Gray Line New Zealand
Gray Line New Zealand
4.5
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Luxury one day coach tours to the highlights of beautiful New Zealand, including Auckland city sights, the Bay of Islands, Waitomo and Hobbiton, Rotorua, Christchurch, Mt Cook, Queenstown and Milford Sound. Come with us and experience some of the world renowned destinations and amazing attractions around New Zealand in the comfort of our premium touring coaches!
Auckland Central, New Zealand

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
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happyopenmindedtraveller
The Netherlands306,464 contributions
Feb 2020 • Business
Via an online website, i managed to get a good price for the approximately 3 hours Bay of Islands afternoon cruise including the *Hole in the rock* and dolphins watching, via Gray Line Tour. The Gray Line coach left from the Hobson Street station in Auckland for Paihia, at 7.30 a.m. this morning, with a 30 minutes coffee or tea break at a nice cafe, less than 1 1/2 hours from Auckland. Arriving in Paihia just after 11 a.m., we had some time for ourselves, before boarding the catamaran *Dolphin Seeker* for the most lovely approximately 3 hours cruise through the Bay of islands, at around 1.15 p.m.. The *Hole in the rock* actually looked quite small from the far distance but the weather conditions today being quite good and the sea being quite calm, the catamaran *Dolphin Seeker* actually managed to pass through the *Hole in the rock*. Marvellous!. The catamaran *Dolphin Seeker* then brought us to see the dolphins. Wonderful!. Everything was really professionally arranged, based on my personal experiences today, from the check-in at the Hobson Street station, to the experienced driver of the Gray Line coach, with his interesting commentary, all the way to Paihia and of course the whole apparently very experienced and really quite charming catamaran *Dolphin Seeker* team, especially with its very important emphasis on safety while on board. Recommended.
Written February 14, 2020
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.
Kia Ora ilovetotravelfoodie, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I am glad you enjoyed your day out with us. All the best for your future travels from Jerome and the team at GrayLine New Zealand
Written February 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

JoanieM620
Grantsburg, WI195 contributions
Oct 2022
Though it was a long day with a lot of driving, we had a great time visiting Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The bus driver/guide for the trip from Rotorua to Hobbiton was great - very informative. The bus driver/guide for the trip from Hobbiton to Auckland didn't seem to care much about his passengers.

The tour of Hobbiton was very interesting; our guide on that tour was great. A buffet lunch at Hobbiton was included in our day. There was a nice variety of food to meet everyone's tastes.

The Glowworm Caves was also interesting. The guide was informative. It would have been helpful if the size of the group was a little smaller so that it would have been easier to keep everyone together. There were some stairs in the cave, but not too many to make it difficult for people.

The end of the trip annoying. When we got to Auckland, the driver stopped and said that anyone going to the Skycity Hotel should get off there. After we got off and got our luggage, the driver started to get back on the bus. We had no idea where our hotel was. When we asked him, he was rather rude and abrupt in his answer. The hotel entrance was a block away. He could have dropped us off right in front of the hotel since there was plenty of space for buses.
Written November 18, 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.

Marianne Henn
4 contributions
Feb 2020
This was a great tour, a combination of a bus trip and a boat trip to the Hole in the Rock, passing many islands. experiencing dolphins and other wildlife. Great commentary by Rachel and on the boat. Saw and experienced a lot. One of the best tours.
Written February 19, 2020
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.
Kia Ora Land_See, We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour and seeing the dolphins up close on the cruise. It is great to know that Rachel provided you with wonderful commentary going to and from your tour to see the hole in the rock. All the best for your future travels, Cheyenne and the team at GrayLine
Written February 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Cindy N
8 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
The Gray Line Tour was wonderful from start to finish. The staff was extremely helpful meeting us at the City Station and getting us on the right bus for the tour . The bus driver Brian was great and told us lots about NZ history in an entertaining manner! He was kind and helpful with lots of good tour tips! Going to Hobbiton was wonderful and a tour I wouldn’t miss! The lunch was great with lots of good choices! Waitomo Caves was another must do tour! The tour was extremely organized . The bus was very comfortable and enroute to the tour sites you see the wonderful NZ country side! Thank you Brian and Grey Line Tours!
Written January 16, 2020
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.
Kia Ora cindyn52, It is so great to hear about your wonderful experience at Waitomo and the Hobbiton Movie Set! Our driver Brian is definitely one of the best. We will be passing on your feedback, I'm sure he will be appreciative of it. The lunch in Hobbiton is indeed great. We hope you had time to go back for seconds! The Waitomo Caves are just phenomenal, isn't it? We know you can't take photos while you're inside the caves, but we hope you had plenty of time to marvel at the beauty of it. Thanks again for writing about your experience. If you ever decide to revisit these two amazing places, we hope you choose us again. All the best for all your future travels, Maye and the team at GrayLine
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sophthorn
39 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
We booked the Waitomo caves and Rotorua full day tour through bookme.co.nz and It was so much cheaper than booking elsewhere as they had a good deal on. We were picked up on Hobson street and the coach left on time. Our driver Todd was very friendly and informative about New Zealand. Normally with tours, the driver gives a quick summary of the plan for the day but this wasn't given so we weren't too sure on what we were doing specifically! Our first stop was Waitomo caves and it took about 2.5 hours to get there. Todd dropped us off and we met with our guide for the caves. Seeing the glow worms was really interesting and the boat ride was especially good. We spent about an hour there and headed back to the coach where we were given a box with our lunch in it. For the price we paid, we were really disappointed with lunch. It was just a wrap with chicken in but it tasted so bland and was filled with way too much salad to try and compensate. I really think that needs to be improved. We then drove to watch the sheep shearing and see a tour around a farm which although we enjoyed, we felt it kind of ate into our day and what little time we had at Rotorua. When we arrived at Rotorua we were driven to the lake but then weren't able to get photos etc. We headed straight to Te Puia where we saw the wonderful geysers, the bubbling mud pools and were lucky enough to watch a Maori show full of amazing singing and dancing. We had two hours in total at Te Puia however once that was finished, we headed straight back to Auckland which was a 3 hour drive. Overall, Todd was a great driver and we thoroughly enjoyed having him as our guide for the day. We were just disappointed with the itinerary as we would have preferred more time in Rotorua itself. Also the lunch was too bland and not worth the money we paid. I would definitely recommend going to Rotorua if you have free time in Auckland but maybe just consider whether you'd like to spend longer there or not.
Written December 6, 2014
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.

Paul_from_Toronto_CA
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Feb 2013 • Couples
We did the Waitomo to Rotorua tour in February 2013. You have the option of going to the Agrodome Farm, or upgrading to go to the Polynesian Spa, the Zorb or the Skyline Gondola instead of the Agrodome Farm. We paid the extra to go to the Polynesian Spa (total cost NZ$350 per person for the tour).

We left Auckland 30 minutes late!! Not our fault, but Gray Lines fault, waiting for passengers that they did not collect in time!

We were supposed to have 1 1/2 hours at the Polynesian Spa. We were only allowed 1 hour. We paid extra for going to the Spa and expected to get our money's worth. The person who transported us on a smaller bus to the Spa was quite rude, and said we had to be ready in exactly one hour or they would leave without us. The 8 of us were very disappointed we would be short changed on our spa excursion.

We felt rushed and we were rushed at the Polynesian Spa. Always looking at the clock to see what time it was so we would have enough time to shower after. It was NOT a relaxing experience as it was intended to be.

We were picked up in an hour and transported back to the bigger bus. And guess what, none of the other people from the side tours (Agrodome, Zorb) were there!! We were the first ones back at the bus. We waited for OVER 30 minutes for the people who went on the Agrodome Farm to show up. That is the extra 30 minutes we were supposed to have had at the spa! And we paid extra $$ for that!!

I complained to the coach tour guide (Japanese woman). She laughed at me as though it was funny!! I asked her what she thought was funny, since we paid extra, we were rushed, and we came back early and no one was there except us. She shut up after that. The bus driver, Peter, was great, he was just doing his job.

I really think I should give this tour a 3* because the way the tour guide handled it, but I will overlook it, and give it 4* since there were no issues with other parts of the tour.

Just be aware if you do book the Polynesian Spa, you might get shortchanged on your time that you paid extra for if they are running late.

I think that rude Japanese tour guide should be re-assigned to other tasks, and not be so insensitive. NZ$350 is a lot of money. That's NZ$700 for 2 people. Give us what we paid for!!
Written April 23, 2013
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.
Thank you for your feedback and sharing your experience on the Waitomo and Rotorua Day Tour. On behalf of Gray Line NZ I would like to apologize for the inconvenience caused whilst travelling on your tour to Waitomo and Rotorua. I would like to investigate the matter further as I believe this tour usually exceeds expectations. There are a few points which you have brought to my attention - 1 hour at the Polynesian Spa (30 minutes shorter) and the attitudes of our team. Could you please advise which day that you traveled and also a contact email address so we can investigate and follow up on the matter at hand. Once again at this stage I can only apologize for the inconvenience caused and I look forward to your reply. Kind regards Gray Line NZ
Written April 25, 2013
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

GigiLee_mc
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia252 contributions
We had a replacement bus so I wouldn’t say it’s “luxury”, however our driver/guide, Eric, was knowledgable and almost talked the entire journey from Qtn to Milford Sound, explaining and speaking about interesting sites we passed by, which I find it very informative. Great tour with him.
Written December 3, 2018
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.
Kia ora GigiLee_mc, It's great to hear you enjoyed the commentary so much - all the best for your future travels! Amanda and the team at Gray Line.
Written December 17, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Raphael L
Vancouver, Canada44 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
The tour is well organized; everything is on-time (except for other tourists!) and well thought out, including: the snacks, meals and water, advice for where to find toilets at the sites, drop-off and pick-up locations and times, etc. Driver was professional and knowledgeable. The longest stretches of driving were 3 hours, but the motor coach is comfortable and clean. Was nice to see the NZ countryside on the way to the sites: Waitomo Caves - a truly unique, natural experience; Agrodome - sheep and other animal farming, a core NZ industry; Te Puia - Maori cultural centre and geothermal hot springs. Recommended.
Written July 27, 2018
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.
Kia ora Raphael, We're so glad you enjoyed the travel and the driver, and your experience of the NZ countryside! All the best for your future travels, Amanda and the team at Gray Line
Written August 27, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

nannycook
Eastbourne, UK29 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We travelled by Grayline coaches with driver Racheal on 18 October who gave a superb commentary all the way to the Bay of Islands. Russell mini tour was excellent.
Written October 20, 2016
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.
Kia ora nannycook, It's great to hear you enjoyed your Bay of Islands day tour and your driver guide's expert commentary! All the best for your future travels, Amy and the team at Gray Line
Written November 8, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Niamhy
Dublin, Ireland26 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
I work along with Grayline in Ireland so I was delighted to find out that Grayline in New Zealand provided the tour to Rotorua and the Waitomo caves. Our driver was brilliant. I feel really bad I cannot remember his name (a Scottish man) he was so informative and constantly on hand for anything that was needed. The first stop was the Waitomo caves which were absolutely spectacular. Then we made our way to Rotorua. We were then separated depending on whether we book for the farm, Polynesian spa or else the Gondolas. I done the gondolas which were great. Our last stop was te puia which was my favorite part the show was so good. Overall I had a brilliant tour. The tour itself so well put together and organised. My driver was absolutely fantastic I would highly recommend him. Thank you soooo much for an unforgettable day. :)Niamh
Written November 13, 2014
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.

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