Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch
Description
Join this tour to visit two of New Zealand’s most famous attractions, Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Caves, in one easy day trip from Auckland. Our tour is the new extended Hobbiton Experience (now 2.5 hours) where you can venture beyond the door to a fully themed Hobbit Hole interior. Immerse yourself in the interior with entry hall, bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, dining area, equipped bathroom, parlour and crackling fireplace. Be fascinated as the magical world of Hobbiton comes to life and take photos in front of your favourite places like the Hobbit Holes, the Shire and the Green Dragon Inn. Then journey to the World Famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves and be captivated by the thousands of magical glowworms twinkling in the Grottos, the stalactites and stalagmites as you glide silently through the cave by boat. Marvel at the stunning scenery en route as we journey off the motorways into the real hinterland of New Zealand. All admission fees and cafe lunch included.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After leaving Auckland you will travel south over the Bombay Hills as you get elevated panoramic views of the Waikato Region and travel across the scenic Hauraki Plains to Matamata, the home of Hobbiton Movie Set.
Begin with a tour through the picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will escort you through the 10 acre site recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton Movie Set was created. Hobbit Holes, The Green Dragon Inn, The Mill and other structures can be viewed and you will see how this beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into the Shire from Middle-earth. Visit and explore inside the newly built fully themed Hobbit Hole on Bagshot Row. Complimentary specially brewed beverages are available at the Green Dragon Inn as you complete your tour. Afterwards, enjoy a very classic light “Kiwi” style lunch at the "Homestead" and get to share stories from Hobbiton and interact with your fellow travellers.
You will then travel to the mesmerizing Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Be amazed by the thousands of magical glowworms as you glide silently by boat in the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Your guide on this 45-minute tour will likely be a descendant of the Maori Chief who originally explored the Caves and can share with you the remarkable history of the area. Walk through the majestic Cathedral Cave famous for its acoustics Your return trip to Auckland will then take you initially through some of New Zealand’s most beautiful countryside before following northwards the majestic Waikato River, the longest river in New Zealand, part of the way back to Auckland. You will pass Ngaruawahia, the home of the Maori King; Taupiri with its very sacred Maori burial ground. To complete that day, you will be taken back to your hotel in the Auckland CBD.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Our Tour starts at 6:30am heading south with everyone already picked up across the Auckland CBD and on board. The pickups, depending on location in the CBD of where you are staying, occur in the preceding 20-25minutes. We pick up from all centrally Located Auckland Hotels, BNBs, Backpacker Hotels in the Central Business District. Any of the following or others(not mentioned) in the Central Business District. We do not pick up from the suburbs of Auckland We also have only 1 pick up location in South Auckland/Auckland Airport area which is the Sebel Manukau Hotel, 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau (approx 10 minutes from the airport)t. Pick up only there is at 6:45am. Later departure of 7:30am also offered (subject to availability) once earlier departure of 6:30am sold out. Adina Apartment Hotel, 2 Tapora Street Air BNBs- we pick up from most Downtown CBD BNBs (except those with parking/access issues) Ascotia off Queen Attic Backpackers, 31 Wellesley Street West Auckland City Hotel, 157 Hobson Street Auckland Harbour Suites, 16 Gore Street Avani Metropolis Backpackers-all CBD locations Barclay Suites Chancellor on Hobson, 1 Hobson Street Choice Backpackers, 10 Wellesley Street East City Life Hotel, 171 Queen Street Copthorne, 150 Anzac Avenue Cordis Hotel, 83 Symonds St Crowne Plaza Dilworth Building Apartments Edit Hotel, 27-31 Victoria Street West (formerly President Hotel) Empire Apartments Fable Gallery Hotel, 58 Queen Street Gamma Hotel Goodview Hotel, 240 Hobson Street Grand Millennium Haka House, 5 Turner Street Haka House, 373 Karangahape Rd Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf Hobson Lodge, 224 Hobson Street Holiday Inn Express, Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD Hotel De Bretts Hotel Grand chancellor, 80 Wellesley Street West Hotel Indigo, 53 St. Patrick's Square Ibis City (Wyndham Street) Imagine Intercontinental Hotel on Quay Street (1 Queen Street) Jo & Joe, 16 Fort Street Kiwi International, 411 Queen Street Legacy Airedale Hotel, 380 Queen Street Lylo, 54 Cook Street Marriott Hotel, 22 Albert Street Mercure Auckland, 500 Queen St Metropolis (Avani Metropolis) Movenpick, 8 Customs Street East MSocial Oaks Auckland Hotel, 40 Beach Road (formerly Nesuto Stadium Hotel) Nesuto St. Martins, St. Martins Lane Newton Lodge, 27 Cross Street Park Hyatt, 99 Halsey Street Princes Wharf Apartments Pullman Quadrant Hotel & Suites Quest (all CBD locations) Ramada Suites, 147 Victoria Street Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Rydges Sebel Viaduct Harbour, 85 Customs Street West Sebel Quay West, 8 Albert Street Sebel Manukau, 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau-for those staying near the airport Sky City Grand Sky City Hotel Sofitel SO Hotel, cnr Customs Street and Gore Street Star Park Apartments, 30B Swanson St Star Queen Apartments, 438 Queen Street Star Victoria Apartments, 64 Federal Street Sudima, 63-67 Nelson Street Swiss bel Suites, 206 Victoria Street West The Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf Travelodge, 110 Packenham Street West, Wynyard Quarter Tribe, 40 Fort Street Voco Hotel, Wyndham Street VR Auckland City, 188 Hobson Street VR Queen Street, 401 Queen Street
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A maximum of 14 people per booking (We can provide this tour to groups larger than 14 by discussions with Viator and ourselves)
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Not Wheel-Suitable Friendly as these are walking tours
- We can provide NZ Safety Approved Child Car Seats and Booster Seats. We do not provide strollers or infant back packs
- We do not pick up from the suburbs of Auckland; only the Downtown CBD and 1 location in South Auckland for those staying near the airport-The Sebel Manukau Hotel, 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau
- There is no photography allowed in the area of the Caves where the glowworms are as the glowworms react negatively to flashlight and will turn their lights off and they then take 2 hours to return to their full luminescence.
- Tour leaves Auckland at 6:30am with everyone on board-the pickups occur across the CBD in the 25 minutes prior to that
- We offer a later tour leaving Auckland at 7:30am subject to availability and once the earlier 6:30am departure is sold out
Reviews(3,074)
Amazing tour, Liam our tour guide was amazing, would highly recommend.
Nelson, our driver, was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about all things New Zealand. He made the two- to three-hour trips there and back nearly as interesting as the tours themselves.
I really enjoyed this experience! Everything went smoothly, and the tour was well organized and enjoyable from start to finish. It was definitely worth it and a great way to explore and experience the destination. I had a wonderful time and would highly recommend it to others!
Tour was amazing, enjoyed every second. I travelled by myself and the tour guide made me feel included (I believe his name is Mike but I could be wrong).
First of all, Mike (our driver and guide) was amazing. He’s friendly and knowledgeable. He makes the trip fun and comfortable. The Hobbiton tour was scenic and the Waitomo Cave tour was unforgettable. Both tours were engaging and beautiful.
It was our privilege hosting you on our magical and enchanting tour to the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand. Appreciate your lovely comments about one of our tour guides who, with his deep knowledge, affability and professionalism, helped enhance your tour and helped ensure that you would have a very special experience. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour.
Stephen is very friendly, helpful, accommodating to all. The Hobbiton is really have creative, imaginative and magical architecture... Waitomo has hidden beautiful creatures
Thank you for sharing your lovely comments about one of our tour guides and our tour. It was a privilege hosting you to the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. Best wishes.
This Hobbiton tour exceeded our expectations! Our driver, Rachel, was fantastic. She made us feel very welcomed, and taught us so much about her homeland! Conversing with her felt like I was talking to someone I had known for years. Highly recommend!
Thank you . Loved reading your lovely comments about one of our tour guides who helped ensure that you would have a very special day, tour and experience. It was a privilege hosting you. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour.
The moment we boarded the vehicle, we knew our adventure had begun — it promised to be a wonderful day. Our guide Stephen was incredibly knowledgeable. He shared stories about the scenery along the way, as well as the use of the Māori language and local legends. The itinerary was packed yet fulfilling, making this whole day truly worthwhile.
Pleased to read that you had a "Wonderful day" and that one of our tour guides helped ensure, with his knowledge, that you would have a very special and fulfilling experience. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you.
My son and I absolutely love this tour! Rachael our guide was exceptional! Everything was on time and well planned. The Hobbiton itself was great and we learned that it was very good. We went in the winter because in the summer it’s twice as busy. I would not have wanted to go when it was twice as busy because I felt going in the winter. It was busy enough. Would highly recommend anyone who loves Lord of the rings.
Pleased to read that you and your son had a very special experience further enhance by one of our tour guides. You both will cherish these memories for a long time and no doubt you have some very special photos that you will look back on fondly. Appreciate your lovely comments about how we have designed our tour to maximize the experience. It was a privilege hosting you both on our magical and enchanting tour to the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand. Best wishes.
From the beginning to the end, the tour and lunch was fantastic. Lydia was our guide and she was brilliant. A beautiful story teller who engaged the group keeping everyone smiling with her descriptions of movie scenes & little tidbits of movie information. What impressed us especially was the staff, all of whom were welcoming and looking to ensure visitors were not only enjoying the day but had everything they needed to do so.
Thank you for sharing these lovely comments about our tour and the guiding team. Love your headline "Brilliant day out that I would (and have) recommended to everyone!" Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you. Best wishes.
