Highlights And Movie Sites

Kauai Highlights & Movie Sites runs through Polynesian Adventure Tours. Rated 4.5 across 242 reviews. Runs 6 to 7 hours (approx.). From $208.9.

Check park access before you go. Stops inside state parks (Waimea Canyon, Koke'e, Wailua River and Secret Falls) follow current DLNR notices and can be closed. Check the booking page for which stops are running on your date.

Overview

This tour from Polynesian Adventure Tours spends roughly 6 to 7 hours pairing Kauai's headline scenery with the spots that have appeared on screen. You ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver and guide who narrates throughout. Pickup and drop-off at specific Kauai hotels is included.

The route takes in a chocolate tasting at Lydgate Farms, Opaekaa Falls, Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and the Hanalei Valley Lookout, with about 2 hours of free time in Hanalei itself for lunch, shopping and wandering. Kapaa and Kalalea pass by along the way, as does Tahiti Nui in Hanalei. Lunch is not included, so plan to buy your own during the Hanalei break.

It suits travellers who want a broad sweep of the island in one day without driving themselves. Reviewers again and again credit the guides, who share island history, movie facts and plenty of stories along the way. The trade-off is pace: this is a bus tour with short stops, not a hiking experience, and the group can run to 24 travellers. One reviewer found the movie selection dated, while another enjoyed the South Pacific clips.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupPickup and drop-off at specific Kauai hotels is included, with details given at booking.
2. Lydgate Farms chocolate tastingA 30-minute stop at Lydgate Farms Kauai Chocolate, with the admission ticket included in the tour.
3. Opaekaa FallsKapaa and Kalalea are passed by en route.
4. Hanalei free timeAbout 2 hours in Hanalei for lunch, shopping and exploring at your own pace. Tahiti Nui is passed by. Lunch is not included.
5. Kilauea Point National Wildlife RefugeA 10-minute stop at the refuge, with free admission.
6. Hanalei Valley LookoutA 5-minute stop with free admission for views over the valley.
7. Return and drop-offThe tour heads back and returns travellers to the pickup points. Total duration is approximately 6 to 7 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what matters before booking.

• Bring lunch money. Lunch is not included. You get roughly 2 hours in Hanalei, and reviewers used that time to eat, shop and explore the town.
• It is a bus tour. The vehicle is air-conditioned and comfortable, but the stops are brief outside Hanalei. Expect viewing and photos rather than deep exploration; one reviewer wished for more time on the ground at each site.
• Group size and feel. The tour runs with a maximum of 24 travellers. Reviews describe an engaging, story-driven guide sharing island history and movie facts along the drive.
• Movie clips on board. Reviewers describe clips playing as the bus moves between sites, which they found helpful for matching scenes to locations.
• Book special requests early. The listing asks travellers to contact the provider at least 7 days before the tour date for ADA and all special requests. Infants must sit on laps, and the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
• Photography time. The stops are short but scenic, from Opaekaa Falls to the Hanalei Valley Lookout, so have a camera ready as the windows and viewpoints come up quickly.

Common issues. This is a large-vehicle tour with short stops, and one reviewer felt it was mostly a drive-by with limited up-close access. The movie selection leans toward older films, which one family found dated. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers and good weather to run; if either forces a cancellation, you are offered a different date, a different experience or a full refund. Port pickup and drop-off is not included, though one cruise passenger reported being picked up a short walk from the ship, and gratuities are extra.

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