In December 2025, my husband and I embarked on a truly magical cruise across New Zealand. This was our first time visiting New Zealand, and with so many incredible things to do while ashore, choosing excursions felt overwhelming at first.
To make things even more interesting, we had switched our original vacation plans from India to this sailing fairly last-minute, which meant we had less time than usual to research.
We sailed a 12-night itinerary aboard Celebrity Cruises‘ Edge-class ship, Celebrity Edge, with ports of call in Tauranga, Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, and the Bay of Islands. Our itinerary also featured a full day of scenic cruising through New Zealand’s famous sounds in Fiordland National Park!
When booking excursions, I always start by browsing the tours offered directly through the cruise line. That usually gives me a good baseline for the most popular attractions in each port.
However, I was surprised by how quickly some of the top tours sold out for our New Zealand cruise. For instance, the famous Hobbiton excursion offered in Tauranga was pretty much fully booked by the time we finalized our reservation.
If you’re planning a New Zealand cruise, my biggest tip is to book excursions early, especially if there’s something you really have your heart set on.
Thankfully, I was able to find excellent alternatives through Shore Excursions Group, a third-party tour operator my travel agent recommended. After a great experience using them in Bali last year, I didn’t hesitate to book several tours for this sailing.
One of the biggest advantages is their Worry-Free Guarantee, which ensures you’ll make it back to the ship on time. In the unlikely event that your ship departs without you, the company covers transportation, accommodations, and meals, plus up to $1,000 USD per person for the inconvenience.
I’ve also found that Shore Excursions Group tends to offer smaller group sizes and more personalized experiences, which really stood out on this itinerary.
New Zealand is a dream destination for outdoor lovers, with everything from wildlife cruises and harbor sailings to wine tastings, kayaking, and farm experiences.
To narrow things down, I leveraged ChatGPT to help summarize and compare tour options for our itinerary. Because my husband had specific requests, like wine tasting and kayaking, AI helped us choose the best ports for each activity.
Here’s my list of the best shore excursions for a New Zealand cruise, including some helpful tidbits for each port of call on our itinerary.
Dunedin (Port Chalmers)
Dunedin is known for its strong Scottish heritage, historic architecture, and proximity to the wildlife-rich Otago Peninsula. It’s also one of the best places in New Zealand to spot rare seabirds, seals, penguins, and the famous royal albatross.
Otago Harbor Wildlife Cruise (Shore Excursions Group)
Our first excursion was an Otago Harbor wildlife cruise with Shore Excursions Group. The company provided instructions that were straightforward, and we met our guide right inside the cruise terminal within minutes of disembarking. Just as described, the guide was holding a clearly marked sign, making everything very stress-free.
We rode in a comfortable van for about five minutes before boarding a small boat for our 2-hour harbor cruise. There were only about eight other cruisers on board, along with a knowledgeable captain and wildlife guide.
The small group made a huge difference during our excursion. We were able to move freely around the vessel, ask questions, and get unobstructed views of sea lions, seals, blue penguins, and even the iconic albatross.
At one point, we passed the cruise-line tour with roughly 50 people crowded onto a larger boat. There was truly no comparison to the personalized experience we had.
After the cruise, we took advantage of the city-provided shuttle to downtown Dunedin. It cost $10 per person and was conveniently charged to our stateroom.
We spent a few hours shopping, having lunch in the city, and visiting the stunning Dunedin Railway Station before heading back to the ship.
Christchurch (Lyttelton)
Christchurch is often called the “Garden City” and is known for its English heritage, green spaces, and easy access to New Zealand’s rural countryside. Cruise ships dock in nearby Lyttelton, a scenic harbor town surrounded by hills.
Our time in port was slightly shortened due to an incoming storm, so our entire time ashore was spent on our excursion. Otherwise, we would have explored nearby Christchurch after our tour!
Town and Country Canterbury Sheep Farm Experience (Cruise Line)
We booked a four-hour sheep farm experience through the cruise line, and it ended up being one of our favorite tours of the entire sailing!
We were the only coach bus visiting the farm that day, which made the experience feel incredibly intimate. The family who owns the farm gave us a warm welcome by opening their home to us. We were even provided tea and homemade snacks served from their personal kitchen.
We watched a sheep-dog herding demonstration, learned about farm life in rural New Zealand, and saw a live sheep-shearing demonstration that was both fascinating and surprisingly entertaining. The scenery alone was worth the trip, with rolling green hills, open pastures, and classic Canterbury countryside.
The farmer’s wife also sold a small selection of handmade goods, so I’d recommend bringing cash if you want to purchase something directly from the source.
Tauranga
Tauranga is famous for its beautiful beaches, laid-back coastal vibe, and proximity to Rotorua, an area famous for geothermal activity, Māori culture, and unique landscapes.
Cruise ships dock right in town, so you are within walking distance of shops, cafés, and the waterfront. I was able to squeeze in some quick shopping right before our excursion, and it was a very charming area.
Tauranga Wine Tasting with Lunch (Shore Excursions Group)
New Zealand is world-renowned for its wines, so this Wine Tasting Tour excursion was high on our list. As with our other Shore Excursions Group tours, directions were clear, and our guide was easy to find just outside the terminal.
Our group consisted of only eight other cruisers, which made the day feel relaxed and intimate. Our guide explained that his company is one of the only operators offering this type of tour in the region, which helped explain why the cruise line didn’t have a similar option available.
The day included a stop at a local brewery, a scenic cable car ride in Rotorua, a hilltop wine tasting paired with a charcuterie board, and a final seaside drink and dessert before returning to the ship.
It was a beautifully curated experience and something we likely wouldn’t have found on our own. We loved being able to see the surrounding area, and only wished we had woken up earlier to walk along the beach near the port.
Auckland
Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and is known for its harbors, volcanic hills, and vibrant waterfront. Cruise ships dock right in the heart of the city, making it one of the most convenient ports for independent exploration or longer excursions inland.
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour (Shore Excursions Group)
My husband wanted to visit Hobbiton, as he’s a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings. Because the cruise line’s Hobbiton excursion from Tauranga was booked months before our cruise, I was scrambling to find another option.
Luckily, Shore Excursions Group offered an excursion from Auckland to visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, which wasn’t available through the cruise line!
The day before arriving in Auckland, I received a courtesy call from the tour operator encouraging us to arrive at the vans as early as possible after disembarking. I appreciated the proactive communication, and it immediately put me at ease.
Our guide met us just outside the terminal and showed us to a luxury Mercedes van with spacious seating and powerful air conditioning, which was a blessing on a hot summer day!
Because this tour wasn’t offered through the cruise line, our group was limited to about 12 people, split between two vans. The drive to Hobbiton is roughly two hours, but it flew by with our friendly, informative guide and a very comfortable ride.
The Hobbiton Movie Set is a permanently preserved filming location set on a working sheep farm where visitors can walk through the real-life Shire used in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films.
The site features around 40 carefully crafted hobbit holes built at varying scales, along with gardens, fences, pathways, and iconic landmarks that make the village feel lived-in rather than staged.
If you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, this tour is absolutely worth the full day.
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is known for its stunning natural beauty, calm waters, and historical significance as the birthplace of modern New Zealand. It’s also one of the best places in the country for water-based activities.
This is a tender port, and after going ashore, the cruise line provided complimentary shuttles into town.
Waitangi Estuary and Waterfall Kayaking (Shore Excursions Group)
My husband really wanted to kayak on this trip, and the Bay of Islands seemed like the perfect place to do it. Our kayaking launch point was conveniently located near where the tenders dropped us off, and after a short walk and safety briefing, we were on the water in two-person kayaks.
The estuary was beautiful and mostly calm, though the paddle to the waterfall was longer than we expected. The waterfall itself wasn’t dramatic, but the journey there was peaceful and scenic.
By the end of the excursion, we were completely soaked and exhausted, so we skipped exploring town and headed straight back to the ship. It was a great way to wrap up our New Zealand port days with something active and memorable!
Booking an excursion for every New Zealand port might not be for everyone
Some people might prefer having more flexibility or free time during their New Zealand cruise. However, since this was our first visit to New Zealand, we wanted to make the most of our time ashore. For us, booking an excursion for each port was absolutely the right choice, especially on a packed itinerary.
Between small-group tours, wildlife encounters, wine tasting, and kayaking, we experienced a wide range of what makes New Zealand so special.
If you’re planning a similar cruise, I recommend booking early and being open to third-party operators. Shore Excursions Group was an excellent choice for our New Zealand cruise, and I would highly recommend the company to anyone looking for a third-party option.
This can make a huge difference in both availability and overall experience for your New Zealand cruise!
Disclaimer: I collaborated with Shore Excursions Group for select tours featured in this article. While the tours were provided as part of this collaboration, all opinions and experiences shared are entirely my own. Any excursions booked directly through the cruise line were paid for out of pocket.
