Auckland to Rotorua, Hobbiton and Waitomo 1 Way Small Group Tour
Description
Explore the enchanting Hobbiton Movie Set and the stunning Waitomo Glowworm Caves on this one-way small group tour from Auckland to Rotorua. Guided by knowledgeable locals, enjoy a day filled with picturesque landscapes, intriguing cave formations, and an immersive experience into the world of The Lord of the Rings. Capture photos of charming towns, witness the magical glowworms, and savor a complimentary beverage at the Hobbiton pub. Finish your adventure with a scenic drive through Rotorua's highlights before check-in at your accommodation. - Small group tour with passionate, expert guides - Visit the iconic Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Caves - Includes entry tickets, bottled water, and snacks - Duration: Approximately 13 hours, ending in Rotorua
Tour Options
Itinerary
Exiting Auckland we drive south through the stunning Waikato countryside, the most extensive farming area in the world, encountering stunning scenery, mighty rivers, great photo opportunities, beautiful mountains and several farm animals along the way. After learning about some local history we stop in the idyllic little town of Pirongia for a quick coffee break. Continuing our adventure we pass through Otorohanga “The Kiwiana capital of New Zealand”. See all things Kiwi in this unique and charming town.
Arriving at our first feature attractions you will be guided through the ancient and amazing caves seeing many different cave formations, including Stalactites, Stalagmites and Lime Columns, before descending even further underground for your Glowworm experience. Board your boat for a cruise on the grotto river with thousands of Glowworms sparkling above you. Unique to New Zealand for over 120 years, Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a must see for any traveller.
Arriving at our second feature attraction, Hobbiton, you will have time to buy lunch before boarding one of the big green Hobbiton buses. You then depart on a two and a half hour fully guided tour of this amazing 12 acre movie set with a professional Hobbiton guide, to ensure you get the most out of your visit. During your tour step into the lush pastures of the Shire, visit 44 hobbit holes, see amazing gardens, hear the secrets and stories about the making of the movies and enjoy a cold complimentary beverage at the famous Hobbiton pub ‘The Green Dragon Inn’.
Continuing our adventure we depart for Rotorua and pass through Tirau, famously dubbed the 'Corrugated Iron Capital of the World' because of the many unique corrugated iron sculptures and buildings, this town never fails to get a look and a laugh and our guides will point out all the main highlights on the way through.
To complete the formal part of the tours first day we arrive in Rotorua and do a quick guided driving tour, seeing the most famous sites in Rotorua city including: Lake Rotorua, Rotorua Museum, Government Gardens, Whangapipiro (Rachel Spring) & the Blue Baths. We then drop you off at your hotel to check in for the night (accommodation not included)
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
*If no pickup is selected at time of booking, you will be allocated our default meeting point (SkyCity Hotel). You are welcome to update this at any time. If your location isn’t listed, please choose your nearest available option & meet us there. *Pick-ups can begin up to 20 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on location. To ensure a smooth start, please be ready and waiting outside 5 minute prior to your specific pickup time. *Pick-up locations are carefully planned for each tour and may vary by day. If your pick-up location changes, kindly inform us in advance. *Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. We are unable to wait for late guests.
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
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties, a moderate amount of walking is involved. Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- Guests can bring 1 large & 1 small piece of luggage each
Reviews(20)
I thoroughly enjoyed the Auckland to Rotorua tour with Ari (Arahia). Not only did I learn a great deal about New Zealand’s history and landmarks, but I also gained valuable insight into Māori culture through Ari’s personal perspective as a member of the Māori community. Ari has a warm, friendly personality and went out of her way to make my experience enjoyable throughout the day. As a deaf traveler, I especially appreciated the care she took to ensure my communication needs were met. She also made sure the guides at Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton were aware of my deafness and communication preferences, which helped me fully enjoy both experiences. The tour was well organized, informative, and filled with beautiful scenery along the way. I left with a deeper appreciation for New Zealand, its people, and its culture. I highly recommend this tour, and Ari (Arahia) in particular, to anyone visiting New Zealand.
Thank you so much for this exceptional review! Ari will be absolutely thrilled to hear your kind words. She has a wonderful warmth and depth of knowledge about Maori culture and New Zealand history that truly enriches every tour. We are especially glad that she went out of her way to ensure the experience was fully accessible for you throughout the day. Thank you for booking with Cheeky Kiwi Travel and we hope to see you back in New Zealand again soon!
Cam was an awesome guide/driver and my fellow passenger was great too (I did I tour party of a grand total of 2.) I would give Cam a 6 star if I could. Highly recommend. I hope you get him on your North Island adventures. Great trip with Cheeky Kiwi highly recommend the Auckland to Rotorua trip (via Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton.) I wish Cam could drive me all the way back home (Haast.) 11/10. Hope my Christchurch to Queenstown (via Tekapo and Mt Cook) are just as awesome as Cam. I was thinking of doing the Auckland to Rotorua trip just through Hobbiton but thankfully I did it with Waitomo caves. Huge shout out to the Matua (I forgot your name) at Waitomo Caves and Lana at Hobbiton.
I had a great day on this tour! Trent was a great guide who made sure everyone had a good time. He was well organised and we were never in a rush! He even had snacks! ;) Waitomo was a very unique experience withe the boat going through the cave and Hobbiton was great as well! You could even go to Hobbiton without having seen the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit movies. So much love for detail there! Would definitely recommend the Tour!
The tour was very well organised by the warm and cute guide - Ala..( sorry don’t remember the name properly … but he is this little bundle of joy who made the tour more interesting and special by being there with us throughout the journey and is also very knowledgeable. 5 stars to him!
Had an awesome tour to Hobbiton and waitomo with Alessandro. He was warm compassionate and kept us rolling along. His communication skills were excellent and it ensured there was no surprises. Hands down an awesome tour
Kia ora! Love the title—always good to keep the Nazgûl at bay! It’s great to hear Ale's communication and care made the day run smoothly and stress-free. Sounds like a fantastic journey through some pretty special spots. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝
This tour was great! Our guide Liam was a true professional: knew a lot of the subject plus a lot extra, was informative, funny, sensitive and did all he could to make us feel comfortable. He also found some cool bonus places we were able to stop by. Highly recommend taking this tour with Liam! The Waitomo glow worm cave was magical! Note that you can't take pictures inside, but maybe it's better to see it with your own eyes. Hobbiton was a swift run but totally worth it! The guide there knew so much about the place, and it was possible to just ignore that and take pictures if you prefer that. Liam the guide showed us some cool places also in Rotorua. We recommend to take the Te Puia night show in the evening if you have energy left in your tank :D
Kia ora! Sounds like an awesome day all round! It’s great to hear Liam helped make the journey so enjoyable with his knowledge, humour, and those extra bonus stops along the way. The glowworm caves really are something special, and you’re right, sometimes it’s better just to take it all in rather than worry about photos. Love the tip about the Te Puia night show too, that’s a great way to round out a big day if you’ve still got some energy left. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝
I had an amazing time on this tour. Everything was so well organized and our tour guide (Liam) gave us so much information along the way. He was super knowledgeable, positive and also hilarious! The caves were neat to see, and Hobbiton was a must! Such beautiful grounds and set. I also loved that it picked you up in Auckland and dropped you in Rotorua - a great way to move between destinations! All in all, I had such a wonderful day on this tour - thank you!
Kia ora! What a great way to travel between Auckland and Rotorua. It’s awesome to hear Liam helped make the journey so enjoyable with plenty of stories, knowledge, and a few laughs along the way. Sounds like you got the full experience too, with the glowworm caves and Hobbiton both delivering. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝
The guide John was spectacular. The tour is amazing and we love every minute.. Hobbiton is a wonderful place.
Kia ora! It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed every minute of your tour! John will be thrilled to know his guidance helped make the experience so memorable, and Hobbiton truly does have that special magic. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝
We love the walk. The guide John was excellent. It was all good!!
Kia ora! So wonderful to hear you loved the tour! John will be thrilled to know he helped make the day excellent for you. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝
Lot of walking involved . See the Lord of the Rings once again to refresh your memory , that way u will definitely have a better experience . We had a lovely time - it is absolutely worth a visit . The place has been created with a lot of detailing - innumerable photo opportunities.
Kia ora! It’s great to hear you enjoyed the Hobbiton experience so much. All those little details really do make it feel like stepping straight into Middle-earth, and you’re right, having a refresher on the movies adds a bit of extra magic! Glad you had a lovely time and made the most of all those photo opportunities. We’d love to see you back for more North Island adventures in the future. Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝
