Creating immersive experiences right here in our backyard

Wicked Wanders is a boutique tour operator specialising in providing personalised history and tasting tours of the greater Tauranga area.

Tours

Wicked Wanders Trips & Tours

Russell Christian is the owner/operator of Wicked Wanders Tours. He has lived and worked in Tauranga for ten years and is passionate about the history and culture New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region has to offer.

About Wicked Wanders

“Wicked” A New Zealand colloquialism meaning ‘Amazing’, ‘Fantastic’ or ‘Astonishing’.

Established in 2015 Wicked Wanders is a boutique tour operator specialising in providing personalised history and tasting tours of the greater Tauranga area. We are a Silver rated Qualmark sustainable tourism awarded business, which is an assurance from Tourism New Zealand that we offer quality tours and deliver a quality visitor experience.

Experience the Bay of Plenty and surrounding areas with informative tours that take in a little bit of everything the Bay of Plenty has to offer. Choose from a customised day trip, a visit to the Hobbiton movie set, the steaming geysers and mud pools of Rotorua or a walk through some of our stunning native forests. Wicked Wanders can recommend and tailor an experience to met your interests, expectations, level of fitness or itinerary. If you are joining us from a cruise ship we guarantee we will have you back in plenty of time to board your ship.

Reviews

Our Happy Customers

  • star rating  Wow! Awesome day spent with Russell! Highly recommend this tour. We covered the area of Mount Maunganti in the Bay of Plenty and all around Tauranga.... read more

    katbY1619SF
    January 27, 2023

    star rating  We booked our trip through Viator, but you may be able to book w/ Wicked Wanders directly online. Wonderful tour around Tauranga with stops for local Tea & Kiwi... read more

    Dr_JayL
    November 22, 2022

    star rating  Very worthwhile tour for cruise passengers. Carol is very informative and friendly. Had a lovely time and still had time for a walk round.

    Brian T
    February 13, 2019
  • star rating  Our guide, Nicolle was excellent: professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. She kept us on track to ensure we didn't miss our ship. The tour was terrific: entertaining, educational, and beautiful.

    heckc2015
    February 5, 2023

    star rating  The views was so amazing & our guide who was with us was very informative about the many locations we went to! Such a beautiful trip & highly recommend

    Saphire T
    April 16, 2023

    star rating  This was a really enjoyable and informative experience! Russell's encyclopedic knowledge and engaging personality made it a relaxed and interesting trip.

    T6728BIjuliank
    April 21, 2022
  • star rating  What a great time. I was up from Christchurch at a conference in Tauranga with some time to kill and decided to do this tour. Russell was a great guide... read more

    H1719OFandreww
    October 2, 2022

    star rating  Mum and I thoroughly enjoyed our day out. The tour guide picked us up from our accommodation and took us back the end of the day. The tour... read more

    446jennifer
    March 24, 2021

    star rating  This was a veryinformative tour. Our guide was wonderful! We found out a lot about Tauranga and it's surroundings!

    DebbieMcKinley
    October 26, 2022
  • star rating  I enjoyed this tour quite a bit. Russel was very well informed and professional. The stop at the Elms was great. The history of Tauranga was very informative and the... read more

    Sharyn C
    January 7, 2023

    star rating  We had beautiful weather. This is a must to be able to experience the best views. Our guide was good and informative. Downside for anyone unable to walk unaided, not... read more

    NZcitz
    March 25, 2021

    star rating  We were very lucky to be the only ones on this trip that day, our guide was excellent new what he was talking about and answered any questions we had... read more

    Ggaiau
    March 8, 2020
  • star rating  Small bus was lovely. Very informative and flexible. Enjoyed by all of us including the teenagers. Need ot be able to walk on uneven ground but we are not particularly... read more

    lyndalS9302EU
    January 9, 2023

    star rating  excelent attention to detail, small group of 10 Water bottles placed on each seat. Mobility an issue & a step for entering & exit the minibus, just there... read more

    johntalbot4
    December 11, 2022

    star rating  Took this tour whilst on a day visit by cruise ship. Great choice. Was easy to find just outside of the wharf gate. Comfortable mini bus & Russell was a... read more

    shelby547
    April 15, 2023
  • star rating  I took a private tour of the Karangahake Gorge, Minden outlook and the Owhanga Falls, with lunch and a little train ride. I really got the feeling that there is... read more

    miles_semple
    February 6, 2016

    star rating  Easy to book, quick confirmation, showed up on time as planned, good service. Very happy overall. Thank you.

    Anita H
    February 8, 2023

    star rating  Had a tour with Russell and it was fantastic!

    Saw lots of interesting stuff, learned plenty of cool facts about what we were seeing, and had a great... read more

    DR0PB34R
    December 28, 2022
  • star rating  We were on a cruise ship and wanted a low key tour that didn't go too far or for too long. Wicked wanders tours was the perfect choice. Carol was... read more

    Nancy C
    March 25, 2019

    star rating  Russell was our knowledgable guide who took us in our mini van round all the points in the tour. He was informative and entertaining. We enjoyed learning about the kiwi... read more

    Viv451
    March 8, 2020

    star rating  Our guide Russell was a local man who was at the pier to greet us. The tour showed us around the town of the "Mount", beaches, harbour, the adjoining... read more

    Gail52018
    February 26, 2020
  • star rating  Russell from Wicked Wanderers met our cruise ship on time for the 4hr scenic tour of Tauranga. Small group, very comfortable air conditioned van. Tour commentary was excellent & well... read more

    V933YZsueb
    January 6, 2023

    star rating  Carol from Wicked Wanda Tours was waiting for us as stated just outside the gates to the port. She gave us a cheerful welcome and said as soon as we... read more

    silentp1948
    March 18, 2019

    star rating  I HIGHLY recommend to do this tour. You don’t have to rent a car, you just sit back, relax and enjoy your ride! This is also cheaper than renting a... read more

    leijonamren
    May 20, 2023
  • star rating  Russel was a lovely welcoming guide who took great care of us. Very informative and relaxed. Highly recommend it

    H845DHannes
    October 18, 2022

    star rating  We had an amazing day with Russell who showed us the beauty of Bay of Plenty. We stopped in Mount Maunganui where Russell told us the history of New Zealand... read more

    Passport65378954698
    May 19, 2023

    star rating  The tour was reasonably priced and went all round Tauranga but didnt stop enough for photo moments next time we would walk off port and explore the town ourselves but... read more

    Diane L
    February 6, 2019
  • star rating  This is a wonderful tour of Tauranga in a small coach with a local guide. Russell was exceptional. He took us to all the best places and told us so... read more

    Peachie57
    March 18, 2023

    star rating  Russell responded quickly after purchasing our tickets. Meeting off wharf was easy. Vehicle is well suited to the tour.
    Best of all it was a great informative tour - highlight... read more

    943nevilleh
    March 8, 2020

    star rating  This was an absolutely amazing day trip and a great way to see more secluded thermal lakes. The walk down from the top of the valley was stunning with so... read more

    IanS4534
    April 15, 2023