The 15 North Shore Tours on Oʻahu That Repay the Day

1.Tour of North Shore & Waimea Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,682 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $154Our pick

Spend about eight hours touring Oahu from Waikiki to the North Shore, with stops at Halona Blowhole, Chinaman’s Hat, Fumi’s shrimp stand, Waimea Valley, Dole Plantation, and Nuʻuanu Pali. You’ll hike to a waterfall, swim if conditions allow, and hear island stories from guides such as Ian, Rocky, Tim, and Kanamu.

“It was mind blowing. It was very informative and interesting. My favorite part was all the movie clips.”

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2.Oahu’s North Shore: 8-Line Zipline Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,616 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $203

Ride an ATV up Keana Farms, then cross eight ziplines from 500 to 2,400 feet above Oahu’s North Shore. Guides handle the equipment and safety briefing while you enjoy ocean and mountain views, rappels, sky bridges, boardwalks, water, and a light snack. Recent guide teams have included Emma, Maddie, Drew, Tucker, JT, Nia, and Amelia.

“It was incredible. Would recommend this zip line for sure. Staff was great and very attentive and safety conscious.”

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3.Oahu North Shore Experience: Activities, Waterfall & Free Time

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,799 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $167

Ride the Surf Bus from Waikiki to Oahu’s North Shore with guides such as Sam, Uncle Kevin, and Cousin G. Choose activities including snorkeling, kayaking, SUP, biking, surfing, or a waterfall swim, then explore Haleiwa Town. The day includes Waimea Falls admission, selected gear, hotel pickup, and free time.

“Our guide, Kevin. He was extremely knowledgeably and provided many different local recommendations. I have nothing more to say, it was all about Kevin.”

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4.7-Line Maui Zipline on the North Shore

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,648 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $155

Fly across seven ziplines at historic Camp Maui, reaching heights of 70 feet and speeds up to 40 mph. You’ll cross a suspension bridge, tackle aerial obstacles, and hear local stories from guides such as Kona, Kai, Zoe, and Chris. The course suits first-timers and families, though some adults may find the lines too tame.

“Fun experience and it had multiple courses to ride and also beginner friendly. The people working there were also really kind and made it a great experience.”

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5.Shark Cage Dive on the North Shore

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,485 reviews · 1h 30m · from $99

From Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor, you’ll ride into open water with North Shore Shark Adventures for a 90-minute shark encounter. A certified English-speaking guide explains the safety rules before you enter a cage shared by up to eight people. Expect about 15 to 20 minutes near sharks, with possible whale, dolphin, turtle, and seabird sightings along the way.

“Great experience and excellent staff! 100% recommend this to anyone!”

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6.Shark Cage Diving on Oahu’s North Shore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,391 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $100

From Haleʻiwa Boat Harbor, you take a short boat ride to open water, where Galapagos and Sandbar sharks circle a floating cage. The crew provides masks, snorkels, safety guidance, and shark facts. The boat holds no more than 12 people, and an observer ticket lets non-swimmers stay aboard.

“The idea seems scary at first but after jumping in and seeing the sharks circle the cage and watching them it’s calm within chaos. The day we went the weather conditions were awesome and there was high visibility and lots of sharks 🤙”

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7.Full Day Oahu Circle Island -Turtle Beach Snorkel at North Shore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 662 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $110

Spend about eight hours circling Oahu by air-conditioned minibus with a local guide such as Justin, Mike, or Kurt. Stop at Diamond Head, Halona Blowhole, Chinaman’s Hat, a macadamia farm, Dole Plantation, and North Shore beaches. Snorkel gear is included, but turtle sightings depend on weather and sea conditions. Lunch costs extra.

“The most memorable part was the Chinese hat, snorkeling, seeing sea turtles, going to the dole plantation, trying the pineapple seeing pink pineapple, our tour guy giving up flowers.He was the best tour guide of all time! He knew everything, the history, the legends, the Greek legends, the war, the name of the view sites and why they were name that way! He knew everything of this islands! I would definitely recommend him. He has long blonde hair with tattoos!”

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8.Oahu Island Experience feat the North Shore (Small Group Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 495 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Travel from Waikiki or Kahala to Oahu’s east and north shores in a small, air-conditioned van. Stop at Halona Blowhole, Tropical Farms, Chinaman’s Hat, Kahuku food trucks, Sunset Beach, and Dole Plantation. Guides such as Stephanie, John, Alan, and Jon add local stories, food tips, and occasional extra stops.

“Amazing! We had a wonderful time and Allen was the best tour guide! Definitely recommend this tour.”

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9.Diamond Head Hiking and Oahu Island Experience feat. North Shore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 319 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $110

Start with an early Diamond Head hike, then ride an air-conditioned van around Oahu’s east and North Shore. You’ll stop at Halona Blowhole, Kualoa, Sunset Beach, Haleiwa, Dole Plantation, and local food stands. Guides such as Stephanie, Jonah, and John add island history and folklore. Lunch and shopping are separate costs.

“Our driver, Allen, was great! I wouldn’t say the tour is unnecessarily long, and we would I have preferred longer time at sunset beach in order to swim rather than stops to stores (macadamia, Dole, fruit stand etc) for us to spend money.”

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10.Surf Lessons on the North Shore of Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 267 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $95

Meet Suzy’s Surf School in Hauula for a 90-minute beginner lesson with instructors such as Andy, John, Suzy, or Matthew. You’ll spend 15 minutes learning beach basics, then practice on gentle North Shore waves with a board, rash guard, and leash included. Small groups, personal coaching, and a free turtle tour add value.

“My daughter and I enjoyed learning how to surf with Andy! We each caught several waves and had a wonderful time. This was a great experience for beginners. Highly recommend!”

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11.Shark-Dive Tour on Oahu’s North Shore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 240 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $135

From Haleiwa, you’ll ride three miles offshore to 250-foot waters for a cage-free shark swim. Ocean Outfitters Hawaii provides snorkel gear, trained guides, and a small boat limited to 12 people. Captain Lily and Tyler have been praised for calm safety briefings, though rough seas and changing conditions can affect the outing.

“DONT BOOK THIS TOUR! You will waste your money! The company changed the time on me three times, I tried to work around the first time change however I got lost on the bus. I then booked a car TWICE to try and make it. The first time I made it but no one was there, I was not sent a reconfirmation so I showed up at the wrong time and the last time I was 15min late due to being stuck in waikiki trying my hardest to get the car because the company had changed times one me again so I tried to make it however they said they…”

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12.Shark Cage Diving On “The World Famous North Shore of Oahu”, Hawaii

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 222 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $100

From Haleiwa, you’ll take a fast catamaran to shark waters off Oahu’s North Shore, then snorkel from a floating cage while Galapagos and other sharks circle below. Captains such as Derek, Kama, Taylor, Forrest, and Tyler lead the trips. You can stay aboard, watch from the rail, and look for whales, dolphins, and turtles.

“My husband and I had so much fun doing this! I would absolutely go again in a heartbeat. Nellie and our boat captain (Trevor, I believe) were very personable. We had a thorough safety briefing about the boat and then we were good to go. There were families on the tour with us but it was still a small group of about 10 people if I recall. Everyone had a great time and the Galapagos sharks did not disappoint! We saw multiple sharks the entire time we were in the cage, and at one point I counted 8 of them around us. I believe we were in the cage for…”

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13.Small Group North Shore Circle Island Tour Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 221 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $109

This 6 to 7 hour Oahu circle tour takes you from Honolulu to Diamond Head, the North Shore, Dole Plantation, Tropical Farms, Kahuku, and scenic beach lookouts. A professional guide such as Tyler, Heather, Christine, or Lucas drives a small group of up to 24 travelers, shares island history, and helps you see more of Oahu without renting a car.

“Lucas was great! I had the best time exploring new parts of the island, would highly recommend! Mahalo”

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14.Diamond Head Crater Hike and North Shore Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 189 reviews · 10 hours · from $125

Spend 10 hours touring Oahu by air-conditioned van, beginning with a 105-minute Diamond Head hike. With an English-speaking guide such as John, Stephanie, or Jonah, you’ll visit Halona Blowhole, Tropical Farms, Kualoa Regional Park, Kahuku Sugar Mill, North Shore beaches, and Dole Plantation. Hotel pickup, transport, and Diamond Head admission are included.

“So I‘m from Switzerland and always think it‘s funny when they say we are doing a hike - to me it was really a walk. :) But it was soooo worth it to see the sunrise from up there! You will see all the shore-highlights on that day too.. She gave us a couple of minutes everywhere so we could take pictures. You will see really a lot in just one day. It was fun and I would do it again. Mahalo.”

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15.North Shore Haleiwa Paddleboard River Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 2 hours · from $34Best value

Paddle Blue Planet Adventure’s calm stretch of the Anahulu River for two hours, with instruction and launch help from staff such as Julie, Luke, or Max. Watch for honu, birds, and freshwater springs, then choose to continue toward Haleiwa Bay if you have the skill and confidence. Kayaks are also available.

“This is now a “must do” item that we will recommend to all our friends! Beautiful, relaxing, fun, and easy for the whole family. Devin was great - my 13 year old son said he is the coolest person he has ever met. ;)”

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