A garden walk, a farm visit, and lunch made with local cheese can fill a satisfying day in Kula. Add time to browse nearby Makawao, or make Haleakalā the main event and stop for food after coming down the mountain.
If you are looking for things to do in Kula Maui, start by choosing how much driving you want. A day focused on gardens and farms leaves room to linger. A summit visit needs a longer schedule, an earlier departure, and preparation for mountain weather.
This guide brings those choices together in an Upcountry Maui itinerary, with Surfing Goat Dairy as a stop for food, cheese tasting, and an optional guided goat experience.
What Makes Kula Worth Visiting?
Kula sits on the slopes of Haleakalā, in a part of Maui known for agriculture, botanical gardens, and views across the island. Farms and gardens give visitors a way to explore the landscape through what grows and is produced here. The official Go Hawaii guide to Kula offers an introduction to the area.
For your visit, choose a few places where you want to spend time. Check their opening days, put the stops in your map, and leave space between activities. A booked farm tour can anchor the schedule; a garden walk or café visit can provide more flexibility.
A Kula Day Trip Without the Summit
For a day centered on Kula and nearby Upcountry communities, consider this sequence:
| Part of the day | Suggested stop | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Kula Botanical Garden | A self-guided walk before lunch |
| Late morning or lunchtime | Surfing Goat Dairy | A café visit, with a guided tour if booked |
| Afternoon | Makawao | Time to browse shops and galleries before returning |
This is a suggested order rather than a fixed timetable. Check the drive from your accommodation and the travel time between stops before choosing a tour slot.
Plan this version for Tuesday through Saturday if you want to include Surfing Goat Dairy. Our farm is currently open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Start with Kula Botanical Garden
A morning garden visit gives you time to walk before making your next scheduled stop.
Kula Botanical Garden is at 638 Kekaulike Avenue. Its official website currently lists self-guided garden visits from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. daily, with the gift shop open until 4:00 p.m. Check the garden’s current visitor information before setting out.
Allow time to enjoy the garden rather than arriving just before it closes. If you have booked a farm tour afterward, include the drive and arrival time in your plans.
Stop for Local Food at Surfing Goat Dairy
Our farm is at 3651 Omaopio Road in Kula. You can stop at the Farm Shop & Café without booking a tour.
Current offerings include a flight of six fresh chèvre flavors, charcuterie boards, goat cheese mac and cheese, quiche, baked treats, and handmade chocolate chèvre truffles. Choose according to your appetite and the selection available that day.
For a lunchtime stop, leave room to order, eat, and browse the shop. If tasting is your main interest, our guide to cheese tasting in Maui explains what to expect from the flight and how it differs from the cheese sample included in a tour.
Add a Guided Goat Farm Experience
If meeting the goats is part of your plan, book an applicable guided experience separately. A café visit does not include feeding or petting goats or unrestricted access to the working farm.
Our Daily Casual Tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and introduces visitors to the goats and the dairy’s work. It includes goat feeding, a taste of fresh chèvre, and a handmade chocolate truffle. A full cheese flight is an additional purchase.
Reserve ahead for your preferred departure and leave separate time for lunch. That way, the tour and café stop can each have their own place in the day.
Finish with Time in Makawao
If you still have time, add nearby Makawao to your Upcountry day trip. The town is known for its paniolo heritage and arts community, with shops, boutiques, and galleries to browse. The Go Hawaii guide to Makawao provides background on the town.
Check the hours of any particular business you want to visit. Makawao can be an optional final stop, allowing you to decide after lunch whether to explore more or return to your accommodation.
How to Include Haleakalā in Your Itinerary
If the summit is a priority, build the day around it. Visit Haleakalā first, then descend toward Kula for food and a farm stop. Consider leaving the garden and Makawao for another day.
The mountain drive deserves a substantial place in your schedule. The National Park Service lists approximate driving times to the summit of 2.5 hours from Kahului and 3 hours from Wailea. Use its driving information alongside current route conditions when planning your departure.
Allow for the return drive, too. Avoid booking a farm activity so tightly after the summit that delays would leave you rushing down the mountain.
Sunrise or a Daytime Visit?
Sunrise requires advance planning. A reservation is required for access to the Summit District during 3:00–7:00 a.m., and the park entrance fee is separate.
According to the National Park Service sunrise FAQ, a sunrise reservation is not required for other times of day. A visit after that window lets you plan around daytime sightseeing instead of a predawn departure.
If you choose sunrise, bring breakfast and water for the early part of your day. Surfing Goat Dairy opens at 9:30 a.m., so it should not be your immediate post-sunrise breakfast plan.
Prepare for the Mountain
Conditions at the summit can be cold, windy, and very different from the coast. Bring warm layers, water, food, sun protection, and sturdy shoes. Food and fuel are not available in the park.
The summit is sacred to Native Hawaiians. Visit respectfully, stay on designated trails, and leave natural and cultural features undisturbed. Review the park’s Summit District guidance and current alerts before driving up.
Keep Your Upcountry Day Flexible
Once you have chosen your main activity, make the rest of the day easy to adjust.
For a farm-focused visit, book the tour first and fit the garden around it. For a Haleakalā day, give the mountain enough time and treat additional stops as optional. When traveling with children, leave room for food and breaks between drives.
Check business hours before leaving, use designated parking areas, and respect private farm entrances and property boundaries. If you buy cheese to take along, ask our shop team about storage for the rest of your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Visit Kula Without Going to Haleakalā’s Summit?
Yes. A garden visit, a farm tour, and a local food stop can form a full Kula day trip. You can also add Makawao if time allows.
Do You Need a Farm Tour Booking to Visit Surfing Goat Dairy’s Café?
No. You can visit the café and shop during opening hours without booking a farm tour. Direct interaction with the goats requires an applicable guided experience.
Can You Combine Haleakalā and Surfing Goat Dairy in One Day?
Yes, with enough time for the mountain drive and both visits. Put Haleakalā first, plan your farm stop within our Tuesday–Saturday opening hours, and avoid a tightly timed tour booking after your descent.
What Is a Good First Upcountry Maui Itinerary?
For a day with less driving, start with Kula Botanical Garden, stop at Surfing Goat Dairy for lunch and an optional booked tour, then browse Makawao if you have time. If the summit is your priority, choose Haleakalā and the farm stop as your two main activities.
Make Room for a Farm Stop in Kula
Choose the Upcountry day that fits your interests: gardens and galleries, time with the goats, or a mountain visit followed by local food.
At Surfing Goat Dairy, you can make the café your lunchtime destination or combine it with a guided farm experience. Plan around our opening days, reserve a tour if you want to meet the goats, and leave enough time to enjoy the food before your next drive.