O'ahu's South Shore: A Self-Guided Driving Tour

O'ahu's South Shore: A Self-Guided Driving Tour

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Cruise along Hawaii's scenic South Shore to find lookouts, beaches and hikes on this self-guided driving tour. Experience the magic of GPS-playback on this immersive drive along O'ahu's South Shore.

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Highlights

Dive into the island's volcanic history, from the iconic Diamond Head to volcani
Hear from Uncle Eddie, a true local of O'ahu, who lends his insights to make thi
Do it all in 180 minutes or linger at stops along the way
Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it
Use the virtual tour option at home

Description

The South Shore of Oʻahu is one of the best parts of the drive during any Circle Island Tour. On this driving tour from Diamond Head to the Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take in the scenery at sites like Makapuu Lookout. En route, you’ll learn about the Hawaiian Kingdom, Prince Jonah Kūhiō, and the golf course (now the Kahala Resort) where his adopted father, King Kalākaua, used to spend his time enjoying a horse race or lūʻau. As we travel the coastlines, you’ll also hear about Hawaiian fishponds, local lore, and the traditional names of the places we pass by. Movie and television lovers will recognize spots from their favorite productions. These include the Bayer Estate from Hawaiʻi Five-0 and the Sea Life Park where Adam Sandler worked in the movie Fifty First Dates. Classic movie buffs will recognize Hanauma Bay from Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaiʻi and the beach near Hālona Blow Hole from the movie Here to Eternity, where you might even choose to re-enact the famous love scene with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. On this tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to: • Drive through the caldera of the Koʻolau Volcano (don’t worry, there’s no lava anymore!) • See volcanic tuff cones like Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, and Koko Crater, to name a few • Take in the surfers and body surfers from Sandy Beach • Enjoy a dip at Kailua or Lanikai • Hike some of the island’s marvelous trails including the Makapuʻu Lighthouse and Lanikai Pillbox trails This 45-mile tour will take at least an hour and a half to complete. However, guests will want to budget a minimum of four hours from start to finish to get the most out of each lookout, including a bathroom break, a drink at Koʻolau Distillery, and time to explore Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. There are a wide variety of ways to experience this tour, from less active with an easy drive and a few handicap-accessible lookouts, to spending multiple days enjoying every hike and beach along the route. The choice is yours. We have pointed out restrooms, parking spots, rest stops where you can get food and drinks, and other points of interest along the way to try to keep you as comfortable as possible. This island is famous for its traffic. Along the route, we have given a few easy options to avoid any peak traffic spots, in case your time is limited. Of course, the tour does not include admission costs, reservations to attractions, or any food and drinks. Your guide on this adventure is Uncle Eddie. Born and raised on O’ahu, he grew up in Waimānalo Town. When heʻs not guiding visitors, he loves the ocean and spending time with his wonderful wife, children, and grandkids. Donʻt forget about the free and fun scavenger hunts and quizzes that accompany every tour. There are Easy(ish) 10 Question versions and Hard(er) 25 Question extras to enjoy. Now you donʻt have to worry about pulling the kids off their phones to enjoy the day!

Includes

Lifetime access to this tour in English VoiceMap app for Android and iOS Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Important Information

You need to install the VoiceMap smartphone app.
You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.
When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.
This tour is only available in English.