Bay of Islands Small Group Tours from Auckland
Updated : 31st July 2026
Auckland to Paihia, Bay of Island's — Guided Journeys North
Skip the driving and let someone else navigate the way north. A guided small group tour to the Bay of Islands takes you through Northland’s kauri forest and coastline, out onto the water for the famous Hole in the Rock, and into Paihia in comfort — with a local guide’s stories along the way instead of a steering wheel in your hands.
The drive from Auckland to Paihia takes you through some of Northland’s best scenery — but it’s a long day behind the wheel if you’re doing it solo, and easy to miss the smaller stops along the way without local knowledge. A guided small group tour solves both problems at once: comfortable transport, a driver who knows the road, and commentary that turns the drive itself into part of the experience rather than just the bit before the holiday starts. Whether you want a full two-day Bay of Islands adventure complete with the iconic Hole in the Rock cruise, or a one-way journey north to kick off a longer Northland trip, there’s an option to suit.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 heads north via Northland’s West Coast, with comfort stops along the way and visits to the Kauri Museum in Matakohe and the Kauri Trees of the Waipoua Forest, home to Tāne Mahuta, the largest known kauri tree in the country, before continuing on to the Hokianga Harbour and crossing to Paihia. Around 3:00pm, there’s a stop at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the site where New Zealand’s founding document was signed, before checking into accommodation for the night.
Day 2 begins at 8:30am with the famous 4.5-hour Hole in the Rock cruise, including a stop at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island, before returning to Paihia to rejoin the guide for the drive back to Auckland, but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip to Auckland with secret stops along the way.
Auckland – As we arrive back into Auckland, our guide will drop you off to your hotel, marking the end of your Bay of Islands Tour with us.
While the destinations themselves are the drawcard, it’s often the smaller details that make a tour genuinely memorable — a knowledgeable guide, a manageable group size, and a few surprises along the way that you wouldn’t find driving it yourself. Expect the occasional secret stop, a chance at spotting local wildlife, comfortable purpose-built vehicles, and complimentary refreshments on the road — the kind of small touches that turn a long drive north into part of the experience, rather than just the lead-up to it
Note: evening meals and breakfasts are not included.
- Water available & snacks provided
2-Day Bay of Islands & Paihia Tour (with or without accommodation) 36 hours ·
From NZ$729 (excluding accommodation) or NZ$949 (with accommodation)
Price: Accommodation Included NZ $949 Child: NZ$699
Trip Duration: approx 36 Hours
Departs Auckland: 6:30 am
Note: evening meals and breakfasts are not included.
Price: Accommodation excluded NZ $729 Child: NZ$589
Trip Duration: approx 36 Hours
Departs Auckland: 6:30 am
Note: evening meals and breakfasts are not included.
Auckland to Paihia Via West Coast
Price: Auckland to Paihia via west Coast NZ $349 Child: NZ$295
Trip Duration: approx 12 Hours
Departs Auckland: 6:30 am
Note: Water available & snacks provided
Paihia to Auckland via East Coast
Price: Paihia To Auckland One Way NZ $209 Child: NZ$169
Trip Duration: approx 12 Hours
Departs: Paihia to Auckland: 8:00 am or 12:30 pm option for “Hole in the Rock Cruise till 8 am till 12:30
Note: Water available & snacks provided
Places We Will Visit on This Tour
Matakohe, the Kauri Museum & the Kauri Trees of the Waipoua Forest
Roughly midway between Auckland and the Bay of Islands, Matakohe is home to the Kauri Museum, widely regarded as one of Northland’s best attractions and the largest indoor visitor attraction north of Auckland. It tells the story of the kauri timber and gum industries that shaped this region, with recreated pioneer buildings, the world’s largest kauri gum collection, and a genuinely striking “Forest Walkway” exhibit exploring the tree’s place in Māori creation legend. See our [Kauri Museum Matakohe page] for more detail.
Further north, the drive continues into the Waipoua Forest, home to Tāne Mahuta, New Zealand’s largest known kauri tree, and Te Matua Ngahere, the “Father of the Forest” — among the oldest living kauri in the country. A short, easy boardwalk leads to Tāne Mahuta, and standing beneath it is a genuinely humbling moment; in Māori tradition, it’s considered the offspring of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother), and the reverence is easy to understand once you’re standing in front of it.
Hokianga Harbour
The route continues to the Hokianga Harbour, a vast, sweeping natural harbour on Northland’s west coast and one of the earliest places Māori are believed to have settled in Aotearoa. It’s a quieter, less-visited side of Northland than the Bay of Islands itself, with striking sand dunes and a strong sense of history.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Arriving in the Bay of Islands, a stop at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds rounds out the day — the site where the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document, was signed in 1840. The grounds include the Treaty House, a carved meeting house, and the world’s largest ceremonial waka, offering real insight into the country’s history before settling into Paihia for the evening.
Day 2: The Hole in the Rock & Otehei Bay
Day 2 begins at 8:30am with the region’s signature experience — a 4.5-hour cruise out to the Hole in the Rock, the famous natural archway through Piercy Island (Motukōkako) at the tip of the Cape Brett Peninsula. Weather permitting, the boat passes right through the opening, with dolphins, and occasionally whales, often spotted along the way.
The cruise includes a stop at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island, where there’s time to swim, walk to a lookout over the surrounding islands, or simply relax at the beachfront café before reboarding. See our [Hole in the Rock Bay of Islands page] for more detail on the cruise itself.
After returning to Paihia, you’ll rejoin your guide for the drive back to Auckland, with further comfort stops along the way.
