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  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  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  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  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  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  We are delighted that we booked this tour instead of one of the cruise ship tours. Russell was well informed and interesting, and his knowledge of the... read more

    T2287SGkevinb
    January 25, 2023
  • 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 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  Had a fantastic tour in Tauranga, Russell was superb on the tour and I would recommend this tour over the excursions offered by the cruise lines. He takes you to... read more

    Jk K
    December 28, 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  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  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  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  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  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  Great city tour with a visit to a honey farm, kiwi farm with great tasting kiwi ice cream and a avocado farm.

    Walt G
    January 28, 2019

    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  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  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  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  We were on a cruise that unexpectedly visited Tauranga for 2 days. The fist day we did a hop on & hop off bus tour around Tauranga. The second... read more

    MargotK621
    March 14, 2020
  • 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  The sites are lovely. Russell knew his history. Disappointed about the tea stop being closed but the elms were fascinating

    758debbier
    December 28, 2022

    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  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

    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  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  On a recent New Zealand cruise we visited a number of ports. Tauranga is a stunning place and our memories will be all the more special because of this... read more

    sueaussie
    May 9, 2019

    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  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