18 Jurassic Park Filming Sites in Hawaii + How to Visit Each One [Full List]

Jurassic Park is one of the most epic movies of our generation and it’s approaching its 30th year anniversary in 2023.

One of the coolest parts about this film is that you can still visit a lot of the filming locations if you ever make your way to Hawaii.

And many of these locations are pretty epic in their own right.

When visiting these spots, you’ll soar over vast canyons, off-road into lush jungle terrain, scramble along muddy cliff sides, and other times, just casually enjoy more low-key experiences like guided tours and grubbing out on fish tacos.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll give you all the detailed information and tips you need to know about visiting these filming locations, since it’s not always so simple to check out some of these.

I’ll show you exactly where these places are and give you examples of stills from the movie so that you can line up your own shots.

Overview of Jurassic Park filming sites

Because there are so many places to see, it helps the first narrow down your island or islands.

Choosing your island(s)

If you primarily want to see sites from the original 1993 Jurassic Park movie then the Hawaiian island of Kauai is where you want to be.

Because that is where the vast majority of Isla Nublar (Jurassic Park’s island) shots were taken.

There was one iconic shot taken in Oahu and a couple of helicopter shots in Maui but for the most part Kauai is THE island for Jurassic Park movie destinations.

If you’re only spending time in Honolulu/Waikiki but still interested in Jurassic Park sites, you’ll be able to see a lot of Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom sites in Oahu. I cover those in my detailed Jurassic World article.

However, this post is focused on Jurassic Park, so I will assume that is where your focus is now.

Arial view of waterfall.
The stunning Jurassic Falls seen from a helicopter.

Choosing your sites

Here is a list of all of the Jurassic Park sites in this article.

I’ve organized them by location, access, price, and estimated time needed to visit and get your shots.

For access, “Public” just means that you can drive up/Uber to the spot.

Also, “free” means that you can visit/get your photos without having to pay but you may have the option to pay for additional things like food or tours.

NameIslandAccessPriceTime
Limahuli GardenKauaiPublicFree10 min
Hoopii Falls KauaiHikingFree1.5 to 2hrs
Al Pastor TacosKauaiPublicFree30 min
Jurassic FallsKauaiHelicopter$$$2 hrs
Jurassic Gates and T-Rex PaddockKauaiHiking or 4X4Free2 to 5 hrs
Olokele CanyonKauaiHelicopter$$$2 hrs
Allerton GardenKauaiTour Needed$$3 hrs
Nāwiliwili Bay (Jetty)KauaiPublicFree30 min
Kauai Beach ClubKauaiPublicFree30 min
Jurassic Kahili RanchKauaiRoadside viewFree5 min
Valley House Plantation EstateKauaiNo entryN/AN/A
Kualoa RanchOahuTour Needed$$3hrs
Jurassic RockMauiHelicopter$$$2 hrs

If you’re strictly focused on the island of Kauai then my recommendation would be to go for this shortlist of sites:

  • Allerton Garden
  • Limahuli Garden
  • Hoopi Falls
  • Jurassic Falls
  • Al Pastor Tacos
  • Jurassic Gates/T-rex Paddock
  • Storm Jetty/Marriott

You could visit all of those shortlist sites in 2 to 3 days depending on how willing you are to stuff your schedule and how much of a priority you want to give Jurassic Park sites during your time in Hawaii.

However, you might want to give yourself 3 to 5 days because you never know how the weather might play out and chances are you’ll want to do some other non-Jurassic Park related things.

One thing you want to think about beforehand is what helicopter tours (if any) you will do.

Olokele Canyon is left off the shortlist because otherwise the list would require you to do two helicopter rides (Jurassic Falls and Olokele Canyon).

Two helicopter rides might be doable for you on a “spare no expense” tour but keep in mind that both of those two helicopter tours are doors-on which means that you’ll maybe have to deal with glares in your photos and videos.

Personally, we opted to do one doors-on tour to Jurassic Falls and then a doors-off tour where we were able to view Olokele Canyon (just not land on it).

Jurassic Park filming sites map

If you are a map person, here is a map of all the Jurassic Park filming locations:

Man walking at Jurassic Gates.
Headed to the Jurassic Gates.

Jurassic Park film sites in Hawaii

Limahuli Garden (Kauai)

The very beginning of Jurassic Park opens up with a dark and somewhat terrifying scene of a Jurassic Park gatekeeper getting viciously eaten by a hungry velociraptor after a botched transfer — the infamous “shoot herrr!” scene.

Later on, we see Dr. Grant visit the raptor paddock in the daytime as they feed another hungry raptor its lunch.

And finally, Ellie and Muldoon walk past this paddock later on in the movie.

All of the raptor paddock scenes were filmed at Limahuli Garden, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, which is located on the north side of the island. Specifically, the visitor center occupies the same space that the raptor paddock occupied.

Limahuli Garden, building with mountains in background.

Here are the movie stills:

Limahuli Garden, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 1:53 (Universal)
Limahuli Garden, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 31:41 (Universal)

The mountain ridges in the background of the scene below are the giveaway as to where this location is and you can line up your shot by referring to those.

Limahuli Garden, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 32:52 (Universal)

Here is the shot we got which lines up pretty well.

Limahuli Garden visitor center.

You don’t actually have to book a tour or pay anything to visit the visitor center but you do need to proceed through the entrance gate to get there.

If you are visiting when the establishment is closed you can park on the side of the road nearby and just walk in.

Just make sure that you walk to the actual visitor center and that you don’t get it confused with one of the buildings out in front which don’t quite line up with the shot.

About those raptors… Velociraptors in Jurassic Park are three times their actual size. But during the movie’s creation, paleontologists discovered a new, much larger raptor called the “Utahraptor” which was about the same exact size as the raptors in the movie.

Hoopii Falls (Kauai)

Towards the beginning of the movie, Donald Gennaro, the lawyer sent to inspect Jurassic Park, is pulled across a stream to the Mano De Dios Amber Mine, where he seeks to get information on Dr. Grant related to the park’s upcoming inspection.

Both the stream he is pulled across and the amber mine where they discover dino DNA are found at the same spot at Hoopii Falls.

You’ll need to bust out your hiking skills to get to the spot.

It’s not a very difficult hike but there are some relatively steep sections on this 2.5 to 3 mile hike.

I would rate the hike as an easy to moderate hike and if you want some tips on how to get there I put together a detailed guide on how to hike to the falls.

Hoopii Falls, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 3:48 (Universal)
Water at bottom of Hoopii Falls.

The flow of the waterfall is a little bit different these days so the backdrop doesn’t look exactly the same but if you focus on the rocks on the ledge, you can line your shot up.

(Sadly, the mine cave does not really exist.)

Hoopii Falls, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 4:14 (Universal)
Hoopii Falls.

Al Pastor Tacos (Kauai)

When Dennis Nedry and Dr. Lewis Dodgson were meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica to discuss the terms of their clandestine arrangement where Nedry would hand over InGen’s valuable dino DNA, it takes place here.

(By the way, San Jose, Costa Rica is definitely NOT located on the coast.)

Today, there are various food trucks including Al Pastor Tacos which occupy the space. We tried the fish tacos which were very solid but you also have some other great options like Chicken in A Barrel located next door.

It’s a little bit difficult to line up the shot because trees can obviously change shape after 30 years and you’re dealing with some other structures like a portable toilet in the way.

But if you take a little bit of time you’ll see that the three trees in the background match the shot and that it’s very possible to line up the frame.

On our visit, parked cars were where the table was but we still got a good shot of the background.

Al Pastor Tacos, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 13:40 (Universal)
You can now relieve yourself at a Jurassic Park scene.

The other shot from the movie shows a building in the background but that building is no longer there and was replaced by a furniture building.

Did you know? When Nedry is shouting out “DodgsonWeve got Dodgson here!” It’s because Nedry was secretly recording the encounter and wanted to have evidence to blackmail Dodgson.

Jurassic Falls (Kauai)

When Dr. Grant and others arrive via helicopter on Isla Nublar they zoom through steep canyons and then erratically touchdown at the base of Jurassic Falls.

It’s one of the most epic scenes of the movie and you can actually book a helicopter tour that will land you very close to where they landed.

You then have the opportunity to stand at the base of the Manawaiopuna Falls aka Jurassic Falls and re-enact a few different shots from the movie. We did the tour which runs about $360 and you can read all about it here.

In a nutshell, it’s an awesome way to experience this Jurassic Park related site but if you get stuck in the back row, especially in one of the two middle seats, your views are very limited which can make it harder to enjoy.

Jurassic Falls, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 18:19 (Universal)
Jurassic Falls Manawaiopuna Falls

Foreshadowing? When they are landing at the waterfall and Dr. Grant struggles to buckle his seatbelt because he has two “female” buckles, it’s said that this is foreshadowing nature “finding its way” to reproduce with all female dinosaurs. 

Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve (Kauai)

The Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve is home to two absolutely iconic scenes: the Jurassic Park Gates and the T-Rex Paddock 

When the two Ford Explorers first enter Jurassic Park they make their way into the park through the ginormous wooden doors which prompts Ian Malcolm’s memorable line, “What do they got in there? King Kong?”

You can hike to this legendary spot or you can simply off-road which should be the way that I would recommend. There’s just something that feels special about taking a trip through this remote jungle terrain in a 4X4.

I did a detailed write up on visiting both of these destinations so I would suggest for you to check that out to get more information (including helpful GPS waypoints).

Out of all of the Jurassic Park sites we visited, I probably enjoyed this one the most just because it felt so secluded out in the jungle and it took a little bit of adventuring to get there.

When you visit the spot at the gate there are two poles that supposedly mark the location of the gates. But it’s disputed that these are in the right position and the correct spot might actually be a few hundred feet farther down.

Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 41:31 (Universal)
Jurassic Park gates at Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve.
“Welcome to Jurassic Park”

About 45 minutes into the movie, the tour takes them by the tyrannosaurus paddock where the staff of Jurassic Park tries to lure out the dinosaur with a sacrificial goat that pops up from below.

The T-Rex Paddock is about a mile past where the Jurassic Park Gates poles are located and the good thing about this location is it’s very easy to lineup where the shot was taken.

Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 44:23 (Universal)
Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve.

Did you know? The Tyrannosaurus’ roars consisted of a mixture of of dog, penguin, tiger, alligator, and elephant sounds.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous this is also where the trail begins to the Blue Hole which takes you up close to the Weeping Wall, an amazing site full of waterfalls.

It’s an all-day event though and it will require you to get wet and navigate river crossings so don’t take that challenge too lightly.

Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve.
The area behind the T-Rex paddock is a perfect spot to relax.

Olokele Canyon (Kauai)

After avoiding a Gallimimus stampede, Dr. Grant and the kids are making their way back to the visitor center and they stumble upon a large electrical fence.

Rather than fit the kids through the gaps in the fence that surely they could fit through they choose to climb. And unfortunately for little Timmy, he is stuck on the fence when they were rebooting the power and he gets electrocuted.

That entire scene, which I believe was done on the first day of filming, was filmed on top of a ridge in Olokele Canyon.

This is on private property but you can take a (doors-on) helicopter tour that actually lands at this location and get access that way.

We opted to just view it from a doors off helicopter tour since we were already doing the Jurassic Falls tour which is also doors on.

Olokele Canyon, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 1:40:17 (Universal)
Olokele Canyon.
Olokele Canyon.

If you’re doing the Jurassic Falls helicopter tour then you can probably get a glimpse of Olokele Canyon, although you might not be able to see exactly where that spot was filmed.

We also did a hike in Waimea Canyon which gave us a partial view of where they filmed the scene but I don’t think you can see the actual spot because it is behind a large ridge.

Allerton Garden (Kauai)

Allerton Garden, also a part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, is a must for Jurassic Park fans because it’s home to several different scenes from the movie.

If you do a tour here, you can see the sights from the following scenes:

  • Discovery of raptor eggs
  • Clever girl scene
  • Run to the emergency shelter
  • Dilophosaurus paddock

The most recognizable shot from Allerton Garden is probably the discovery of the raptor eggs by Dr. Grant.

He discovers these hatched eggs inside a nest in some impressive fig tree roots as he realizes that life, indeed, does find a way.

Allerton Garden, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 1:30:25 (Universal)
Allerton Garden.
Discovering raptor eggs at Allerton Garden.

You can check out this exact location by doing a tour of Allerton Garden which is a pretty worthwhile attraction.

They offer several different types of tours but my recommendation would be to do the Allerton Garden sunset tour because that is one of the tours that allows you to cruise around at sunset in a Jurassic Park golf cart for a little bit. Read about my experience with that tour here.

The infamous “clever girl” scene also takes place here. It was shot at the spot where there is a mermaid water feature that you will surely see on one of your tours. (It’s right by the fig trees.)

Allerton Garden, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 1:45:11 (Universal)
Water feature at Allerton Garden.
Somewhere behind that statue, “clever girl” was born.

On the other side of the mermaid water feature, there’s an open grassy area which is where Ellie was making her best limping effort to get to the maintenance shed.

Allerton Garden, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 1:39:14 (Universal)
Man running at Allerton Garden.

I also read that right next to the fig trees is where the Dilophosaurus paddock was.

When you are standing next to the fig trees you can look across the stream and you will see a dirt road and that is the road that the Explorers were driving on when they shot that scene.

I tried to line up trees from that shot but I wasn’t able to find anything that seemed like a direct match, though a couple of trees came close.

Allerton Garden, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 42:24 (Universal)
Allerton Garden.
Inside the Dilophosaurus paddock!

Like I said, I’d recommend doing the sunset tour which comes with a dinner and lets you cruise around in a Jurassic Park golf cart.

Man sitting in golf cart at Allerton Garden.

There’s also a worker at Allerton Garden (Pat?) who has been working there since the late 1980s.

She was there during the filming of Jurassic Park and had some cool stories to share about what it was like to be there.

I’d definitely spend some time talking to her if you get the chance.

Nāwiliwili Bay Jetty (Kauai)

While they were filming Jurassic Park on Kauai in 1992 and only one day away from completion, Hurricane Iniki blew through and it was a doozy.

Initially, it looked like it was going to head west past Hawaii but at the last second it took a quick turn north directly towards Kauai, making landfall on September 11th.

It’s still the most powerful hurricane to ever hit Hawaii in recorded history and it struck during El Nino allowing it to intensify to unprecedented levels.

When hurricane Iniki blew through, director Steven Spielberg took advantage of that opportunity to film some actual storm footage that he used in the movie.

It’s a really short scene but at around 54 minutes into the film you can see large waves crashing into a jetty.

Nāwiliwili Bay Jetty, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 54:13 (Universal)
Nāwiliwili Bay Jetty.
The jetty on a much calmer day.

I believe these shots were filmed from Kalapaki Beach outside of the Marriott Kauai Beach Club.

If you drive around the Marriott Kauai Beach Club area you’ll be able to easily see the jetty.

If you can’t access the beach, a good way to get a good view is to head over to where the Kuki’i Point Lighthouse is located, at the end of the golf course.

The public has access to some stairs right at the edge of the golf course and you can walk down to a rocky area where you have some pretty impressive views.

This is a great way to get the jetty shots if you don’t have a super powerful telephoto lens because it is much closer than the beach is to the jetty.

Nāwiliwili Bay Jetty, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 54:16 (Universal)
Nāwiliwili Bay Jetty.

Chickens on the loose. When you visit Kauai you’ll no doubt be surprised at how many wild chickens you encounter. Some speculate these chickens are descendants of birds that escaped after Iniki blew coops wide open.

Marriott’ Kauai Beach Club (Kauai)

The jetty in front of this hotel was featured in the movie but the hotel itself was not. Still, this is an interesting site for true Jurassic Park fans.

When Hurricane Iniki blew through, the production crew decided to ride it out at the Marriott Kauai Beach Club where they were already staying during their three weeks of production. (The hotel went by a different name back then.)

Specifically, they held up in the hotel’s ballroom with catering, back-up generators, and all of that movie set equipment that could come in handy when trying to ride out a hurricane.

At one point they even put a harness on someone so that he could step outside and check the latest weather conditions on his radio.

There’s some video footage from the hurricane that shows them wandering the premises and hanging out in the ballroom so it was easy to verify this hotel.

Marriott' Kauai Beach Club.

The strong wind gusts from the hurricane, which reportedly hit over 200 mph, did some damage to the ballroom as water was finding its way in.

But it seems that for the most part the ballroom held up pretty well and everybody was safe inside.

Everyone from the crew passed time a little bit differently and Spielberg spent some of his time telling the kids ghost stories (one could only imagine how vivid those were).

Apparently Richard Attenborough (Dr. Hammond) slept through the hurricane and when questioned by Spielberg as to how he did it, he famously said “My boy, I survived the Blitz.”

As long as the hotel ballroom is not being used for some type of event you should be able to get a glimpse of it.

ball room room at Marriott' Kauai Beach Club.

To put the ultimate cap on our Jurassic Park experience we decided to stay at the Marriott Kauai Beach Club for two nights.

It wasn’t the most impressive hotel stay but it was super cool to spend a couple of nights in the same location that the 100+ person crew did during filming.

Jurassic Kahili Ranch (Kauai)

When Dr. Hammond first brings everyone to Jurassic Park they swerve down the hillside in Jeeps and then stumble across a brachiosaurus who promptly does an impressive (but unnecessary?) stand up move to get some grub off a tree.

Soon after that we see a herd of dinosaurs hanging out by a pond and the reality of Jurassic Park starts to sink in for the paleontologists.

Jurassic Kahili Ranch, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 22:14 (Universal)
Jurassic Kahili Ranch.

Both of those scenes were shot somewhere on the Jurassic Kahili Ranch.

Unless you are able to obtain special access which appears to be ridiculously difficult, you’ll only be able to view this site from the roadside.

I don’t think you can actually see any of the sites that were used in the film from the roadside but you can still get a good glimpse of the property which is pretty beautiful and looks similar to what is in the movie.

Valley House Plantation Estate (Kauai)

The Jurassic Park visitor center that appears multiple times in the film was located at the Valley House Plantation Estate.

It only existed as a façade though because all of the interior shots were done in studio.

Valley House Plantation Estate, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 23:04 (Universal)

This is probably the most confusing site to me.

It’s difficult to find a verified address and the address I did find online brought me to a location that did not seem like it was the entrance to a plantation estate though maybe it was super hidden?

Regardless, it’s all private property and they don’t appear to be open to visitors of any kind so I would not count on making a visit to this place.

Other shots filmed at this site include: the sick triceratops, the emergency bunker, and whenever Dr. Grant and Ellie reunite.

Kualoa Ranch (Oahu)

Kualoa Ranch is where many blockbuster films have been shot over the years and it’s essentially Hollywood’s Hawaii backlot.

It’s got several Jurassic World scenes located throughout the property that you can check out on the Jurassic Adventure Tour which we did and thoroughly enjoyed.

But there was one scene from Jurassic Park shot at this location, too.

Because of the hurricane blowing through Kauai, the producers had to move locations at the last minute and that’s why the Gallimimus stampede scene was shot at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu.

It’s the “they’re flocking this way” scene where Dr. Grant and the kids run behind a large piece of driftwood to hide during the stampede before a T-Rex comes on the scene to pick off a Gallimimus.

If you do the Jurassic tour, you’ll stop at a driftwood spot which is where the trio hid for cover during the stampede.

Kualoa Ranch, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 1:35:46 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic Park log

The buzzkill is that the original piece of wood used in the film is no longer there because dead wood has a tendency to rot pretty quickly in such a tropical climate.

But you can still pose for some cool photos at that spot.

It’s a little difficult to line up the background exactly the way it was behind the log but it’s still really cool to check out that spot.

Jurassic Rock (Maui)

When the team is first arriving at Jurassic Park, they fly past an iconic rock, Keōpuka Rock, located off the shore which is now referred to as “Jurassic Rock.”

This is located off the coast of Maui and I believe you can get helicopter tours to take you to it.

Jurassic Rock, Jurassic Park movie scene.
Jurassic Park scene at 16:44 (Universal)

Also, the following shots when the helicopter zipping through steep canyon walls were also done here in Honokohau Valley along with a shot of Honokohau Falls. I suspect you can see those by helicopter.

Some sources have stated that the shots were done in Kauai but I did not see any steep canyon walls resembling the footage from the movie so I think they were all done in Maui.

Lost World & Jurassic Park 3 Sites

If you’re also interested in checking out Lost World and Jurassic Park 3 sites, I have some of the major sites below.

There are definitely more locations worth adding and I will probably continue to add more sites as I come across them.

If you know of any other sites that should be added to the list just let me know in the comments!

Nawiliwili Harbor (Kauai)

When Dr. Malcolm is first arriving at Isla Sorna there’s a quick backdrop behind his boat that is at Nawiliwili Harbor. Interestingly, this is right next to the storm jetty that was featured in the original Jurassic Park (discussed above).

We weren’t able to hop on a boat in the middle of the harbor to get the shot but we did get it from the other side of the harbor near the lighthouse which is also where we got the photos of the jetty.

You can recognize this shot by focusing on the large hump found on top of the ridge.

Nawiliwili Harbor, Jurassic Park III movie scene.
Jurassic Park III scene at 20:11 (Universal)
Nawiliwili Harbor lighthouse.

Kipu Kai (Kauai)

At the beginning of The Lost World, the Bowman family is being served up a fancy lunch on the beach while their daughter, Cathy, wanders off and has an encounter with the Compsognathus that does not turn out too well for her and her family.

It’s on this sandy beach at Kipu Kai that the scene takes place.

Apparently, Kipu Kai beach is very difficult to access and while you can get there with a boat or kayak it’s not necessarily recommended which is why we only checked it out from the air.

Just about any helicopter tour should be able to take you over this beach because it is so close to the airport.

Kipu Kai, The Lost World Jurassic Park scene.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park scene at 2:32 (Universal)
Arial view of beach at Kipu Kai.
Kipu Kai beach.

Pilaa Beach (Kauai)

At the end of Jurassic Park III, when the Navy and Marines storm the beach and everybody is being rescued, this scene takes place at Pilaa Beach.

Pilaa Beach, Jurassic Park III scene.
Jurassic Park III scene at 1:22:11 (Universal)

The area surrounding the beach is owned by none other than Mark Zuckerberg but you can still access the beach by hiking down steep jungle terrain to the rocky shore and boulder hopping your way to the beach.

When we visited this beach we came across the remains of a 60 foot sperm whale which was one of the most fascinating things I’ve seen in nature. (Thankfully, it was pretty much all skeleton remains left.)

If you don’t want to hike all the way down, you can still view the beach from the top of the hill at the trailhead.

Pilaa Beach.
Pilaa Beach.

Dillingham Air Field (Oahu)

Dillingham Air Field has played a role in a lot of movies and shows.

In Jurassic Park 3, Dr. Grant is tricked into landing on Isla Sorna and after some ill-advised use of a megaphone, he has a run-in with a Spinosaurus that leaves them stranded on the island.

This was shot at Dillingham Air Field.

Dillingham Air Field, Jurassic Park III scene.
Jurassic Park III scene at 22:00 (Universal)

The same airstrip is also used in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Dillingham Air Field, Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 25:00 (Universal)

You can get a shot of the backdrop used in these movies from the side of the road outside of the airfield. However, I’d say this is one of the least interesting sites to visit.

I believe the airfield does offer tours so you might look into those especially if you are a fan of Lost.

Otherwise, this is a good airport to get adventurous and try out skydiving if you’re into that type of thing.

Dillingham Air Field.
Dillingham Air Field.

Ne Pali Coast (Kauai)

The Ne Pali Coast is one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the world and it’s been used to portray two different islands in the Jurassic Park universe.

It’s used at the beginning of The Lost World when we are first introduced to Isla Sorna and later on whenever Dr. Malcolm is arriving to the island.

Ne Pali Coast, The Lost World Jurassic Park scene.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park scene at 0:59 (Universal)
Ne Pali Coast, The Lost World Jurassic Park scene.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park scene at 20:00 (Universal)

The Ne Pali Coast makes yet another appearance in the Jurassic Park universe but this time at the beginning of Jurassic World when visitors first arrive at Isla Nublar and it also appears at the end of the movie.

Ne Pali Coast, Jurassic World scene.
Jurassic World scene at 1:55:03 (Universal)

We visited this breathtaking stretch of coast two times on separate helicopter tours while in Kauai.

The aerial views are stunning but the coast may best to be appreciated from the water which is also the best way to get the shots used in the Jurassic Park movies.

Try to time your visit for the late afternoon or just before sunset for the best lighting on this side of the island.

Arial view of Ne Pali Coast.

Final word

Jurassic Park is a movie that holds a special place with many people, especially those of us who grew up in the 90s.

It was an absolute dream to visit so many of these places and also very interesting to see how these sites looked in real life.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Kauai, I would highly recommend you to check out many of the sites — you won’t be disappointed!

Jurassic World & Fallen Kingdom Filming Sites & Tours (Hawaii Guide)

If you’re headed to the island of Oahu and you’re a fan of Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom you have a special opportunity to bring Isla Nublar to life and immerse yourself in many of the filming locations.

In this article, I’ll break down all of the filming locations for Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

I’ll not only show you where these locations are and what exact scenes from the movie were filmed there but I’ll also give you tips and advice on how to best visit these locations.

Overview of Jurassic Park filming sites

I did a complete breakdown of the Hawaii filming sites for Jurassic Park and this article is pretty similar to that except it focuses on Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

One of the big differences between these two movies and the original Jurassic Park is the heavy use of CGI.

That makes lining up shots with movie stills a little bit more difficult and honestly just impossible in some cases.

But there are still quite a few places that you can check out that are unmistakably the filming locations.

Choosing your island(s)

The vast majority of Hawaii filming sites for Jurassic World took place on the island of Oahu.

There are a couple of scenes taken from Kauai but for the most part Kauai is where shots for the original Jurassic Park took place.

So if you are only visiting Oahu you should be able to see the vast majority of these scenes.

Choosing your sites

The good news about Jurassic World filming sites in Hawaii is that they are generally easier to visit than the sites for Jurassic Park.

You could possibly visit all of these sites in one day but that would be too much of a rushed experience for most to enjoy.

So it would be much better to give yourself two to three days to visit all of the spots in Oahu, especially because Pearl Harbor deserves one full day in my opinion.

Below is a list of all of the Jurassic World sites in this article.

I’ve organized them by location, access, price, and estimated time needed to visit and get your shots.

For access, “Public” just means that you can drive up/Uber to the spot.

Also, “free” means that you can visit/get your photos without having to pay but you may have the option to pay for additional things like food or tours.

NameIslandAccessPriceTime
Makai Research PierOahuPublicFree10 min
Hawaiʻi Convention CenterOahuPublic (may be limited)Free10 min
Honolulu ZooOahuPublic$1 hr
Paradise ParkOahuPublic (may be limited)Free10 min
Kualoa RanchOahuTour Needed$$3 hrs
Fish PondOahuTour Needed$2 hrs
Pearl Harbor Aviation MuseumOahuPublic$1 hr
Valley House EstateKauaiNo EntryN/AN/A
Na Pali CoastKauaiTour Needed$$2 hrs+

Jurassic World film sites in Hawaii

Makai Research Pier (Oahu)

When the kids first arrive at Isla Nublar from the ferry, they first step off the boat at the crowded Makai Research Pier.

You can easily visit this pier as it is located on the side of Kalanianaʻole Hwy in Waimanalo.

The Makai Research Pier is only open during certain hours so you can’t venture onto it unless you visit during open hours. But even if it’s closed you can easily get a view of the portion of the pier used for the movie.

It seems to be a pretty popular fishing spot and I think some people also snorkel in the area (but it’s not a place for beginner snorkelers).

Makai Research Pier, ferry dock Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 4:56 (Universal)
Makai Research Pier
Makai Research Pier

Hawaii Convention Center (Oahu)

The lobby of the Hilton Isla Nublar, where the kids ride up the escalator, is actually filmed in the Hawaii Convention Center’s main lobby.

There is some CGI going on in the background when they show the entrance doors but otherwise this lobby looks just like it does in real life.

You can easily pay a visit to the Hawaii Convention Center but because of coronavirus they are now very strict about who can enter and so you may not be able to get through security unless you have some type of credentials.

Still, you can see the escalator from the glass walls outside if you’re not able to get in.

Honolulu Convention Center, going up escalator Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 5:59 (Universal)
Honolulu Convention Center, Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 5:55 (Universal)
Honolulu Convention Center lobby

Honolulu Zoo (Oahu)

Towards the beginning of the movie when they show kids riding cuddly dinos this all takes place at the Honolulu Zoo in Waikiki.

Specifically, they filmed this scene in the pen used for the elephants.

If you walk all the way to the end of the elephant pen that’s close to where the camera was for one of the shots and you can line it up pretty nicely.

I think they filmed from inside the pen but you’re dealing with electrical fences so you probably don’t want to test it. Plus, probably not a good idea to sneak into an elephant pen.

A few other shots were taken elsewhere including when they show the pen later on in the movie as one poor baby triceratops is getting attacked.

The Honolulu Zoo itself is a decent tourist attraction and you’ll probably want to check out some of the other sites while you’re there so give yourself a little bit of time.

Honolulu Zoo, kids riding dinosaurs Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 25:43 (Universal)
Honolulu Zoo elephant inclosure.
Honolulu Zoo, Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 26:07 (Universal)
Honolulu Zoo elephant inclosure.

Paradise Park (Oahu)

When Jurassic World has one of the key call back scenes to Jurassic Park and the kids discover the ruins of the original park all of that is filmed at Paradise Park.

It’s a very fitting setting considering that this former exotic bird zoo was also abandoned decades ago.

When we visited Paradise Park we were not able to actually access the park’s overgrown ruins and explore it without trespassing so we were just limited to catching a glimpse of it from the outside.

Paradise Park is located right next to the trailhead for Manoa Falls which is a pretty easy hike to do when in Oahu. It will probably only take you about an hour to an hour and a half but the scenery is simply stunning.

Paradise Park, boys approaching abandoned building Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 1:07:38 (Universal)
Paradise Park grounds.

Kualoa Ranch (Oahu)

A lot of Jurassic World scenes were filmed at Kualoa Ranch.

Here’s a breakdown of the scenes I’m aware of that were filmed at the ranch:

  • Jurassic World tour vehicle from Gallimimus stampede
  • Jurassic World Gyrosphere
  • Helipad scenes (multiple)
  • Indominus Rex camouflage scene
  • Indominus Rex Paddock
  • Attack on gyrosphere
  • Kids returning to park in Jeep

I go into much greater detail about all of the different Jurassic World sites found in this article here so be sure to check that out. But below, I’ll give you an overview of some of the Kualoa Ranch sites featured in Jurassic World.

Jurassic World tour vehicle from Gallimimus stampede

This was the vehicle that was heading through the field when the herd of Gallimimus was running through – an homage to the original Jurassic Park.

You’ll also be able to see the spot where the two kids and Dr. Grant hid behind a log during the Gallimimus stampede in the original film.

Kualoa Ranch Gallimimus stampede Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 42:32 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World tour vehicle

Jurassic World Gyrosphere

This is where the kids boarded one of those gnarly looking clear spheres that took them all around the park to admire dinosaurs from close up.

They still have the platform set up which I believe is still used for events these days such as small weddings, parties, etc.

You’ll notice in the still from the movie below that you can’t see the ocean and that’s because they extended the length of the mountains for dramatic effect.

If you want to get a shot that lines up with the movie just head up the hill and you’ll be able to get roughly where the camera was.

Kualoa Ranch, Gyrosphere Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 49:02 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Gyrosphere

Jurassic World Helipad

The helipad, which was tucked away on the iconic hillside, pops up several times throughout the Jurassic World movie.

Unfortunately, they have dismantled the helipad structure so there’s nothing really there except for a cleared dirt area.

Kualoa Ranch, Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 12:52 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch mountains

The view from the helipad in the movie looks much different from what it actually looks like due to all of the CGI.

Kualoa Ranch, Helipad Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 1:20:58 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Helipad

Although you don’t get an exact look based on what was in the movie, it’s a really nice view of the Fish Pond from up in this area. They used the Fish Pond as the setting for the mosasaurs attraction and it’s also where Owen’s bungalow was located.

Kualoa Ranch fish pond

Camouflaging I-Rex

If you do the Jurassic Adventure Tour, you’ll pass over a creek which is where one of the most interesting scenes from Jurassic World was filmed.

After the I-Rex got on the loose and crew from the park was after it, they located its tracking device in a wooded creek area.

Then, to their surprise the perfectly camouflaged I-Rex appears and ends up feasting on people. It’s easily one of the coolest scenes in the movie in my opinion.

When you’re going to the I-Rex Paddock, it’s going to be on the right.

Kualoa Ranch, Indominus Rex camouflage Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 45:35 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Camouflaging Indominus Rex

Indominus Rex paddock

Probably the coolest thing to see at Kualoa Ranch for Jurassic World fans is the Indominus Rex paddock. This of course is the paddock that attempted to contain the Indominus Rex until it escaped and then wreaked havoc.

They show several different shots of this paddock in the movie and when you visit you can re-enact a lot of them which is pretty cool.

Kualoa Ranch, entering Indominus Rex paddock Jurassic World movie scene.

You’ll first get to go upstairs in the control room which is honestly one of the coolest things I think I’ve ever done related to movie sets.

Kualoa Ranch, Indominus Rex paddock Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 16:18 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Indominus-Rex Paddock

You’ll have the chance to grab several shots from the movie at this site.

Kualoa Ranch, Indominus Rex paddock Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 17:24 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Indominus-Rex Paddock

The claw marks on the walls are deeper than in the movie but it’s still pretty cool to stand in the same spot.

Kualoa Ranch, Indominus Rex paddock claw marks Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 36:05 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Indominus Rex Paddock claw marks

It’s interesting to see some of the deterioration of the styrofoam. I’m wondering how long they plan on keeping that and what the expected lifespan of this set is. If you’ve been putting off seeing this you may not wanna put it off that long….

Fish Pond (Oahu)

Owens’ rustic bungalow by the water is actually located right by Kualoa Ranch at the Fish Pond. You can get a nice view of the spot if you take the ocean voyage offered by Kualoa Ranch.

This is also technically where the mesosaurus attraction was located but they went to town with CGI making the Fish Pond unrecognizable.

The Fish Pond is a filming hotspot in Hawaii having been featured in other films like 50 First Dates (where the café is located).

Kualoa Ranch fish pond
Kualoa Ranch fish pond, Owens bungalow Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 29:37 (Universal)

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (Oahu)

Pearl Harbor is an absolute must when visiting Oahu and interestingly one of the final scenes from Jurassic World was filmed at Pearl Harbor.

It’s the scene where everyone is getting treated and re-united in a large airplane hanger.

This is actually Hangar 79 which is part of the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

It’s an extremely historic building and you can still see bullet holes from the Pearl Harbor attack when you visit. I’d highly recommend that you dedicate an entire day to visiting Pearl Harbor. Read up on our experience at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Hangar 79 Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 1:53:08 (Universal)
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Hangar 79

Valley House Estate (Kauai)

After the kids are attacked in the gyrosphere they are chased by the Indominus Rex and forced to take a leap of faith over the side of a big waterfall.

Later on, Owen and Claire make their way to this waterfall’s edge as she learns that Owen’s tracking senses are indeed human — he was in the Navy “not the Navajo.”

Some sources claim that this scene was filmed at Manoa Falls in Oahu but I can tell you that this is not accurate. I visited Manoa Falls and it has a completely different layout and geography.

I first thought the shot was done at Wailua Falls in Kauai and found other sources online reporting the same.

But then I really looked closer at the photos I got of Wailua Falls and realized that it wasn’t a good match.

The falls in the movie were a lot wider and those falls also look much shorter. Some of the vegetation surrounding the falls doesn’t line up, either.

Valley House Estate waterfall, Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 1:05:19 (Universal)
Valley House Estate waterfall Indominus Rex, Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 1:00:36 (Universal)

Here is a look at Wailua Falls. It’s similar but not close enough.

Wailua Falls
Aerial view of Wailua Falls

It turns out that the location of this waterfall is at the the Valley House Estate in Kauai.

This is the same location used to film scenes from the original 1993 Jurassic Park including where the Jurassic Park visitor center was located and where the sick triceratops was found.

It’s all private property so access is next to impossible.

Interestingly, this waterfall runs from the Kealia Stream and is located just before it meets the Kapaa Stream. It’s actually very close to Hoopi Falls (the amber mine from Jurassic Park).

Note: You would have to cross streams and trespass to get from one falls to the other so don’t do it!

Hoopi Falls.

Na Pali Coast (Kauai)

At the beginning of the movie Isla Nublar is represented by the Na Pali coast found in Kauai, Hawaii.

Interestingly, this coast line was also used in The Lost World: Jurassic Park to represent the other Island, Isla Sorna.

This coastline is probably best appreciated during a late afternoon cruise but we experienced it from the sky during two separate helicopter tours.

Both of them were in the late morning so lighting was not ideal but it’s still a breathtaking experience to fly around this stunning stretch of coastline.

Na Pali Coast, ferry arriving Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 4:55 (Universal)
Na Pali Coast, Jurassic World movie scene.
Jurassic World scene at 1:55:03 (Universal)
Aerial view of Na Pali Coast

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Dillingham Air Field (Oahu)

When everyone is arriving back on the island to begin the search to track down the dinosaurs they first arrive at Dillingham Air Field. This airfield was also used in Jurassic Park 3.

I think you can get tours at this airfield as it was also used to house the aircraft from Lost during filming.

It’s also a popular place where people take off for skydiving.

You can easily view the airfield from the road but it’s not the most interesting site.

This airfield is also the farthest site away from Honolulu/Waikiki and on the North Shore so it takes a little bit of a drive to get there. But if you are already heading that way and visiting the Dole Plantation, you’ll be relatively close to it.

Dillingham Air Field, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 25:00 (Universal)
Dillingham Air Field

Halona Beach (Oahu)

After the crew gets run off a cliff by a stampede of scared dinosaurs and falls into the ocean, they are swept back onto a beach that is one of the most popular filming locations in Oahu: Halona Beach.

To get down to the beach you’ll take a steep but very short trail that requires you to hop down some sandy boulders. You need to be careful going down but it’s not anything crazy so most able-bodied people should be able to do this without any issues.

Halona Beach, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 46:42 (Universal)
Halona Beach
Halona Beach, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 47:21 (Universal)
Halona Beach

The beach is also used in Pirates of the Caribbean, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, and it’s the infamous beach on 50 First Dates where Adam Sandler has his fantasy.

Back on top of the cliff adjacent to the parking lot is the blowhole which is also a cool site to check out.

He’eia Kea Harbor

When the volcano is having its final explosive moment and they are loading up the ship and heading out, all of that action happens on He’eia Kea Harbor.

He’eia Kea Harbor, loading dinosaurs Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 47:34 (Universal)
He’eia Kea Harbor, loading dinosaurs Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 47:49 (Universal)
He’eia Kea Harbor sign
He’eia Kea Harbor parking lot

Take a look at the image below. It’s hard to know for sure because there are minor differences in the cage shown in the bottom right versus the cage seen in the Indominus Rex Paddock at Kualoa Ranch but I think that is the same cage seen in the photo below.

He’eia Kea Harbor, running on dock Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 49:15 (Universal)

One cage that is definitely the same that you can check out is the one the T-Rex is sleeping in when they decide a dinosaur needs a blood transfusion.

Kualoa Ranch (Oahu)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom also filmed a number of scenes at Kualoa Ranch.

You can actually walk inside one of the key props used in Fallen Kingdom. It’s from the scene when Owen tries to get the blood for the transfusion from the T-Rex.

T Rex drawing blood Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 59:11 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Indominus Rex Paddock cage

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom bunker

If you do the Jurassic Adventure Tour you get to view a bunker used in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

This was the bunker at the beginning of Fallen Kingdom that they entered into to track down Blue.

Eventually, a dinosaur makes its way inside and lava starts to pour from the roof as the two have to escape via a ladder.

There are actually two separate bunker sets that were used to film these scenes (one is just the roof and the tower while the other one is the entire structure).

Kualoa Ranch, escaping bunker and lava Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 40:37 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom bunker
Kualoa Ranch, bunker Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie scene.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom scene at 29:14 (Universal)
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom bunker

He’eia State Park (Oahu)

He’eia State Park is where Owen tracks down Blue before getting hit with tranquilizers and nearly finding himself incinerated by lava.

Given the nature of the scenes I found it extremely difficult to track down where exactly in the state park it was shot.

So maybe someone with some inside knowledge will come along one day and help us out but until then I just know the general location.

Heeia State Park sign

Final word

There’s a lot of different Jurassic World filming sites to check out in Oahu. It’s not very difficult to get to a lot of these and in many cases it’s also free to pay them a visit. I think the must see spot is Kualoa Ranch, since you can experience a lot of the original props and filming locations.

Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club Review (Disappointing)

I was really looking forward to our stay at the Marriott’s Kaua’i Beach Club, located on the south part of the island of Kauai. It had everything I thought you need for an amazing Hawaii stay: views, beaches, and a great location.

But out of all of the six hotels that we stayed at on this Hawaii trip, this ended up being by far the worst stay. Check out my full review below to see what went wrong and why I won’t be returning.

Booking

On a recent 10 night trip to Hawaii we spent a large portion of the trip tracking down all of the Jurassic Park filming locations.

This meant that we would be focusing a lot on the island of Kauai since that is where most of the filming went down.

While researching I realized that the crew of Jurassic Park actually stayed at this hotel during filming.

What’s more, this is where they hunkered down whenever the strongest hurricane to ever hit Hawaii in recorded history hit.

Specifically, they would be huddled up in the ballroom which was something we were also able to check out.

So I thought this hotel would be a perfect site to add to our list of places to check out.

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I paid cash for two nights which came out over $1,061.66.

Quick note: I learned that it’s kind of depressing to stay at timeshare properties like this when you have Marriott elite status like Titanium because it essentially means nothing.

No breakfast, late check out, no upgrades, etc.

So if you’re elite and you’ve never stayed at a property like this be ready to feel like you’re losing out on value because you will inevitably feel it.

Location overview: Lihue

The hotel is located in Lihue, directly on Kalapaki Beach which is really cool since you can just walk out the hotel and sit on a Hawaiian beach without having to drive or hike anywhere.

You have to be careful with the water here though because there are some strong riptides that come through.

Interestingly, if you look out from Kalapaki Beach and you see the jetty sticking out that jetty was actually featured in a scene from Jurassic Park.

They used actual storm footage from the hurricane to portray the storm hitting the island in the movie.

Here is the movie still from Jurassic Park. Pretty cool, huh?

Something else that is notable about this property is that it is practically in the backyard of the Lihue Airport (LIH).

If you plan on doing helicopter rides you don’t have to drive far at all to get there which is a major plus.

The city of Lihue has quite a few places that may come in handy like Walmart and there’s also a shopping center (mini-mall) nearby with a Target.

As far as attractions, you have the Kauaʻi Museum nearby and if you want to experience a luau the Lu’au Kalamaku is very close.

If you want to get on the road this is also a good starting off point to get to Waimea Canyon State Park. It’s about an hour away from the hotel but that is much better than the driving time from the north side of the island.

You can also get to the north side of the island in about an hour, which is not bad.

So overall I think this hotel has fantastic location on Kauai.

Check-in

The Marriott check-in desk is pretty far inside the hotel and you have to go through a lobby, down an escalator, through some outdoor corridors, and finally you arrive at the check-in desk.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club lobby escalator
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club corridors

The woman working the check-in desk was extremely friendly and personable which got me really excited about this property. It’s always a good sign when things start off that way.

Early check-in would not be available which meant that we would need to kill some time.

We did so by heading to the nearby Kuki’i Point Lighthouse (Beacon) area and just explored some of the rocky areas and took in the views. It’s adjacent to a golf course but there is a set of stairs that is open to the public so you can legally access this area.

Kuki'i Point Lighthouse rocks
Kuki'i Point Lighthouse

Finally, we got a message that our room was ready so technically we did get in a little bit early which was nice.

The room

As soon as we got to the room I was immediately disappointed.

It wasn’t really the room (although I will get to that later).

It was the fact that there was really loud construction going on in the room directly across from us and indeed other rooms in the hallway.

I did not recall seeing any message about construction going on at this property and so that led to me contacting the hotel to see what was going on.

It turns out the hotel claimed that there was a warning message and that message read:

Please note – The adjacent The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort is undergoing renovation. Please anticipate construction noise. Work is expected to continue through March 31, 2022.

This message was extremely misleading because in the context of hotel premises, “adjacent” would suggest a connected tower/building or perhaps a connected wing.

I’ve stayed at a lot of hotel properties, including a lot of co-branded properties.

Every single time I’ve stayed at a co-branded property, the two properties are segregated by different buildings or different wings. But in this case, they actually are located on the same hallway.

A prior email from the hotel indicated that these two properties “share a campus” which again would suggest separate buildings.

What they should’ve said in the email was they “share buildings.”

That would have been 10 times more clear and accurate because campus =/= building.

But that level of transparency would have scared away potential customers like myself….

Also, remember I booked this largely because of the special content piece we were doing on Jurassic Park?

I had called the hotel previously trying to figure out which building the Jurassic Park crew stayed at. Was it the Marriott property or the Royal Sonesta?

During that call, the representative made it sound like the properties were located in different buildings.

So I felt like I had no reason to think that these two properties would be sharing the same hallway.

Surely the hotel would understand, especially with me being Titanium elite?

Uhm, no.

The hotel management could not have cared less despite admitting that I had a valid argument regarding the vague use of the term “adjacent.”

Their response was “Unfortunately we can’t stop construction for you….” Right, because that’s what I was expecting.

It completely turned me off to this hotel.

Lucky for us, for the most part we were out doing things so the construction was not the worst thing.

The thing that rubbed me the wrong way the most was just how management completely dismissed the issue.

Anyway, going back to the review.

Here’s a look at the studio room we booked.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio murphy bed
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio murphy bed

It’s basically a studio apartment and comes with a small kitchen area (no stove).

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  kitchen
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  kitchen
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  kitchen
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  kitchen
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  kitchen dishwasher

The closet is where you will find your two pillows along with the iron and iron board. They also have a safe.

I liked that the room came with such a big fridge and a freezer.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  kitchen refrigerator

There’s a workstation which came with two chairs which was nice for in-room dining, although you are talking about a very tight fit with two seats.

I booked a Murphy bed at this property largely as an experiment. I had never stayed in a hotel offering a Murphy bed and wanted to see what it would be like.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  murphy bed
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio  murphy bed

It was not very comfortable and I would not recommend it.

The bed initially only came with two pillows and even after calling in to request a few more, it was still just not a comfortable bed.

I’ll take responsibility for that one though. In retrospect I should’ve known.

The room did have a pretty decent view but from the sixth floor balcony there was only so much of the beach you could see.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio ocean view
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club studio ocean view

The bathroom was a problem.

It was one of those horribly designed bathrooms where you basically have to solve a Rubiks cube every time you want to maneuver around the toilet, shower door, and the bathroom door.

Sometimes you’re almost forced to touch the toilet when you come out of the shower which never feels great.

As far as the hotel premises, I feel like this is one of those properties that you either hate it or love it.

Personally, I thought it was pretty cool having all of the columns throughout the property, but I could see how some people would think it is very dated.

It’s pretty cool that they have hot tubs located underneath these balconies although some of the balconies look down into the center of the hot tub which is just awkward when people are in there. Not sure what the point of that is.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club pool

Here are some more shots of the pool area.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club pool
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club pool
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club pool
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club pool
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club kids pool
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club pool slide

Breakfast

We had the opportunity to try out one of the restaurants on site, Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach, for breakfast and I was very pleased by the food quality.

But just when I thought I was over the “adjacent hotel” issue we asked to put our breakfast on our room and were told that we could not because this restaurant was part of the Royal Sonesta.

So these properties are close enough that they can share a freakin’ hallway but not so close that you can put a meal on your room at a restaurant that you find in a common area? Okay, cool.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club breakfast
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club breakfast

When you get there, ask for a seat with a view of the beach because otherwise they will apparently seat you as far away from the beach view as possible.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club breakfast

After breakfast, we took some time to check out the pool area.

They have some cabanas but the view inside them is restricted by a lot of the vegetation. So if you are seated or lying down it’s like you are just looking at a wall of bushes.

They do a good job of keeping up with all of the landscaping on the property, though.

I thought the beach area was pretty nice but watch out for those rip currents. There are no lifeguards.

Here is the view of the harbor that you will have. That view was also used in Jurassic Park movie: The Lost World.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club beach

Someone had created a beautiful sand sculpture while we were there which was cool to see.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club beach

Here are a few more shots from the beach area.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club beach view

Before dipping out we checked out the gym which was quite large and fully equipped.

Marriott's Kauai Beach Club beach gym
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club beach gym
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club beach gym
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club beach gym

Final word

This hotel has a great location and I really thought the premises were quite beautiful. The staff seemed to be very personable and professional but I can’t say that about the management.

I’ve stayed at and reviewed a lot of hotels over the past decade and this may have been the worst exchange I’ve ever had with management.

I had a valid argument that their description of the construction was vague and misleading and the manager even admitted as much but decided to dismiss the complaint.

For that reason, I can’t ever see myself returning to this property. I got my Jurassic Park fix and was pretty much done.

Jurassic Adventure Tour Review (Kualoa Ranch) [2022]

Kualoa Ranch in Oahu is one of the most beautiful spots in Hawaii and it’s been home to blockbuster movie after blockbuster movie. They offer several different tours for enjoying the ranch but there is one specific tour that is designed specifically for Jurassic Park fans: the Jurassic Adventure Tour.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Jurassic Adventure Tour.

I’ll show you what to expect and give you some pointers on how to get some photographs that line up with scenes from different Jurassic Park movies.

What is the Jurassic Adventure Tour?

The Jurassic Adventure Tour is a special tour of Kualoa Ranch that takes you to several filming sites for Jurassic World, Jurassic Park, and a host of other blockbuster movies and hit TV shows like Kong and Lost.

The tour is approximately 2.5 hours long and admission for each adult is $139.95 and $69.95 for children (ages 3 to 12). These tours run pretty small so my advice would be to book these as soon as possible to ensure that you get a spot.

This is a must-do attraction for Jurassic Park fans when in Oahu, especially if you are a big fan of Jurassic World and some of the other movies filmed here.

Related: Jurassic Park Filming Sites in Hawaii Ultimate Guide (Full List)

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Jurassic Park log Kualoa Ranch

Checking in

When you first arrive at Kualoa Ranch, you’ll be in awe of the surrounding backdrop.

Located on the east side of the island about 40 minutes from Waikiki, Honolulu, it’s just a visually stunning place all around and it becomes immediately apparent why so many movies have chosen to film here.

If you are driving in, they have ample parking so finding a parking spot should not be an issue.

For those without a vehicle, you can arrange transportation from Waikiki for about $30 depending on the type of tour you have booked.

Related: Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure Helicopter Tour Review

Kualoa Ranch parking

Once you’re ready, you head up some stairs and venture through the gift shop/cafe on your way to the ticket center which is just outside the gift shop.

It’s there where you can verify your booking and receive your tickets (although I don’t believe we actually had to show them to board).

The staff was very friendly and helpful and actually helped us consolidate our tours for the day a little bit more efficiently which was greatly appreciated.

Kualoa Ranch ticket office

From there, you’ll enter the Kualoa Ranch courtyard.

Kualoa Ranch

Each tour will have its own little waiting area. In this case you will head towards the Jurassic Adventure Tour waiting area which is a cool little building with benches and a TV.

You can go for a photo op with the dinosaur head on the wall and hopefully your tour vehicle will be arriving soon.

Related: Kualoa Ranch Fishpond Ocean Voyage Review

The Jurassic Adventure Tour experience

Boarding

Kualoa Ranch asks you to arrive 45 minutes prior to your tour which in my opinion is too big of an ask.

Time is precious in Hawaii and while I understand they want people to arrive on time, there’s nothing unique about the tour that requires you to arrive more than 15 minutes early.

I love Kualoa Ranch but the 45 minute requirement feels like more of an excuse to get you to buy food in their restaurant than a way of ensuring everyone gets there on time.

To make matters worse, on our tour they had a mechanical issue (rock in the tire) that they did not decide needed to be fixed until minutes before our tour which meant that we would be starting ~25 minutes late.

I would not have cared that much about waiting but we were doing back to back tours so that put us in a time crunch with lunch.

My issue was: how can you ask customers to arrive so early and eat up precious vacation time when you’re not ensuring your vehicles are ready to go on time?

Again, I absolutely love this place but that’s something that needs to be addressed.

On the bright side, at least they don’t sacrifice customer safety for efficiency?

Anyway, the delay did give me a little bit of time to practice with Google’s augmented reality.

If you want some cool pictures and video, try out the dino augmented reality on Google.

Use the Google Chrome app to search for something like “Tyrannosaurus,” tap “View in 3D,” and then “View in your space.”

You can then portray a dinosaur in a real life setting which is perfect for a tour like this.

Tip: Be sure to check out my augmented reality video at the bottom of the article to see how you can really bring this experience to life.

For the delay, they did give us complimentary chocolates which was a very nice gesture but you can imagine how carrying around chocolates for hours on a sunny day turned out….

Eventually we boarded and we chose to sit in the very back because it would allow us to be the first to explore some of the sites and get photos without people in them which just worked out better for the blog.

Most of the vehicles seat 16 but ours was the one that seated 20 which is why it was such an issue to fix it (I think they only have one 20 person vehicle).

As far as what side of the vehicle is the best, that’s hard to answer. I think both the left and the right side are good in their own ways.

(All of our photos below were taken from the right side.)

On the tour

Although the tour started off a little rocky, we quickly got rolling once the vehicle was ready.

We started off by climbing up the hill and checking out some interesting World War II bunkers that still exist today.

Then we made our way inside one of the bunkers that in addition to some war memorabilia, houses a bunch of memorabilia from different movies and shows that were filmed on Kualoa Ranch.

It’s a really cool experience to see some of the props and promotion materials used for these movies. It’s also insane at how many big-budget movies have been filmed in this location.

To enhance your experience, I would recommend you checking out some of the films before you visit which include:

  • 50 First Dates
  • Mighty Joe Young
  • Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
  • Kong: Skull Island
  • Journey2
  • Jumanji

And of course there are shows you need to watch like:

  • Lost
  • Hawaii 5-0

It’s also really cool because whenever you get back home you can re-watch these and it’s super easy to recognize a lot of the Kualoa Ranch scenery from your tour.

Kualoa Ranch Lost

Jurassic World tour vehicle

When you come out of the bunker, you can get a close look at one of the tour vehicles used in Jurassic World.

This was the vehicle that was heading through the field when the herd of Gallimimus was running through – an homage to the original Jurassic Park.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World tour vehicle

At this spot, there’s also some really nice views of the ocean and if you’re lucky you might be able to spot whales off in the distance.

Jurassic Park Gallimimus stampede

From there we stopped at one of the first major sites which is the location from Jurassic Park where the Gallimimus stampede took place and Dr. Grant and the two kids hid behind a piece of driftwood.

This is actually the only shot filmed on this island from Jurassic Park as the vast majority of them were done on the island of Kauai.

Related: Jurassic Park Gates & T-Rex Paddock Hike & Off-Road Guide

It’s a great photo opportunity and it’s really cool to stand in that same location.

The buzz kill is that this piece of wood is not the original since dead wood simply can’t last that long outdoors in a climate like this.

Still, the log gives you an opportunity to line up a photograph with a real scene from Jurassic Park.

It’s kind of difficult to do because if you take a photo straight on with the log the background is not the same.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic Park log

Instead, you need to focus on the background towards the right. If you stand far enough to the left of the log you might be able to incorporate some of those jagged mountain ridges seen in the background of the movie.

You can see those in the wide angle shot I took below. (Unfortunately, I did not notice this until after.)

Whether or not you choose to line up that shot, it’s still a lot of fun to mess around and your tour guide will help you out with getting some spectacularly cheesy photos of a dinosaur wreaking havoc.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic Park

Jurassic World entrance gates

Towards the end of Jurassic World, the two boys are driving back to the park in one of the jeeps and a flock of Dimorphodons is flying towards visitor center.

The guides did not point this out, but I believe they used the back of the valley for this scene and then simply modified the landscape to look a little bit more interesting.

You can see the “scrapes” in the hilly ground which further make me think it was shot from around the Lost golf course area which is by the Jurassic Park log.

Other movie sites

On the way to your next Jurassic Park location, you’ll swing by some pretty iconic spots like the golf course from Lost, foot prints from Kong?, the hill used in the four wheeler jump from Mike and Dave, and one of my favorites, the road from 50 First Dates where Adam Sandler resorts to all sorts of roadside shenanigans.

Other scenes include those from Jumanji, Mighty Joe Young, and plenty others.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom bunker

Eventually, you get to view a bunker used in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

This was the bunker at the beginning of Fallen Kingdom that they entered into to track down Blue. Eventually, a dinosaur makes its way inside and lava starts to pour from the roof as the two have to escape via a ladder.

There are actually two separate bunker sets that were used to film these scenes (one is just the roof and the tower while the other one is the entire structure).

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom bunker
Movie scene from Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom bunker
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom bunker

Jurassic World Gyrosphere

Next you’ll take a short walk over to where the Jurassic World Gyrosphere scene was filmed.

This is where the kids boarded one of those gnarly looking clear spheres that took them all around the park to admire dinosaurs from close up.

They still have the platform set up which I believe is still used for events these days such as small weddings, parties, etc.

You’ll notice in the still from the movie below that you can’t see the ocean and that’s because they extended the length of the mountains for dramatic effect.

If you want to get a shot that lines up with the movie just head up the hill and you’ll be able to get roughly where the camera was.

Jurassic World Gyrosphere movie scene
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Gyrosphere

The scene where the Indominus Rex attacks the kids in the Gyrosphere is also another site you can see but on our tour we did not go through that.

Skull Island

After that, we turned through the valley and passed through a few more movie scenes including one with skeletons from Kong: Skull Island.

Unlike some other tours we were not able to get out and play with the bones because I think they were getting some touchup work done.

Kualoa Ranch Kong: Skull Island props

At that point, we ventured out of the valley and started to head to the other section of Kualoa Ranch which is known to be the bumpy side.

While things did get a bit bumpy, I honestly thought it was going to be a lot worse, especially sitting in the back but it wasn’t bad.

(I don’t think they recommend this tour if you have a back issues or are pregnant though).

Jurassic World Helipad

We then made our way to the Jurassic World helipad. The helipad pops up several times throughout the Jurassic World movie. Unfortunately, they have dismantled the helipad structure so there’s nothing really there except for a cleared dirt area.

We did not stop at this location unlike some previous tours but it didn’t really matter because there was so much CGI used on the scene that it would have been basically impossible to match up a scene looking out over the ocean.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Helipad

Although you don’t get an exact look based on what was in the movie, it’s a really nice view of the Fish Pond from up in this area.

Kualoa Ranch fish pond

Camouflaging I-Rex

After the helipad, you’re on your way to the signature attraction which is the I-Rex paddock. Before you get there, you’ll pass over a creek which is where one of the most interesting scenes from Jurassic World was filmed.

After the I-Rex got on the loose and crew from the park was after it, they located its tracking device in a wooded creek area.

Then, to their surprise the perfectly camouflaged I-Rex appears and ends up feasting on someone. It’s easily one of the coolest scenes in the movie in my opinion.

The thing is our guide did not point out the scene and I only knew about it from watching prior tours so you may have to be on the lookout for yourself. When you’re going to the I-Rex Paddock, it’s going to be on the right.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World Camouflaging I-Rex

I-Rex Paddock

The crown jewel of this experience is getting to visit the I-Rex Paddock.

This is where they kept the in Indominus Rex in Jurassic World and where it escaped from before it unleashed fury on a lot of other dinos and humans in the park.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World I-Rex Paddock

Your first get to go upstairs in the control room which is honestly one of the coolest things I think I’ve ever done related to movie sets.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World I-Rex Paddock

You’ll have the chance to grab several shots from the movie at this site.

The claw marks on the walls are deeper than in the movie but it’s still pretty cool to stand in the same spot.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World I-Rex Paddock claw marks

It’s interesting to see some of the deterioration of the styrofoam. I’m wondering how long they plan on keeping that and what the expected lifespan of this set is.

If you’ve been putting off seeing this you may not wanna put it off that long….

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World I-Rex Paddock claw marks

You can also check out and even walk in some of the dinosaur crates.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World I-Rex Paddock cage

This one right here was from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, when Owen tries to get the blood transfusion from the T-Rex.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World I-Rex Paddock cage

And remember that augmented reality I was talking about at the beginning of the article?

This paddock is the perfect place to bust it out.

After you’ve spent some time in the paddock, it’s time to head out and you’ll get one last look of the paddock through some overgrown grass which just adds to the appeal of this place.

Kualoa Ranch Jurassic World I-Rex Paddock cage

Aunty Pat’s Cafe

After our tour, we had a little bit of time to get something to eat before our next tour so we tried out the café. This is probably the only real problem I had with the tour.

We paid $14 for two small slices of pizza that looked like this.

This is such a cool tour and experience that I didn’t like to see it watered down with tourist trap food.

If you’re gonna charge seven dollars a slice, at least give us something remotely fresh and maybe not use such an oversized pizza slice box?

Perhaps if I had been able to try the main menu the quality would have been better but we did not have time because our tour had been running so late.

Final word

Overall, I really enjoyed this experience and would have to recommend it to Jurassic Park fans, especially those who really like the newer Jurassic World. It’s just such a fun experience to see where so many big movies were filmed and the scenery is simply stunning.

The only things I didn’t care for were that 45 minute time requirement and the low quality food, which both give off tourist trap vibes.

Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure Helicopter Tour Review [2022]

One of the most iconic scenes from Jurassic Park is when Dr. Alan Grant et al. first arrive on the island and they land a helicopter at the base of a huge waterfall known as Manawaiopuna Falls.

Today, the waterfall is also referred to as “Jurassic Falls” and you can actually book a tour that will take you right to the base of this magnificent waterfall.

Below, I’ll give you a full review of the Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure. I’ll also show you how to line up some of your photographs so that you can get exact replicas from scenes in the movie!

What is the Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure?

The Jurassic Falls Landing adventure is a scenic helicopter tour that takes you to the base of Manawaiopuna Falls which is a waterfall featured in the 1993 hit film, Jurassic Park. It is the only tour that has permission to land at the falls making it one of the most unique helicopter tours you can do.

Related: Jurassic Park Filming Sites in Hawaii Ultimate Guide (Full List)

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

The Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure experience

Booking

Each seat on the Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure will cost you $362. There is a cheaper option that does not land at the falls and will only cost you $214.

Just be sure you are aware of the weight requirements, which state:

Any passenger over 250 lbs. may be required to purchase an additional seat. For parties of two traveling together, that do not exceed 250 lbs. individually, but have combined weights exceeding 420 lbs., may be required to purchase an additional seat.

So two people of just over 210 pounds would have to pay for an extra seat. That’s one of the lower weight requirements I’ve seen on helicopter tours so be prepared for that.

Note: there is no doors off option for this tour.

During booking, they should tell you to wear dark clothing on your tour which is designed to reduce the glare on the windows. You can wear black or any kind of dark color like dark gray or navy.

Try to wear something long sleeve to further reduce the glare but be aware that other people on the helicopter may be causing your glares so there is only so much you can do to prevent it from happening.

They also have other rules like no selfie sticks, no camera lenses larger than 4 inches, etc.

Arriving at the airport

Your experience will begin at the helipad area of Lihue Airport.

As you arrive at the airport you will see a sign indicating you to go left to get to the helipad area so it’s very easy to navigate.

Related: Doing A Doors-Off Helicopter Tour in Kauai, Hawaii?

The airport has a section with several helipads and luckily for you this company occupies the first one and actually has a building on site.

Other companies require you to check in at other facilities nearby so this makes it really easy to check in for your tour.

Once you arrive at the building, you’ll head inside and you’ll need to sign a waiver and also step on the scale.

Once you hop on the scale, your weight will be read out over a PA system and if you are under the weight requirement, you’ll get a thumbs up.

Okay, I’m kidding they are very discreet about your weight and they do not even tell you what your weight is.

From there, you can just hang out in their building where they have some T-shirts and other things on sale.

Related: Helicopter Tour Review Over Cape Town, South Africa

They also have two bathrooms which is very nice because the other companies will require you to utilize a portable toilet if you have to go.

Once it is time to go you will be ushered out through the gate and into a little covered area where you will be told where to sit.

It is here where you will receive your safety briefing and also get your little belt containing a life jacket since you will be flying over water.

The tour also requires you to put on some shoe coverings so that you do not bring anything unwanted into the soil surrounding the falls.

Make sure you put your shoe cover on the right way because otherwise you might end up ripping it much like I did. Oh well.

The helicopter will board up to six passengers which is where I had a problem with the tour.

If you are given one of the two middle seats in the back, you are going to struggle to get any kind of quality photos as your views will be very restricted.

Compared to the people sitting up front, you really have a subpar experience and it’s kind of weird that you are paying the same price that they are.

Even sitting on the end in the backseat where I was it it is a bit tough, too.

For one, you have reflections to contend with which are not a factor on a doors off helicopter tour.

And then there are the people upfront.

Their heads will be in your way and they will no doubt be raising their arms to get shots with their phones or cameras which will further obstruct your view.

You’ll be able to utilize the side window but that requires you to contort your body and it is considerably more difficult to get photos from that angle then if you were up front.

The seat directly behind the pilot is much better since you have a much larger window to work with (the pilot’s seat is pushed forward).

Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure Helicopter Tour
Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure Helicopter Tour

I knew that we had booked a doors off helicopter tour to take after this one so I was not too disappointed.

But if you are looking to get some cool shots with your camera/phone and you get placed in the back row, especially in the middle, you are going to have to work extra hard to get decent shots.

It can actually turn into a pretty frustrating experience.

The other thing that made this difficult is that they had the microphones zip tied so that passengers could not use them.

Typically, on a helicopter tour you can speak to the pilot and ask them things like, “can you turn so that I can get a better view of the falls.”

Unless it presents a major complication, pilots usually happily accommodate your request.

This is very much needed for passengers in the back who are working with very limited views but because the microphones were locked up, there was no way to communicate with the pilot.

Because of this, many people would be better off booking a doors off helicopter tour where they can secure a better view.

The tour

The tour is basically going to take you on a clockwise route around the island.

The first big stop is of course Manawaiopuna Falls which is known as Jurassic Falls .

As you may already know, this is the only helicopter company licensed to approach the falls so close and to land near it which makes this tour special.

In fact, this is why you are paying so much for the tour in the first place.

The pilot will play some Jurassic Park theme music as you approach the falls and it’s a really cool moment although for the people in the back the views are somewhat limited on the approach.

Jurassic Falls helicopter view

You won’t land exactly where the helicopter landed in the movie because that helipad does not exist anymore.

Instead, it’s a very short walk over easy terrain to get to the falls so you don’t have to worry about any kind of crazy hiking or anything.

After you land and get the okay from your pilot to step out, you can remove your life jacket belt and proceed to the falls.

Once the falls is coming to view it’s a really special moment.

In fact, it’s so special that on our tour I witnessed someone propose.

It was a pretty cool moment to witness something like that as I’ve never seen anyone make a surprise proposal in real time and thankfully she said yes.

The drawback was that we had a limited time at the falls.

They had hired an undercover photographer as the other passenger and that meant a good chunk of our time was eaten up by working around the photo session.

While I did feel a little bit rushed when it came to getting my own photos, I pretty much got all the photos I wanted, so it wasn’t a huge deal.

Speaking of photos, you have the opportunity to line up some photographs that will line up directly with the Jurassic Park movie scenes.

Related: Jurassic Park Gates & T-Rex Paddock Hike & Off-Road Guide

Here are the shots you can get:

As the helicopter approaches the falls, you can see where the helipad was located at the base.

As mentioned, this is not there anymore but you can still get an approximate view as you land or takeoff.

When they first land by the falls and Dr. John Hammond steps out of the helicopter you can easily get a direct lineup of that shot.

When they first arrive and the camera is looking up through the electric fence, there’s a glimpse of the upper portion of the falls. While the fence is obviously not there anymore it’s still pretty easy to line up.

When they are leaving in the Jeeps this is right along the path that you’ll be walking.

Of course, you also need to make time to take some selfies.

Note: If you’re wondering about the intro scenes where the helicopter first approaches the coast and zooms through the steep canyon walls, I believe those were shot in Maui and not in Kauai.

After spending about 20 to 25 minutes at the falls, we were ushered back to the helicopter where we would resume the tour.

From this point, we were taken over to Waimea Canyon which is one of the most scenic spots in all of Hawaii and is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

It’s a pretty stunning area and we were lucky enough to go hiking in there a couple of days later where we enjoyed some spectacular canyon views.

Waimea Canyon from helicopter
Waimea Canyon from helicopter
Waimea Canyon from helicopter

From there you’ll be taken along the Nepali coast which is one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the world.

The full grandeur of this coastline is probably best appreciated farther away from the coast (or perhaps by boat) but you still get some sick aerial views from the helicopter.

During this entire time, your pilot will be playing all sorts of different music which depending on your taste of music may add or detract from the experience (I felt like it mostly added to the experience).

Nepali coast helicopter
Nepali coast helicopter
Nepali coast helicopter
Nepali coast helicopter

You’ll then cover some of the northern coast line near Princeville.

After taking in all that extraordinary scenery you’ll head inland toward the highest point of the island near Mount Waialeale.

It’s very common to have clouds and weather systems around the summit which offer some pretty dramatic scenery from a helicopter.

Prepare to be blown away by sheer cliffs and waterfalls falling from dizzying heights.

At a certain point, you’ll probably just lose track of the number of waterfalls you’ll encounter.

After that, you’ll head back to the airport, so that the total length of your tour is about 80 minutes.

I believe everything above is the standard route but depending on the weather, you could end up doing a slightly different route.

Jurassic Falls FAQ

Can you land at Jurassic Falls on a helicopter tour?

Yes, you can book a helicopter tour that will land at the base of Jurassic Falls.

Can you swim at the base of Jurassic Falls?

No, unfortunately you cannot swim at the bottom of the Jurassic Falls.

Can you hike (or walk) to Jurassic Falls?

No, you must take a helicopter tour to visit Jurassic Falls. Here’s how to book one.

Can you drive to Jurassic Falls?

No, you must take a helicopter tour to visit Jurassic Falls. Here’s how to book one.

Can you do a doors off-helicopter tour to Jurassic Falls?

No, unfortunately doors-off helicopter tours are not offered.

Is the helipad from Jurassic Park still at Jurassic Falls?

The original helipad was dismantled but you can still land pretty close to the base of the falls.

Final word

If you really want to land at the base of Jurassic Falls, this is the only tour in Hawaii that can offer you that experience. So from that perspective, it makes sense to go with the tour.

The problem is that if you get placed in one of the back middle seats you might end up having a pretty frustrating experience with admiring the views and getting photographs.

My personal preference is to do a doors off helicopter tour so that you can get great photographs and video of the stunning scenery with no glares and without dealing with other passengers crammed in a helicopter.

But if you are a diehard Jurassic Park fan, it can be worth dealing with the limited views for the ultimate reward of hanging out at the base of Jurassic Falls.

Jurassic Park Gates & T-Rex Paddock Hike & Off-Road Guide (Kauai, Hawaii)

The island of Kauai in Hawaii is full of locations from the original Jurassic Park movie that you can still explore today. Two of these iconic sites include the Jurassic Park Gates and T-Rex Paddock.

However, accessing these locations is not for everyone and can be quite challenging under certain conditions.

But in this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about getting to these sites including showing you a map with helpful way points and plenty of photos.

What are the Jurassic Park Gates and T-Rex Paddock?

The Jurassic Park Gates and T-Rex Paddock are two filming locations from the classic 1993 film Jurassic Park that you can still visit today.

There are two poles that supposedly mark the site where the Jurassic Park gates were located and there is a clearing by a river where the T-Rex Paddock was filmed. To see both of these locations it requires a 10 mile round-trip journey by foot or off-road vehicle.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Jurassic Park gates filming location
The site where the Jurassic Park gates were located.

Where are the Jurassic Park Gates and T-Rex Paddock?

The Jurassic Park gates and T-Rex Paddock are located in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve — a remote area near Wailua in Kauai, Hawaii.

You’ll need to venture approximately 5 miles into the jungle on an off-road vehicle (or hike on foot) to access both the Jurassic Park gates and the site of the T-Rex Paddock.

The off-road journey begins near the Keahua Arboretum and you’ll know you’ve arrived when you cross this colorful little bridge.

Related: Jurassic Park Filming Sites in Hawaii Ultimate Guide (Full List)

Bridge at Keahua Arboretum.
Bridge at the Keahua Arboretum.

Side note: the Keahua Arboretum is a really cool spot to check out the rainbow eucalyptus trees which you can see below. I highly recommend (it’s free).

rainbow eucalyptus trees Keahua Arboretum

Getting to the Jurassic Park Gates (hiking and off-roading)

You’ll need to choose if you want to off-road or hike (or a combination of the two) to get to the gates/paddock.

We are avid hikers and so I initially wanted to hike this but due to time constraints we had to switch to off roading. And honestly, I think that is the best call.

From a hiking perspective, the trail did not look super interesting (by Hawaii standards) and there is something that just felt so right about taking a Jeep through this jungle terrain.

It took us about one hour and 45 minutes to complete the entire drive out and back. My husband did all of the driving and while he is not off-roading every week he is a very solid 4×4 driver.

If you don’t have any experience driving off road, this path is doable but you might easily get freaked out by water crossings and a few of the muddy/bumpy sections.

We saw one Jeep simply park before one of the water crossings, presumably because they did not want to risk it.

Also, I would advise you to only do this with a four-wheel-drive vehicle although there are reports of people making it with two wheel drive.

Note: If you have a rental car, you may be personally liable for damage when off-roading so keep that in mind.

To make things easy for yourself, I would recommend downloading the AllTrails app and then using my navigation map with way points which you can see below.

It will tell you where all of the major sites are and also where you will face obstacles along the way such as muddy areas and water crossings.

Note: I did get a little bit of service while we were out there but for the most part it was a pretty weak signal.

Beginning the drive or hike

When you arrive at the Keahua Arboretum, you may see a sign that says the road beyond is “temporally closed.”

This may bum you out to a major degree but don’t lose hope!

This sign was up when we visited but we proceeded anyway because I believe that sign only applies when the yellow gate is closed, which is your first real obstacle.

(The gate is located just a little bit past the sign on the dirt road.)

Sometimes it’s closed for whatever reason (weather?) and if that’s the case, your only option would be to hike in (assuming that is okay).

For that reason, you might want to prioritize this trip towards the beginning of your time in Kauai. That will give you more time to change your date if you need to.

Thankfully, this gate was open.

About half a mile into the drive you’ll come across a bridge crossing the creek.

Take a look at the photo below and it will give you a good indication of what safe water levels look like at this point.

If water is flowing over this bridge, I’d be very careful about the water crossings coming up as they may not be be passable.

Your next obstacle comes about one mile in.

It’s a water crossing that could be impassable after heavy rains.

Remember, this is near Waiʻaleʻale — literally one of the wettest places in the world.

If you’re not experienced with monsoon seasons or flash floods, remember that just because a stream is passable on your way in, that does not mean it will be passable on your way out.

It is gonna take you a good amount of time from this point to hike or drive to the gates and back and it’s very possible that if a storm moved in you would not be able to get back out until the water levels go down.

So just use extreme caution when dealing with weather systems on this little expedition.

Jurassic Park Gates water crossing

I got out and walked across so you can see how deep the water levels were on a good day for a 6’1″ human. (The picture below is facing the direction you’ll see when coming back.)

Jurassic Park Gates water crossing

If you’re hiking you’ll need to remove your shoes or possibly just wear water shoes.

The cold water will probably be clear enough for you to see where you’re stepping which helps but the crossing is filled with large, smooth river rocks which can be tricky to cross. I almost slipped a few times crossing without my trekking pole.

Jurassic Park Gates water crossing

After that crossing you can relax a little bit and enjoy the green scenery but you do have another obstacle coming soon: a large puddle.

This one can be tricky because the water is not clear and it’s harder to tell how deep the hole is.

Jurassic Park Gates water crossing puddle

I got out of the Jeep and poked around this murky and slightly oily water with a trekking pole for hidden underwater potholes.

At that point, I was pretty much mentally prepared to step into a hole and end up waist deep in this gross water but luckily that didn’t happen.

While the water is kinda nasty, there was this little spot with a bunch of lily pads that I thought was mildly interesting.

Anyway, you can see how deep this section got based on the photos below.

It was deep but not that bad.

Jurassic Park Gates water crossing

After this crossing all of your major obstacles are done.

You’ll then come across a fork and make sure you head the correct way (which is to the left).

If you’re using GPS or have Alltrails and have downloaded my route above there is no reason why you should get lost or miss a turn.

It’s actually pretty darn easy to follow.

There will be a few bumpy areas to deal with and it’s these little sections that could be a problem for people with low clearance.

Be ready to take your time on a couple of spots. If you start moving forward and aren’t sure about your route just reverse back and then line it up again.

Jurassic Park Gates bumps in road

At around 3.5 miles in, there is another gate but it doesn’t look like this rusted gate has been used in a very long time so I would not worry about it being closed.

Right at around four miles in you’ll arrive at the famous Jurassic Park gates!

Jurassic Park gates poles
Walking up to the Jurassic Park gates!

Now here is the controversy, which you may or may not have heard about.

Some say the two poles are actually about 200 to 300 feet short from the original Jurassic Park movie entrance gates.

The main argument I have seen is that the road is different from what appeared in the movie.

I don’t know about that though because you would assume production altered the ground based on the fact that they also laid down a track on there.

There’s also the fact that 30 years have gone by and the road could’ve been altered dramatically by natural forces or by man.

People who believe these are the actual Jurassic Park gates question why these poles would be placed here if they weren’t from the original movie site.

Perhaps, years ago some people built them in a slightly misguided attempt to mark the location of the gates?

I tried to look at the backdrop from the Jurassic Park movie to see if I could line up any of the mountains, but it was nearly impossible to do using the scene with the gates closed due to the low-lying clouds.

Jurassic Park gates poles

But there is one shot where you can see beyond the gates and it reveals more details like a waterfall in the background and a specific tree behind the gate.

It also looks like there is a slight bend in the road towards the right which would line up with some of the photos below.

(I believe the palms were placed on site by production.)

Based on all of that, I believe the gates could very well have been located closer to the bend than the two poles currently are.

Assuming the gates are farther down, you can simply check out that view once you pass the poles.

Here’s what that view looks like:

Jurassic Park gates location
Jurassic Park gates location

Regardless of where exactly the gates were, if you drive along or hike along this path you have journeyed through the original Jurassic Park entrance gates which is a really cool feeling and honestly kind of a bucket-list adventure.

Once you have enjoyed your time at the Jurassic Park gates, you have the choice to keep going to the site of where the T-Rex Paddock was shot.

This is where the daytime shots were taken as the Ford Explorer drove past the paddock (all of the night shots when s*** got crazy were done in studio).

The T-Rex Paddock is about a mile farther down the road and I highly recommend that you consider going to that spot because unlike the Jurassic Park gate, we know exactly where that location was filmed.

Beware that the road does get a little rougher once you pass the gates. We definitely had to deal with more muddy spots and more puddles in that section.

While there were a couple of sections that were slightly tricky, everything was still very manageable in the Jeep.

It seemed like there was a lot of gravel or rocks at the bottom of some of these puddles which made it easier for the Jeep to get through.

Still, try to use caution when venturing into the puddles because you may not be able to judge if you are dealing with rocks or mud.

Once you get past about three different sections of bumpy road/puddles, you’ll be very close to the T-Rex Paddock, which was about 4.8 miles from the start of the trail.

You’ll know that you arrived when you see a clearing which may already be where a couple of vehicles are parked.

If you take a look at the scene still from the movie, you can instantly make out the three humps in the background that tower behind the T-Rex Paddock. It’s one of the easier shots to line up.

(In the image below, the peak on the left is not visible in Jurassic Park because of the heavy clouds.)

T-Rex Paddock in Kauai Jurassic Park
Parked at the T-Rex Paddock in Kauai.
T-Rex Paddock filming scene Jurassic Park

It’s a really cool spot for Jurassic Park fans.

The area behind the paddock has a stream running through it which is the North Fork of the Wailua River and actually an incredibly scenic spot.

If you have some snacks with you this would be a great opportunity to relax and enjoy a lite lunch by the flowing water.

The spot is actually near the beginning of the trail to what is known as the Waialeale Blue Hole Falls Trail.

It’s a difficult trail that will require you to get wet and navigate river crossings but the pay off is that you end up at the Weeping Wall with stunning views of all the waterfalls.

If you can start early in the morning and dedicate an entire day, this could be quite the experience.

After that, you need to head out exactly the way you came.

We did not find going downhill to be any more difficult than going uphill and with the added confidence of knowing that we could make it through the water crossings, it was actually a pretty enjoyable and stress-free ride.

I will say that some portions of the road are too narrow to allow someone else to pass.

In several areas it does widen up so that vehicles could pass each other but in some situations you might find yourself in a tight spot.

Luckily, it doesn’t seem like there are a ton of off-roaders that use this path (at least not when we visited).

Final word

This was one of my favorite experiences while in Hawaii. It’s incredibly fun to head deep in to the jungle and while hiking this would be a fun experience, there’s just something about taking a Jeep through this area that feels more fitting for a true Jurassic Park experience.