Your questions answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning your next adventure should be easy. We’ve answered some of the questions we’re most often asked about our tours, bookings, travel arrangements and what you can expect when travelling with Bay Tours.
Whether you’re joining us for a day trip, a multi-day tour or heading further afield, you’ll find helpful information below to help you feel prepared and ready to enjoy the journey.
What is Bay Tours Senior Guided Tours?
Bay Tours creates and operates escorted day trips and multi-day tours designed especially for seniors and mature travellers.
Our tours combine comfortable transport, knowledgeable local guides and carefully planned itineraries, giving you the opportunity to discover new places without the stress of organising the transport, accommodation, sightseeing and itinerary yourself.
Our tours are designed for seniors and mature travellers who enjoy discovering new places at a comfortable pace, with good company, interesting commentary and the convenience of an organised tour. Our upcoming tours are published in a free six-monthly catalogue (Leisure Guide) detailing all our upcoming trips and tours.
Couples, friends, solo travellers and organised groups are all welcome.
Not at all. While our tours are designed with mature travellers in mind, anyone who enjoys comfortable, relaxed and well-organised travel is welcome.
Our tours are usually escorted with two tour staff and are planned with comfort, convenience and enjoyment in mind. We take care of the transport, accommodation and itinerary, allowing you to relax, enjoy the scenery and make the most of each destination. We also offer free collection and return to your front door on all trips and tours for locals and visitors staying in Hawke’s Bay (conditions do apply).
Our door-to-door service covers all urban areas of Napier & Hastings. If you're unsure, please get in touch and we can let you know if your address is serviced. If not, we often pick up members from a relative or friends’ home that is within our boundaries. Alternatively, you are welcome to park your car in our secured yard at 26 Turner Place, Onekawa for the duration of the tour. For our members who live in Central Hawkes Bay or Taupo, if the tour is travelling through your hometown we can pick you up on our way through.
What is the difference between Member and Patron pricing?
We have two levels of membership. As a member you join the Tour Club free of charge and can book on any of our tours at the “Member” price.
Member pricing is our standard tour pricing, while Patron pricing is our discounted rate available to members who have upgraded to Patron membership.
You can choose to become a “Patron” if you wish at an annual fee of $49 for single or $85 for a couple for the touring year.
When should I pay my Patron membership fee?
Our touring year runs from 31st Jan to the 31st Jan the following year. So, no matter when in that year you pay your Patron fee your membership will be up for renewal on the 31st January.
If you have tours booked for after the New Year and would like to receive the Patron pricing, we recommend paying your Patron membership fee in January of that year. This ensures your Patron membership is current for the tours you have booked.
You choose each year whether you re-subscribe as a Patron or not.
Choosing the Right Tour
Bay Tours offers a selection of day trips, multi-day tours or overseas tours, visiting interesting destinations and attractions.
Each tour is escorted with two staff and has its own itinerary, duration and inclusions, so we recommend checking the individual tour page in our Leisure Guide for full details.
Absolutely. Our tours are a great option for solo travellers who want to explore new destinations while enjoying the company of other travellers.
You can travel independently without having to organise the transport, accommodation, itinerary and sightseeing yourself.
Yes of course. We often have solo female and male travellers who prefer to go twin share. We will match you up with another solo traveller of the same sex who is also wanting to share. If we end up not finding a matcher for you then we will need to ask you to pay the single rate to continue on the tour.
Our tours are usually escorted with two tour staff and are planned with comfort, convenience a
Our tours are designed to be enjoyable rather than strenuous. However, some attractions may involve walking, steps, uneven surfaces or other physical activity.
Each tour is assigned a Physical Activity Level to help you choose an experience that is right for you. The levels range from:
No minimum requirement → Gentle → Able → Active
Each level is supported with a descriptive criterion to help you understand the expected level of walking and physical activity.
enjoyment in mind. We take care of the transport, accommodation and itinerary, allowing you to relax, enjoy the scenery and make the most of each destination. We also offer free collection and return to your front door on all trips and tours for locals and visitors staying in Hawke’s Bay (conditions do apply).
Please tell us about your mobility requirements when making your booking. We can then discuss whether the tour would be suitable for you.
If you use a walking stick, walker or other mobility aid, please let us know in advance.
Day Trips
How long do the day trips take?
Day-trip durations vary depending on the destination and itinerary. Further details can be shared when with office staff confirms pick up times for the day trips.
What can I expect on a day trip?
Our day trips are designed to provide an enjoyable combination of sightseeing, local attractions and hospitality, history and culture. Where appropriate, there will be opportunities to stop, take photographs, enjoy refreshments and explore the destination.
Are there toilet and comfort stops?
Where appropriate, toilet and refreshment stops are included or can be arranged, particularly during longer tours.
Multi-Day Tours
Our multi-day tours are designed to make exploring further afield easy and enjoyable. We take care of the organised transport, accommodation and sightseeing itinerary, allowing you to concentrate on enjoying the destinations, attractions and company along the way.
The individual tour itinerary in our Leisure Guide catalogue provides the specific details of each tour.
Walking requirements vary between tours and attractions. Each tour includes a Physical Activity Level to help you determine whether the itinerary is suitable for you.
We understand the importance of regular comfort stops when travelling by road. Stops will be incorporated into the itinerary where appropriate.
Free time varies between tours and destinations. Please refer to the individual tour itinerary for details of the planned sightseeing and free time.
We recommend comfortable clothing and footwear, a jacket or raincoat, sun protection, water and your camera or phone. As New Zealand weather can change quickly, it is best to be prepared for different conditions. The individual tour information will provide any additional items you may need to bring.
Luggage requirements can vary depending on the tour and vehicle. Please check the individual tour information or contact us before travelling if you are unsure.
Day Trips
How long do the day trips take?
Day-trip durations vary depending on the destination and itinerary. Further details can be shared when with office staff confirms pick up times for the day trips.
What can I expect on a day trip?
Our day trips are designed to provide an enjoyable combination of sightseeing, local attractions and hospitality, history and culture. Where appropriate, there will be opportunities to stop, take photographs, enjoy refreshments and explore the destination.
Are there toilet and comfort stops?
Where appropriate, toilet and refreshment stops are included or can be arranged, particularly during longer tours.
Booking Your Tour
Our Tour Numbers are actually a handy way to remember the tour date! As it is made up of the month/day/year. For example, Tour #42725 is on April 27th 2025.
We recommend booking as early as possible, particularly for popular tours, as places can fill quickly.
Our tours are usually escorted with two tour staff and are planned with comfort, convenience a
Our tours are designed to be enjoyable rather than strenuous. However, some attractions may involve walking, steps, uneven surfaces or other physical activity.
Each tour is assigned a Physical Activity Level to help you choose an experience that is right for you. The levels range from:
No minimum requirement → Gentle → Able → Active
Each level is supported with a descriptive criterion to help you understand the expected level of walking and physical activity.
enjoyment in mind. We take care of the transport, accommodation and itinerary, allowing you to relax, enjoy the scenery and make the most of each destination. We also offer free collection and return to your front door on all trips and tours for locals and visitors staying in Hawke’s Bay (conditions do apply).
Absolutely! We always recommend putting your name on the waitlist in case of any cancellations (these do happen for various reasons). There is no obligation to book on the tour by putting your name on the waitlist. Should a space open up, we will give you a call to see if you're still interested and if you'd like to book onto the tour.
The best way to pay is through bank transfer. Our bank account details can be found on page 2 of the Leisure Guide. In the reference and code fields please ensure you put the tour number followed by your surname e.g. Booking on Tour #42725 place 42725 in the reference field and SMITH in the code field.
If you are paying your Patron fee in the same payment, please ensure you write the word PATRON in the remaining field.
Alternatively, you are welcome to call and pay via credit card over the phone (please note there is a 2% card fee) or come into our office at 26 Turner Place Onekawa and pay by card or cash. If booking an overnight or longer tour, please make note of the final payment due date on your calendar as we don’t send reminders.
Cancellation terms vary depending on each tour’s conditions and the notification period prior to the commencement of the tour.
Please refer to our terms and conditions outlined in the Leisure Guide or contact us for the cancellation conditions applying to your particular tour.
Tour Cancellations
Do tours operate in bad weather?
Tours generally operate in most weather conditions. New Zealand weather can be unpredictable, and itineraries may occasionally need to be adjusted for safety or passenger comfort.
What happens if an attraction or activity is unavailable?
If circumstances require a change to the planned itinerary, we may need to make reasonable adjustments to the tour. Our priority is to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.
What happens if Bay Tours has to cancel a tour?
If we need to cancel a tour due to circumstances outside our control, we will contact affected passengers and discuss the available options.
Travel Insurance
I see you work with Cover-More Travel Insurance. How do I get a quote?
All you need to do is contact Kaye on 06 845 2736 EXT 1 or email support@baytours.co.nz with your date of birth and the tour that you’d like an insurance quote for.
Transport & Comfort
Bay Tours uses comfortable fleet of vehicles suited to sightseeing and group travel. The vehicle used will depend on the tour and number of passengers. Passenger comfort is an important part of our tours. Our vehicles provide comfortable seating and allow you to relax and enjoy the scenery while travelling between destinations.
Our standard sightseeing vehicles do not generally have onboard toilets. Toilet stops are incorporated into longer journeys where appropriate.
Yes, in most circumstances. Please advise us when booking if you are travelling with a walking stick, walker or other mobility aid so we can confirm that the vehicle and itinerary are suitable.
Accessibility varies depending on the vehicle and tour. Please contact us before booking so we can discuss your requirements and confirm what arrangements can be made.
Still Have a Question?
We’re here to help.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact the Bay Tours team. We’d be happy to discuss your requirements and help you choose a guided day trip or multi-day tour that’s right for you.
We’re Qualmark Gold
Your Tour Club Co-ordinators
At Senior Guided Tours, we believe great travel is about feeling relaxed, well looked after and free to simply enjoy the experience.
That’s why we’re incredibly proud to have achieved Qualmark Gold – the highest level of Qualmark’s Sustainable Tourism Business accreditation.
For our travellers, Qualmark Gold is an extra mark of confidence. It means our business has been independently assessed against Qualmark’s rigorous standards, including health and safety, customer experience, our people, sustainability and our contribution to the community.
It’s also recognition of the things that matter to us every day: thoughtfully planning tours for senior travellers, taking care of the details, providing friendly and personal service, and creating enjoyable experiences where you can relax, discover new places and make new friends along the way.
So when you choose Senior Guided Tours, you can travel knowing you’re in good hands. Our Qualmark Gold accreditation recognises us as a best-in-class New Zealand sustainable tourism business – and gives you even more reason to book your next adventure with confidence.
You pack your bag. We’ll take care of the rest.