Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch

Overview

Visit some of New Zealand's must-see attractions on this combo tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Peek into Hobbit holes, frolic in the Shire, and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a guided tour of Middle-earth, followed by a café lunch. In the afternoon, explore Māori myths and history on an underground boat ride at Waitomo, surrounded by thousands of glowworms.

• Includes round-trip transport from Auckland CBD hotels

• Get out of Auckland for the day without having to self-drive

• Combine natural and pop-cultural attractions

• Lunch and admission tickets are included

What's Included

• Small-group tour (11-16)

• Light Kiwi café-style lunch

• Local driver/guide

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from downtown Auckland City

• Local taxes

• Admission ticket: Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves

What To Expect

Begin the day with pickup at your hotel in central Auckland and head south over the Bombay Hills and across the Hauraki Plains to a sheep farm in Matamata, better known to J.R.R. Tolkien fans as the Shire.

On a guided tour of the Hobbiton™ Movie Set, see recognizable scenes created for "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films and learn the secrets and stories behind the creation of Middle-earth. Take in stellar views of the Kaimai Ranges as you visit meticulously crafted sets including Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and the Green Dragon Inn, where you can even enjoy a specially brewed drink fit for a Baggins.

After the tour, trade Hobbit trivia with your fellow travelers over a Kiwi-style lunch at a café.

Next, embark on an underground adventure at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where thousands of tiny worms illuminate the caverns. Watch the mesmerizing natural light show while gliding through the cave on a boat, and learn about the area’s natural and cultural history from a guide—likely a descendant of the Māori chief who originally discovered the caves. You also explore on foot Cathedral Cave, known for its impressive acoustics.

On the return drive to Auckland, travel through some of the North Island’s most beautiful countryside, following the Waikato River (New Zealand’s longest), and passing both the Māori queen’s home at Ngāruawāhia and Taupiri, site of a sacred Māori burial ground. The full-day tour concludes with drop-off back at your hotel in the evening.

Auckland Central (Pass By)

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.

1

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. Complimentary specially brewed beverages are available at the Green Dragon Inn as you complete your tour Afterwards, enjoy a very “Kiwi” style lunch at the "Homestead" and get to share stories from Hobbiton and interact with your fellow travellers.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

2

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

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.

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking

• Not wheelchair accessible

• Stroller accessible

• Near public transportation

• Infant seats available

• Most travelers can participate

• Children must be accompanied by an adult

• Minimum age is 4 years

• 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

• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers