Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Small Tour from Auckland
Description
This tour offers you the chance to enjoy two of New Zealand's most iconic attractions in a single day. Begin with the mesmerizing Waitomo Caves, where you'll marvel at the stunning limestone formations and the enchanting glowworms that light up the darkness with their starry glow. Next, step into the magical world of Hobbiton, where you can explore charming hobbit homes, picturesque gardens, and seasonal landscaping. Starting December 2023, our new "Beyond the Door" experience allows you to enter the hobbits' homes, offering an immersive glimpse into their daily lives that was previously only available from the outside. After a day of exploration, unwind with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn, the perfect way to relax and savor the day's adventures. *This tour has a long duration, so cruise ship passengers may not be able to participate. **The departure time is subject to change, Please make sure to check message from us about Pick up time and reply.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will pass through the city of Auckland and then drive through the beautiful New Zealand countryside. Enjoy the scenic views from the car window.
On this tour, you will have the chance to explore the enchanting Waitomo Caves. As you step into the depths of the caves, a dedicated guide will provide in-depth explanations about the fascinating life cycle of glowworms and the rich history of Waitomo. Inside the cave, you'll be surrounded by the magical glow of the glowworms, creating a starry, galaxy-like ambiance. Additionally, the tour includes a serene boat ride through the caves, allowing you to gaze up at the sparkling glowworm-lit ceiling as you float along. This tranquil journey offers an almost otherworldly experience, as you enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of a natural starry sky. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the wonder and mystery of the Waitomo Caves firsthand.
We'll head towards Hobbiton in Matamata. On the way, you can enjoy the rolling hills that look as if they belong in the world of the Hobbits.
You will have lunch break at the Shire's Rest Café before joining the movie set tour. (Please note that lunch is at your own expense.)
**Embark on an Unforgettable Hobbiton Tour** Hop aboard the Hobbiton bus and arrive at ”Middle-earth”, where a dedicated guide will share fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and historical insights. Explore the charming Hobbit houses and other iconic locations from the films, while enjoying exclusive anecdotes from the set. Starting December 2024, you'll have the rare opportunity to step inside the Hobbit houses and experience firsthand how the movie sets were crafted. After wandering through the enchanting village, relax with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn, making this a truly immersive experience into the world of Middle-earth. This tour offers a delightful blend of movie magic and real-world charm, ensuring a memorable adventure for all fans of the films.
After enjoying a 1-day tour, relax and unwind as you return to Auckland.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour includes transportation time to and from Auckland, so the total duration will be approximately 11 hours.
Reviews(11)
Fantastic day. Travelling was comfortable and clean. Tour guide was friendly, supportive and very capable of communicating with people from different back grounds
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you had a fantastic day and found the journey comfortable and enjoyable. It’s great to know your guide made you feel well looked after and communicated clearly with everyone. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again on another tour!
Tata was great guide. Very professional and full of interesting information. The van was newer and comfortable. I wish we could have done more caves or the Abyss. The basic tour is too basic for such a long drive. Hobbiton is pretty amazing even for a non-Hobbitt friend.
Thank you for your honest and detailed feedback! We’re really happy to hear that Taka provided a professional and informative experience, and that you enjoyed the comfort of the vehicle. We appreciate your comments about the tour pace and cave options—this is valuable feedback and something we’ll continue to work on improving. It’s great to know that Hobbiton impressed even a non-Hobbit fan! We hope to welcome you again for a deeper cave adventure next time.
Excellent hobbiton and waitomo tour Our guide and driver TAKA Excellent very punctual, attentive and accessible Loved the service We recommend it to 100
Muchas gracias por tus amables palabras y por confiar en nosotros para tu tour a Hobbiton y Waitomo. Nos alegra mucho saber que TAKA pudo brindar un servicio puntual y atento que hizo tu experiencia inolvidable. ¡Esperamos acompañarte en futuras aventuras!
I joined alone. At first, I was thinking of renting a car and going around on my own, but I'm really glad I joined this tour. By listening to the explanations of the knowledgeable guides, I enjoyed the spots that I would have passed without realizing on my own with great interest. It was also very helpful to be able to communicate with the guide in Japanese. At Waitomo Cave, your guide will take you inside the cave. We then spent a fantastic time viewing the clay fireflies in the tranquil cave. Hobbit Village had read a novel and watched a movie a few years earlier, so he was thrilled to see himself in that world. The guide was so kind to help me take photos and I was able to take memorable photos even if I was alone. Thank you for a great day!
心温まるレビューをありがとうございます。 お一人でのご参加だったとのことですが、ツアーを存分にお楽しみいただけたようで大変うれしく思います。 ガイドの説明や日本語でのご案内が旅のお手伝いになったとのお言葉、スタッフにとって何よりの励みです。 ワイトモ洞窟やホビット村での体験が印象に残る素敵な1日になったこと、本当に嬉しく拝見しました。 これからもお一人様でも安心してご参加いただける、心に残るツアーをお届けできるよう努めてまいります。 またニュージーランドでお会いできる日を、スタッフ一同心よりお待ちしております。
Experience two of New Zealand's most iconic sights in one day on this luxurious tour. It was an experience I will never forget. I made an application with the feeling that I had come all the way to New Zealand, but both Waitomo Cave and Hobbit Village were beyond my wildest imagination. It was fantastic and truly beautiful to see the earth fireflies in a unique silence. Hobbit Village is simply amazed by the world of Lord of the Rings that appears in the vast land. It was a beautiful place where you could cut anything out. I think even people who have never seen the movie will be able to fully enjoy it. The Japanese guide was very helpful because you can't tell the names of the characters or the scenes without watching the movie. From Waitomo Caves to Hobbit Village, thanks to our guide who kept us occupied with his knowledge and easy-to-understand commentary! It's a tour I'd love to take when I go to New Zealand again.
この度はツアーにご参加いただき、また心温まるレビューをお寄せいただき本当にありがとうございます。 ワイトモ洞窟とホビット村という、北島を代表する２つの名所を一日で巡るこのツアーを、心から楽しんでいただけたようで、私たちもとても嬉しく思っています。土ボタルの輝きや、映画の世界に迷い込んだようなホビット村の風景を、お客様の言葉を通して私たちも一緒に旅したような気持ちになりました。 ガイドの説明も楽しんでいただけたようで何よりです。映画をご覧になっていない方にも魅力がしっかり伝わるようにと心がけておりますので、その点をご評価いただけたことは大きな励みになります。 またニュージーランドにお越しの際には、ぜひお会いできるのを楽しみにしております。ありがとうございました！ チームNavi
At first, I was thinking about having an English-speaking guide tour from another company, but at the end I asked for this Japanese-speaking guide. Actually, I couldn't keep up with the native English speed (though I'm just not very good at it) so I was really glad to ask for this guide. I think I would have been very disappointed if I hadn't heard the explanation, especially in Hobbit Village, because I've seen all six LOTR films in cinemas. In addition, the clay fireflies are unfamiliar insects in Japan, so it is still recommended that you get a detailed explanation. I'm glad I went to both. I chose to participate alone, as I did. The guide in charge was a kind person who could care for you in various ways and was relieved. Thank you for driving so long by our side as we slept. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you.
この度は弊社のツアーにご参加いただき、また心のこもったご感想をお寄せいただきまして、誠にありがとうございます。 『ロード・オブ・ザ・リング』の熱心なファンでいらっしゃるお客様に、ホビット村や土ボタルのツアーを心から楽しんでいただけたこと、スタッフ一同、感無量でございます。 日本語ツアーにご参加いただき、ホビット村での解説がしっかり伝わったことで、物語の世界により深く入り込んでいただけたのではないかと想像し、私たちも嬉しくなりました。 そして、ガイドへの温かいお言葉まで本当にありがとうございます。お一人でのご参加でも安心して楽しんでいただけたことは、私たちにとって何よりの励みです。 またニュージーランドにお越しの際には、ぜひ再びご一緒できることを楽しみにしております。心よりお礼申し上げます。 チームナビ一同
A big thank you to our amazing tour guide Take for an amazing day we feel like he went out of his way to make sure we all had a great time
Thank you so much for your kind review. Comments like these from our customers are a true motivation for Take. We would also be absolutely delighted if you reach out to Navi again when you visit New Zealand！
I was guided from Waitomo Cave to Hobbiton by a Japanese guide with three members of my family and three other people (one of whom joined me halfway from Hobbiton). The weather was nice, and both places were nicer than I expected. The explanation was very easy to understand and I was really glad to sign up for this tour. I was very happy to take a lot of photos! On the way home, my daughter got sick and I asked her to drive me to my hotel and she was very worried and willing to give me a ride. That was a big help. Thank you very much. Thank you so much to one kind participant who stopped by to give us a quick ride.
YURIKO 様 この度は素敵なレビューをいただき、ありがとうございます。素晴らしい天気の中、ご家族皆さんでワイトモ洞窟とホビトンを楽しんでいただけたとのこと、ガイドの説明がわかりやすかったとのお言葉もいただき、大変嬉しく思います。ワイトモ洞窟とホビット村ツアーは、どちらもニュージーランドでしか見ることのできない、まさに特別な場所ですので、気に入っていただけてとても嬉しく感じております。 また、帰りに娘様の体調が悪くなったとのことですが、その後ご体調は回復されましたでしょうか。大変な状況の中、こちらへのお気遣いまでいただき誠にありがとうございます。 これからもお客様に素敵な思い出を作っていただけるよう、スタッフ一同精一杯頑張りますので、またお会いできることを楽しみにしています。また、ニュージーランドにお越しの際はぜひお声がけいただけますと幸いです！
We had Take as our guide and he did a wonderful job. He was very personable, informative and interactive on the drives to Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton, and made the trip better. The glow worms are amazing but it was Hobbiton that blew us away. We expected it to be a neat experience because it was a movie set but the meticulous details, amazing gardens, beautiful landscapes, and helpful guides made it a fantastic experience. And the food options at the cafe were excellent. Highly recommend this tour!
Dear Domonique, Thank you for your great review. There are many Waitomo & Hobbiton tours from Auckland , so we are truly delighted that you chose to recommend ours. It is an honor to hear that our guide Take’s storytelling and knowledge enriched your journey. Hobbiton is incredibly well-crafted, and the new tour that allows visitors to step inside the houses, available from December 2024, has been receiving great reviews. If you visit New Zealand again, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Kind Regards, team Navi
Fantastic day. Wonderful guide - very knowledgeable, engaging and helpful. We arrived a little early and he was able to move up our tour times based on his relationships with both destinations. Long day but totally worth it. We loved it and would highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your great review! We're so happy to hear that you had a fantastic day and that our guide was able to meet your expectations. It’s great to know that the flexibility with the timing worked out well for you. Although it was a long day, we're glad it was worth it and that you had a memorable experience. we’d love to welcome you back for another great adventure. Thank you for your recommendation! Kind Regards, Team Navi
