Bus Tours
5 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Bush and Beach
Bush and Beach
5
City ToursWalking ToursNature & Wildlife ToursWine Tours & Tastings Day Trips
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 9:30 PM
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About
Bush and Beach help you make the most of your time in Auckland. We are leaders in sustainable tourism and offer enjoyable, innovative small group guided tours in and around Auckland. We will help you find out about Auckland city or explore the stunning rainforest and beaches of Auckland’s west coast. From Auckland we have daily tours to Hobbiton movie set, Waitomo caves or a range of vineyards. From hotel pick up to drop off our guides will keep you entertained and informed while our fleet of modern vehicles makes sure you are comfortable throughout your tour. With over 39 years of experience we can help make your time in New Zealand unique and unforgettable
Auckland Central, New Zealand
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Bush and Beach
Full-day Tours
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$450
per adult
Full-day Tours
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$285
per adult
Spring Break
5 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$285
per adult
Spring Break
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$375
per adult
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5.0
1,259 reviews
Excellent
1,138
Very good
102
Average
13
Poor
2
Terrible
4
MCSH
1 contribution
May 2021
We used Bush & Beach for transport to take us to and from Eden Park for a football game. We had a reasonably large group including a bunch of kids so thought it'd great to jump onto a bus to add to the fun. The bus was about a 20-seater which suited us perfectly and the driver was very friendly and on time both ways. We couldn't have been happier with the service and would highly recommend Bush & Beach. We'll now be looking to see what else we can do with them.
Written 17 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobeRunner22
Sydney, Australia299 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
I did the Waitakere Ranges / Piha Beach, Coast and Rainforest Walking Tour.
The guide, Murray was fabulous, one of the best guides I have ever had. He was accommodating, pleasant and caring and looked after us very well. He provided commentary throughout the whole day and engaged in great conversation with everyone. He worked hard to ensure we had a pleasant day.
When I booked this tour, I thought it would be much more active but the walks were quite short and is more geared towards an older crowd, going at a very slow place. Nevertheless, we saw beautiful scenery and it was a very nice day. I would have liked to have walked more, and seen more.
I didn't mind the lunch but for everyone else, the tour is advertised as a Kiwi picnic style lunch taken at a scenic location. I think something has changed about that component. The lunch was just whatever you select at the local bakery (most of people got a basic roll and fruit salad). We were not taken to the scenic location to have the quick lunch either and one of the falls mentioned in the itinerary was not visited.
Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars had the tour matched the itinerary. I think the itinerary and advertising needs to be cleaned up to ensure expectations are met. It isn't really an active tour. It's probably for the light active person but not for someone who likes to walk a lot.
I'd still highly recommend this company and its tours. The van was modern, well-kept, spacious and very comfortable and Murray was a gem. They looked after us well.
The guide, Murray was fabulous, one of the best guides I have ever had. He was accommodating, pleasant and caring and looked after us very well. He provided commentary throughout the whole day and engaged in great conversation with everyone. He worked hard to ensure we had a pleasant day.
When I booked this tour, I thought it would be much more active but the walks were quite short and is more geared towards an older crowd, going at a very slow place. Nevertheless, we saw beautiful scenery and it was a very nice day. I would have liked to have walked more, and seen more.
I didn't mind the lunch but for everyone else, the tour is advertised as a Kiwi picnic style lunch taken at a scenic location. I think something has changed about that component. The lunch was just whatever you select at the local bakery (most of people got a basic roll and fruit salad). We were not taken to the scenic location to have the quick lunch either and one of the falls mentioned in the itinerary was not visited.
Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars had the tour matched the itinerary. I think the itinerary and advertising needs to be cleaned up to ensure expectations are met. It isn't really an active tour. It's probably for the light active person but not for someone who likes to walk a lot.
I'd still highly recommend this company and its tours. The van was modern, well-kept, spacious and very comfortable and Murray was a gem. They looked after us well.
Written 15 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
Thank you for your review. We are so pleased you enjoyed your Coast and Rainforest Walk tour.
As a small group tour, we do need to cater the tour to the lowest fitness level within the group & unfortunately not everyone heeds our warnings regarding the moderate levels of fitness required for the tour. This was the case on this date and it sounds like Murray did a great job despite having to amend the itinerary slightly to allow for those who were struggling a bit with the walks.
The scenic location on the day for the picnic lunch does change depending on the group - on this occasion the guide decided to opt for a location that worked for the group who were feeling quite worn out after their walk. A kiwi style picnic lunch is just what you described, a delicious sandwich/roll and a sweet option from a bakery (giving clients the freedom to choose what they prefer instead of a pre-ordered option) & enjoyed after a walk in nature.
Thanks again for your review and we wish you all the best for the remainder of your travels.
Kind regards
Ben Thornton
Owner
Written 1 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CathW
1 contribution
Jun 2021
We hired a small 21 seater bus to transport our team to a lunch across town, with three pick up points (and return). Ben (and his bus) was on time, well presented and super comfortable. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this team at all. It's a tough road out there for tourist vendors at the moment, was happy to be able to support. Would love to do one of their tours!
Written 8 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria P
3 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
My husband and I booked a tour to see both the city of Auckland in the morning as well as the rain forest tour in the afternoon. I cannot stress how much you NEED to do this. We came to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and they made the day perfect! We were fortunate enough to get Wayne the whole day and Milt joined us for the rain forest tour in the afternoon. They were incredibly informative and we got to learn the great history of this beautiful country and see the most beautiful sights. Idk how much they make but they deserve a raise 👏 Please, if you are visiting and looking for a wonderful time this is where you want to book your trip. I only wish I could give more stars. Thank you Wayne and Milt for making our anniversary trip one of a kind, I couldn't have asked for anything better.
Written 27 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gina C
Hamilton, Canada23 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We were booked on the Best of Both Worlds tour on March 19. Unfortunately, because of the unprecedented rains in the few weeks before, the afternoon portion (beaches & rainforests( were inaccessible and therefore cancelled. Bush & Beach promptly refunded this portion.
The morning City tour was nice but having already spent a full day walking pretty much everywhere, we found a good portion repetitive (for us). There were some nice stops for photo ops and bathroom breaks in some farther outlying areas.
The morning City tour was nice but having already spent a full day walking pretty much everywhere, we found a good portion repetitive (for us). There were some nice stops for photo ops and bathroom breaks in some farther outlying areas.
Written 11 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sansom1978
371 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
This was my second Bush and Beach tour this year.
We booked Hobbiton from Auckland with a drop off in Rotorua - such a great concept which maximised time and is excellent value.
The whole Bush and Beach experience was seamless again - very organised and friendly.
Hobbiton was magical. We were privileged to be amongst the first actually able to enter a Hobbits home - great fun.
Fantastic lunch included as well as a delicious glass of cider.
We booked Hobbiton from Auckland with a drop off in Rotorua - such a great concept which maximised time and is excellent value.
The whole Bush and Beach experience was seamless again - very organised and friendly.
Hobbiton was magical. We were privileged to be amongst the first actually able to enter a Hobbits home - great fun.
Fantastic lunch included as well as a delicious glass of cider.
Written 12 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brittany S
2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Fantastic and amazing experience. Request Alex!!! We booked a private tour to Hobbiton and the glow worm caves. Booking was extremely easy. Alex was timely, professional, and had a wealth of knowledge on both locations we visited and New Zealand. He ensured our tour experience was not rushed and enjoyable.
Written 15 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaylan C
New York City, NY27 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We had a fantastic tour with Bush and Beach tours. Our guide, Mairi, was excellent!! She had so much expertise on the flora, fauna and wildlife of the Auckland region. She was also extremely patient with our many questions about the region. We loved visiting Piha Beach, the Waitakere Ranges rain forest and the Arataki Visitor Centre. Piha beach is incredibly scenic and a wonderful sight to see if you’re visiting Auckland. Everything was so well planned from pick up to drop off at the end of the trip. We even stopped for lunch at a delicious pie shop and had tea and biscuits at the end of the tour. This was a 10/10 experience and I would highly recommend the tour for those looking to explore the surrounding areas of Auckland.
Written 25 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucy Arkless
Dubai, United Arab Emirates16 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I went to Hobbiton with Bush and Beach tours. It was amazing, Damian was a special highlight for me. The way he told stories on the bus there and back was so interesting. Amazing company with even more amazing people working for them.
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marina G
New Brunswick, NJ7 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
Views were spectacular, especially from the top of Victoria Mountain, Harbour Bridge, and West Haven Marina. All the ride was accompanied by comments and stories from the tour guide, Wayne - it added not only information, but also personal touch from the local person. Nice tour altogether.
Written 4 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I will be in Auckland on November 9 staying at the Rydges Auckland Hotel and I am totally blind. I am interested in taking the Auckland Shore Excursion: Small group coast and rainforest tour. Since I am traveling alone, I would need to be picked up and dropped off at my hotel.
I would need guidance getting to and from the bus/van, but otherwise I would be no trouble. Before I sign up online, I would like to make sure you would be willing to allow me to be a part of your tour. I’m sure the narration would be very interesting.
Thank you for your consideration.
Written 29 October 2019
Good Morning,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Unfortunately this tour includes three hours of walking through the rainforest, along the top of cliffs etc with numerous natural hazards. For the health and safety reasons, we would have to allocate a personal guide and we do not have the resources on 09 November.
I apologise that we cannot assist.
Kind regards
Ben
Bush and Beach
Written 30 October 2019
Hi, I'm interested in your blackwater rafting and kiwi tour. I noticed that it returns back in Auckland at 6:30pm. Is that enough time to get back to the airport for an international flight at 11:55pm or does that cut it too close? Thanks for your help!
Written 30 August 2019
Plenty of time. The airport is close in and you do have a three hour pre flight window.
Written 30 August 2019
jessicamblais
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Hi there,
Im on Auckland from 11th of july for a couple of nights.
Ive read you pick up from some hotels. Im not staying in a hotel, im a 15-20minute walk using air b and b, from auckland central. Am i still able to come to the tour? Wheres the nearest pick up and drop off for myself?
Thank you.
Written 11 June 2018
Hi.....We pick up from all the major accommodations within the inner Auckland city area. We can advise you of a suitable pickup point when you book.
Thanks .
Written 11 June 2018
godgracechan
Hong Kong, China
how much for this tour? will u take us from hotel in Auckland?
Written 13 August 2017
Which tour are you referring to? We have several tours which operate every day. And yes, we pick up from all major hotel in the Auckland CBD.
Written 14 August 2017
Do you get to see waterfalls on the Waitakere wilderness half day tour?
Written 28 January 2017
Hi Julie,
We cannot promise a waterfall but we do endeavour to visit one on each trip.
Thanks
Krystle
Bush and Beach
Written 28 January 2017
Hello. We will be in Auckland only on January 22 and 23 and my husband and I would love to take your small group tour to Hobbiton. I do not see availability for those days. Is there a possibility of a cancellation?
Written 4 January 2017
Hi there,
We are fully booked for these dates but if you wanted to email us with your contact details we can let you know if seats become available. Sorry I am unable to share an email address through this portal but you can possibly visit our website for more information Bush and Beach
Thanks
Krystle
Bush and Beach
Thanks
Krystle
Written 7 January 2017
Hallo, we are keen to go for a Hobbition movie set tour, and wondering whether the pick up can be arranged from St. Martins Waldorf Apartment Hotel (6-12 St. Martns Lane, Auckland)? Also just to confirm the tour would be only Hobbiton set, no glowworm cave, etc. (since we have already done that). Many thanks.
Written 19 September 2016
Good Morning Jennifer,
Yes our tour just visits Hobbiton. We cannot pick up from the Waldorf St Martins as access is quite tight for our vehicles but we can pick you up from the lower lobby of the Langham Hotel which is 100m away.
Kind regards
Ben
Written 19 September 2016
Hello,
I fly into Auckland at 7am and I must be back at my hotel by 6pm to check into my tour group. I can't miss the 6pm timeline. Is it possible for me to tour Hobbiton, or am I out of luck? Thank you.
Written 16 March 2016
Hi, thank you for your query. As the tour departs Auckland City at 7.00am and you conceivably won't be through Immigration and Customs until 8.00am, you wont be able to join the tour.
If however your flights gets in earlier (a lot of flights come in at approx. 5.00am), you should be able to take a cab to the Rainbows End Fun Park on Clist Cres. which is the closest pick up to the airport. Pick up time there is 7.10am.
The tour will be back in the city by 3.30pm, depending on traffic.
Written 16 March 2016
Elizabeth G
Annapolis, Maryland
Do you pick up from my hotel, The Spencer on the Byron?
Written 25 November 2015
Please accept our apologies as I thought we had answered this query. We only pick up from the Spencer on Byron for private tours. Otherwise we ask that you wait at either Global Culture, 164 Quay St or the SKYCITY Grand Hotel, Federal St.
Written 7 December 2015
Chris D
Boston, Massachusetts
What kind of transportation did they arrange to Hobbiton? And are there any stops along the way or is it direct to Hobbiton/could you give an estimate of how long it took? Thanks!
Written 2 September 2015
Thanks for your inquiry.
We have a range a vehicles - from a luxury 8-seater people mover to a 17-seater Mercedes Sprinter. We also have a 33-seat mid-coach for busy days (but only put a maximum of 25 passengers in it). We stop for coffee enroute. Travel time from Auckland to Hobbiton is 2 hours 35 minutes including the coffee break.
Written 3 September 2015
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