Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › North Shore tours › Oahu North Shore Fun: Waimea Waterfall and Turtle Snorkeling
Oahu North Shore Fun: Waimea Waterfall and Turtle Snorkeling
★ #3 of 9 in our North Shore tours list Picked from the 43 North Shore tours in the Oahu catalogue, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated the price every day; listing, departure times and pickup notes
The Surf Bus takes you from Waikiki to the North Shore for a choice of outdoor activities. The Waikiki option lasts 8 hours. It costs from $167.53 per adult and leaves selected hotels at 8 a.m. daily. The price covers Waimea admission plus rental gear or lunch, so you choose that extra yourself. It's a flexible day with time in Haleiwa.
Our check
Oahu North Shore Fun: Waimea Waterfall and Turtle Snorkeling at a glance
| Duration | 8 hours for the Waikiki option |
| Price | from $167.53 per adult |
| Departs | Daily at 8 a.m. |
| Pickup | Selected Waikiki hotels |
| Activity area | Waimea Valley and the coast, followed by Haleiwa |
| Swim stop | Shark's Cove or Waimea, subject to conditions and your activity choice |
| Group | Up to 25 guests |
| Children | Infants aged 0 to 3 on laps |
| Main trade-off | Rental gear or lunch as the extra, with Waimea admission covered |
| Guide languages | English |
| Cancellation | Full refund until 24 hours before the start; nothing after |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on . Children pay less.
What's included
- Best of Hawaii Tour Guides
- Admission to Waimea Falls Park (USD$25 value per person)
- Lunch
- Cooler with Ice to keep your drinks chilled
- Choice of Use of snorkel gear, bicycles, kayaks or stand-up paddle board (USD$36 value per person)
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
What's not included
- Nothing listed
Options
Which option to book
The Waikiki Hotels Pick Up option runs daily at 8 a.m. and covers your return ride. Waimea entry comes with a choice of rental gear or lunch.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| WAIKIKI Hotels Pick Up | 8 a.m., daily |
The catch: Bookings within 12 hours of departure need a text to the operator, even after you've booked.
Route
How does the day work?
The windward drive brings you to a choice of North Shore activities before free time in Haleiwa and the return to Waikiki.
- pass by
1. Oahu's Windward Coast
The drive follows the windward coast below the Koolau Mountains. You see this stretch from the bus.
- 15 min
2. Tropical Farms
Coffee and macadamia samples break up the drive. You can taste both before heading to the beaches.
- 120 min
3. North Shore
Your activity time can go to Waimea Valley or the coast. Cycling is another option if you want to stay dry.
- pass by
4. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is part of the coastal drive. Winter surf changes what you see from shore.
- 20 min
5. Banzai Pipeline
A winter stop gives you time to watch surfers at Pipeline. This pause depends on the surf season.
- 90 min
6. Waimea Valley
The garden paths lead to a waterfall swim when conditions permit. Your visit can stay on dry land.
- pass by
7. Waimea Bay
You pass Waimea Bay along the coastal road. Summer swimming is an activity choice and depends on the sea.
- 120 min
8. Shark's Cove
This is the reef snorkeling choice for your activity time. You go into the water only when conditions allow.
- 60 min
9. Haleiwa
The town offers shops or river activities during your free time. Kayaking and paddleboarding use the Anahulu River and Haleiwa Bay.
- pass by
10. Dole Plantation
Dole Plantation is a drive-by on this Waikiki option. There isn't a scheduled train or maze visit.
Choose your North Shore activities within the 8-hour day. You won't do every activity in sequence. The bus takes you back to your Waikiki pickup area.
Pickup and meeting point
- Assigned stop: Check the directions for your assigned Waikiki stop. Pickup begins 5 minutes before departure, with your exact meeting time tied to that stop.
- Late bookings: If you book within 12 hours of the start, the booking needs a follow-up text. The same contact can help you locate your pickup point.
- Wheelchair access: The bus can carry a folding wheelchair but doesn't have a lift. Boarding needs to work for you without one.
Before you book
- Choose a land activity if the sea rules out snorkeling. Waimea has seasonal Monday closures.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
The 8 a.m. Waikiki departure suits travelers who want choices once they reach the North Shore. You don't need to commit to snorkeling. Plan to switch to land activities when the sea rules out swimming. Your group may have up to 25 guests.
The Ko Olina Surf Bus serves three named resorts there, from $184.29 per adult. For a day without planned swimming, Karma Tour Hawaii visits the temple and Haleiwa from $179 per adult.
Who it's not for
- Guests who need a wheelchair lift to board
- Travelers counting on an ocean swim regardless of conditions
- Guests expecting both lunch and rental gear in the price
Good to know
Know before you go
Ages 0 to 3 use the infant band and sit on an adult's lap. Strollers can come along. Your youngest traveler doesn't receive a separate seat through that infant booking.
A folding wheelchair can travel on the bus. There's no lift for boarding. Check that the boarding arrangement works for you before choosing this Waikiki departure.
Winter surf can make Shark's Cove dangerous for swimming. Your activity choice needs to fit the sea that day. Pick a land activity when ocean conditions rule out snorkeling.
A booking made within 12 hours of departure needs a follow-up text. Your assigned pickup instructions still apply. The booking alone doesn't settle questions about where to wait.
Keep your mobile ticket ready for pickup. A booking can contain up to 25 travelers, which is also the bus's group limit. The price doesn't reserve the whole bus.
The full-refund deadline is 24 hours before the scheduled start. Canceling later leaves your payment nonrefundable. Bad weather or too few guests can also stop the departure.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
Pickup from Ko Olina resorts
Ko Olina to the North Shore: Waimea Falls and DoleYour bus leaves from three Ko Olina resorts. It covers Waimea admission or rental gear, with lunch separate, from $184.29 per adult.
★ 4.9 · 44 reviews · from $184.29 per adult
Town stops without a swim
Oahu Northshore Island TourKarma gives Haleiwa 90 minutes. You also visit Byodo-In Temple on the 7-hour Waikiki trip, from $179 per adult.
★ 4.5 · 257 reviews · from $179 per adult
Breakfast and lunch already arranged
Waimea Valley Waterfall Swim and Dole Plantation Tour with LunchBoth meals come with the Waimea Valley walk. Nature and You runs on weekdays from $134 per adult, with swimming dependent on conditions.
★ 4.9 · 41 reviews · from $134 per adult
All 9 North Shore tours we picked · Oahu tours and activities by category
Good to know
People also ask
- Does the Waikiki Surf Bus include both lunch and rental gear?
No, you choose lunch or rental gear alongside Waimea admission. The tour costs from $167.53 per adult. If you choose gear for your activity, food becomes a separate purchase. The choice doesn't remove your valley admission.
- How long is the Surf Bus tour from Waikiki?
The Waikiki pickup option lasts 8 hours and starts at 8 a.m. It runs daily. You choose among activities during that day rather than completing every listed stop as a separate excursion. Return transport goes to your Waikiki pickup area.
- Is snorkeling guaranteed on the Waikiki Surf Bus?
No, the 8-hour trip leaves water activities dependent on conditions. Shark's Cove can be unsuitable in winter. Your choices also include cycling or time on land. A booked snorkeling plan doesn't override conditions at the coast.
- Can you visit Waimea Valley on a Monday with the Surf Bus?
Only when the valley's seasonal calendar allows Monday entry. The 8 a.m. bus departure runs daily. Choose a Tuesday-to-Sunday departure if Waimea is essential to your day. Swimming remains a separate decision by the lifeguards.
- Does the Waikiki Surf Bus stop for Dole Plantation attractions?
No, Dole is a pass-by on this 8-hour Waikiki option. You won't have a train or maze session during the tour. The main time off the bus goes to North Shore activities and Haleiwa instead.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Tours book on the booking page at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.