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We Took The Kualoa Ranch Jurassic Adventure Tour. Here’s What to Expect.

ByErin Burke Published on
Expansive view of Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii, with dramatic green mountains rising above open grassy fields and scattered trees. A group of horseback riders can be seen in the distance, with the blue Pacific Ocean just visible on the horizon under a bright, clear sky.

Ready to check out incredible Hawaiian mountains while seeing scenes from some of your favorite movies? Then a visit to Kualoa Ranch on the island of O’ahu is a must-do for your Hawaii trip!

During our O’ahu stay, we visited Kualoa Ranch on our first day of the trip. And we loved it so much! The landscapes here are truly unbelievable.

We chose to do the Jurassic Adventure Tour, which takes you to some of the most famous filming spots from the Jurassic Park filming franchise, mostly from the newer Jurassic World films.

So here’s what you can expect to see if you take the same tour (lots of Jurassic Park locations, including the Indominus Rex paddock!), what you won’t see (like the WWII bunker movie props), and tips for visiting Kualoa Ranch!

Sweeping view of the green cliffs and valleys of Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii, with the Pacific Ocean visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky. Palm trees and a small cabin sit in the foreground, nestled in the rolling tropical terrain.

Where is Kualoa Ranch?

Kualoa Ranch is located on the East side (windward side) of the island of O’ahu. It’s in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

It’s 23 miles, or about a 40 minute drive from Waikiki. But it may take you longer depending on traffic. (The morning rush hour made it take a bit longer for us.)

You’ll want a rental car to get to Kualoa Ranch, and I recommend taking a look at Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. We used them on our Hawaii trip and got a great deal!

Why We Chose the Jurassic Adventure Tour

Brightly colored Jurassic Park tour vehicle parked at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii, with dramatic green mountains and a large umbrella-shaped tree in the background. The classic red, yellow, and green paint job matches the original vehicles from the Jurassic Park film.
The Jurassic Park Jeep we saw at the beginning of our tour

My goal with Kualoa Ranch was two fold: see the beautiful scenery and see some of the spots where movies were filmed. And the Jurassic Adventure Tour seemed like a good combination of that.

From what I had read, the Juarrassic Adventure Tour went a little more in depth than the popular Movie Sites tour and lasted a bit longer. Plus it’s the only tour that goes to two valleys, both Hakipu’u and Ka’a’awa Valleys. And we wanted to experience as much as possible while we were there!

And while there are some other great tours that are really popular, like the zipline and the ATV, we were also traveling with our kiddo. So we knew something a little simpler would be easier for us all!

What You’ll See During the Jurassic Adventure Tour

We started our Jurassic Adventure Tour with taking pictures next to the classic Jurassic Park Jeep. Then we boarded our vehicle, which is a pickup truck with a covered seating area built into the back.

We then drove up away from the Visitor Center and got some great views of the ocean before going into the Jurassic Valley (Ka’a’awa Valley). Along the way our fantastic tour guide (Precious) told us about the history of the Ranch.

Once we were in the valley we made several stops at Jurassic Park filming sites:

  • The log the kids hide behind during the Gallimimus stampede in Jurassic Park
  • The launch point for the Gyrosphere ride in Jurassic World
  • The bunker from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Life-size dinosaur model emerging from a concrete paddock structure at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii, mimicking a scene from the Jurassic World films. The detailed dinosaur figure appears mid-roar with sharp teeth and textured skin, surrounded by tropical greenery and dramatic cliffs in the background.
A dinosaur coming out of the Jurassic World bunker.

And along the way she was pointing out all kinds of other filming locations to us like the mountain that turns into a volcano thanks to CGI in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the waterfront area used for the Mosasaurus show in Jurassic World, and a filming location for Kong: Skull Island.

And, since we had told her we were LOST fans, she pointed out some spots from that show too, like Hurley’s golf course.

Really I just felt like every square inch of this spot had some kind of story related to Hollywood filming associated with it, and so the interesting facts and filming spots never stopped!

After we were done in that valley, we headed over to the next valley. And here we got to go to the Indominus Rex paddock from Jurassic World.

Filming set of the Indominus Rex paddock from Jurassic World at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii. The large beige paddock structure is surrounded by tall tropical grasses and dense green jungle, with a “Jurassic World” sign above the entrance and lush mountains in the background.
Outside the Indominus Rex Paddock

This was REALLY cool, and it’s the only tour that goes there.

You can go up into the room where Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard observe the paddock (and realize something is *very* wrong). Then you can walk down into the paddock itself and see the giant claw marks on the wall, a raptor cage, and more.

If you’re a Jurassic Park fan, I think this is definitely the tour to do! Honestly, while I like the Jurassic Park movies fine, I’m not a giant fan or anything. But I really enjoyed this tour so much!

What We Didn’t See During the Jurassic Adventure Tour

There was really only one thing I was a little disappointed about in our Jurassic Adventure Tour, and that’s that it doesn’t stop in the WWII bunker with movie memorabilia.

I had tried to do my research beforehand and thought that maybe it did, but turns out it doesn’t.

So, if you definitely want to stop in the bunker that houses props and sets from other TV shows and movies (like props from LOST and Hawaii Five-0), you’ll want to do the Movie Sites Tour instead.

And while we saw the filming site with props from Kong: Skull Island, we didn’t actually make a stop there to get out an explore.

Overall Thoughts on Our Jurassic Park Tour

Overall, I REALLY loved our Jurassic Adventure Tour! Precious, our tour guide, was fantastic. The valleys were INCREDIBLY beautiful, and all the movie sites we got to see were super fun.

I do, however, wish we had re-watched more Jurassic Park movies before we went. It would have added to the experience if the screen versions of what we saw had been fresh on my mind!

But I would definitely recommend this tour, and I’m super glad this is the one we picked to do.

Exterior view of the viewing platform at the Indominus Rex paddock set from Jurassic World, featuring a long row of windows jutting out from a tall, tan structure surrounded by palm trees and jungle foliage at Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii.
The viewing platform in the Indominus Rex Paddock

Other Tours at Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch has SO MANY other tours. So if you’re not sure about the Jurassic Adventure tour, there are a bunch of other tours you can choose from.

  • Movie Sites & Ranch Tour — This is one of the most popular tours. It’s also the least expensive and most accessible for all ages. You’ll ride on a bus and see filming sites in the valley as well as stop at a WWII bunker full of franchise memorabilia and props.
  • UTV Raptor Tour — This is the most popular tour at Kualoa Ranch and you get to drive a UTV into remote areas of the valley.
  • Zipline Tour — A three hour ziplining tour through the valley. This looks amazing!
  • Jungle Expedition Tour — Similar to the Jurassic Adventure Tour in ride vehicle and vibes, but it’s shorter and has more of a focus on the views and the jungle itself.
  • E-bike Tours — There are both advanced (“Ultra”) and novice e-bike tours where you can ride bikes through the valley.
  • Secret Island Beach Activities — Enjoy some beach time! You can choose from half day or full day beach experiences.
  • Kualoa Grown Tour — This is all about the ancient Hawaiian fishponds on the ranch as well as the fruit and flower gardens.
  • Ocean Voyage Adventure — A catamaran tour that offers amazing views of the coastline.
  • Horseback Tour — Take a horseback ride through beautiful Jurassic Valley!
  • Malama Experience — This is a kind of volunteer experience where guests will learn about traditional Hawaiian culture and have experiences that may include harvesting taro, assisting with cleaning, or even thatching traditional Hawaiian buildings.
  • Best of Kualoa Experience — A full day package that includes the Hollywood Movie Sties Tour, the Jungle Expedition, and the Kualoa Grown Tour.
  • Half Day Package — This experience goes from 9:45 to 2:30 and includes the Movie Sites Tour and the Ocean Voyage.
Tourists explore a dramatic movie set from Kong: Skull Island at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii. Giant replica bones and skulls are scattered across a green valley, backed by towering, rugged cliffs covered in lush vegetation.
Visitors from the Movies Sites tour checking out the Kong Skull Island area.

Tips for Visiting Kualoa Ranch

Here are some tips for your time at Kualoa Ranch!

  • Arrive early. No matter what tour you are taking, you’ll need to arrive at the ranch one hour before your tour time to check in. If you’re coming from Honolulu or even further away, be sure to take traffic into account and give yourself some extra time.
  • Bring a photo ID. You’ll need it to check into your tour.
  • Bring sunscreen and water. Because, hello, you’re going to be outside in Hawaii!
  • Check clothing requirements. Your tour might require certain clothes or shoes, like close-toed shoes for the zipline tour.
  • Be prepared for bumps. Some of the tours can be VERY bumpy and not recommended for people with back problems or women who are pregnant. I can attest to the fact that our tour was VERY bumpy. So look at your tour ahead of time to make sure you’ll be okay.
  • Bring some money to tip your guides. While it’s not required, if you have a great tour guide they’ll appreciate a tip!
  • Make time for the gift shop. There is a gift shop on-site with lots of goods!
  • Plan to eat nearby. While there is a small restaurant in the gift shop (Aunty Pat’s Cafe) there are some great restaurants nearby. We had a great meal at Waiahole Poi Factory, and I’ve also heard Yummy Huli Huli Chicken is delicious.
A green open-air tour truck labeled "Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve" is parked in front of lush mountains on Oahu, Hawaii. A smiling visitor stands beside the truck, with a few other guests in the background preparing for the Jurassic Adventure Tour through famous movie filming locations.
Our Jurassic Adventure Tour vehicle. Be prepared because the ride can get VERY bumpy!

What’s Next?

Planning a trip to Hawaii? Here’s what’s next:

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Split image showing the lush green landscape of Kualoa Ranch with mountains and open pastures, and a scene from the Jurassic Adventure Tour featuring a dinosaur emerging from the Indominus Rex paddock set. Text overlay reads “Kualoa Ranch Jurassic Adventure Tour” with the website flyingoffthebookshelf.com.

Erin Burke is a travel writer and the founder of Flying Off the Bookshelf. She has been blogging for over 14 years, has visited countries and cities all over the world, and loves to share detailed-itineraries and travel tips to help readers have the best travel experiences possible. She lives in Huntsville, Alabama, is a Visit North Alabama Ambassador, and her features include NPR, MSN, Modern Mrs. Darcy, and more.