Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › North Shore tours › Oahu: North Shore Tour with Waimea Waterfall
Oahu: North Shore Tour with Waimea Waterfall
★ #2 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
North Shore Beach Bus takes you along Oahu's east coast to Waimea Valley and Dole Plantation. The 8-hour Ohana Package costs from $154 per adult. You leave selected Waikiki pickup points from 6:45 a.m. daily. Waimea admission is covered, with 90 minutes for the gardens and falls when the valley is open. It's a sightseeing day with a waterfall walk and a short Dole shopping stop.
Our check
Oahu: North Shore Tour with Waimea Waterfall at a glance
| Duration | 8 hours |
| Price | from $154 per adult |
| Departs | Daily at 6:45 a.m. |
| Pickup | Selected Waikiki hotels and nearby pickup points |
| Stops | East coast viewpoints followed by Waimea Valley and Dole Plantation |
| Swim stop | Waimea Falls when the valley is open and swimming is permitted |
| Group | Up to 23 guests |
| Children | Adult accompaniment required, infants on laps |
| Main trade-off | Lunch paid separately in cash, seasonal Monday closures at Waimea |
| 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
- Fully narrated tour of North Shore and island of Oahu
- Botanical Garden Admission (optional) *Admission Included *Closed Mondays SEP - MAY
- Waikiki Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
What's not included
- Lunch (optional) $18 Cash Only
- Gratuities / Tips (optional)
Options
Which option to book
The Ohana Package covers Waimea Valley admission and your Waikiki ride. It runs daily from 6:45 a.m.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Ohana Package | 6:45 a.m., daily |
The catch: Pickup details need settling 48 hours ahead, and missing booking information can mean cancellation without a refund.
Route
How does the day work?
Coastal viewpoints lead into the North Shore food stops before your Waimea Valley visit and the drive back through central Oahu.
- 15 min
1. Amelia Earhart Lookout
The first photo stop is on Diamond Head's eastern slopes. You look along the southeast coast from the roadside viewpoint without taking the summit trail.
- pass by
2. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
You pass Hanauma Bay on the drive east. This doesn't include entry to the preserve or time on its beach.
- 20 min
3. Halona Blowhole
Surf pushes water through a narrow opening in the lava rock. You watch the blowhole from the lookout when waves send spray upward.
- pass by
4. Makapuu Point
The drive rounds Makapuu toward the windward coast. The cliffs and offshore Rabbit Island are views from the route.
- 25 min
5. Tropical Farms
Coffee and macadamia nuts are the focus of this tasting stop. The shop also offers Hawaiian chocolates beneath the banyan trees.
- 25 min
6. Mokolii Island
You look toward Mokolii with the Kualoa mountains behind it. This is a coastal photo stop, without a crossing to the island.
- 40 min
7. Kahuku
Garlic shrimp is an option at the lunch stop. Vegetarian and non-shellfish meals are available too, with payment separate from your tour price.
- 25 min
8. Kahuku
The fruit stand offers coconuts and mangoes along the North Shore. It's a chance to buy something to eat or drink before continuing.
- pass by
9. Sunset Beach
The route follows the coast past Sunset Beach. Any stop depends on road conditions and the driver's judgment when surf is high.
- 90 min
10. Waimea Valley
The garden walk leads toward Waimea Falls when the valley is open. Swimming depends on conditions, and life jackets are required in the water.
- 30 min
11. Dole Plantation
You have time for souvenirs or pineapple soft serve. The stop doesn't include the train or maze, and Dole Whip costs extra.
- 15 min
12. Nuuanu Pali Lookout
The lookout opens onto the windward coast from the Koolau ridge. Strong wind is part of this exposed stop.
- 15 min
13. Nuuanu Pali Lookout
The two Pali entries refer to this same lookout. The view is across the windward side from the ridge.
The 8-hour day gives Waimea Valley 90 minutes when it's open. Dole gets 30 minutes for shopping. Your ride ends back in Waikiki.
Pickup and meeting point
- Waikiki pickup: Pickup runs from 6:45 to 7:20 a.m. at selected hotels and nearby meeting points. Your hotel may use a different location.
- Before departure: Check your exact meeting place and time with reservations 48 hours before the tour. Your booking needs hotel details and a local contact number. Each guest's name is required too.
- Outside Waikiki: Plan your own ride to Ross Dress for Less on Seaside Avenue. A nearby garage offers parking if you're driving in from another part of Oahu.
Before you book
- Lunch isn't covered by the Ohana Package. You'll need cash for your meal at the North Shore restaurant stop.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
The 8-hour route suits a first visit with east-coast viewpoints before Waimea Valley. You're giving the whole day to sightseeing. You need moderate fitness for the valley walk. It's a fit if your Waikiki morning can start with pickup from 6:45 a.m.
For activity choices during the day, the Waikiki Surf Bus costs from $167.53 per adult. Nature and You includes breakfast and a wrap lunch, from $134 per adult.
Who it's not for
- Travelers who can't manage a walk requiring moderate fitness
- Guests expecting lunch within the price
- Visitors planning to enter Hanauma Bay on this tour
Good to know
Know before you go
Your booking needs each guest's name and hotel information. A contact number usable on Oahu is required too. Missing details can lead to cancellation without a refund.
Check the meeting details with reservations 48 hours ahead. Pickup spans 6:45 to 7:20 a.m. Your assigned hub can be outside a nearby hotel rather than your own.
You need moderate fitness for this day. The tour isn't recommended for poor cardiovascular health, and the valley visit includes walking toward the falls.
Lifeguards assess swimming conditions at 9 a.m. The valley can remain a walking visit if the pool closes. Every swimmer must use a supplied life jacket.
Children need an adult with them, and infants aged 0 to 2 ride on laps. The mobile ticket covers your booking. The bus holds up to 23 guests.
You receive a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Later cancellations aren't refunded. Weather or insufficient bookings can also prevent departure.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
More choice during activity time
Oahu North Shore Fun: Waimea Waterfall and Turtle SnorkelingYou choose your North Shore activity that day. The Waikiki option includes Waimea entry plus lunch or rental gear, from $167.53 per adult.
★ 4.9 · 2,067 reviews · from $167.53 per adult
Meals arranged with the valley walk
Waimea Valley Waterfall Swim and Dole Plantation Tour with LunchBreakfast and a wrap lunch are covered. Your 7.5-hour weekday trip also includes Waimea admission, from $134 per adult.
★ 4.9 · 41 reviews · from $134 per adult
A later start in a small van
North Shore and Waimea Falls Day with a Turtle SwimThe van carries no more than six guests. Seamus's 9 a.m. tour costs from $150 per adult for 2 to 4, with entry and lunch extra.
★ 4.8 · 110 reviews · from $150 per adult for 2 to 4
All 9 North Shore tours we picked · Oahu tours and activities by category
Good to know
People also ask
- What does the North Shore Beach Bus price include?
The Ohana Package costs from $154 per adult with Waimea admission and Waikiki transport. Lunch costs extra. Bring cash for the meal stop. The price doesn't cover food bought along the route.
- Can you swim at Waimea Falls on the Beach Bus tour?
Yes, when lifeguards open the pool during your 90-minute valley visit. Entry doesn't guarantee swimming. Seasonal Monday closures can also remove the valley visit, so a Tuesday-to-Sunday booking avoids that particular problem.
- Does the Beach Bus allow time for Dole Plantation's train?
No, the 30-minute Dole stop is for shopping and refreshments. It doesn't allow time for the train or maze. You can buy pineapple soft serve before the bus continues, with that purchase outside the price.
- Does the North Shore Beach Bus collect outside Waikiki?
No, its pickup route uses Waikiki hotels and hubs starting at 6:45 a.m. Guests staying elsewhere can meet at Ross on Seaside Avenue. You arrange the journey there yourself. A nearby garage offers parking for drivers.
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.