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Auckland (Region) Rainy-day activities

Our most recommended Auckland (Region) Rainy-day activities

From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Trip

1. From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Trip

Enjoy a day trip from Auckland to the world-famous and magical Lord of The Rings Hobbiton Movie Set in the heart of Middle Earth. Get picked from your hotel in a comfortable 12-seater mini-bus and driven through the stunning Waikato countryside (the most extensive farming area in the world) on a fully guided journey to Hobbiton. During the trip south, encounter stunning scenery, great photo opportunities, beautiful mountains, and see several different farm animals along the way. After the drive, you will arrive at the Alexander Family Sheep Farm and Shire's Rest (the entrance to Hobbiton) where you can see thousands of sheep, grab a bite to eat, get your coffee fix, or enjoy an ice cream while your guide collects your tickets to the movie set. Next, you will board one of the big green Hobbiton buses to depart on a two-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 beverage at the famous Hobbiton pub "The Green Dragon Inn." After the tour, you will be guided back through the Alexander Family Sheep Farm for another stop at Shire's Rest for a spot of souvenir shopping and maybe a bite to eat before you begin your journey back to Auckland.

Auckland: Weta Workshop Unleashed Experience

2. Auckland: Weta Workshop Unleashed Experience

Go on a guided journey through three fully developed and original film concepts: a nail-biting horror, a fantasy epic and a mind-bending sci-fi with this Weta Workshop ticket. Immerse yourself in pre-written scripts, storyboarded scenes, and facinating world-building and design. Dive into a world of the imagination as you explore filmmaking up close. Discover the ultimate showcase of creativity, with enchanting environments, discombobulating displays, surprise encounters, resident creatures, one hyper-realistic giant, and a galactic robot. End your experience with an out-of-this-world light show and celebration of creation. Return to reality, if you must, with your creative aspirations and imagination unleashed.

From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Small-Group Trip

3. From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Small-Group Trip

Make the most of your time in Auckland with a small-group tour to the magical and enchanting Hobbiton, Lord of the Rings Movie Set. You will have the movie set almost entirely to yourself. See how this beautiful piece of farmland has been transformed into the Shire from Middle Earth. Start off your adventure with pickup from your centrally located hotel or the Auckland Sky Tower. Travel south in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz. Look out the van's extra-large windows on the scenic drive to Matamata over the Bombay Hills and through the beautiful Hauraki Plains. Listen to facts and anecdotes from your guide clearly via a hi-tech audio system. When you arrive at Hobbiton, take a 2-hour tour with a knowledgeable guide. Take plenty of time to explore the locations you’ve seen at home. Pose for photos in front of your favorite places like the Hobbit Holes and The Mill. At the end of the tour, enjoy a specially brewed drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Afterward, visit the Shire Store, which features an extensive selection of souvenirs to remind you of your visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set. On the drive back home, follow the amazing Waikato river and drive past the Taupiri Maori burial ground. Finish your fun day trip from Auckland with convenient drop-off at your hotel or back at the Sky Tower in Auckland’s city center.

From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip

4. From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip

Depart Auckland and embark on a scenic journey through the beautiful mountains of the Kaimai Range on a 2-hour drive to the Hobbiton Movie Set. Relax aboard a luxury Mercedes vehicle equipped with free Wi-Fi and complimentary snacks and water. On arrival, follow in the footsteps of your favorite Lord of the Rings characters on an official 2-hour guided tour of the 1,250-acre sheep farm where the movie was shot. Get amazing views of the Kaimai Range as you are led through the site to discover the Hobbit Holes, Old Mill and Double-Arched Bridge. Stop for a complimentary drink at The Green Dragon Inn. Continue to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and learn about the amazing glowworms and the caves' historical and geological aspects on a guided boat ride. Sit back and relax, and enjoy the scenery on the return drive to Auckland, where you will get dropped off at your hotel on arrival. 

From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Half-Day Trip with Tour

5. From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Half-Day Trip with Tour

Travel in comfort in a luxury Mercedes van from Auckland to the famous Hobbiton Movie Set. Your trip begins with a pick-up at your preferred location in Auckland. Enjoy a scenic 2-hour drive into Waikato with stops for photos en route.  On arrival, spend 30-45 minutes at the official Hobbiton Gift Shop and have a chance to grab a drink or a bite at the famous Shire's Rest Café. Next, embark on a 2-hour guided tour of the 1,250-acre sheep farm with amazing views of the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will then lead the way through the 12-acre site that’s home to Hobbit Holes, the Old Mill and the Double-Arched Bridge. Stop for a complimentary drink at The Green Dragon Inn. At the end of the Hobbiton Movie Set visit, head back to Auckland along the scenic roads of Waikato, arriving at approximately 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket

6. Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket

Regarded as one of the finest museums in the southern hemisphere, discover Auckland Museums' renowned and unique collection of Maori and Pacific treasures. Visit one of the nation's best heritage buildings that house the museum's three floors with stories of New Zealand. Learn about the great Polynesian voyages that brought people to Aotearoa. Then discover details about the diverse cultures and communities of Auckland. Enjoy views from the roof when you take part in the Incredible Rooftop Tour or discover the best bits of our galleries with the Gallery Highlights Tour.

From Auckland: Day Tour to Hobbiton and Rotorua

7. From Auckland: Day Tour to Hobbiton and Rotorua

Take a guided tour of the famous Hobbiton Movie Set, located inside a picturesque 1,250 acre sheep and beef farm near Matamata. Here, the village of Hobbiton was carefully created in amazing detail as a film location for the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies. During your guided tour of this amazing location, you’ll see sights like Hobbit Holes , the Mill, and The Green Dragon Inn, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle earth. After exploring Hobbiton, tuck into a delicious lunch at The Green Dragon Inn. Then finish the tour with a coach ride down to Rotorua.

From Auckland: Hobbiton & Rotorua Tour with Lunch at Te Puia

8. From Auckland: Hobbiton & Rotorua Tour with Lunch at Te Puia

Enjoy the magic of Middle Earth at the Hobbiton Movie Set and delight in Maori culture at Te Puia Maori Village in Rotorua on a day tour from Auckland. Travel in comfort with a small group and an experienced local guide in a late-model Mercedes or a similarly configured the vehicle to provide extra leg room and space for your comfort.  After the pick-up from your hotel, journey through gorgeous Waikato scenery to Hobbiton. On arrival, set off on an official 2-hour guided tour through the picturesque twelve-acre site. Learn fascinating details of how a beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle-Earth. At the end of your tour, savor a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.  Climb back into the vehicle for the 55-minute drive to Rotorua. Arrive at Te Puia Maori Village where you will have a freshly prepared hangi lunch featuring traditional Maori food. With plenty of time to explore, discover the Pohutu geyser, mud pools, hot springs, silica formations, and the iconic Kiwi bird. Visit the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. Then explore Rotorua, visiting the lakefront and the government gardens, before the return journey to Auckland. You can opt for drop off in Rotorua, just select this option when booking. 

Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with Lunch

9. Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with Lunch

Tour includes return transport with full commentary from Auckland, entry and guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set, a tasty lunch, and a complimentary beverage at the Green Dragon Inn.  Be picked up from your Auckland accommodation at between 6.30-7am and travel down through the Waikato region. Your guide will share insights with you about the surrounding areas as well as the movie trilogies 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit'. On arrival at Shire’s Rest, your Hobbiton guide will greet you and take you on a magical journey to Middle Earth. Be immersed in the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of The Shire, at the home of the Hobbits!  Sample an exclusive specially brewed beverage at the Green Dragon Inn to conclude your adventure. Then enjoy a beautiful buffet lunch at the Party Marquee. In addition, you'll have a $10 souvenir voucher to spend at the Hobbiton gift shop. Afterwards, depart for Auckland to be dropped back to your accommodation at approximately 3:30 PM.

From Auckland: Hobbiton Afternoon Tour

10. From Auckland: Hobbiton Afternoon Tour

This tour starts later than most (at 12:00 PM) - with hotel pickups from 11:30 AM. After leaving Auckland, travel through the Waikato region, which is well known for cattle and dairy farming. You will also pass some sheep farms on your way to Hobbiton. On arrival at Hobbiton you will have time get something to eat (own expense) or explore the Shires Rest Souvenir shop before joining Hobbiton Tours for a group walking tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set including a complementary drink at the Green Dragon before boarding the coach to return to Auckland.

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What people are saying about Auckland (Region)

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 239 reviews

An excellent day trip. Watched the sun rise on the road to Matamata and Hobbiton. Spent this wonderful day with a nice group of people, an American family and Aussie librarian, and Kelly, our driver and guide was fantastic. So kind and knowledgeable, he showed us a lot and even taught us a few phrases in Te Two as we drove to Rotorua. The guides at Hobbiton and Te Puis were also excellent and generous, and I'm glad I could learn a lot about Māori culture and arts and crafts, watch geysers and multi-coloured lakes, visit The Shore, and eat delicious hāngī lamb and chicken at lunch! A superb day!

Hello folks! We had our tour today with Rosco and we loved it! He’s punctual, friendly and a great driver. The tour was a fab vibe. The overall experience 10/10! P.S Rosco, thank you for the lovely pictures! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Greetings Bo & Kris from London!

The tour was great, especially our guide, Warren, gave us a lot of information along the way and made our day fun. The trip was well organized and we did not have to wait in line to start our tours at Hobbiton or Waitomo.

It was amazing I really like the lord of the rings and seeing this place in person was wonderful.

Great experience, easy to work with. Would recommend!