Kauai Waimea Canyon & Na Pali Lookouts Self-Guided Audio Tour

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A travel map of Waimea & Na Pali Coast, highlighting key stops like Pihena Trail, Koke's Lodge & Museum, and Waipo'o Waterfall View. 1

A smartphone mounted on a car dashboard displaying a map with a route. 2

By Shaka Guide Apps

Wonderful

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
6h
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation

Overview

Embark on a breathtaking journey through Kauai’s dramatic landscapes on this self-guided driving audio tour. Wind through the awe-inspiring “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, delve into lush valleys, and ascend to ocean vistas of the Nā Pali Coast—all while listening to immersive storytelling about the island’s geology, culture, and legends.

Enjoy total freedom: start anytime, pause to hike canyon trails or Waipoʻo Waterfall, sip local Kauai coffee, cross the charming Hanapēpē swinging bridge, and explore artisan shops—all at your own pace.

With offline GPS navigation and lifetime access, you’ll experience both must-see highlights and hidden gems without the constraints of group tours.

Highlights include Waimea Canyon Lookouts, Kalalau Valley vantage points, historic town of Waimea, and local favourites like shave ice stops.

Simply download the tour, follow the route, and let evocative narration guide you through one of Kauai’s most unforgettable adventures—on your terms, in your time.

Activity location

Kauai Coffee Company
- 870 Halewili Road
- 96741, Kalaheo, Hawaii, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

Lawai
- Lawai, Hawaii, United States

Check availability

Waimea Canyon & Na Pali Driving Tour app in English

6h
Opening hours: Sat 12:00 am-11:30 pm
English

Travellers

Language options: English

Price details

AU$32.09 x 1 TravellerAU$32.09

Total

What's included, what's not

Flexible itinerary with optional lookouts, stops, and hikes
Stories, Hawaiian history, culture, geology, and local recommendations
Offline map and audio after download
Turn-by-turn audio navigation that plays automatically as you drive
Self-guided GPS audio driving tour of Waimea Canyon and Kokeʻe
Tour access does not expire
One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle
Transport or rental vehicle
Food and drinks
Personal expenses

Know before you book

- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a self-guided driving tour. Transport and a driver are not included, so you’ll need your own vehicle or hire car.
- Start the tour in Lawai. Navigate to the designated starting area before beginning; the tour’s GPS-guided directions will take over once you reach the route.
- Download the Shaka Guide app after booking. Use the redemption code in your confirmation to access your tour.
- Download the tour over strong Wi-Fi before you go. Once downloaded, the audio and map work offline, so continuous cellular service is not required.
- Explore your way. Stops are recommendations, not requirements. Skip stops, stay longer at places you enjoy, or adjust the day based on your interests and schedule.
- Some recommended stops are within Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Parks. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the parks and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour.
- Accessibility varies by stop. Because this is a self-guided tour using your own vehicle, accessibility depends on your vehicle and the locations you choose to visit. Some optional trails and outdoor stops may not be accessible to all travellers.
- Bring a fully charged phone. A car charger is recommended for a full-day tour.

Activity itinerary

Kauai Coffee Company

1h
Admission ticket not included

Be sure to check out the Kauai Coffee’s visitor centre. They offer free coffee samples in a large variety of flavours, what a great way to start off your morning!

Pāʻulaʻula - Russian Fort Elizabeth (Pass by)

Visit this once an impressive fort, with 20 feet high and 17 feet wide walls that shaped like a star Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site, formerly known as Russian Fort Elizabeth, preserves a fascinating chapter of Kauaʻi’s history. The site is currently closed for construction, but you’ll hear its storey and significance as you pass the area on the tour.

Waimea

Here in Waimea Town, there are some local places to shop and eat. Stop by if you need a quick snack for the road, but other than that we suggest you skip this spot for now and save it for your return trip. We’ll guide you back, we promise!

Red Dirt Waterfall

5m
Admission ticket not included

If you’ve been to Hawaii, you’ve probably seen a few waterfalls, but this waterfall is particularly unique. It runs through Kauai’s red dirt instead of lush green jungle which is what you normally see. Stop by for a quick picture and then continue into the park.

Iliau Nature Loop Trail

15m
Admission ticket not included

While you're on the trail, check out the interpretive signs that describe the native plants. The trail is actually named after a rare, exotic plant -- the iliau or Kaua'i greensword -- that is found nowhere else in the world but here on Kaua'i. This stop is within Waimea Canyon or Kōkeʻe State Park. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour.

Waimea Canyon Lookout

15m
Admission ticket not included

This stop is within Waimea Canyon or Kōkeʻe State Park. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour. This is the first of two lookouts of Waimea Canyon. This lookout has some of the best views on a clear day. Stand atop the lookout to take in the expansive views of this natural wonder.

Waipo'o Falls Trail

We’ll guide you to pull into a small car park for a view of an 800-foot waterfall that cascades into the canyon.

Pu’u Hinahina Lookout (Pass by)

This is the second of the two lookouts for Waimea Canyon. Here at the end of the car park is the trailhead for Canyon Trail. The trail signs are a little confusing, so read the description under Hiking in our app Highlights before hiking. Puʻu Hinahina offers expansive views of Waimea Canyon and the surrounding landscape. The Puʻu Hinahina car park is currently closed, so do not stop unless official signage indicates safe, legal access. If access is unavailable, continue along the tour route to the next viewpoint.

Canyon Trail

1h
Admission ticket not included

Here is our first major hike for the day! The trail starts at the car park, and you’ll travel about ¾ of a mile through lush jungle to a spot called Cliff Viewpoint. This stop is within Waimea Canyon or Kōkeʻe State Park. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour.

Kōkeʻe Lodge

The lodge and museum at Koke'e are located at a small plateau in the mountain. The lodge is a sit-down restaurant with decent food if you are hungry. If you are lucky, sometimes they have live music! At the museum, there is a display of native plants, animals, and birds.

Kalalau Lookout

15m
Admission ticket not included

Here you will find your first view of the glorious Na Pali Coast. However, don’t be upset if dense fog prevents you from seeing any views. It’s typical at this altitude. Try waiting it out a few minutes as the fog tends to come and go in waves. This stop is within Waimea Canyon or Kōkeʻe State Park. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour.

Pu’u O Kila Lookout (Pass by)

From this lookout, you get a view of the iconic Na Pali coast. You can also see the peak of Mt. Wai’ale’ale and a swamp called Alaka’i Swamp - one of the wettest places on the entire planet with about 450 inches of rain a year.

JoJo's Shave Ice

Their shave ice comes in a wide range of tropical and traditional flavours. We recommend getting one of their combos with vanilla or macadamia nut ice cream. Their small size is plenty big enough to share.

Kiki a Ola (Menehune Ditch)

At the base of the mountain, just past the old swinging bridge is a hidden gem that reveals a fascinating part of Kauai's past: the Menehune Ditch. You might be thinking to yourself, what’s so cool about a ditch? Well, we’ll tell you the storey of the Menehune who constructed this ditch thousands of years ago.

Captain James Cook Statue

In 1778, Captain Cook became the first Westerner to discover Hawaii. The place where Cook first set foot in Hawai'i is right here in Waimea. We'll point out his statue in the middle of town.

Hanapepe

Here in Hanapepe, there are a few quaint art boutiques, restaurants, murals, and an interesting little bookshop called Talk Story. In fact, it’s the westernmost bookshop in the United States! Feel free to stop anytime as we do a quick drive through the town.

Hanapepe Swinging Bridge

If you’re interested in checking out a cool swinging bridge, there's one in Hanapepe. Look for the sign when you're walking around town.

Lawai (Pass by)

Hanapepe is only a few minutes from Lawai, where you started the tour. We’ll guide you back in that direction with a fun storey about Kauai's "state bird" along the way.

Location

Activity location

Kauai Coffee Company
- 870 Halewili Road
- 96741, Kalaheo, Hawaii, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

Lawai
- Lawai, Hawaii, United States

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