Bay Of Islands private tours

In the Bay of Islands, nature crafts a scene of turquoise waters and verdant islands, a haven of tranquillity and allure. This maritime haven echoes stories of exploration and adventure in every gentle wave lapping its shores. During Bay of Islands tours, your local guide becomes your narrator, intertwining history and legend throughout your journey. Whether you’re embarking on a boat tour, delving into indigenous Maori culture, or enjoying a sunset food and wine tour, the experience feels intimate and personal. With your guide, you’ll skip queues and dive into the warmth and wonder that make this locale truly memorable. If you’r...

In the Bay of Islands, nature crafts a scene of turquoise waters and verdant islands, a haven of tranquillity and allure. This maritime haven echoes stories of exploration and adventure in every gentle wave lapping its shores. During Bay of Islands tours, your local guide becomes your narrator, intertwining history and legend throughout your journey. Whether you’re embarking on a boat tour, delving into indigenous Maori culture, or enjoying a sunset food and wine tour, the experience feels intimate and personal. With your guide, you’ll skip queues and dive into the warmth and wonder that make this locale truly memorable. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at our curated list of things to do in Bay Of Islands.

Explore Bay Of Islands your way

At ToursByLocals, we believe that how you explore is just as important as where you go. That’s why every Bay Of Islands tour is private, flexible, and built around you: Move at your own pace, skip the crowds, make connections and follow your curiosity. Find local guides offering private tours in Bay Of Islands for every interest, including:

Nature and Wildlife tours: Take a boat tour to Motukōkako (Hole in the Rock), with time ashore on Urupukapuka Island for a short ridge walk and snorkelling at Otehei Bay. On land, walk to Haruru Falls or explore the Kawiti Glowworm Caves, and watch for dolphins and seabirds from Tapeka Point.

Food and Drink tours: Taste green‑lipped mussels and snapper in Russell at the Duke of Marlborough, then sip a flight at Kerikeri wineries such as Ake Ake or Marsden Estate. Your guide can add stops for Makana Confections and a pint at PhatHouse Brewing near Haruru.

History tours: Walk the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with a local who explains the Treaty House, carved meeting house, and the ceremonial waka. Continue to Russell’s Flagstaff Hill to hear the story of Hōne Heke, then visit Kerikeri’s Stone Store and Kemp House for early mission history.

Paihia and Russell are easy to walk, and a passenger ferry links them, but the area is spread out and public transit is limited; islands, vineyards, and forests need a vehicle or boat. Your guide can arrange chauffeured tours and private boat tours to cover distance comfortably.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all itinerary, you can tailor your private tour to match your interests, pace and personality with a local who knows Bay Of Islands inside and out.

Walking tours & neighbourhoods

Day trip ideas from Bay Of Islands

From the Bay of Islands, it’s easy to branch out to nearby towns, forests, and wild coasts for simple day trips that match your interests, and these also work well as private tours if you want to lean into history, food, or nature.

Russell: Catch the short ferry from Paihia to a calm waterfront town with heritage buildings, tidy beaches, and easy hill walks; visit Pompallier Mission for early printing history, stroll the strand for fish and chips, then climb Flagstaff Hill for wide harbour views if you like low-key walking and local stories.

Kerikeri: Spend a day around the Stone Store and Kemp House, check out Rainbow Falls on a short track, browse the weekend farmers’ market, and drop into small wineries and craft studios, which suits you if food, gardens, and early New Zealand history sit high on your list.

Waipoua Forest and Hokianga Harbour: Cross to the west coast to stand beneath Tāne Mahuta, the giant kauri, take short forest walks, then roll on to Omapere and Opononi for views across the harbour to the sand dunes, a good pick for big trees, coastal scenery, and learning about forest ecology.

Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach: Make a long but rewarding run to the lighthouse at the top of Aotearoa, watch the Tasman Sea meet the Pacific, slide down the Te Paki sand dunes, and travel a section of Ninety Mile Beach with a permitted vehicle as part of organised tours, ideal if you like wide views, coastal walks, and a true far‑north feel.

Kawakawa and Kawiti Glowworm Caves: See the playful Hundertwasser-designed public toilets and small-town art in Kawakawa, ride the vintage railway if it’s operating, then head to the nearby glowworm caves for a short, informative cave tour, which fits families, art fans, and anyone curious about geology and living light.

A private tour with a local guide is the best way to really get to know a place. Skip the crowds, follow your interests, and see a side of Bay Of Islands most travellers miss.