6-Hour Private Convertible Tour: North Shore Oahu Beaches

Six hours hits the North Shore's famous breaks, botanical gardens, and local stops without the tour bus crowd.

A 6-hour private convertible tour of Oahu's North Shore with a live English-speaking guide, customized to your interests and pace. You'll see Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, the Banzai Pipeline, and Dole Plantation. Snorkel gear and boogie boards are provided. The route is flexible. Add swimming time, skip stops, or linger where you want.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Dole Plantation45m
2. Iolani Palace15m
3. Waimea Bay30m
4. Sunset Beachpassing by
5. Waimea Valley1h 30m
6. North Shore15m
7. La'ie Point State Wayside Park15m

Customized 6-hour North Shore tour

• Visit Dole Plantation and try Dole Whip
• Drive by or stop at Iolani Palace
• Stop at Waimea Bay for swimming or surfing
• Drive by Sunset Beach
• Explore Waimea Valley and swim at waterfall
• Snorkel at protected aquarium spot
• Visit North Shore and watch surfers
• Photo stop at La'ie Point State Wayside Park
• Sample coffee and shop at coffee farm
• Visit Alii Beach Park to see turtles
• Stop for Chocolate Haupia Cream pie
• Try Malasadas donuts at local bakery
• Shop and explore historic surf town
• Sample rum blends at rum tasting

The experience

The tour runs in a 4-door Chrysler 300C convertible that seats up to four passengers plus the driver, so the more people you bring, the better the per-person cost. You pick one traveler in the booking system no matter how many actually go. The vehicle is air-conditioned, has plenty of legroom, and the price covers the car and driver for the full 6 hours, not per person. A live guide speaks English throughout and steers the route based on what interests you, whether that's surfing culture, swimming, snorkeling, or just the views.

The itinerary weaves through North Shore landmarks: Waimea Bay, where calm days let you jump off a 25-foot rock and rough swells bring 50-foot waves; Sunset Beach, the second venue for the Van's Triple Crown of surfing; and the Banzai Pipeline, where barrel rolls happen depending on the swell. Waimea Valley offers a walk through a botanical garden to a 40-foot waterfall where you can swim at the base (life jackets provided, admission and shuttle fees apply). Snorkel gear comes with the tour at no extra cost, and you can use it at a protected shallow reef or wherever the guide suggests. If you want to see sea turtles, Alii Beach Park is a regular stop where they bask and swim.

The tour also hits local favorites: Dole Plantation, where 30 to 60 minutes covers the gift shop, the famous Dole Whip ice cream, and a train ride around the grounds; Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in America, which you can drive by or stop for photos; a coffee farm where you taste the red cherries before roasting; a bakery famous for malasadas since 1952; and a rum distillery offering a $10 tasting of four blends (the fee applies toward a bottle). La'ie Point State Wayside Park, a rocky outcrop with a hole through a long rock, was featured in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and makes a good photo stop. Parking fees are covered. Bottled water is included. Snacks, meals, and alcoholic beverages are not.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned convertible.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• snorkel gear and boogie boards.
• bottled water.
• parking fees.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 35 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Hawaii Convertible Tours

Is this one for you?Six hours leaves room to hit the main North Shore beaches, a botanical garden, and several local food stops without rushing, but it's not long enough for a full day exploring Honolulu or the windward side. Book this if you want the North Shore's famous breaks and a flexible route tailored to what interests you, not a fixed itinerary.

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Top questions

What are the famous North Shore beaches I'll see on this tour?

Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, and the Banzai Pipeline are the main surf spots. Waimea Bay is popular with both locals and visitors: on calm days swimmers jump off a 25-foot rock, and on rough days you can see surfers on waves up to 50 feet. Sunset Beach hosts the Van's Triple Crown of surfing. The Banzai Pipeline is where barrel rolls happen, and depending on the swell you might see swimmers, boogie boarders, and surfers all at once.

Can I swim and snorkel during the 6-hour tour?

Yes. Snorkel gear is provided at no extra cost, and you can use it at a protected shallow reef. Time for swimming is flexible and built into the tour if you want it. Boogie boards are also provided, so you can try the water however you prefer.

What is Waimea Valley like, and is there an extra cost?

Waimea Valley is a botanical garden on a paved path that leads to a 40-foot waterfall where you can swim at the base with water flowing over your head. Life jackets are provided. There is an admission fee to enter and an optional shuttle fee if you don't want to walk, both separate from the tour price.

Will I see sea turtles on this tour?

Sea turtles are possible. Alii Beach Park is a regular stop where green sea turtles bask in the sun on the beach or swim around eating algae off the reefs. Some visitors have snorkeled with them there, though sightings are not guaranteed.

How does the booking work if I'm bringing more than one person?

Book for 1 traveler in the booking system regardless of how many people are actually going: the system doesn't handle group sizes correctly. The price is for the car and driver for 6 hours, not per person, so a group of four pays the same as one person, making it a better deal the more passengers you bring. The convertible seats up to four passengers plus the driver.

What local food and coffee stops are included?

Dole Plantation is a standard stop where you can get the famous Dole Whip ice cream and spend 30 to 60 minutes exploring. A coffee farm lets you taste the red cherries before roasting and sample different blends. A bakery famous for malasadas (custard-filled donuts) since 1952 is a must stop. A rum distillery offers a $10 tasting of four blends made from sugar cane juice, and the tasting fee applies toward a bottle purchase. These are all optional stops you can skip or linger at.