Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch, at 49-560 Kamehameha Highway near Kaneohe, is a working cattle ranch and private nature reserve on Oahu's windward coast, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Waikiki in Hawaii, United States. The drive takes about 45-55 minutes via the Pali Highway or H-3 and then Route 83 north, and parking is free. Ranch shuttles and tour packages with round-trip Waikiki transport are available, and prices should be confirmed at booking. Tours run about $60-170 per adult and cover a range of activities: ATV rides across the ranch, a movie sites tour through locations used for Jurassic Park, Jurassic World and other productions, horseback riding, zipline and the Kualoa Ocean Voyage to Mokolii island, often called Chinaman's Hat. The ranch occupies Kaaawa Valley with steep green ridges and views over Kaneohe Bay, and the Secret Island beach activities and a Hawaiian fishpond (Molii) feature on some tours. Because tours sell out, booking several days ahead is advised. A typical one-day arc is a morning tour, such as the movie site or ATV experience, followed by lunch at the ranch's grill, and an afternoon activity such as the ocean voyage or a ridge viewpoint stop. The area has few other services, so visitors usually eat at the ranch or in Kaneohe. The ranch also offers an on-site gift shop and the nearby Kaaawa and Kahana Bay beaches offer free swimming and picnic areas for visitors with spare time. Weather in the valley is changeable, with brief showers common, so a light jacket and closed-toe shoes are useful. Tour start times are fixed, so arriving at least 30 minutes early is recommended.