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My eight-year-old son is obsessed with dinosaurs. I mean, really obsessed. He knows the names of almost every dinosaur, he watches all the dinosaur movies and TV shows he can and reads anything he can find about these prehistoric animals. I’m pretty sure his love for dinosaurs began with one of the first books we read to him when he was a baby, Dinosaur Dance by Sandra Boynton.
When one of his classmates asked if he had watched Jurassic Park, I screened it first myself and then started him off with the Lego version, which is a pretty accurate condensed version. Since he loved the original 1993 film and it didn’t scare him, we watched some of the other Jurassic films. He asked me if we could go to Costa Rica because that’s where they pretended to be in the film; I explained it was actually filmed in Hawaii.
So when we booked a trip to Oahu’s North Shore, I knew we had to get a tour of Kualoa Ranch. I had been once before and remember being awestruck because this side of Oahu looked nothing like Waikiki. This side of the island, which is 22 miles (between a 30–55 minute drive) from Honolulu, is more like the island of Moorea in French Polynesia.
Kualoa Ranch is a stunning 4,000-acre ranch that has something for everyone – especially movie and TV show fans. The ranch’s stunning landscapes have served as the tropical backdrop for some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters like Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Fifty First Dates and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, along with TV classics like Lost, Magnum P.I., and Hawaii Five-0.
They only filmed 96 seconds of Jurassic Park here and it was only because there was a hurricane on Kauai, where they filmed most of the movie and they needed something similar for the stampede scene. Supposedly, Steven Spielberg and the other executives fell in love with the ranch, so they used it to film scenes in Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Kualoa Ranch offers a wide variety of exciting tours and experiences, including:
-TV Raptor Tour
-UTV Ride-Along Tour
-Private UTV Ride-Along Tour
-Zipline Tour
-Jungle Expedition Tour
-Ultra E-Bike Tour
-Novice E-Bike Tour
-Secret Island Beach Activities
-Kualoa Grown Tour
-Best of Kualoa Experience
-Jurassic Adventure Tour
-Ocean Voyage
-Malama Experience
-Kualoa Half Day Package, Movie Sites & Ranch Tour
-Horseback Tour
I didn’t want to just do the Jurassic Adventure Tour because you’re in a truck with everyone and I thought my little one might get bored. So we signed up for the UTV Ride-Along Tour. I thought we were going to be by ourselves and we could pick and choose what we got to see, but you’re with other people who each have their own UTV (four-wheel quad) for two hours.
Here’s What Kualoa Ranch is Like and What I Learned
Book in Advance
Book in AdvanceKualoa Ranch is a popular destination so be sure to book your tours and activities in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
Show up On Time
Show up On TimeOur tour was at 10:00am and they asked us to be there at 9:15am to check into the ticket office (the entire group does not need to be present at the ticket office). The line was long but moved quickly.
Safety Briefing
Safety BriefingAt 9:40am (20 minutes before our tour), we lined up in the tour depot area, first to sign waivers and then for a safety briefing.
We also got fitted with helmets and were given an orange or pink (you choose) face covering to put around your neck to avoid inhaling the dust.
The tour has two guides: one in front who looks after three vehicles and another who looks after the last three vehicles. For our tour, we had an extra guide because they were training someone.
There are two rows of seats in the UTVs. I sat in the front with the driver and my son was between us. My wife and daughter sat in the back.
On the way to the first stop, it was picture perfect. I remember saying to my wife, “Wow! It doesn’t get more beautiful than this!” But 20 minutes in, I realized we had made some serious mistakes in planning. I took notes so you don’t make the same mistakes.
Bring a Dinosaur
Bring a DinosaurAs we stopped and got out to learn about the backdrop of the famous stampede scene in Jurassic Park, I remember saying to my wife, “It sounds like rain.” This was right after we had taken some family photos (bring a toy dinosaur to create an image like the one embedded above), or you can Photoshop one in like my buddy did for us, since a triceratops isn’t a meat eater.
After I said it looked like rain, I turned around and I could actually see the rain slowly moving. I recorded it on my phone, which you can see in the video below.
As you can see from the video, we ran back to the ATV, but it doesn’t cover you too well, especially if you’re in the front seat. We got absolutely soaked. I was so bummed we didn’t have ponchos or water shoes because I had puddles in mine.
Tours go out, rain or shine. Our guide said he’d rather have rain than a dry, hot day because the dust can get bad, which is why they also give you goggles along with your helmets. We never had to put ours on because it rained and because we were in a ride-along, so we were in the front of the pack.
We drove all around the ranch and because we weren’t prepared, we were wet and chilly. My wife and I were ready to call it a day, but my son was definitely not ready to go. So we stuck it out and I’m glad. But if you do go, be sure to bring:
- Comfortable shoes (preferably ones that can get wet)
- Sunscreen – the Hawaiian sun can be intense, so don’t forget to apply sunscreen before your adventure. Make sure it’s reef-safe.
- Comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting wet or dirty
- A poncho or rain jacket – One of the tour guides I saw go out after us had full-on rain gear, including pants, and it made me jealous
- Change of clothes for after the tour
- Avoid wearing white or light-colored clothes, as they can easily show dirt and dust
- Bring sunglasses
- A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated
- Pack wet wipes or a small towel for cleaning up after the tour
- Secure your belongings, as the ride can be bumpy
- Consider wearing a bandana or face mask to cover your mouth and nose, minimizing dust inhalation
- Lip balm with SPF
- Hat
- Crossbody or money belt with valuables
- Wet bags
- Towel
- Swimsuit
- Hand sanitizer
- Money to check out the Visitor Center shop and/or Kualoa Grown Marketplace
All in all, our visit to Kualoa Ranch was a muddy, magical and totally unforgettable adventure, especially for our dino-loving son. Even though we got drenched and made a few rookie mistakes, seeing those iconic Jurassic Park landscapes through his eyes made it more than worth it. If you’re headed to Oahu and have a movie buff, thrill seeker or little paleontologist in the family, Kualoa Ranch is a must. Just remember to pack smart, prepare for anything (especially the weather), and get ready to experience one of Hawaii’s most cinematic treasures.
KEEP READING:
–Where Can You Dig Up Real Dinosaur Fossils in North America?–
The Family-Friendly California Attraction You’ve Never Heard of But Need to Visit
–5 Family-Friendly California Road Trip Ideas From Los Angeles
–The 10 Most Instagrammable Tourist Attractions in California
–California Road Trip: Los Angeles to San Francisco and Must-Visit Stops Along the Way
–Our First Family Trip to Legoland and The Castle Hotel
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