Exchange Waikiki for Oahu’s North Shore on a day trip aboard the Surf Bus. Hop off at all the hot spots including the surfing beaches of Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. Choose from one activity and lunch or two activities like snorkeling, bike riding, a waterfall swim, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), learning to surf, or relaxing on the beach. A guide points out the green sea turtles, and you have time to explore Haleiwa Town.

Oahu day trip from Waikiki hotels to North Shore beaches
Informative guide shares commentary aboard the Surf Bus
Visit art galleries and shave-ice stands in Haleiwa Town
Select your choice of activities with the option of lunch

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Certified Tour Guide
Live commentary on board
Activities and/or Lunch
Choice of: Snorkel, Kayak, Paddle Board, Bicycles or Admission to Waimea Falls
Air-conditioned vehicle
Brief location and equipment tutorial

Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Select the closest location to your hotel from the list below and email or contact us directly. DO NOT REPLY TO VIATOR OR TRIPADVISOR as we might not see it. Pick up Details for the 8am & 9am Departure: ----Ala Moana Hotel - Mahukona St. 7:45am (8am) 8:45am (9am) ----.Grand Islander - City Bus Stop (id 886) on Kalia Rd. 8am (8am) 9am (9am) ----Hawaii Army Museum - City Bus Stop (id 888) on Kalia Rd. 8:05am (8am) 9:05am (9am) ----Hotel La Croix - Olohana St. 8:05am (8am) 9:05am (9am) ----330 Royal Hawaiian Rd. - Across from Waikiki Shopping Plaza 8:10am (8am) 9:10am (9am) ----Moana Surfrider curbside 8:15am (8am) 9:15am (9am) ----Hyatt Regency on Koa Ave. under green awning 8:20am (8am) 9:20am (9am) ----The Twin Fin Hotel - Paokalani Ave. 8:20am (8am) 9:20am (9am)

What To Expect

Oahu's Windward Coast (Pass By)

Tropical Farms (The Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet)

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sunset Beach (Pass By)

Banzai Pipeline

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

North Shore

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Haleiwa

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Laniakea Beach

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Dole Plantation (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Short walk to centrally located Waikiki Hotels for pick ups.
Most travellers can participate
All day tour.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Featured review

Spencer_W

This trip was absolutely amazing!! Our tour guide, Greg or Cousin G, was OUTSTANDING. He really went above and beyond to make this experience one of a kind. From his knowledge of the island, to his humor and dad jokes, the tour never had a dull moment. Even his playlist on the bus was on point! We went paddle boarding, swam at a beautiful waterfall, and took a 30 foot jump off a rock!! Highly recommend doing this tour. North shore is so beautiful is trip my wife and I will never forget. Thank you Cousin G!

Reviews

5.0

897 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 897 reviews

Well Organized North Shore Tour

Jessie_R, May 2023

Our tour guide kept the group entertained throughout the entire trip with his enthusiasm and hilarious quirky jokes. Knew a lot about the island and showed us some really cool spots. Took us to some really cool spots that were not necessarily part of the tour but cool photo ops. Would highly recommend.

Response from Host, May 2023

Aloha and mahalo for highly recommending our north shore tour of Oahu. The Surf bus is the original north shore adventure tour in Hawaii and we do have some of the best tour guides on the islands. We hope to see you again in the future and thanks again The Surf Bus the original North Shore tour.

It was a wonderful...

Maria_G, Apr 2023

It was a wonderful experience.. our guide was the best! We decided to go to the waterfall and kayaking. Definitely a good way to visit lots of spots in the island!!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Aloha and thank you for your five star review of the original North shore Activities and adventure tour. I'm glad that you did the waterfall and kayaking and you thought it was a good way to visit Oahu aboard the best North Shore beach, activities, adventure, and turtle tour.

Uncle Kevin was a blast!...

Cullen_S, Mar 2023

Uncle Kevin was a blast! Shared lots of local knowledge and facts about Hawaii. Fun guide! I’d totally do another tour with him.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Snorkle waterfall kayak stand up paddle and bikes is what we do

North shore fun

Sheila_C, Mar 2023

Uncle Kevin, our tour guide, was very personable and knowledgeable. It was a long day but really fun! We did the waterfall and paddle boarding with a little shopping at the end. The north shore is a must when visiting Oahu.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Snorkle waterfall kayak stand up paddle and bikes is what we do

A fun and informative day long tour

Michaelyn_P, Mar 2023

We toured with Sam. He is a resident on Oahu and was very informative during our tour. Laid back tour in a small group. I highly recommend Northshore Surf Bus. Since I booked through third party Viator, be sure you contact the tour operator directly to get more detail on the days activities!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Snorkle waterfall kayak stand up paddle and bikes is what we do !

Not as advertised

Shelley_E, Feb 2023

The Description of this tour sounded very wonderful - all the places that we would be stopping, and the activities that would be included; however, we didn’t stop at all the stops and the tour driver just brushed over why we were not stopping at these places and made excuses. I was planning on doing one activity which should have included lunch, however, I was dropped off at an area where there were some restaurants to get lunch on my own. With no mention of lunch being included. I reviewed my itinerary again just to make sure I read it correctly, and sure enough lunch should have been included. When I ask the tour guide/driver, what lunch should have been included, he was hesitant, and said I should take it up with the concierge who I purchased the tour with. I told him I purchased my tour online, and it would probably be difficult for me to get a refund for lunch. The same situation was true for about four other people on the bus, and they approached him about the refund as well. He open his wallet and handed them some cash. At my drop off he also handed me $15 in cash. Not sure if this is a way to make extra money for the tour guide/driver or for the business; But it seemed deceitful to me. This tour was not cheap and I didn’t feel like I got what was advertised. Very disappointed.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

We’re sorry to hear you didn’t have a great day. As you can see from the reviews, most people have an excellent day with us. You booked through Viator, which is a 3rd party that gets many complaints of it’s own, because it puts a confusing layer between you and the actual company (US) Our tour comes with 2 activities or you can do 1 activity and get a lunch voucher from us. Lunch is only included if you don’t do 2 activities. Your driver was not being deceitful, he was just trying to give you money for lunch because he wanted you to get your money’s worth. Not sure what stop were left out. I would recommend next time you book a tour, go through the real company or concierge so you get the right information about a tour rather then an online 3rd party. You can call us direct if you have more to add. 808-226-7299

Probably not

Carol_O, Feb 2023

We never did the turtles and the trip was described as 2 excursions or 1 excursion with lunch. We did one excursion -the falls and had to pay for lunch Stopped at Falls and then back to food trucks etc Did not stop at pipeline did not stop at turtles Disappointed Expensive

Response from Host, Feb 2023

We’re sorry to hear that your day was not what you expected. As you can see, it is rare for us to get a bad review like your’s. Since January 2022, all tour buses are prohibited from stopping at the turtles on the north shore, unfortunately. You shouldn’t have had to pay for your own lunch, unless there was a communication problem. If you return to the island, and take us again, we’ll give you half off, and you can experience the tour the way that all of our 5 star reviews describe it.

Great

Mike_M, Jan 2023

It was my wife’s and I anniversary so we had an amazing time. The driver was outstanding, knowledgeable and friendly.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

We’re happy to hear that you had a great time on our tour! Mahalo. Please come again and we’ll treat you to another beautiful day. The original and best north shore activity tour!

The way a tour should be!

Chantell_K, Jan 2023

Beautiful hike to waterfall, swimming at the waterfall, lunch watching the waves crash, and paddle boarding to see turtles. Lots of time outside the bus instead of on it. Great and funny narration by “Uncle Kevin”. And he took great care—drove one couple back to retrieve a lost phone! Great experience, very worth it.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Mahalo for your great comment! We like giving people a choose-your-own-adventure-tour and enough time off of the bus. Uncle Kevin and all of our guides give great day on the original and best north shore activity tour!

We will never forget this activity! Thank you

ASHLEY_F, Dec 2022

We had such an incredible time with Justin our tour operator. He is very knowledgeable about Hawaii and very easy going and a funny guy. I appreciate how many activities you get to do on this long trip and how much information we learned. It was fun and educational at the same time which is so rare to say. I would totally do this activity again. What a bang for your buck, we strongly recommend the waterfall. Unforgettable

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Justin is the owner and inventor of this tour where you get great time on you own. It’s rare you get a tour from him. Glad you had a wonderful time. Thanks for choosing the original and best north shore activity tour!

Great day on the Island

Michael_D, Dec 2022

Watching the Surfers at the Pipeline. Great tour guide Sam. Loved the water fall experience. Overall it was a great trip around the Island. A memorable experience!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Memories are what we like to create. Sam is a top tier guide. A hui ho, see you again, on the original and best north shore activity tour!

Not good

JOYE_T, Dec 2022

Wasn’t happy cause didn’t go to swimming or the activity want to go do and win with turtles and I didn’t get to do 2 activity

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Aloha, please call us at 808-226-7299 so we can understand what happened that you couldn't do your activities.

Great tour of the island

lenneanowak, Nov 2022

We had a great tour guide in Kevin. He was very knowledgeable and fun, a life-long Hawaiian. Enjoyed the ride around the island and the North Shore.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Kevin is a pro, and we’re glad you enjoyed the island and the original and best north shore activity tour!

Great day out with Uncle Kev

Joanne_D, Oct 2022

Uncle Kevin our driver was fun and so informative and made the trip memorable. We loved the falls and paddle boarding, yet disappointed that we missed the stop at Pipeline. We would definitely recommend as a great way to see the North Shore! Take away Mai Tais were a bonus 😀

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Uncle Kevin is a real pro. We only stop at pipeline in the winter when the waves are big, otherwise it is just flat ocean in the summer months. Please recommend to people you know who are coming our way, on Oahu’s original and best north shore activity tour!

North shore

Cody_M, Oct 2022

Guide uncle Kevin was amazing! He shared so many stories that made you laugh. I loved the mac nut farm stop! It was such a pleasant surprise. Coffee Mac nuts! Omg how did I not know these were a thing. This tour managed to squeeze so much into one day. Yet you had so much freedom of your own time to do your own thing which we loved. You could choose your activity too. Weren’t locked into a set plan. Great way to experience the north shore in a day. Def would have loved more time to visit the town at the end. We were told not to go past the church but as we left we realised we missed so much of the town. So def walk further up. 100% would book this

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Mahalo for taking our ‘choose your own adventure tour.’ Our tour differs from others on the island, because we don’t keep you on the bus all day, and allow you freedom and time off of the bus. Uncle Kevin is one of the best guides on the island, so your bound to have a great day on Oahu’s original and best north shore activity tour!

Great Time!

Brenda_W, Oct 2022

This tour was so amazing! Cousin G took us all around the island and was absolutely hilarious and entertaining! My husband and I enjoyed this tour because we got to choose what we did. There were drop off and pick up times we adhered to, but we got to create our own experience throughout. 10/10 highly recommend!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Cousin G is a great spontaneous comedian! We are glad that you enjoyed our style of being able to choose your day and have time on your own, on the original and best north shore activity tour!

Dad-Jokes FTW

Zachariah_W, Oct 2022

Thanks cousin G! Was a wonderful time, and your dad-jokes made it a joyful time. We pray you can continue to bring that laughter to people’s lives as the seasons change!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Cousin G is a professional and a hilarious guide. We hope you come back and enjoy our tour again. The original and best north shore activity tour.

Wonderful and fun

Patricia_G, Oct 2022

Uncle Kevin made it very entertaining and he is very knowledgeable of the island. We had a grate time !!

Response from Host, Oct 2022

So glad to hear that you found our north shore tour to be wonderful and fun and that the tour guide was very knowledgeable of the island and the north shore of Oahu, Mahalo from the original north shore of Oahu tour, the surf bus.

The best!!!

Rachel_P, Oct 2022

What a great way to see the North Shore as a first time visitor! Our guide Uncle Kevin was the best! He was so knowledgeable and fun. Loved having choices for activities and food at our stops as we explored this part of Oahu.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Aloha and Mahalo for your review, yes we are blessed to have the best tour guide in Hawaii be part of our Ohana ! And we're glad to hear that you enjoy snorkeling, waterfall and bike riding on Oahu with us! A hui ho

Uncle Kevin rocks - take this tour!

Emma_G, Oct 2022

Uncle Kevin was an amazing host - he was incredibly funny and knowledgeable about any and all things Hawaii! I highly recommend this trip - you’ll see some of the less touristy areas of Hawaii and they are fabulous. There is plenty of time for activities - we had about 3 hours to snorkel and get lunch, and another 1.5 hours to Paddleboard and explore a local town. The snorkeling is the best experience you’ll have - there are no boats around, so you will see plenty of fish and sea turtles. Must visit when going to Hawaii!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Mahalo for taking our tour! Uncle Kevin is one of the best guides on the island and we’re blessed to have him. The original and best north shore tour!

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