Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour

based on 22 reviews

Duration:2 hours to 4 hours (approx.)
Location: Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

From $16.99

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Traveler (Age : 0 to 120)

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Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Get a taste of paradise on Hawaii’s Big Island. This driving tour guides you along the island’s picturesque coast and through lush jungle scenery. Lounge on pristine beaches, hike atop dormant volcanoes, go snorkeling in crystal-clear water, and more—all while learning about the fascinating history of this island and the people who call it home. Plus, learn about Hawaiian history, visit ancient burial grounds, and really get to know this island’s rich culture.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Hilo
Hilo is a town on Hawaii, commonly called the Big Island, in the state of Hawaii. It’s known for Wailuku River State Park, featuring Waianuenue, or Rainbow Falls, with its colorful mist effects. The bubbling basalt-lava rock pools known as the Boiling Pots are nearby. To the south is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to rainforests and the active Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Note: This 75-mile-long tour covers the essentials of the Big Island in 2-4 hours.
2.
The deck is a steel grid which creates a singing sound from the tires of cars driving on it.
3.
Quiet peaceful location to just sit and relax
4. Honoli'i Beach Park
Popular with surfers, this picturesque cove is located less than two miles from downtown Hilo. It’s rocky bottom and occasional strong currents make it less of a swimming beach and more of a great spot for experienced surfers and watching surfing pros. Limited parking; must be able to climb down/up stairs to get to this beach.
5.
Discover this 0.8-km out-and-back trail near Pepeekeo, Hawaii. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 13 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking and walking. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
6. Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden is a nonprofit botanical garden and nature preserve
7.
Small Waterfall
8.
Kolekole Beach Park is a Hawaii county park on the island of Hawaii.
9.
World Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls is a commercial botanical gardens with a large waterfall, located between Umauma and Hakalau, at the corner of Leopolino Road and Hawaii Belt Road, State Highway 19, 16 miles north of Hilo, Island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii.
10.
The purpose of the Laupahoehoe Train Museum is to preserve, promote and protect the historic, cultural, educational, social, civic and economic interests of the North Hilo and Hamakua districts, while highlighting the history of the railroads on the island of Hawaii.
11. Laupahoehoe Point Cemetery
On April 1, 1946 the Big Island of Hawaiʻi was struck by the so-called "April Fools Day tsunami", originating from the Aleutian Islands earthquake. Approximately 160 people on the island were killed. While the greatest number of deaths occurred in Hilo, the school building at Laupāhoehoe was inundated, and twenty students and four teachers were drowned. A monument to the dead now stands on Laupāhoehoe Point.
12. Kohala Coast
As you drive 20-minutes north of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, you’ll marvel at the rugged lava fields surrounding you. You may not see it from Queen Kaahumanu Highway, but the Kohala Coast is where you’ll find some of the island’s finest resorts.
13. Anna Ranch Heritage Center
Anna Ranch Heritage Center is a former cattle ranch in Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii named for Anna Leialoha Lindsey Perry-Fiske (1900–1995).
14.
The largest of the island's white sand beaches, Hapuna Beach has consistently been rated on international Top Ten lists of the islands’ best beaches.
15. Kings Hwy Foot Trail
Get to know this 7.7-km out-and-back trail near Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 44 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking and trail running.
16.
Picturesque lookout point offering sweeping views of the ocean, sunset & passing whales.
17.
Waikoloa Beach is an area located on the South Kohala coast on the island of Hawaii and is located in the census-designated place of Puako. It can be confused for Waikoloa Village, a CDP in the same "ahupuaʻa" and is also known as "Waikoloa".
18.
Kīholo Bay is located in the ahupua`a of Pu`u Wa`awa`a in the North Kona District on the Big Island of Hawaii. the land surrounding the bay is flanked to the South by a lava flow from Mount Hualalai ca. 1801 and another flow from Mauna Loa in 1859.
19. Kekaha Kai State Park
Kekaha Kai State Park, formerly known as Kona Coast State Park, is a beach park located along the north Kona coast on the island of Hawaiʻi. The main beach areas are Maniniʻowali Bay, Makalawena beach at Puʻu Aliʻi Bay, and Mahaiʻula Bay.
20. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in the Kona District on the Big island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. It includes the National Historic Landmarked archaeological site known as the Honokōhau Settlement.
21. Kailua-Kona
Public park with white sand beach & rocky shoreline, offering lifeguard-overseen swimming & surfing.
22. Hulihe'e Palace
Small beach & reef with generally calm water, making it a popular place to snorkel.
23.
The Kuamoʻo Burials (also known as the Lekeleke Burial Grounds) is a historic Hawaiian burial site for warriors killed during a major battle in 1819.
24.
Captain Cook is a census-designated place in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, in the United States, located in the District of South Kona. The community, within the land division of Kealakekua, is so named because the post office for the area was located in the Captain Cook Coffee Co. during the early 1900s.
25. Lekeleke Burial Ground
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located on the west coast of the island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaii.
26.
Pāhala is a census-designated place in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The population was 1,356 at the 2010 census.
27. Honaunau
Kīlauea is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. Historically, it is the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.
28. Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm Tours & Konalani Coffee Bar
Kona coffee is the market name for coffee (Coffea arabica) cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world.
29. Hawaii Belt Road
The Hawaiʻi Belt Road is a modern name for the Māmalahoa Highway and consists of Hawaiʻi state Routes 11, 19, and 190 that encircle the Island of Hawaiʻi.
30.
Pebble Beach got its name because instead of a sandy beach it's full of pebbles. The pebbles are black so it gives the appearance of a black sand beach but it won't be sandy here.
31. Kula Kai Caverns
Centuries-old lava caves & tube systems once used by native tribes for shelter & water collection.
32.
Punaluʻu Beach is a beach between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu on the Big Island of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The beach has black sand made of basalt and created by lava flowing into the ocean which explodes as it reaches the ocean and cools. This volcanic activity is in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
33. Mauna Loa Observatory
The Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) is a Mars and Moon ... located on a Mars-like site on the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawai'i Island.
34. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on Hawaii Island (the Big Island). At its heart are the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa active volcanoes. The Crater Rim Drive passes steam vents and the Jaggar Museum, which features volcanology exhibits and a viewpoint overlooking Halema'uma'u Crater. Thick ferns mark the entrance to the Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku). The Chain of Craters Road weaves over lava. Trails crisscross the park.

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
• How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio.
• Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
• Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
• Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
• Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
• Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
• Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Gail B
Good things: enjoyed educational tidbits/history of the island while driving

Not so good:
-literally have to start at the designated local (not just the town, but the exact parking lot) or it won’t begin
-every time you stop/restart, I had to start the program, tell it to resume where left off, and it catches up, but not until it goes through the same intro, over and over again…
-it will mention a point of interest is coming up, but most of the time does not give you a specific place/road where to turn off at
-randomly cuts off explanation early some times
-many times I had already passed what is starting to be discussed

- to make it better, it would also be nice if they go into more detail about suggestions where to park at each location, how long the walking path may be to get there (eg. Captain cook monument, we were not sure where to park or enter the trail, how long it was- we Google searched and found it was a 3.7 m hike and had only an hour, so knew there was no chance we could make it happen to get there and back in our time frame, but had no idea based on this guides description). That sort of info would be very helpful for the driver.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-01-28 10:07:54

Posted By : 528mitzib
The views were awesome. I love that the big island has distinctive ecosystems and climates from arid, desert-like to rainforest. The views of the volcanos in the distance were astounding. We enjoyed our drive around the island. The weather was perfect at around 80 degrees each day we were there. So much to see on the big island and not as "touristy" as some of the other islands. Friendly people and the only downside is that everything is expensive, but that is to be expected on an island. If you can rent a car and drive around on your own time to circle the island, I highly recommend it. You can see all that Hawaii offers.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-01-18 16:15:32

Posted By : Latoya_L
Unfortunately, we have no memories to share because we were unable to get the app to work.
It would not connect even though we had good service and it also had us starting from the wrong starting point although I entered the correct starting point several times.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-27 12:38:04

Posted By : Deepak_M
Really good app to have on a trip or drive. The map did not show up on apple play but otherwise it was good narrative and useful to have on a drive.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-26 17:52:29

Posted By : J1827EInatalier
The self guided tour was fantastic - we followed the advise and found the small waterfall coming out of a lava tube and enjoyed the commentary and stories for the whole island. We learnt so much about history and culture, however we might’ve driven too quickly so sometimes the information would cut off and skip to the next insightful thing. I wish you could choose which direction to travel in but aside from that I thought it was brilliant 🤙🏽
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-19 23:20:07

Posted By : dhummell1956
Very beautiful tour. Took lots of pics and the narration was great. Highly recommend this guided tour
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-11 14:09:59

Posted By : Explore31773219299
This tour was excellent and made our drive around the island informative and interesting. A great way to learn not just about what you are seeing as you drive but also about the island’s history & culture. Easy to use!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-31 02:06:28

Posted By : plenzi
We learned new things about history and places we have seen before. Download before you start. GPS worked well. We did not close it, kept phone plugged in to maintain power. Worth the cost, good music, good stories, pleasant narrator voice.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-24 15:43:44

Posted By : bghtravel
Cannot access the tour. I bought it at home and am now in Hawaii and cannot find it or use it. It looks like it will be good. Hope we'll be able to use it
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-13 13:17:10

Posted By : swayingflower
Excellent, informative narration of the drive to view the sights at the park. Helped us make decisions about what to stop for and what to skip and just listen. Be sure to get to the ocean before dark to see the arch!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-05 13:37:37