We added the Gourmet Tour option following feedback from fellow avocado lovers that you can't get enough of their deliciousness and demand more avocado recipe inspiration. How could we possibly say no to that challenge!
So... both Tour options include a guided walk of the orchard and Tim's 'world famous' (well in Katikati at least) guacamole and creamy Gelato. The Gourmet Tour elevates your experience to a whole new level by adding additional scrumptious avocado dishes that are sure to send your taste buds into over-drive! If you love avocados as much as we do, we reckon the Gourmet Tour is a must do! Just make sure you arrive with your appetite!
If you have younger children who may not fully appreciate the Gourmet option as much as us adults (lets call them 'work in progress'), then you can mix-and-match Tour options, by booking them onto the Adventure Tour for the same date/time. This will require two separate bookings, so please leave a note in the "Additional Information" section when booking, so that we know that you're all one group and you haven't sent the kids on their own whilst you're off playing golf or getting your hair done.
If you get stuck please contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Providing you with an amazing experience is our ultimate goal, so you can expect our passion for all things avocado to make you leave as a raving fan too!
You’ll come away with enough avocado knowledge bombs and factoids to star on Mastermind (does that show still exist?) and so many delicious recipe ideas to make you the envy of your next friends or family gathering.
Did we mention there’ll be tasty avocado treats to try too? What are you waiting for, book now!
Because we are a working orchard it’s not possible to simply ‘rock on up’ and have a tour as orchard operations make this way too hazardous.
Therefore, all tours need to be booked online in advance. We can then get everything tidied up and squared away ready for your arrival.
Once your booking is confirmed we’ll send you detailed instructions on how to find us, including exact address and contact numbers should you get lost or there’s a last minute snag in your plans.
Here are some general directions to help you plan your visit.
From Auckland (170kms – 2:15). The perfect day trip or why not make a weekend of it.
Head south out of the big smoke leaving the city hustle and bustle behind. Hang a left onto SH2 and head for the iconic town of Paeroa where an obligatory selfie in front of the world famous L&P bottle is a must. Then head through the stunningly scenic Karangaheke Gorge, perhaps stop for a stroll on the many walkways or take on board some refreshments at the train station café. Next town is Waihi where a peek over the edge of the gargantuan open cast gold mine will blow your mind. Last town is our very own avocado capital, Katikati. You’re almost here. Head south from Katikati (still on SH2) for 5 minutes and keep an eye out for the very popular “Katikati Bird Gardens” sign (which we highly recommend visiting too). Turn left onto this road and you’re here.
From Tauranga (30kms – 0:30). The perfect day outing to get the kids out of the house and off their digital devices!
Head North on SH2, go past Leverets & Mills Reef Winery and Cellar Door (a must stop for any wine connoisseur wanting a méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine, red, white or rosé). About 2kms further along SH2 keep an eye out for the very popular “Katikati Bird Gardens” sign (which we highly recommend visiting too). Turn right onto this road and you’re here. How easy was that!
From all over the world
Kia ora and welcome!
By plane
If you’ve just landed in beautiful Aotearoa, you have a few options to make your way to our orchard:
If you’re self-driving just follow the above directions from either Auckland or Tauranga.
If you’re using public transport, you can either fly into Tauranga airport and catch one of the many buses, taxis or shuttles that head out our way, or
Catch the Inter-City bus that stops off at Katikati. From Katikati we recommend Kate’s Kabs as the local taxi company to get you to the orchard. It’s only 5mins from downtown Katikati.
By cruise boat
If you’re arriving by cruise boat into the port of Tauranga (no we’re not jealous at all), you can catch one of the many buses, taxis or shuttles that head out our way. It’s only 35 minutes from the Cruise terminal to our orchard. Why not get a few fellow passengers together and share this unique experience, we’d love to host you all!
We understand that plans can change, however we put a lot of effort into getting ready for tours, including pausing any normal orchard activity, so the following cancellation policy applies:
~ Within 48 hours - sorry we cannot refund you as it’s unlikely we can fill your booking
~ Within 14 days - 50% refund as we may not be able to fill your booking
~ Beyond 14 days - 100% refund – thanks for letting us know and we hope you can make it another time.
In the rare event that we have to cancel your tour due to unforeseen circumstances (please no more cyclones) a full refund will be provided.
If there’s some avocado liquid sunshine (aka rain) in the forecast, then please wear a waterproof jacket and bring an umbrella if you have one, we have a few to borrow. If the rain gets really heavy, (makes the avocado trees nostalgic for their native home in the tropical Amazon rain forest) then the avocado trees are more than happy to share their extensive canopy with you if you cozy up to them, they promise to behave.
Summers can get hot, by Kiwi standards anyway, so don’t forget to slip, slop, slap and wrap to protect your skin and eyes from the harmful UV rays. There’s lots of impressive big green sun umbrella like shelters (aka avocado trees) to help you stay out of the sun too.
Your first factoid, and the tour hasn’t even started yet, did you know that avocados branches can’t stand the sun either and can get horribly burnt if exposed to the sun for long periods? When pruning we have to apply a form of sun protection to any exposed limbs. To know the reason why you’ll have to ask your tour guide.
Note that tours will operate in all but the most extreme weather events (please no more cyclones!)
Children are more than welcome, we just request that you keep a close eye on them at all times as the orchard has some hazards that aren’t compatible with children. Note that there’s no concrete paths or well-formed tracks, so you’ll need an off-road style buggy/pram if you’re planning on bringing babies or very young children.
On that topic, did you know that avocado is a great baby food? They’re a great source of healthy fats, fibre, vitamins, and minerals that are important for babies' brain growth and development. Avocados are also easy to digest and can be easily mashed or pureed. Why not get them started today!
We’re also looking to incorporate some activities that are more ‘child friendly’ and cater to their attention span, so watch this space.
One child (under 12 yrs old) is free per paying adult (Adventure Tour option only).
You're safety is our number 1 priority. You will be visiting a WORKING ORCHARD, so whilst we go out of our way to ensure your experience is safe and memorable for all the right reasons, there are some hazards you need to be aware of. Nobody wants to roll their ankle on a fallen avocado or walk into a low hanging branch because you couldn’t wait to post that awesome photo you just snapped.
So please, please, please listen carefully to the safety briefing at the start of the tour and if you have any concerns or spot anything that looks a bit dodgy or dangerous, please let your tour guide know asap.
Bees - during flowering and pollination (October to December) the orchard will be full of bees doing their thing. Whilst they are usually very well behaved, if you suffer from allergic reactions to bee stings please make sure you bring your medication.
Allergies - Spring time is spectacular on the orchard with trees in full flower, it is also the windiest season, so pollen is likely to be everywhere. Those with respiratory issues such as asthma, should bring medication just in case.
We’ve got you covered if nature calls during the tour. It’s not the Ritz Carlton Hotel, but posher than a long drop. Hygiene is a must on the orchard, so make sure you’ve washed and dried those hands before heading out to the orchard please. This also means that there’s strictly NO ducking off for a wee behind the tree please.
It wouldn’t be an avocado tour without getting to sample some of their creamy, healthy deliciousness, right? We’ll try our best to ensure we have fresh yummy avocados available for your tasting pleasure, however our growing season is usually August to March, so outside of these times we may have limited supply of fresh items.
Why not grab yourself some avocado merchandise so when you’re back home you can teleport your mind back to the amazing time you had on our wonderful orchard.
We’ll also have gift vouchers available, so when you’re stuck for that next gift idea for the person who seems to have everything, you can gift a truly unique experience that they’re sure to be thanking you for in years to come.
We accept Cash, Visa and Mastercard.
Whilst we love nothing better than a nice cold beer at the end of a hard day working in the orchard, the consumption of alcohol by visitors is prohibited.
All parts of the orchard are smoke and vape free, so please enjoy breathing in the oxygen enriched air that our magnificent avocado trees are making available just for you.
We encourage you to snap, shoot, TikTok, Insta, Facebook, Snapchat (is that still a thing) and share these with all your online friends and family to make them extremely jealous and envious. Tag us into your posts so we can keep in touch. Please try not to include other guests in your paparazzi exploits without their permission.
Good news all you digitally connected nomads, if you can’t wait to post those photos or make your friends jealous for even one second longer, we have free Wi-Fi available for your use and mobile coverage is pretty good around most parts of the orchard.
There’s plenty of off-street parking on the orchard, just drive through the gates and follow the signs to the designated parking areas. If you’ve got way too many friends and family that didn’t want to miss out on the tour, we even have enough space to park up a 40 seater coach.
All tours start from outside the big shed, you can’t miss it!
Our orchard is a work environment, so there’s no need to dress up, and whilst those stilettos may help reach that avocado that might be just out of reach, we strongly recommend sensible flat shoes and comfy clothing appropriate for the season.
Don’t forget to pack your rain jacket and grab an umbrella if there’s rain in the forecast too.
Relax, we’re not trekking the Himalayas. At most it will be a pleasant stroll over slightly undulating ground taking in the tranquil surrounds of the orchard, so if you can string more than 100 steps together and a few stairs you’ll be fine. If you do have mobility issues, please let us know when you book, and we’ll try our best to accommodate these.
We LOVE dogs, you might even get to meet our two Wheaten Terriers, however because our avocados are subject to strict sanitary requirements for export clearance, sorry we cannot have dogs in the orchard.
If Fido cannot possibly miss out on the car outing, we can provide a nice shady spot and a refreshing bowl of water whilst you’re on the tour.
If you're in the Tourism Trade space and would like to discuss adding our amazing product to your offering, please contact us at info@avocadotours.nz and we'll be happy to work with you.
If you're organising events or tours for large groups, we'd love to work with you to make this a special day to remember. Please contact us at info@avocadotours.nz.