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  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.

    ivettefaltoheck
    February 5, 2023

    star rating  had a ball,Carol the driver operator had a idea of where we wanted to go but was very accommodating & suggested changes to the original ittinary that we had asked... read more

    tom m
    February 8, 2016

    star rating  Russell Picks you up from where the cruise ship docks. He is very knowledgeable and makes the whole experience very interesting. We were lucky enough to be the only two... read more

    Dolly502014
    March 5, 2020
  • 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  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 small group tour was very informative and we had the opportunity to see a selection of locations that had important historical significance. The guide was knowledgeable & able to... read more

    Olive R
    March 3, 2020
  • star rating  This was a terrific way to see Tauranga and the surrounding area. Russell was extremely knowledgeable and lots of fun too. All the stops were great and so was the... read more

    emB5262RV
    February 21, 2020

    star rating  When cruising it is easy to book excursions directly from the ship. We have found these can be very expensive and very impersonal. You have 50 on the coach and... read more

    Barbara N
    March 24, 2019

    star rating  We were looking for an affordable excursion getting off the cruise ship. We found Wicked Wanders which offered a four hour tour provided by Carol and was very affordable.... read more

    Wendi B
    March 9, 2016
  • star rating  If you arrive by cruise ship with no plans for Tauranga, check out Russell Christian's Wicked Wanders tours. He's on the Pier (when his small group, mini van... read more

    AnnArborMHT
    January 22, 2023

    star rating  Having booked a small group tour of Tauranga on-line were we really didn't know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised when Carol took us on a relaxing and very... read more

    gnbfhb
    February 3, 2019

    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  Could not find a tour that suited us with the cruise line, so found Wicked Wanders online. really enjoyed the small group, the well thought out tour, the super tour... read more

    _davidandjoanmay
    February 24, 2017

    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  Fantastic and very informative time we had with Russell. He was casual but very well informed on lots of general life, history, commerce and found interesting New Zealand focused... read more

    Dragonboating
    April 21, 2023
  • star rating  Cruising New Zealand on Celebrity and booked the trip with Wicked Wanders on line before we arrived - though you could book on the day.. Meet and greet well organised... read more

    Ian M
    February 20, 2017

    star rating  We really enjoyed our 4-hour tour. Interesting and fun. The town is very near the port so you can walk in or take the ship shuttle. We were met at... read more

    barbarasimon1
    March 3, 2020

    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  The Kiwi farm was fascinating and our Kiwi sample tastings along with Ripe NZ Avocados and NZ cooking oils dipped in bread were a treat. Russell was most interesting in... read more

    Pamela H
    November 29, 2022

    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  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  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  Small group tour with Russell being very responsive in replies in enquires. Great, smooth and not rushed in timing which were good. A secret local lunch hideout (you will need... read more

    jayj2015
    February 25, 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  This trip is well worth it, especially if you want to quickly learn more about the history of NZ. We've tried a few other cultural experiences here but they felt... read more

    piccapii
    December 27, 2022

    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  Four of us got off the cruise ship at Tauranga and started looking for a small van tour for several hours. We found Carol of Wicked Wanders right at the... read more

    tunebug
    February 27, 2016

    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  Our tour guide, Russell, picked us up at the dock as soon as we arrived. We drove to Hobbiton and had a delightful time visiting the movie set followed... read more

    Joanne G
    January 17, 2023