but if you want something different and a little adventurous, go to Mimiwhangata south of Russell on the Coast New Zealand as it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raison Posted August 20, 2010 #6 Share Posted August 20, 2010 We hired a car and drove all over the place when we were in the Bay of Islands. However, I wouldn't recommend this. The tender process off Sun Princess on the day we were there was ridiculously slow - took several hours to get off :eek:. So our full day car hire turned into just about half a day by the time we got to shore. I decided that day that I would do ships tours in future when in tender ports. It is a beautiful place to visit. I am sure any activity will be fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted August 20, 2010 #7 Share Posted August 20, 2010 You can have a wonderful day in the Bay of Islands just wandering about and taking the ferry over to Russell. Another great destination is KeriKeri. If you can get there, you will find wonderful Vineyard Cafes , and a lovely Village with great art and crafts shopping.. Dont know why the cruise lines don't put on a shuttle over there.:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy100 Posted August 22, 2010 #8 Share Posted August 22, 2010 We went to see the Giant Kauri Trees and the glow worm caves. It was OK but it took over an hour to get to the glow worm caves. I hear it is better at different places. We did the ship's tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Cruiser Posted August 23, 2010 Author #9 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Thank you for all of your responses. We have booked a private tour with Total Tours, which will take us to The Forest, Kerikeri, the Treaty Grounds, and a fast boat ride. We're looking forward to our day at Bay of Islands!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reh250 Posted August 27, 2010 #10 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Sounds like fun! Do you have a contact # or website for Total Tours? When I did a search, all I could find was a winery tour for this operator Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarians Posted August 27, 2010 #11 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Thank you for all of your responses. We have booked a private tour with Total Tours, which will take us to The Forest, Kerikeri, the Treaty Grounds, and a fast boat ride.We're looking forward to our day at Bay of Islands!!! Kia ora, A good selection of places. The girth of the the kauri in the forest is amazing - while you can see taller trees elsewhere in the world I doubt if you will see any with the circumference of Tane Mahuta. Northland is sub-tropical so on the way there you will see another aspect of New Zealand's varied countryside. Kerikerei is very popular, and the treaty grounds at Waitangi are associated with a lot of our history, being the place where the treaty of Waitangi was signed. Aquarians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Cruiser Posted August 27, 2010 Author #12 Share Posted August 27, 2010 I should have stated that we're going to the Puketi Forest. Unfortunately, the forest with Tane Mahuta, the largest tree, is too far away to visit and still see the other things we'd like to see :(. Reh250, you are correct. Total Tours website does not list the tour we are doing because I contacted them and asked them if seeing all of what we're scheduled to see is possible, and they put the tour together for us. I have been working with Shona. You can contact her at shona@totaltours.com.nz. Just tell her what you'd like to see and she'll put together a schedule and price. Our arrangement is to have a guide with us for the forest, Kerikeri and then drop us off at the Treaty Grounds. We'll see the Treaty Grounds ourselves and then go to the boat dock and catch the 2:30 fast boat ride, until 4pm. Then return to the Sun Princess. Shona has arranged to purchase the boat tickets for us, at a discount, and reserve the space for us. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reh250 Posted September 8, 2010 #13 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I should have stated that we're going to the Puketi Forest. Unfortunately, the forest with Tane Mahuta, the largest tree, is too far away to visit and still see the other things we'd like to see :(. Reh250, you are correct. Total Tours website does not list the tour we are doing because I contacted them and asked them if seeing all of what we're scheduled to see is possible, and they put the tour together for us. I have been working with Shona. You can contact her at shona@totaltours.com.nz. Just tell her what you'd like to see and she'll put together a schedule and price. Our arrangement is to have a guide with us for the forest, Kerikeri and then drop us off at the Treaty Grounds. We'll see the Treaty Grounds ourselves and then go to the boat dock and catch the 2:30 fast boat ride, until 4pm. Then return to the Sun Princess. Shona has arranged to purchase the boat tickets for us, at a discount, and reserve the space for us. Hope this helps! Toledo Cruiser - Sorry for the delay in acknowledging your very kind reply to my inquiry! (I really need to check these boards more frequently! :D) Your tour sounds like just the thing I am looking for while at Bay of Islands! I will contact Shona and see if she can arrange this for us as well. Does your fast boat ride go to the Hole in the Rock? When are you scheduled to cruise? Would love to hear about your travels on your return. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Cruiser Posted September 8, 2010 Author #14 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Hello- Our fast boat ride is advertised as being 1 1/2 hours long and going to the hole in the rock, around the islands and dolphin watching, if the dolphins are cooperating. We are on the Sun Princess, leaving out of Sydney on Oct 13, for a 13 night cruise, returning to Sydney on Oct 26. Hope Shona is able to work with you. Let me know if there's anything else I can help with. Leann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reh250 Posted September 11, 2010 #15 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Leann, Thank you so much for posting about your future tour. It sounds comprehensive and FUN! Enjoy your cruise and let us know how your tour worked out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pj4jj Posted September 23, 2010 #16 Share Posted September 23, 2010 Toledo Cruiser. we will be on the Sun Nov 21st....please let us know how your trip went...and how the Sun is holding up! We can't wait!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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