Who Are we?
About Wicked Wanders
History
About
“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.
Russell Christian is the owner/operator of Wicked Wanders Tours. He has lived and worked in Tauranga since 2009 and is passionate about the history and culture New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region has to offer. Having spent twenty years working in the hospitality industry both here and overseas Russell provides a high level of customer service. He is also a member of the Tauranga Land Search and Rescue team and is very comfortable working in the outdoors. Through his experiences and training as part of Tauranga LandSAR Russell is confident in managing risk in the outdoors and providing a safe experience for those in his care. You can rest assured that your safety is of the utmost importance to us.
Russell Christian
Why Choose Us?
Our Conservation, Cultural & Tiaki Promise
We take pride in the uniqueness of Aotearoa New Zealand’s outdoors and are committed to sharing its beauty in a way that is respectful, educational, and inspiring. We strive to help visitors from around the world connect more deeply with our environment and culture, ensuring the stories we tell are accurate, meaningful, and grounded in respect for the traditions and history of this land.
In doing so, we proudly align ourselves with the Tiaki Promise, encouraging all visitors to care for New Zealand — to act as guardians of the land, sea, and nature, and to travel safely and responsibly. We ensure that the stories we share about conservation, heritage, and culture reflect this commitment, honouring both the environment and the people of Aotearoa, so that these special places can be protected and enjoyed for generations to come.
Reviews
Our Happy Customers
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Wonderful experience taking you back to nature - A great place to visit to experience a great variety of geothermal landscapes. Not crowded with 3 different walks including a bus ride back at the end taking you to... read more 
k g
April 5, 2026 Great trip to Hobbiton! - We had such a great time on our hobbiton trip. Russell was very friendly and knowledgeable and made our trip very enjoyable. We would definitely go on another trip with... read more 
Alison C
March 30, 2026 Good cruise ship excursion - Great tour, Russell was very good. Lots of good information 
Terry G
March 28, 2026 - This Excursion is Great! - Wow! What a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in learning about the indigenous people of New Zealand and the many natural wonders in New... read more
N6061PIandrewr
March 20, 2026 Terrific day trip from Tauranga - A wonderful balance of culture and nature! Our excellent guide Nicolle was knowledgeable, engaging, and very informative. We really enjoyed the Maori cultural center and the amazing geyser and... read more 
FLguyTampa_FL
March 20, 2026 Definitely a Must See - My wife and I enjoyed the day tour taken from Tauranga after our cruise ship, the Norwegian Spirit docked. Wicked Wanders Tour was as advertised and was enjoyable, especially our... read more 
Inspiration820237
March 13, 2026