FraserK Posted March 16, 2019 #1 Share Posted March 16, 2019 We will be doing a Ruby Princess cruise around NZ next February. Looking at excursions and wondered if anyone had used an independent external company to book tours. We will be visiting the following and wondered if any are doable without an excursion or which tours would be recommended as a must do. Dunedin (Port Chalmers) Akaroa Wellington Napier Tauranga Auckland Bay of Islands Appreciate any advice and thanks in advance. Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVTAM Posted March 17, 2019 #2 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Have done all these ports independently . (Would never do cruise ship tour based on price and bus experience). All have tour offices on dock or walking distances to City center. Can give recommendations , but each person likes is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
possum52 Posted March 17, 2019 #3 Share Posted March 17, 2019 (edited) We cruised to NZ last November and did a mixture of do it yourself and organised non ship excursions. We booked tours through Viator who use local tour companies. In Dunedin we did the Taieri Gorge train - we were picked up from Port Chalmers Cruise Terminal, just a short walk from the ship and taken to Dunedin railway station to catch the train and returned to the port after the train trip and a tour of Dunedin. Akaroa - we just walked around the town and enjoyed a drink at the pub and lunch of fish and chips. Wellington - shuttle into town and wandered around. Tauranga - a tour to Rotorua to the Te Puia Maori Culture Centre and Thermal Springs, a drive through the redwood forest, a drive around Rotorua, a visit to a kiwi fruit farm and a manuka honey business. Tour company was Zealandier Tours. Auckland we did a morning tour of the city and across to Devonport. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour - about 10 of us in the mini bus. Tour company was Bush and Beach. It really depends on your interests, you could certainly do your own thing at all the ports or find a tour/excursion to suit you. Enjoy your trip Down Under. Leigh Edited March 17, 2019 by possum52 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserK Posted March 18, 2019 Author #4 Share Posted March 18, 2019 That's a great help thanks. Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epixx Posted March 18, 2019 #5 Share Posted March 18, 2019 On 3/16/2019 at 8:25 AM, FraserK said: Dunedin (Port Chalmers) Akaroa Wellington Napier Tauranga Auckland Bay of Islands Appreciate any advice and thanks in advance. Kat We sailed around NZ in Dec 2018. Dunedin: We enjoyed an excellent full day marine wildlife tour with Elm Tours. https://www.elmwildlifetours.co.nz/ Akaroa: We took a kayaking tour and saw a ton of wildlife. https://www.pohatu.co.nz/Sea+Kayaking.html Wellington: We took the free shuttle to Zealandia Econsanctuary and then walked on our own through the Botanic Gardens. https://www.visitzealandia.com/ Napier: We rented bikes and took a long bike ride on our own outside of town, mostly on the bike paths. https://www.bikehirenapier.co.nz/ Tauranga (day 1 of 2): We did a private tour with CJays (highly recommend) to Waitomo Glow Worm Caves and to the Hobbiton. https://www.cjaystourgroup.co.nz/ Tauranga (day 2 of 2): We went again with CJays to Te Puia Geothermal and Cultural Center, Kiwi Fruit Farm, Blue and Green Lakes, and Redwood Forest Treewalk. I recommend all of the above. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserK Posted March 19, 2019 Author #6 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Thanks Epixx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserK Posted March 22, 2019 Author #7 Share Posted March 22, 2019 How do we find out which ports have shuttle buses into town? Is this possible? Thanks Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adventures ahead Posted March 25, 2019 #8 Share Posted March 25, 2019 On 3/22/2019 at 2:13 PM, FraserK said: How do we find out which ports have shuttle buses into town? Is this possible? Thanks Kat Maybe begin a thread with your question. It may vary by cruise line and port. For example: Topic: Shuttles from your ship in New Zealand and Australian ports? Question: Recent cruisers, did your cruise line, or port, provide shuttles into town? Were they free or was there a fee? I think this would help a lot of people. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVTAM Posted March 25, 2019 #9 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Dunedin would be the only port with distance. Local bus exists outside port gate. Most tours independently booked on dock will pick you up at port. Wellington if NO bus is a 20 minute walk. All other ports you are parked in town Napier did have free shuttle when there.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserK Posted March 25, 2019 Author #10 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Great idea....posted now. Thanks Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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