MUST DO on your first day! Highly recommend Liz's Aucky Walky Foodie tour in Auckland CBD. Debbie…read more(and Liz) met us right outside Sky City Tower sign/ticketing area which is right in front of the SkyCity Hotel entrance. You won't be disappointed... you end up with tummies full of delicious food, ton of information, and new found friends. I really liked the small group setting bcuz it's like you are on a private tour. Knowledgeable and they chose the perfect spread of foods while meandering the streets of Auckland CBD down to the wharf. Take the tour first before anything else... that way you can narrow down where to eat/see next. Debbie - you are the BEST! Thank you for being our guide. Special thanks to owner Byron at Cocoa Wilds Chocolates for personally coming out to greet us. We could just feel the good vibes and passion he has for his business. God bless you and much success to you and your team! Special MAHALO to Jed, SkyCity Tower Hotel OUTSTANDING concierge, for recommending us to Aucky Walky tours.

Great tour! Debbie customized the tour to accommodate our interests and she graciously answered our…read moremany, many questions about architecture, history, culture, restaurants, places to buy men's shoes and Auckland customs. We enjoyed our time with Debbie and wholeheartedly recommend Aucky Walky Tours. -Michael Florida, USA P.S. the mussels were incredible! Thanks for the recommendations.

I was looking to find out what I can do in Auckland for a few hours with a friend visiting from…read moreabroad, and had heard about a company called Stray from a traveller friend. Conveniently located with a funky bright sales office on Fort street super friendly and helpful staff can book you a free day stray bus tour around Auckland showcasing our magnificent city. The Vintage orange bus takes you to highlights of Auckland such as a Bungy jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge for a discounted fee, or at the Sky tower the Sky Jump where you free fall with security ropes off a ledge and down to the waiting platform in a matter of seconds, what a thrill! You also take in the sights and great view at Bastion Point near Mission Bay, go for a bush walk in the Auckland Domain, have a pub meal if you feel like it and a free beer at Speight's Ale house. Last but not least you even get to wander around the world class sailing village of the Viaduct and hop on a Whale and Dolphin Safari if weather and your wallet permits. The amazing sales staff at the office can also book you any activity In Auckland which is fabulous to have as a service.

When it comes to Stray, the old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." I have…read morelearned a very expensive lesson and hope my bad experience with Stray will help you decide if this is the type of company you want to deal with. Before considering this supposed hop-on, hop-off bus service I would urge you to do a deep-dive of research. Start by sifting through all the Stray marketing surrogates who provide a glowing review (especially if it's the only/first review they've posted) or superlative photo-laden blogs since many have identified in the small print that they received their trip either free or deeply discounted. I desperately wish I had done so prior to enthusiastically falling for Stray's slick presentation. Unfortunately, I am not a travel blogger nor a social media "star" so I used my hard-earned money for a standard fare and am now paying the price in the form of a HUGE penalty for cancelling (20%) even though it was far in advance and I never stepped foot on a Stray bus. Stray's MINIMUM cancellation policy is 20% and they won't budge on it no matter the reason. You may eventually find, like I did, that there are some problems with Stray's model and not everyone has an over-the-top experience described with gleeful hyperbole. Those who have legitimate complaints like me are quickly drowned out by sarcastic on-line statements from company reps. I must stress this again - be fully aware that from the second you hit "book" Stray will immediately charge you for the total amount of the bus trip. From then on, there are no full refunds whatsoever - even if you haven't selected a start date (and maybe won't travel for months yet) and even if you haven't stepped foot on one of their buses. The policy states that there is a MINIMUM 20% penalty for ANY cancellation, no exceptions. The first problem I discovered is it isn't as easy to hop on and hop off as they portray. But you only find this out AFTER you've booked and get access to the app. They also obfuscate the fact that "Straymark" locales are MANDATORY. You MUST stay at these locations for the number of days/nights listed and you must pay the listed additional charges for doing so. There is no way around these mandatory stops without booking an alternate bus service other than Stray and you must pay out of pocket for it. If the Straymark location does not have activities that appeal to you or are too expensive, then you may find yourself sitting around a remote area for a couple of days while you twiddle your thumbs. While some people may thoroughly enjoy these stops and what they offer and are fine with spending their money at a place Stray dictates, there are others who would rather be free to do something else. Stray "guarantees" a bed for you for the first night on your stops which seems appealing. But I then learned it may be in a mixed dorm (meaning men and women sleeping in the same room and sharing a bathroom). While that may not be a problem for many it may not appeal to all and for some, it can present an extremely uncomfortable situation if their RELIGIOUS OR CULTURAL beliefs prohibit such arrangements. Also be aware there is an exclusive and COMPULSORY overnight stop at one of the Straymark locations where shooting "feral" animals is one of the optional ENTERTAINMENT activities. This may be fine for those who enjoy hunting in order to balance the natural environment but VEGANS and animal advocates may find it highly objectionable. This information should be identified very clearly and locations like these should not be "compulsory." If you do NOT want to spend a few days at a compulsory Straymark location then you must find another means of transportation (at your own cost) to meet up with the bus further down the line. Stray buses don't run every day to each location so that means finding your own lodging while you wait. BTW, trying to read Stray's bus schedule is like trying to break a cold war-era encryption code. IMO, all these issues may rise to the level of deceptive marketing practices and can be reported to the NZ government. I plan to do so and encourage others with bad experiences to do the same. I attempted to resolve my complaints by asking to deal with a member of Stray management but I was just directed to another glib staff member who abruptly blew me off. I trust the NZ government office of oversight won't. Be sure to read all - and I mean read ALL, every word - of Stray's policies! Be well aware that you will automatically lose AT LEAST 20% of what you paid should you cancel at ANY time for ANY reason!! While I certainly understand that companies may need to charge a small administrative fee for a cancellation, charging a minimum of 20% full cost when it's many months or weeks before travelling is far beyond the pale. In my experience, Stray's "fine-print" marketing maneuvers and cancellation polices are the most rapaciously egregious I've had in many years of travel.

Lasting three hours on Sunday afternoon, the Auckland Big Foody Food tour walked our group of nine…read morethrough various eating establishments. With underground mass transit being further opened up in this area, it gave our guide plenty of opportunity to impart his knowledge. Cost was $107 USD (it had been prepaid through Viator) per participant. Because Auckland is so walkable, we didn't have to walk very far to get to the 5 food locations. We met outside the Britomart Train Station in Te Komititanga Square, very close to the cruise terminal where we had entered Auckland. Our guide was Jono, friend and sometimes co-worker of the owner. We finished the tour at the last stop, which was quite close to where we began. Stops in order (could definitely argue this isn't the ideal ordering): The Shuckers Brothers: had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, shared mussel dish, and a seafood croquette. Miann: one scoop of gourmet gelato. Hotel DeBrett: shared cheese plate in a beautifully restored interior bar-room Honest Chocolat: 3 gourmet bon-bons, along with cocoa shell 'tea' Gochu: Korean-inspired fried chicken slider, cabbage roll In terms of the value and new tastes compared to other food tours I've taken, this would probably rank near the bottom...tasted nothing I haven't had before (and no taste jumped out); you definitely need to eat before starting (it's smart for them to start at 2:30, after lunch but before dinner). But Jono's enthusiasm and knowledge really pumped up the entire tour. And I would definitely come back to the Hotel DeBrett for cocktails with good company, the next chance I get.

Took a 3 hour Big Foody Tour in Dunedin on the South Island New Zealand. What a great fun…read moreexperience. Jono was our tour guide and did an excellent tour. Visited a total of 5 different locations and each was prepared for us and the food and drink were exceptional. Great value for the price paid for the tour.

Recently several family members and I chartered Haka Tours services on a two week tour across New…read moreZealand. Our tour guide and driver was Annie. Annie is a great guide and an incredible driver. She is very knowledgeable in all the places we visited. She waited at the Auckland airport when we arrived and took us to our hotel. She showed us around the city on the first day. Each evening before we retired to our hotel rooms, she would brief us on where we would be visiting the next day and what we would be doing. She would also provide a list of options for us to choose from whenever there are several attractions in one area. Some of the areas/attractions she brought us to are: 1. Sky Tower 2. Mount Eden 3. Maori Cultural Show and Dinner 4. Sheep Farm 5. Frank Josef Glacier 6. Geothermal Valley Te Puia 7. 5 hours TranzAlpine Scenic Train Ride 8. Taupo 9. Matamata 10. Wellington (Mount Victoria, Te Papa Tongarewa) 11. 3 hours Ferry Ride to South Island 12. Christchurch (City Tour via Tram, Earthquake Ruins, Christchurch Cathedral, Transitional Cathedral) 13. Queenstown (Gondola, Botanical Garden) 14. Aoraki 15. Restaurants The country overall is very lovely, and the local people are very friendly and helpful in general, with the exception of the Auckland airport. This trip is one memorable trip that I will treasure for a very long time. I would highly recommend Haka Tours and Annie to anyone visiting New Zealand (especially if this is your first trip there). Finally, thanks to Haka Tours for helping to set up the 2 weeks itinerary and Annie for executing every day of it. We also love her company.

Did a 16 day tour across both islands with this company, and our driver and guide Si was absolutely…read moreamazing. He brought us to many lovely places, including gems hidden away from the typical touristy areas. Some places were also quite challenging and adventurous, and he had a good ability to "read" people and understand what we would or would not be up for. In the various places we visited, he would recommend stuff to do based on who we were and what he thought we'd like. In my case, he was always right. He very gently inspired me to do something I never thought I'd ever dare to do: Bungee jump! That was a real thrill and I'm very proud of myself for actually doing it in the end. It was also very nice and practical that if we decided to do any of the optional activities that cost money, and we hadn't paid for in advance, he'd pay for us and we just made up at the end of the trip. Seeing beautiful New Zealand this way, with a small tour group of nice people from many different countries, and a friendly and professional tour guide, is something I'd absolutely recommend. It's one of my best holiday memories.

I love the discovery tours because they taught me something. Okay so I managed to snatch a sweet…read moredeal that had a tour of the Auckland Harbor, a stopover at Tongariro and a return trip from Auckland to Devenport. After living in Auckland for 8 years one would think I would know where Devenport was. I remember calling nt boyfriend saying oh baby we are going to Devenport. He started laughing and told me that his house was only a few minutes drive from Devenport. I didn't know that one could drive there. I was so embrassed as we had just started dating, now I look back and laugh at myself. The day was a bit windy but we had so much fun on the ferry. Walking on Tongariro and taking pictures was the highlight. This is a trip that those that want to explore Auckland should make.

While Fullers have a near monopoly on most of the major high-demand ferry routes, 360 Discovery…read moreruns services to all the destinations that Fullers doesn't cover. That means a bunch of tourist-oriented routes (Tiritiri Matangi Island, Rotoroa Island, Motiuhe Island, Coromandel), and a couple of commuter routes too (Beachhaven, Hobsonville). Some of these are truly wonderful destinations, so it's great to have a second ferry operator providing access to them. Tiritiri Matangi is probably the best known, and makes for a great day trip or overnighter - it's a bird sanctuary island with great nature walks, panoramic vistas and beaches. The 360 vessels are generally smaller than the Fullers boats so you need to book for some destinations, but they're fast and comfortable and the service is a bit more personal so that's nice.

The ONLY way to tour Auckland‼ My regret - I did not have…read morethis as my first ebike experience in New Zealand. Whether you're w first timer, as a solo or with friends or a family group- this ebike tour is a GREAT, extraordinary way to experience Auckland. Our tour guide was Carson- who is well versed with the history, customs and culture of New Zealand, Auckland and the Māori people. Power2Peddle provides headsets for the guides narrative. In addition, Carson offered several suggestions for activities and dining. The P2P people are pro's with a special passion for ebikes and their city. HIGHLY recommended- I plan BRING friends on my next visit with P2P being at the top of our to do list. Thank you Eddie and thank you Carson. - Don

Exceptional! Highly recommend. Small group ebike tour of Auckland. The ebikes and helmets were well…read moremaintained. Eddie had us wear headsets so he could give us directions, keep us safe, and share lots of info. Very informative and professional. He took lots of photos to share with us. Great overview of Auckland and New Zealand on our 2nd day. We are mid 60s and fit but sure needed that pedal assist and turbo climbing to the top of the dormant volcano. Plus enjoyed an iced coffee and yummy donut at the meeting place before. Sign up now!

My wife and I were on a week long vacation to Auckland and we saw many good reviews for this tour…read more We boarded and took a 40 minute trip to Waiheke Island for some scientific readings and then it was off to see some dolphins and birds and whales. They told us if you find these cool Gannett birds, it should tell you where the dolphins are. They divebomb the fish as the dolphins rile them up. We saw at least 400 dolphins on this trip and then we saw a whale, and they kept us out for an extra hour to check out a dolphin in the harbor. Great crew, that was very fun and you can order beer on the trip. Plus!

We had the most fabulous time today! We saw manta rays, wholes, dolphins and even a shark! Zara…read moretaught us a few things about phytoplankton, tiny plants living near the surface of the ocean, that are responsible for producing the oxygen we breathe for 3 of 5 breaths ! If we do Ty take care of our oceans, we'll have a hard time breathing! My 5 yo and 8 yo said it was a great day that they will never forget.

Okay. So it's not like the bus in London, Rome or Sydney, but it was a really great way to see the…read morecity especially when traveling with a couple of octogenarians. Stopped at almost all of the stops along the Red Route. Blue Route was less interesting to us. Stop 1- The heart of the city is at the Queens Wharf and the Central Business District. Loved the historic buildings, shops and restaurants. Saw the International Buskers Festival. Watched the boats come into harbor. Stop 2- The Sky Tower is pricy, but gives a great view of the city. A short uphill climb from our hotel apartment. Stop 3- The Art Museum and Albert Park. The Guo Pei exhibit was so interesting. A very eclectic museum. Stop 5- The Auckland War Memorial Museum and the switch to the blue line or red line depending on which way you came. Easy to walk from this stop to the Winter Garden. Stop 6- The Holy Trinity Cathedral. Closed on Auckland Day. Easy to walk from here to Parnell Village and then stop #7. Stop 7- Pick up a lamb or meat pie on the way to this stop. Stop 8- Bastion Point has stunning views of Auckland. The memorial is beautiful as well. Stop 9- The aquarium, because who doesn't love penguins? Happy Feet! Stop 10 - The Winter Garden has the most beautiful flowers in the glass greenhouses. The fernery is interesting, too. Pricy, but we got a great taste of Auckland.

Really good time. Professional helpful really enjoyed our day. I have said enough and think 85…read morecharacters is too much so I write this gibberish