Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour
Overview
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, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.
New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Meeting and Pickup
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Description
Stop At: Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: 203 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
The deck is a steel grid which creates a singing sound from the tires of cars driving on it.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Scenic Outlook Park, 10-33 Mamalahoa Hwy, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Quiet peaceful location to just sit and relax
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Honoli'i Beach Park, 180 Kahoa St, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Onomea Bay Trail, 27-547 Mamalahoa Hwy, Papaikou, HI 96781, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden, 27-717 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Papaikou, Hawaii 96781
The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden is a nonprofit botanical garden and nature preserve
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Sugar Mill Road, Sugar Mill Rd, Papaikou, HI, USA
Small Waterfall
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kolekole Beach Park, 328015015, Mamalahoa Hwy, Honomu, HI 96728, USA
Kolekole Beach Park is a Hawaii county park on the island of Hawaii.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: 19 HI-19, Honomu, HI 96728, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Laupahoehoe Train Museum, 36-2377 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd, Laupahoehoe, HI 96764, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Laupahoehoe Point Cemetery, Laupahoehoe, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kohala Coast, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Anna Ranch Heritage Center, 65-1480 Kawaihae Rd, Waimea, Hawaii 96743
Anna Ranch Heritage Center is a former cattle ranch in Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii named for Anna Leialoha Lindsey Perry-Fiske (1900–1995).
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hapuna Beach, Hawaii 96743, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kings Hwy Foot Trail, Island Gourmet Markets, 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa, Hawaii 96738
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Buddha Point, Ocean tower, Hilton, 69-425 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA
Picturesque lookout point offering sweeping views of the ocean, sunset & passing whales.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Waikoloa Beach, Puako, HI 96738, USA
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".
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kiholo Bay, 71-1890 Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kekaha Kai State Park, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, 73-4786 Kanalani St, #14, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kailua-Kona, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Public park with white sand beach & rocky shoreline, offering lifeguard-overseen swimming & surfing.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hulihe'e Palace, 75-5718 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Small beach & reef with generally calm water, making it a popular place to snorkel.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Magic Sands Beach Park, Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kahalu’u Beach Park, Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Lekeleke Burial Ground, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, State Hwy 160, Hōnaunau, HI 96726, USA
Pāhala is a census-designated place in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The population was 1,356 at the 2010 census.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Honaunau, Honaunau, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm & Konalani Coffee Bar, 78-1136 Bishop Rd, Holualoa, Hawaii 96725
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hawaii Belt Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: 87 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd, Captain Cook, HI 96704, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kula Kai Caverns, 92-8864 Lauhala Drive, Ocean View, Hawaii 96737
Centuries-old lava caves & tube systems once used by native tribes for shelter & water collection.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Black Sand Beach Apparel, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Beach, Pahala, HI 96777, USA
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Mauna Loa Observatory, 1437 Kilauea Ave, Suite 102, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
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.
Duration: 5 minutes
What To Expect
- Reservations are REQUIRED for all bookings
- Book Your Package On-Line and Receive Your Confirmation
- Departure point: Detailed check-in instructions - including the address and parking information if applicable - will be included in your final confirmation email.
- Duration: 2 to 4 hours (Approx.)
- Departure Time:
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour
7/22/2020 - 1/3/2026Monday - Sunday : 06:00 AM - 09:00 PM - Return Details: Returns to original departure point
What's Included
- Great value: One purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales, history, and facts for a memorable journey!
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup not offered
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
What To Bring
- Confirmation Voucher (printed or mobile)
- Any required or suggested items listed on your confirmation email.
- A Smile!
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 with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
- How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, 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: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
- 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.
- Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.
- CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use phone speakers if needed.
Reviews
Average 4.08 out of 5 stars based on 26 traveler reviews collected by Cool Hawaii and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
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