Kualoa Ranch

The basics

Guided Kualoa Ranch activities include bouncing along on an ATV tour, exploring the trails on a horseback ride, soaring through the jungle canopy on a zipline tour, cruising by catamaran around Kaneohe Bay, discovering Oahu’s famous film sites on a movie tour, and sunbathing on a white-sand beach. You can book Kualoa Ranch tickets for individual excursions.

The ranch can be visited for a single activity, on a full-day adventure tour, or on a circle island tour that also visits other top Oahu sites such as Diamond Head, Makapuu Beach, and Kaneohe Bay. Choose from nearly a dozen themed activities, including unique options such as a farm-to-table look at the property’s ranching and a tour of Kualoa’s modern fruit orchards.

Things to know before you go

• All onsite experiences are part of fully guided tours, and reservations should be made at least 24 hours in advance.

• Kualoa Ranch offers lockers, a gift shop, a visitor center, and a restaurant, Aunty Pat’s Cafe, which serves dishes featuring Kualoa-grown meats and vegetables.

• Insect repellant and rain jackets may be helpful on jungle tours.

• Horseback riding tours are limited to visitors ages 10 and up; ATV tours are limited to those 16 and over.

• Some tours include round-trip transport from Waikiki hotels.

How to get there

The property is set 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Waikiki Beach and about 11 miles (18 kilometers) north of Kaneohe on Oahu’s windward side. It’s possible to take public transit via The Bus from Waikiki (Bus 55 runs past the property), but most visitors drive themselves along the scenic coastal roads or choose a tour that includes hotel pickup and roundtrip transportation.

When to get there

The ranch is open daily from 8:30am to 6pm. While each tour departs several times per day, active tours—like ATV riding and ziplining—are best done in early morning or late afternoon to avoid midday heat. Year-round temperatures on Oahu are almost always between 70°F (21°C) and 80°F (27°C), so there is no bad time of year to visit, though rain showers are most common between November and February.

Movie Magic at Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch’s natural beauty is so scenic that its backdrop has been featured in numerous Hollywood movies and TV shows. Choose a movie site tour and hop aboard a green bus for an off-road ride into cinematic history. Take photos in one of the Lost bunkers, hide behind the log that shielded Jurassic Park visitors from stampeding dinosaurs, and check out the Hukilau Cafe, where Adam Sandler’s Henry first met Drew Barrymore’s Lucy in 50 First Dates.

The ranch offers a 90-minute standard movie tour, a 2.5-hour premier movie site tour, and a special 90-minute Jurassic Park Jungle Expedition, all with multiple daily departures.

How much is a Kualoa Ranch tour?

The tour cost at Kualoa Ranch depends on which tour you book. The ranch offers various tours and packages, from horseback riding to ziplining, and the cost of each varies. A package that includes multiple activities is the best value.

How long is the tour at Kualoa Ranch?

Tours at Kualoa Ranch last between 90 minutes and three hours, depending on your chosen tour. There are many ways of exploring Kualoa Ranch, from a short ATV or e-bike tour to a zipline tour or a tour of Hollywood movie filming locations. The duration varies from tour to tour.

Can you walk around Kualoa Ranch without a tour?

No, you cannot walk around Kualoa Ranch without a tour. The ranch is privately owned, so you must book a tour to explore it. However, the gift shop and restaurant are open to everyone, with or without a tour.

Is there parking at Kualoa Ranch?

Yes, there is parking at Kualoa Ranch, and it is free. If you do not have your own transportation, you can book round-trip transfers from Waikiki and Honolulu through Kualoa Ranch or visit as part of an island-wide tour that includes hotel pickup and drop-off.

What types of tours can you do at Kualoa Ranch?

Kualoa Ranch offers a wide variety of tours to choose from, including ATV tours that allow you to explore the valleys, ziplining tours over the forest canopy, movie-themed tours that take you to the filming locations for such movies as Jurassic Park, guided hikes to waterfalls, and horseback tours.

What should I wear to Kualoa Ranch?

You should dress for the heat at Kualoa Ranch, where many areas are exposed to the hot Hawaiian sun. Dress in light clothing and wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. You should also wear comfortable closed-toe walking shoes and carry a light waterproof in case of rain.

Ways to explore

Kualoa Ranch might look recognizable to first-time visitors. That’s because it’s starred in many of Hollywood’s best-known blockbusters over the years, including Jurassic Park, Kong: Skull Island, Jumanji, and Godzilla. A filming locations tour is one of the best things to do in “Hollywood’s Hawaiian Backlot,” but it’s far from the only option. Adventurous travelers can take on the park’s ziplines or go for an all-terrain-vehicle tour; nature lovers can embark on jungle expeditions and explore its beachfront scenery; and culture fans can visit the park’s preserved, ancient Hawaiian fishponds.

Individual Kualoa Ranch activities generally last between 1.5–3 hours, but it may be worth booking a combination half- or full-day package to make the most of the sprawling area. For a relaxed and self-directed experience, book a slot at Kualoa Ranch’s Secret Island beach. Amenities are all available on a first-come, first-served basis, including kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, hammocks, and beach volleyball facilities.

Accessibility

Owing to the nature of the site, not all activities or areas are wheelchair-accessible. Filming location and other bus tours are accessible; contact the ranch for more details.

Age limits

Kualoa Ranch is open to all, though its various activities and tours have respective age, height, and weight restrictions.

What to pack

Water and snacks, wet wipes, bug spray, reef-safe sunscreen, bathing suit and towel (if going to the beach), fresh clothes

What to wear

Breathable clothing that can get dirty, closed-toe shoes, hats, sunglasses

Not allowed

Consuming drugs or alcohol, drones, pets

Amenities

Café, gift shop, restrooms, helmets and safety gear, lockers

Address

Kualoa Ranch is located on the windward side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It is roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Honolulu and 23 miles (37 kilometers) from Waikiki. You can drive or take public transit, and Kualoa Ranch also offers transit from Waikiki for some tours and activities.

Driving

To get to Kualoa Ranch by car, set off via 1-H-1 W from either Waikiki or Honolulu. Take it to HI-63 N and then HI-83 W, which leads straight to the park. The journey is typically a little more than 30 minutes. On-site parking is available.

Public transportation

To get to Kualoa Ranch via public transportation, take the 60 bus towards Kaneohe - Haleiwa from the Alakea St + S Hotel St stop in downtown Honolulu to the Kamehameha Hwy + Opp Kualoa Ranch stop; the journey lasts around an hour. The ranch also offers a paid shuttle from several Waikiki hotels at select times.

Best times to visit

Since most activities occur outdoors, visit when Oahu’s weather is good, if you can. Note that activities and tours can be canceled with little warning during storms and inclement weather.

Best days to visit

While weekends and school holidays are likely to be the busiest times at Kualoa Ranch (especially during the summer), it’s worth booking your tours and activities well in advance whenever you visit, as they will sell out.

Best months to visit

Summer is the high season on Oahu, when sunny days and warm weather are most likely. It’s also a popular time at Kualoa Ranch—you may want to visit in the spring and autumn shoulder seasons for a slightly calmer experience.

Special events

Time your visit for mid-March, when Kualoa Ranch hosts the Kualoa & Hakipu’u Canoe Fest, an annual event complete with sailing activities, navigation lessons, and other family-friendly activities.