Frequently Asked Questions and Information
FAQ
CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS:
Do you pick up and drop off from the port of Tauranga?
Yes. Wicked Wanders Tours is contracted by Tourism Bay of Plenty to provide tour services to the cruise ships so all our tours pickup and drop off from the cruise passenger gate at Salisbury Avenue, just a short walk from where the cruise ships berth. We also have permitted parking near the gates for our vehicles. You will be sent an automated message three weeks prior to your departure date with all the information about where to meet.
What happens if my cruise ship is unable to dock and misses the port?
If your ship cannot dock for any reason, we consider that this is outside of your control and you will be refunded in full.
What happens if my cruise ship arrives later than expected. Will we miss our tour?
The short answer is no not usually. Our tour timings are designed around the arrival and departure times of the cruise ships on the days they are docking, and the tours are mostly filled with ship passengers. The departure times are designed with some wiggle room if required. If your ship does arrive late, it is usually not by much and we will adjust the tour timings accordingly. Please get to the meeting point as quickly as possible.
If your ship is much later or decides to change days, we are usually notified in advance and will do our utmost to reschedule your tour. If you have booked a tour that requires a booking at a venue, we will do our utmost to reschedule the booking at the venue, but this is subject to the venue’s availability at the time. If in the unlikely event we cannot reschedule your tour, you will be refunded in full.
Do you guarantee to get us back to the ship on time?
Wicked Wanders Tours is contracted by Tourism Bay of Plenty to provide tour services to the cruise ships docking in Tauranga, so it is in our best interest to make sure we return all our passengers to their ship on time. Our tour timings are designed around the arrival and departure times of the cruise ships, and we also have live tracking on all our tours so we can see that our tours are running to time. Rest assured it is our job to worry about the timings on the day so you can enjoy your tour. If in the very unlikely event anything happens that is outside of our control, we guarantee we will do our utmost to assist you in getting to the next port.
Hobbiton Tours for cruise ship:
Due to restrictions put in place by Hobbiton because of the limited availability at the venue, we have decided to not run Hobbiton tours on cruise ship days for the time being. We are hoping this will change in the near future.
Things to consider when traveling by cruise ship:
If you are traveling by cruise ship it is important that we know which ship you are on so we can plan our tour timings on the days when more than one ship is in port. It is also important we have a contactable phone number or email address that we can reach you on if anything changes. We appreciate that you may not want to pay for internet on the ship but at the very least you must regularly check your messages while ashore. We take no responsibility in the unlikely event that things change last minute, and we cannot contact you. Understand that your mobile phone may not work outside of your home country and you may need to setup a separate SIM card for it. If you are starting your cruise in New Zealand, we recommend you purchase a prepaid New Zealand SIM card before boarding and notify us of the number. There are now also various travel SIMS available globally.
NB: We are aware the cruise ships are very regularly making a point of warning passengers about taking non ship tours and that “the ship won’t wait!”. Understand this is more about encouraging passengers to book the more expensive cruise ship tours than independent tour companies actually missing ship departures. In reality, passengers that miss ships have generally gone off on their own without a guide.
FOR ALL CUSTOMERS:
Can I book directly with tour operators in New Zealand?
Yes. All companies operating in New Zealand must adhere to the law as stated in the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or run the risk of prosecution. The tourism industry in New Zealand also has a quality assurance standard called Qualmark. This is not compulsory but any tourist operator in New Zealand that shows the Qualmark logo has been assessed as operating at a high standard and you can confidently book with them directly. Wicked Wanders is a Qualmark assessed company.
Do I need to pre-book, or can I purchase on the day?
We strongly recommend you pre-book. Especially if you have a larger group. If there is a cruise ship docking there is no guarantee there will be availability on the day, and a lot of our tours do sell out prior. Also, some venues (Hobbiton especially) will have very limited or no availability on the day. If the tour, you are looking at has sold out there is a waitlist on our reservation system.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please see our Terms and Conditions for our cancellation policy.
Is there a lunch stop on my tour?
Yes. We allow a 30-minute stop on all our tours to grab a bite to eat and a coffee (Except the 2-hour History Tour). Either at the café at the venue or at a local café in the area. This is not included in the price of the tour, so you have the freedom to order what you want. It is commonplace for cafes in New Zealand to provide gluten free and vegetarian options and they will generally be happy to adjust dishes if required. You can talk to your guided on the day for assistance if you need to.
Is there free Wi-Fi on the tour?
For most of our tours yes there is. The cafes we stop at have free Wi-Fi available. However, we do not have Wi-Fi available on our vehicles as we want you to be enjoying your tour and not be interrupting those around you.
Do you do other tours?
Yes. If you are looking for something specific or are looking to cover a corporate event, we can tailor something specific to your needs. Understand that if you are coming by cruise ship you will have limited time and you need to be aware that travel times in New Zealand may differ to what your used to. It is generally not possible to do more than one major attraction in a day. Please contact us directly so we can put together a quote for you.
How far do your tours go?
Our local half day tours generally stay in or close to the city. Our geothermal tours go to Rotorua which is approximately an hour and fifteen-minute drive away. Hobbiton is approximately an hour away. We do stops along the way to break up the drive and show you some of our amazing countryside. Please note that if you are traveling independently and are coming south from Auckland, Hobbiton is on the way, and you may want to consider prebooking directly at Hobbiton yourself.
How many people are on each tour?
We specialise in providing small van tours so the maximum number of customers on any tour will be 11. We can do larger groups, but this will need to be arranged in advance.
Do you pick up from accommodation?
Yes, providing you are staying in the Tauranga central city area or central Mount Maunganui area. If you have booked on a busy cruise ship day, we may not be able to pick you up and you will have to meet us at the port, but we are usually able to drop you off at the end of the day. We will confirm with you prior to the day.
Mobility Aids
Not all our tours are suitable for customers requiring mobility aids and not all our vehicles have the capacity to carry mobility aids. It is important you contact us directly prior to booking so we can assist you in working out what tours are suitable and what sort of assistance you will require.
Can I purchase with foreign currency in New Zealand?
Generally, no. Some tour operators and souvenir stores will accept some foreign currencies but for all other purchases you will need to use any major credit card or New Zealand currency. Visa / Mastercard / NZD cash are the best. AMEX and DINERS are generally only accepted in hotels in New Zealand.
Gratuities
Tipping is not expected in New Zealand but if you have enjoyed your experience and would like to tip it is acceptable to do so and will be appreciated. The amount to tip is at your discretion.
Things to consider when booking:
If you have any specific questions or requirements regarding your booking with us that is outside of pick-up location and food allergies etc, please contact us directly via email or direct message so we can action it in a timely manner. When we are busy, we may not be able to check the booking notes until the days leading up to your tour and by then it may be too late to accommodate your request.
Viator / Trip Advisor / Expedia / Booking.com are third party booking websites which we list our products on and must pay a substantial commission to do so. We are not employed or contracted by them. If you would like to support local businesses, we encourage you to book directly with us.