Hop-on Hop-off Tours Auckland

Explorer Bus: Auckland Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Auckland Explorer Bus staff assisting tourists with city tour brochures.

Passengers on Auckland Explorer Bus viewing city street.

Auckland Explorer Bus on a sunny day with tourists on the upper deck.

Auckland Explorer Bus on a scenic route through lush greenery.

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

4.2/5

(442)

Peter

Feb 2026

Verified booking

It took us to places that we wouldn't have seen, even if you don't get off the bus at those stops. It was a break from driving everywhere. There are many places on the route that will take some time to look around so you might want to get a ticket for 2 days or visit a few and make your own way to others that interest you another day.

Michel

Jan 2026

Verified booking

The bus route gives you a really good overview of the city, and the museum is very interesting, both for its historical aspect and its explanations about volcanoes, with a glimpse of what it would feel like to be in a house if an eruption occurred. The war museum on the top floor is very moving.

Monica

Feb 2026

Verified booking

Nice and clean. A mix of covered and open seating. The audio was pretty good for most of the trip, some parts got lost on the highway. Easy online ticket purchase and redemption. It was my first time ever using a HOHO and because of this experience, I would do it again.

Discover Auckland'’s Māori heritage and portside charm as you explore the city on this hop-on hop-off bus. This is the ideal way to experience Tamaki Makaurau.

Fresh buses arrive every 35 minutes across 14 stops on two prime routes, so you can explore Auckland’s landmarks with a short stroll to the sights!

Tune in to English audio guides as you take in panoramic city views from a double-decker or glass-roof bus, turning each landmark into a story.

Dive into the Art Gallery’s Maori artworks, see all of Auckland from the Sky Tower, and visit the War Memorial Museum honoring New Zealand’s past.

Fun fact: With more boats per capita than anywhere else in the world, Auckland is known as the "City of Sails."

24/48-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off pass

Access to Red & Blue routes

Audio commentary in English

TOTAL DURATION70 minutes
FREQUENCY35 mins
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Bus
FIRST DEPARTUREDowntown Auckland at 9:00 AM
LAST DEPARTUREDowntown Auckland at 4:00 PM
Timeline
Map
1. Downtown Auckland
Get direction
2 attractions
Auckland Ferry Terminal
9 minutes walk
Britomart
3 minutes walk
2. Sky City
Get direction
2 attractions
Sky Tower
3 minutes walk
St Patrick's Cathedral
2 minutes walk
3. Art Gallery & Queen Street
Get direction
2 attractions
Auckland Art Gallery
5 minutes walk
Civic Theatre
8 minutes walk
4. Newmarket
Get direction
2 attractions
Westfield Newmarket
1 minute walk
Highwic House
4 minutes walk
5. Auckland Museum
Get direction
2 attractions
Auckland War Memorial Museum
3 minutes walk
Auckland Domain
3 minutes walk
6. Holy Trinity Cathedral
Get direction
2 attractions
Holy Trinity Cathedral
1 minute walk
Kinder House
1 minute walk
7. Parnell Village
Get direction
2 attractions
Parnell Village
La Cigale French Market
3 minutes walk
8. Takaparawhau, Bastion Point Lookout
Get direction
2 attractions
Bastion Point Lookout
Michael Joseph Savage Memorial
9. SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium
Get direction
2 attractions
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium
Okahu Bay
1 minute walk
TOTAL DURATION50 minutes
FREQUENCY35 mins
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Bus
FIRST DEPARTUREAuckland Museum at 9:30 AM
LAST DEPARTUREAuckland Museum at 3:30 PM
Timeline
Map
1. Auckland Museum
Get direction
2 attractions
Auckland War Memorial Museum
3 minutes walk
Auckland Domain
3 minutes walk
2. Wintergardens
Get direction
2 attractions
Wintergardens
4 minutes walk
Duck Pond
2 minutes walk
3. Mt Eden/Maungawhau
Get direction
2 attractions
Mt Eden Summit
2 minutes walk
Mt Eden Village
3 minutes walk
4. Eden Park/Kingsland
Get direction
2 attractions
Eden Park
3 minutes walk
Nixon Park
1 minute walk
5. Auckland Zoo
Get direction
2 attractions
Auckland Zoo
Meola Reef
6 minutes walk
6. MOTAT
Get direction
2 attractions
Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)
6 minutes walk
Western Springs Park
1 minute walk

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

442 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
212
148
49
17
16
Guests from United States, Australia, Canada and over 19 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Barbara
Mar 2026
Verified booking
Interesting trip through attractive suburbs. Only problem was that the commentary volume on one of the buses was too low, resulting in people not hearing it and talking over.
Linda
Mar 2026
Verified booking
Overview of the city, commentary describing what we were seeing, and frequency of buses.
Brian
Mar 2026
Verified booking
Sights and commentary of Auckland
Peter
Feb 2026
Verified booking
It took us to places that we wouldn't have seen, even if you don't get off the bus at those stops. It was a break from driving everywhere. There are many places on the route that will take some time to look around so you might want to get a ticket for 2 days or visit a few and make your own way to others that interest you another day.
Monica
Feb 2026
Verified booking
Nice and clean. A mix of covered and open seating. The audio was pretty good for most of the trip, some parts got lost on the highway. Easy online ticket purchase and redemption. It was my first time ever using a HOHO and because of this experience, I would do it again.

What's not allowed

Large pieces of luggage are not allowed onboard. However, you can carry small bags like handbags and backpacks onboard the bus.

Accessibility

Most buses are wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible. Please contact the operator in advance of your trip to ensure they can best accommodate your needs.

Tour Details

Red Inner Tour

First bus: 9am from stop #1 (Downtown Auckland)

Last bus: 4pm from stop #1 (Downtown Auckland)

Frequency: Approx. every 30 mins

Popular stops: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell Village, Bastion Point, and SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium

Summer Bonus Blue Tour (Oct to Apr)

First bus: 9am from stop #1 (Downtown Auckland)

Last bus: 4pm from stop #1 (Downtown Auckland)

Frequency: Approx. every 30 mins

Popular stops: Wintergardens, Mt. Eden/Maungawhau & Eden Park/Kingsland

Please click here for a detailed route map and its boarding points.

You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Ticket redemption points

Stop #1

Redeem your voucher at Downtown Auckland

Address: 23 Customs Street East 9 (St Pierres Sushi), Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Get directions to the redemption point

Stop #2

Redeem your voucher at Sky Tower

Address: Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Landmark: Outside the Sky Tower, on corner of Hobson Street & Victoria Street West

Get directions to the redemption point