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 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(3,053)
Overall we had a great time. Rachel was a great, personable guide who was very attentive to everyone’s need throughout the day. All activities were spaced out great. There were ample opportunities throughout the day to get snacks & drinks outside of the provided lunch.
One of my favorite tours I’ve been on. It was everything I hoped it would be. I highly recommend it!
It is a very well structured tour and our tour guide Nelson is very friendly and organised as he always give a brief of whats going to happen next. Enjoyed the hobbiton tour and the glowworm cave but too bad not able to take any photos at waitomo cave.
Liam made this experience worthwhile. It was amazing how he made the trip so entertaining while ensuring everyone remained engaged and also took care of everyone in best possible way.
Mike was a fantastic and enthusiastic guide! Booking this trip made it very easy to be staying in Central Auckland, but also getting to comfortably enjoy some of the most popular tour sites in the region. Had a great time and would definitely recommend booking this tour!!
As I've come to know, there is a lot of fog in the early hours of the day, but dont get discouraged! Once the fog lift, the views are one of the most beautiful you'll ever see. Hobbiton was an amazing experience and a safe place to geek out. Liam was a lovely tour guide, who was genuinely curious and very informative. Waitomo was an other word experience! I really would recomend this tour to anyone coming to Auckland.
Thank You! Some days in winter there can be fog as you mention, but as the curtain of fog lifts, isn't the stunning scenery a sight to behold? Nothing can describe this. We have an exclusive and specially designed route that we travel that we see as a 3rd attraction. So pleased to read that you loved the views and the ever changing and spectacular landscape. Appreciate your lovely comments about one of our tour guides who helped ensure that you would have a very special day and experience. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you. Best wishes.
The tour of Hobbiton was fantastic! The guide was fun, knowledgeable, and efficient. The drink at the Green Dragon was frosting on a Middle Earth cake. The Glowworms Caves adventure was also fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our coach driver and guide for the day was very jolly and personable. She made the day long experience a joy.
It was our privilege hosting you on our magical and enchanting tour to Middle Earth and beyond. Pleased to read that one of our tour guides helped enhance your day and made the experience a joy that you mention. Is there an better 1 day return excursion from Auckland where you get to visit and experience the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand? Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour.
This was an amazing tour especially paired with the Waitomo glowworm caves. Danny was a fantastic driver and guide. He informed us about the different things we passed by, was patient and an overall pleasant person! I would absolutely book again with Auckland Tours!
Thank you for these lovely comments. Love your headline "A wonderful tour guide and experience!" Appreciate your comment that you would book again with our company, Auckland Scenic Tours. Pleased to read your lovely comments about one of our tour guides and the care that he provided you but also the knowledge that he shared with you to help ensure that you would have a very special tour and experience. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you. Best wishes.
Excellent experience with Mike! Fluid and smooth, and loads of time to get souvenirs, stories and take photos. Would happily recommend to anyone!
Thank you for sharing these lovely comments about our tour, one of our tour guides and the experience that you had on our tour and with our company. We have designed our tour so that you should never feel rushed and you can just take time take photos, shop, marvel at our specially designed route that we travel and to soak up the experience on our magical and enchanting tour to the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you. Best wishes.
Our guide Rachael is incredibly professional and informative. She expertly guided us throughout the day making it truly enjoyable. As fans of the film, we were absolutely captivated by the Hobbiton world. I highly recommend visiting.
Thank you for sharing these lovely comments about our tour, how you were captivated by the experience and also the lovely comments about one of our tour guides who helped enhance your experience and helped ensure that you would have a very special day. It was a privilege hosting you. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour.
