In hindsight, we probably shouldn’t have saved this 16-point bus tour of Oahu for our last full day. Many of the stops we made or the places we passed were designed to be places that we could or should come back to sometime during our visit for a more in-depth visit. But…. it was booked and a slightly cloudy and drippy day, so we made the most of it.
Our pickup time was 6:45am so we had to be up and standing at the designated spot on Waikiki Beach sooooooo early. We did our best to pack the night before — change of clothes, snacks, etc. We actually chose this pickup location (which we had to walk a bit to get to) because the one nearest our hostel was literally the last stop and we were worried about getting crap seats in the back. When the guy first arrived, he started calling out names and checking his list. Owen and I waited until the VERY END and it was painful!! We ended up with okay seats in the middle though, so that was good.
Our tour guide was of course charming and informative, as they all are. 🙂 He talked about everything that we were seeing out the window as we passed and called out celebrity homes as we passed them, etc. It was definitely cool to get more info than we would have had on our own! The first few stops included:
- Diamond Head Lookout: Capture stunning blue ocean water views from the beautiful Amelia Earhart lookout.
- Halona Blowhole: Witness nature’s power as waves burst through this unique rock formation.
- Sandy Beach: Experience fine sands and the thrill of powerful shore breaks on this famous beach.
- Makapu’u Beach: Stand at Oahu’s easternmost point, 647 feet above the sea.
- Waimanalo: Relax on white sand beaches alongside sparkling turquoise waters.
- Macadamia Nut Farm: Visit a tropical farm on the Windward coast for delicious macadamia nuts.
- Chinaman’s Hat: Discover Mokolii, also known among locals as Chinaman Heat because of its unique.
At each stop we had about 20-30 minutes to walk around, take pics, etc. This was really fun initially but by the end of the day we sort of got a little tired and ready to be back in Waikiki. Still, it was hands-down the best way for us to have seen sooooo much of the island and visit places that we really otherwise wouldn’t have gone. We even got a selfie with a passenger who looked like Keith Urban!
We grabbed lunch from a food truck and went to this gorgeous resort called Turtle Bay where we could snorkel. We really didn’t want to snorkel because it was cloudy and starting to sprinkle a little, but we also did NOT want miss the opportunity. So we sucked it up and hopped in. The water wasn’t super clear, but we did have an amazing swim with a sea turtle, so that was worth it! Stops included:
- Shrimp Trucks: Indulge in the famous North Shore shrimp truck experience.
- Fruit Stands: Savor the flavors of local fresh fruits and vegetables from local fruit stands.
- Sunset Beach: Immerse yourself in the beauty of this surfing paradise.
- Banzai Pipeline: Marvel at one of the world’s most renowned surf spots known for its barreling waves.
- Waimea Bay: Known for its giant 60ft winter waves and the Eddie Aikau Competition.
- Laniakea: Visit Turtle Beach, where you might spot sea turtles basking on the shore.
- Haleiwa Town: Marked by the historic Rainbow Bridge as you enter North Shore explore the charm of this place.
- Dole Plantation: Discover Oahu’s famous historical pineapple farm.
- Coffee Farm: Taste Hawaiian coffee roasted daily on-site at Oahu’s first coffee visitor farm.
Once back, we decided it was time to find a local Korean restaurant and enjoy some delicious food. And…. it was amazing! Oh and as a bonus, our tour guide made a cute video for all of us as a keepsake!
