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ATV Tours on Kauai - Kipu Ranch
Minimum age to drive an ATV is 16 and a valid driver's license is required. No pregnant women or anyone with back or neck injuries are permitted on the tour.
Kipu
Ranch is a 3,000 acre property extending from the Huleia River to
the top of Mt. Haupu. This mountain range is the one you see to the
south of side of the highway as you leave Lihue headed toward Poipu
or Waimea. Many movies have been filmed in part on the ranch, and
your tour will include a chance to swing on the very rope swing that
Indiana Jones used in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Kipu
Ranch is the highest recommended ATV tour on Kauai by Kauai
Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook. Long pants
are recommended, and closed toed shoes are required. Two different tours are offered.
The
3 hour Mountain Adventure crosses ranch land and heads to the
overlook at top of the mountain pass ... from here you get a glimpse
of the south shore of Kauai that few visitors ever get to see. Of
course you are likely to see cattle on this working ranch, but you
may also see wild turkeys, boar, pheasant, and Nene (the state bird
of Hawaii). This tour includes snacks and beverages. This tour may
be shorter than the waterfall tour, but it includes some more
difficult terrain. If you are an experienced rider this is probably
the best choice for you. Drivers $125pp, Senior Drivers over 65 $100pp, Adult passengers $100pp, Child passengers (under 16) $72pp
On
the 4 hour Waterfalls Adventure you explore more of the ranch ... the terrain ranges from
cool forest roads, lush green pastures, and mountainside trails.
You'll see two different waterfalls during the tour, and a picnic
lunch is included. This tour starts with some easy cruising,
followed by a lesson in ATV riding on a more challenging trail, the
Indiana Jones rope swing, picnic at a waterfall, more riding, and a
final waterfall stop where you can swim. Drivers $150pp, Senior Drivers over 65 $125pp, Adult passengers $125pp, Child passengers (under 16) $90pp
Here is a description of the vehicle types available. When making a reservation using the form on the right, first indicate how many drivers, adult passengers, and child passengers you have in your party. Then indicate how many of each vehicle type you would like. Please note that the minimum age to drive an ATV is
16 and a valid driver's license is required for all drivers.
SINGLE ATV: Kipu
Ranch ATV features comfortable and easy-to-ride automatic
transmission ATV's for those driving a single seater ATV. Minimum age to drive is 16 and this vehicle seats 1 person.
BOMBER: This two-seat ATV is extremely popular with couples, as the driver sits in front and the passenger sits behind. The passenger has a slightly elevated rear seat with backrest. The minimum age to drive a BOMBER is 18 and the minimum age to be a passenger is 12. If the passenger is under 18, the driver must be over 21 and related to the passenger.
RHINO: This two-seat ATV is the most comfortable ride. The driver and the passenger sit side by side and the vehicle has bucket seats and a steering wheel. The minimum age to drive a RHINO is 18 and the minimum age to be a passenger is 5. If the passenger is under 18, the driver must be 21 and related to the passenger.
SAFARI: This four-seat ATV is similar to the Rhino; the driver and the front seat passenger sit side by side and the vehicle has bucket seats and a steering wheel. There are two bucket seats in the back for rear seat passengers. The minimum age to drive a SAFARI is 18 and the minimum age to be a passenger is 5. If any passenger is under 18, the driver must be 21 and related to the passengers. Rear seat passengers must weigh 100 pounds or less.
RANGER: This five-seat ATV is driven by the guide. . The driver and the front seat passenger sit side by side in bucket seats, and there is a rear bench seat that holds 3. The minimum age to be a passenger is 5.
ATV tours do not require previous experience to drive; all participants must sign an acknowledgement of risk form recognizing that with any moving vehicle, driver error can result in an accident and injury.
KRA / D
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CRUISE
SHIP PASSENGERS |
The Kipu Ranch ATV tours are
available for cruise ship passengers and require either a rental car
or a short cab ride of 5-7 minutes. It
is possible for NCL passengers who are spending the night on Kauai
to do either an afternoon tour on their first day in port or a
morning tour on their second day in port.
ACTIVITY
TIPS
ATV
tours do not require previous experience, and these vehicles are
really easy to operate. 5 minutes on one and most people are zipping
around without a care. There is no shifting to worry about, and
you'll be amazed at how stable these vehicles are. Kipu Ranch offers
tours that really do provide a great experience for everyone,
regardless of your riding experience.
Yes,
ATV tours are expensive ... and I can tell you why. I've been in the
garages of all of these ATV tours and I can tell you that a great
deal of time and expense is involved with properly maintaining these
machines. Your tour will also include a very low guest-to-guide
ratio with a guide in the front and the back of your group (and
typically a maximum of 8 riders in between).
While these rides are suitable for people with no previous riding experience, please don't interpret this as an implication that it is impossible for you to get hurt riding an ATV. These are moving vehicles, and while accidents are rare, they do happen. If you are a complete KLUTZ or know you have poor reaction times or are especially "vehicle challenged" then perhaps this isn't the best tour for you. But the vast majority of people are capable of driving these machines ... they have about the same number of controls as a riding lawn mower.
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