We really enjoyed this tour. Though 11-12 hours sounds long, it goes by very quickly until the very end. Most of the day is a short drive, then about 30-45 minutes at a point of interest. Our tour operator, Brett, was fantastic and very knowledgeable. We learned so much on the ride. We also had time to take short naps in between stops, which was perfect.
What to expect:
Most stops are about 30-45 minutes, otherwise the tour would take many more hours. We felt this amount of time was just right. Others may not, it is personal to each person.
Also, a couple of the stops (Volcano, Lava Tube, and Akaka Falls, and Waipoa Valley are great for able-bodied folks, but may be quite challenging if you have any ankle, hip, knee, back issues, or need an assistance device.
The ecosystem goes from warm and dry to wet and soggy, so be prepared with layers, though the tour operators had wind breakers to loan at no cost.
The food was also good, long day, no dinner. So keep that in mind if you are used to dinner by 6pm.
This was an awesome experience. Highly recommended. And Brett was amazing.