Discover the best of the North Island on a small-group day trip from Auckland to Hobbiton, Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, and Waitomo Caves. Explore Middle-earth, marvel at glowworms and enjoy a delicious lunch at Te Puia in Rotorua.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- COVID-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 13 hours
- Starting time 6:30 AM
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English
- Small group
- Limited to 15 participants
Experience
Itinerary
13 hours
Auckland
Hobbiton Movie Set (free time)
Hobbiton Movie Set (guided tour, walk)
Te Puia (lunch)
Te Puia (walk)
Waitomo Caves (guided tour, walk)
Auckland
Pickup included
Main stop
Other stop
Highlights
- Experience 3 top North Island destinations in one day on an all encompassing tour
- Discover the magic of Middle-earth on an official 2-hour guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set
- Visit Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute to see geothermal geysers, the iconic kiwi bird, and enjoy a delicious lunch
- Marvel at Waitomo Caves as you ride underneath glittering glowworms on the included boat ride
- Benefit from local guides and the personalised service of a small group tour
- Enjoy an unforgettable tour follows a route that minimizes travel time to maximize discovery
Full description
Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, and Waitomo Caves in one day on a fully-guided tour from Auckland. See three of North Island’s iconic sites in one attraction-filled day. Be ready and waiting at your hotel in time for your specified pickup time.
Travel from Auckland to Hobbiton through Waikato. On arrival, you’ll be guided through the picturesque twelve-acre site and given fascinating details of how the movie set was created. The official tour concludes with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Climb back into the vehicle for the approximately 55-minute drive to Rotorua where you will spend around 1.5-hours.
Arrive at Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute where you’ll have lunch. Te Puia is home to the Pohutu geyser, mud pools, hot springs, silica formations, the Kiwi bird, and the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. Then, drive to the world-renowned Waitomo Caves where you’ll enter the caves on foot and ride out in a small boat. Marvel at thousands of tiny glowworms radiating their unmistakable luminescent light as an expert guide provides informative commentary.
Sample itinerary:
6:30-6:40 AM pickups from downtown Auckland hotels
9:00 AM Arrive Hobbiton Movie Set (time for a snack and visit souvenir shop)
9:30 AM Hobbiton Movie Set tour
11:15 AM Depart Green Dragon Inn to travel onto Rotorua
12:15 PM Arrive in Rotorua
12:30 PM Buffet-style lunch at Te Puia
After lunch you have until 1:45 pm to explore Te Puia
1:45 PM Rejoin bus to travel to Watiomo Caves
3:15-4:00 PM Waitomo Caves tour
Rejoin bus to travel to Auckland
7:15-8:00 PM Arrive Auckland (subject to traffic)
Includes
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Transport in a small air-conditioned coach
- Experienced driver/guide
- Entry and 2 hour guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set
- Entry and lunch at Te Puia in Rotorua, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
- Entry and 45 minute guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- Morning and afternoon tea (available to purchase)
COVID-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
- Customers must keep distance in vehicles
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Important information
Not allowed
- Smoking in the vehicle
- Food in the vehicle
Know before you go
- Note that there is some driving between attractions so this tour may not be suitable for children 2 years or under
- The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour requires reasonable mobility, please advise when booking you have any mobility issues
- Shuttle pickups from outside Auckland city centre can be arranged on request for an additional charge
- If you prefer more time in Rotorua, you might like to consider an overnight tour option
- Please note you must be ready and waiting at your specified pick-up time as the tour has set times at each of the attractions visited and unfortunately cannot wait
- Guaranteed departure - tours are not canceled if there are low numbers
