Top 10 Historical & Heritage Tours in North Island, New Zealand

January 8, 2022 Esmeralda Fenner

Discover the best top things to do in North Island, New Zealand including Bay of Islands Craft Beer & Wine Tour, Cape Reinga - 90 Mile Beach Tour, Manea Footprints of Kupe Cultural Experience, Coastal Kapiti: Private Sightseeing Tour - Full Day, The Classic: our most popular electric bike tour of Auckland's Highlights, The Inside Loop: an electric bike tour of Auckland's Coolest Neighborhoods, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Gallipoli Early Bird Entry, Bay of Islands Tall Ship Sailing on 'R. Tucker Thompson' Including BBQ Lunch, Wellington South Coast Discovery Helicopter Flight, Half Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington.
Restaurants in North Island

1. Bay of Islands Craft Beer & Wine Tour

Mullarkeys Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

The Bay of Islands is a place to indulge and have fun. Visit the area's leading wineries, taste quality wines, excellent craft beers and enjoy a platter lunch. No trip to the Bay of Islands is complete if you do not visit the Makana Chocolate Factory and sample their award winning products. Visit the Phat Brewery, home to an outstanding range of Craft Beers.

Inclusions: Cost of wine & beer tasting, Lunch

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Reviewed By gelletly

Very nice day trip. Very scenic and well worth a visit. The tour was value for money and very enjoyable. Derek our driver was friendly and able to tell us some of the history of the area. It is priceless having a local guide as they are able to point out other places that may be of interest during your stay and also know the best places to stop for refreshments.

2. Cape Reinga - 90 Mile Beach Tour

Mullarkeys Tours
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5.0 based on 19 reviews

Mullarkey tours – Cape Reinga Full day trip – offers a comfortable small group tour – maximum 11 passengers, with knowledgeable, humorous tour leaders – that will make sure you get to see and hear about all the best bits of the Far North and won’t forget the best photo opportunities!

Inclusions: Tour leader

Exclusions: Lunch, Hire of sand boards

Reviewed By NannyDebs74

My daughter organised this trip for my Christmas present. We booked the tour at the last minute to make the most of the weather and other activities we wanted to do in the north. We were well accommodated, our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and patient. We really appreciated that the tour went ahead given the current climate for tourism. A great variety of venues on this tour.

3. Manea Footprints of Kupe Cultural Experience

41 State Highway 12, Opononi 0473, New Zealand Manea, Footprints Of Kupe
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5.0 based on 8 reviews

Manea Footprints of Kupe is a 75-minute multisensory journey of guided storytelling – through art, taonga (cultural treasures), film, performance, digital interaction and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings. Manea: Footprints of Kupe offers you a unique cultural encounter, journeying into te ao Māori, the Māori world. Our cultural and heritage centre on the shores of the spectacular Hokianga Harbour is your first stop on this journey. Here, you will feel the warmth of our welcome as we share our stories and traditions.

Inclusions: Manea Footprints of Kupe admission

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Reviewed By Thomsb

This very née facility and the guided tour provided is. Rilliant and worth. The price. Very educational and a spectacular show in a very modern theatre.

4. Coastal Kapiti: Private Sightseeing Tour - Full Day

uTours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Enjoy yourself on a relaxing private tour heading north to the Kāpiti Coast. Appreciate the Coast's natural unspoiled beauty, deserted beaches, local bird life, fabulous art and great food at a relaxed pace. Car enthusiasts will not want to miss the over 400 classic cars at Southward Car Museum. uTours offers you flexibility, informed conversation, individual attention, personal space and the opportunity to connect with the Kāpiti that locals love. Why chose uTours: Travel only with your friends (max 10). Your tour will be personalised to reflect your interests, pace & time requirements. Your vehicle is cleaned thoroughly between tours. You will be met on time at an agreed location, usually your accommodation. We will communicate with you quickly and clearly. You will be driven safely, have fun & be well looked after. May be available as a shore excursion, depending on your ship's schedule. uTours – it really is all about you!

Inclusions: We include cold drinks, coffee and locally made treats., Air-conditioned vehicle, Entry to Southward Car Museum

Exclusions: Lunch is at customer cost on the day. This is to maintain flexibility with your food choices. We will recommend excellent local food options based on when and where hunger strikes., Entry to Nga Manu Nature Reserve, A minimum of two guests is required

Reviewed By MarlenaDijkstra

Suzee had her work cut out for her with a mixed audience - young and old, local and non-local. She did an excellent job however of keeping us all entertained, and was able to adapt the programme to suit the weather and our varied interests. She has a wealth of knowledge about Wellington, and we enjoyed the surprise programme she had in store for us. The minibus was very comfortable, with nice big windows so we could sit back and enjoy the view. Would highly recommend Utours for any groups wanting to see a different side of Wellington and learn about its interesting history. Thanks Suzee!

Pullman Auckland, Corner Waterloo Quadrant &, Princes Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand Power to the Pedal
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5.0 based on 136 reviews

Enjoy this small group electric bike tour of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. From the comfort of your saddle, you will see the iconic sights of Auckland city, as well as visiting some of the locals' favorite neighborhoods. This tour also includes the bike rental, a local guide, and has a maximum of 6 travelers per tour.

Inclusions: Experienced and engaging local guide, Use of a fantastic electric bike, Use of an urban cycle helmet, Use of a cycle-specific headset, for commentary as you ride, Small bag mounted on bike to store phones, camera etc, Use of a lightweight rain-jacket, only if needed! (we ride rain or shine in sub-tropical Auckland!), Souvenir photos

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Gratuities

Reviewed By 473sineadl

Such fun zipping through Auckland by night. We loved that the group size was small and we had ear pieces to hear our guide Carson who kept us entertained with some informative and witty banter. ❤️

6. The Inside Loop: an electric bike tour of Auckland's Coolest Neighborhoods

Pullman Auckland, Corner Waterloo Quadrant &, Princes Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand Power to the Pedal
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5.0 based on 67 reviews

Auckland is regularly voted as one of the most livable cities on Earth and this small group, guided electric bike tour is designed to showcase exactly why that title is deserved. A big part of what makes Auckland great is its wonderful and distinct neighborhoods, as well as the world-class eating, drinking, shopping and cultural experiences that are on offer. On this guided tour, ride around some of Auckland’s cool neighborhoods, that don’t always feature on the standard Auckland city tour routes – miss them at your peril! As well as showcasing the best of what Auckland has to offer, your experienced local tour guide will peel back the layers and provide you with a fascinating insight into the history and culture of the city. To top off the adventure, you are guaranteed some spectacular views that you might not otherwise see – perfect for the photographers among you. Use of a shiny electric bike and a helmet are included in the tour. The max group size is 6.

Inclusions: Experienced and engaging local guide, Use of a fantastic electric bike, Use of an urban cycle helmet, Use of a cycle-specific headset, for commentary as you ride, Small bag mounted on bike to store phones, camera etc, Use of a lightweight rain-jacket, only if needed! (we ride rain or shine in sub-tropical Auckland!), Souvenir photos, Local taxes

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Gratuities

Reviewed By shellsAuckland

This was a fantastic way to see a lot of the city from a different perspective . I have lived in Ak my whole life( that’s 62 years) and found the cycle paths take you off road to many interesting places. The ebikes are of a very high standard and Eddie is a v professional and helpful guide. We covered 30 km and saw a lot in 3 hours. The follow up photos we were sent were great . We will be back to do the night tour next! Highly recommended activity

7. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Gallipoli Early Bird Entry

55 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
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4.9 based on 16 reviews

Beat the crowds and explore this award-winning exhibitions before opening. Explore Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War with the peace and stillness this subject matter deserves by entering the exhibit half an hour before the public. Te Papa has joined forces with Weta Workshop to create an exhibition like no other. After a short introduction from a Te Papa Host, you will wander freely at your own pace through this gallery. Garnering international acclaim and various awards, this space is best experienced before the museum's doors are opened for general admission. * See eight extraordinary New Zealanders captured frozen in time on a monumental scale - 2.4 times human size * Learn about the battles that took place in this culturally-defining event * Discover more about the ANZAC story through 3D maps and projections, miniatures, models, dioramas, and a range of interactive experiences.

Inclusions: Professional guide, Local taxes

Exclusions: Entrance fees to short-term paid exhibitions

Reviewed By chachaBK

love coming here with kids everytime in wellington always discovering new stuff! take time in the nature room same level as the anzac display love the giant squid the pinball rainfall display and the into nature video screen that records us moving then plays back 4 times cant explain just awesome! also love how the moa bones shadow moves every so often. also love nature walk outside with swing bridge and pretend glow worms

8. Bay of Islands Tall Ship Sailing on 'R. Tucker Thompson' Including BBQ Lunch

Russell Booking and Information, The Strand, Russell 0202, New Zealand R. Tucker Thompson
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4.9 based on 203 reviews

What better way to explore the peaceful waters of the Bay of Islands than by the "R. Tucker Thompson" tall ship. This replica of a 100 year old schooner looks just like a working ship of the 18th century and you can spend the day on board exploring the bays and beaches of this beautiful Maritime Park. Operated by a charitable trust, funds raised from our sailing goes to support our youth development voyages over winter.

Inclusions: Cruise on board the "R. Tucker Thompson" tall ship, Coffee and/or Tea, BBQ lunch, Wet weather gear (if required), New Zealand's Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Exclusions: Hotel pick up and drop off

Reviewed By LandC46

Everything was great! We considered ourselves fortunate that there were only 13 passengers (4 crew) on our two hour Sundowner sail since that perhaps made it more intimate. The best fun was in climbing up the rigging and helping with the sails, encouraged by enthusiastic crew. So nice to be out on the water on such a splendid, beautiful and historic vessel.

9. Wellington South Coast Discovery Helicopter Flight

19 Jervois Quay, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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4.8 based on 6 reviews

Discover what lies beyond Wellington City on this 40-minute South Coast Discovery helicopter flight. Fly west towards the majestic Makara Wind Farm before turning to the south. View the wild South Coast where seal colonies line the rugged shores. Karori Rock Lighthouse appears as a standing testament to the shipping dangers of Cook Strait. Allow 40-minutes for the experience (22-minute flight).

Inclusions: Headsets to hear the guide clearly, Local taxes

Exclusions: Excess luggage charges (where applicable)

10. Half Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington

Wellington i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, 111 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand Zozo Travel Limited
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4.8 based on 104 reviews

Enjoy the view across the Stuart Macaskill Lakes from the viewing platform perched in the native bush above. Visit C'est Cheese and try some their locally produced cheeses or something from further afield. Have a look at the on-site cheese factory and peruse the available cheeses from around the country and the world. Great place to grab a snack for the road if needed! Enjoy a wine tasting experience at the famous Poppies. Sample a fixed menu of 5-6 of their locally produced wines that are available only at the Cellar Door and online! Enjoy a range of 4-5 locally produced wines at Moy Hall Wines. Enjoy the view across the vineyard to the hills beyond from outdoor tables amongst the vines (indoor options available when weather dictates). Enjoy a tasting experience of up to 5 wines of your choice from the excellent Te Kairanga and Martinborough Vineyard ranges. Explore the 140 year old cottage that acts as the Te Kairanga Cellar Door.

Inclusions: GST (Goods and Services Tax), Wine tasting, Live commentary on board, Tour escort/host/driver/guide, Private transportation, Alcoholic Beverages, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Lunch (optional - time permitting)

Reviewed By philipsC3013VB

It's hard to pin the tail on just one aspect of this tour. It was all smooth sailing and we learnt so much about the local area and history. The food was excellent, the wine was excellent, the cheeses were excellent, the Olive oil tour was excellent, the craft beer was excellent.......and you have to try the legendary 'Ghost pepper chilli' chocolate. Thanks to Phil for a superb day out in Martinborough.

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