Auckland

Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland

Name: Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland
Brand: Auckland Scenic Tours
SKU: 37991P3
Price: 225.01 USD
Rating: 5.0 (1546 reviews)

Auckland, New Zealand

Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Day Trip from Auckland

Likely to Sell Out

From $225.01

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

11 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Visit a pair of New Zealand's must-see attractions with 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 Kiwi-style lunch. In the afternoon, explore Maori myths and history on a boat ride through mesmerizing caves lit by thousands of glowworms, and finish with a drive through some of the North Island’s most majestic scenery.

Full-day combo tour to the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves from Auckland
Enjoy a Kiwi-style lunch
Includes round-trip transport from Auckland CBD hotels
Small group limited to 14 ensures personal service

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

Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

06:30 AM

Pickup details

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 Adina Apartments Air BNBs- all Downtown CBC BNBs Airedale Suites, 380 Queen Street Ascotia off Queen Attic Backpackers, 31 Wellesley Street West Auckland City Hotel, 157 Hobson Street Auckland Harbour Suites Avani Metropolis Backpackers-all CBD locations Barclay Suites Choice Backpackers, 10 Wellesley Street East City Life Copthorne, 150 Anzac Avenue Cordis Crowne Plaza De Bretts Hotel Dilworth Econolodge Empire Apartments Fable Hotel Gamma Hotel Grand Chancellor, 1 Hobson Street Grand Millennium Haka Hotel & Suites, 2 Day Street (only) Haka Lodge, 373 Karangahape Rd Heritage Hilton Hobson Lodge, 224 Hobson Street Holiday Inn Express, CBD Ibis City (Wyndham Street) Imagine Kiwi International, 411 Queen Street Mercure Auckland, 500 Queen St Metropolis (Avani Metropolis) MSocial Nesuto Stadium Apartment Hotel, 40 Beach Road Nesuto St. Martins, St. Martins Lane Newton Lodge, 27 Cross Street President Hotel Princes Wharf Apartments Pullman Quadrant Hotel & Suites Quest (all CBD locations) Ramada Suites, 147 Victoria Street Rydges Sebel (both Viaduct Harbour and Quay West) 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 Stamford Plaza 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 Travelodge, Packenham Street West, Wynyard Quarter Voco VR Auckland City, 188 Queen Street VR Queen Street, 401 Queen Street YHA Backpackers, 5 Turner Street

What To Expect

Begin the memorable day with pickup at your hotel in Auckland’s Central Business District, 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 scenery 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.

Next, embark on an underground adventure at the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where thousands of tiny worms illuminate caverns thanks to natural phosphorescent properties. 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 Maori 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 Maori king’s home at Ngaruawahia and Taupiri, site of a sacred Maori burial ground. The full-day tour concludes with drop-off back at your hotel in the evening.

Auckland Scenic Tours (Pass By)

Hobbiton Movie Set

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum age is 4 years
Not wheelchair accessible
A maximum of 14 people per booking (We can provide this tour to groups larger than 14 by discussions with Viator and ourselves)
Stroller accessible
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Not Wheel-Suitable Friendly as these are walking tours
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
We can provide NZ Safety Approved Child Car Seats and Booster Seats. We do not provide strollers or infant back packs
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Charles_H

Amethyst was a fantastic van driver and tour guide. She gave us great history lessons along the way. She told us she had been a costumer on the Hobbit movies and had done the wardrobes for the dwarfs. Of course, she had great stories about that. Highly recommend.

Reviews

5.0

1,546 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 1,546 reviews

The best experience for solo travelers and families 💕

Allison_T, Apr 2024

Jamie was amazing! I had the best time traveling solo on this trip to Hobbiton and the caves. I felt like I got a 1:1 experience and though it was a full 11 hours, I wish I could do it all over again! The caves were a spectacular delight. You can’t take photos or videos because it’s on aboriginal sacred ground but it makes the experience that much more special. I felt really in the moment and so privileged to be able to have the opportunity to see it. Hobbiton was even better than I envisioned. I loved every moment in the roaring green hills and being able to go inside a hobbit house! Definitely a must do in Auckland. 💕 Please note: when you arrive at hobbiton, make sure to go to the gift shop FIRST. You will not return after your tour. You go straight to lunch and the caves.

Habit nerds and amazing glowworm cave

Alan_W, Apr 2024

It was a long day from Auckland to Hobiton and Cave but was worth the time if you are able. Hobiton was great to explore. Fred, our guide was high on the scale of nerd of middle earth, working on his PhD about middle earth, watching all of the movies 42 times each. His horse was an extra in the movies. He also, as a teen, was an extra. We received lots of trivia with challenges to find who's house belonged to who, certain trees that were artificial, how they made Gandalf look taller from look shorter and identifying different houses with the trade they specialized in. The glowworm cave with boat ride was by far the most impressive of the three I visited, one in Australia, one from the Bay of islands and Waitomo. An impressive limestone cave with interesting structure and very bright areas of glow worms bioluminesence. A great guide with important information.

Blessed experience

Carla_C, Apr 2024

Matt was a wonderful guide and driver! The while day was a delight. Great combination tour! The Hobbiton site was so well kept and organized. Never felt rushed or uninformed. The Alexander Farm is beautiful!!

Hobbits and glowworm fun

Charles_H, Apr 2024

Great day

John_C, Apr 2024

Good trip everything was organized very well I had a great day the Hobbiton area was beautiful and looked amazing

Really worth it!

vk2pdyf4qb, Apr 2024

My tour guide was the best! He made sure to guide us through our tour fun and safely! Go give this tour a try!

Geoff is the best!!

Yunmei_C, Apr 2024

Geoff our tour guide did an excellent job and very detailed and helpful and he is one of the best Viator tour guide that we have!! Thank u Geoff for ur recommendation for the dinner place and we enjoy it very much!! Wish u all the best!!

Surreal

tengland94, Apr 2024

Matt our tour guide was incredible. Super knowledgeable, friendly and knew the best places for pictures. This was a great tour and I highly recommend you give it a go when here.

Great day trip, top attractions

Tom_B, Apr 2024

A really enjoyable day, Hobbiton was such fun and the Waitomo cave and glow-worms were magical. Our guide and driver, Martin, was considerate, totally organised, knowledgeable and made the day be the best, thank you

Magical Hobbit Journey.

Donald_R, Apr 2024

We were pleasantly surprised by the size of Hobbiton and especially enjoyed our time in an actual Hobbit hole! Amysthis was a fun and knowledgeable tour guide and helped us pass the drive time with stories. Great guide. The Glowworm caves were also a unique treat.

Must Do

David_P, Apr 2024

Amethyst was an amazing tour guide. She was a wealth of knowledge and made the whole experience a delight even while stuck in traffic lol. The glow worms were in full display, lunch was great, and of course hobbiton did not disappoint.

Second visit

Zdenek_S, Apr 2024

Second visit was very good, especially with new building and all these nice interiors. Spring and automun in Hobbiton is very beautiful. The only sad thing is missing dwarfs coins as gift to my friens at home. So maybe next time :)

Worth a he time and money!

Kathleen_M, Apr 2024

Spectacular day!!! Brenda our tour guide was fantastic!!! On time all day, helpful, kind and fun. Hobbiton and the GloWorm Caves were both magical…. Really a very special and memorable day!

One of Our Best Days in New Zealand!

Beatrice_T, Apr 2024

The Viator tour to the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves was great! It gave us a very good look at the country side of New Zealand. Mike was an excellent tour guide, very friendly and informative on New Zealand. We enjoyed shopping for souvenirs before heading to the Hobbiton Movie Set which was quite an amazing experience. We enjoyed the drinks at the Green Dragon Inn, and lunch before heading to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves which was something extraordinary to see. Gerry and I enjoyed our experience and highly recommend the Viator Day Trip! It is definitely good value for the money.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Love your headline "One of Our Best Days in New Zealand!" and also your comment "It is definitely good value for the money." We believe every one of our 20 tours are outstanding value-for-money. In the hands of our of our professional, knowledgeable and affable guides, this ensures that your experience is enhanced. From the moment we pick you up, we just want you to sit back in the comfort of one of our spacious air-conditioned Mercedes and let our tour guide take care of all the little details. It was a privilege hosting you. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour.

Safe and recommended for solo travellers

Avery_L, Apr 2024

Journey was seamless, efficient and informative with Mr Danny as the tour leader. Bus ride was comfortable and efficient as it was well maintained and spacious. Tour coincided with spot of rain at Hobbiton nonetheless ended on a good note. Mr Danny was prompt and present in ensuring the tour moved on as planned. Special care was also taken for the various solo female travellers on the group. A sweet ending on the return to the city as Mr Danny shared some ruby kiwi fruit with everyone. Appreciate the warmth and care, also kudos to the strong driving and navigation skills of Mr Danny in addition to the informative and well paced commentary throughout the journey.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

We were all very thrilled to read the so many beautiful comments that you wrote about our tour, one of our guides and how our tour guide helped ensure that the solo female travellers on our tour were truly cared for. So your headline "Safe and recommended for solo travellers" is very special to us all as we welcome every solo traveller. Appreciate also you comments in detail on how our tour guide, with his driving, knowledge, warmth and care helped ensure that you would have a very special experience. It was a privilege hosting you. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. Best wishes.

Amazing 5 star tour

Nancy_T, Apr 2024

What an amazing 5 star experience. The scenery could not have been more spectacular. Our tour operator, Brenda was on time, friendly and very knowledgeable about Auckland and New Zealand. I would highly recommend the Hobbiton experience and Auckland Tour Company.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you. Love your head line "Amazing 5 star tour." We also appreciate your comment "The scenery could not have been more spectacular." This is a major point of difference with our tour as you experienced and commented on. We have especially and exclusively designed a route that shows our guests the real New Zealand. For 80% of the day we get right off the motorways and on to the quaint country roads. This enables us to showcase the stunning and ever changing scenery of this region of New Zealand. It is like a 3rd attraction. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you.

I had a wonderful tour. ...

Ami_K, Apr 2024

I had a wonderful tour. The Driver/Guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and kept us all on time and together. i highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in going to Hobbiton and the glow worm caves. The guide at the glow worm caves was fantastic too.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for sharing these lovely comments about our guiding team and our tour. Is there any better way to spend a 1 Day return excursion from Auckland than visiting the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand on our Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Caves Tour (including lunch)? We think not. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you.

Hobbiton and Waitomo excellent day trip

Courtney_C, Apr 2024

Matt was an amazing guide and driver! Very prompt and helpful! Hobbiton was great, wish there was an option to book the Second Breakfast tour option with Viator as well. Glow worms were pretty but short, I would have booked the dark cave tour (longer/more adventurous) if I had known about it!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

I sense from your comments that you had a very special day that you will cherish for a long time. Appreciate your lovely comments (an amazing guide and driver) about one of our tour guides. Also particularly about his driving. For us, this is the #1 priority on all our 20 tours. It was a privilege hosting you. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour.

Storybook

Lizette_S, Apr 2024

The Hobbiton and Glowworm Cave adventures were everything we hoped for and more. It is our first time in New Zealand and we only had a few days to see highlights in Auckland but we really wanted to venture out of the city for a day. New Zealand landscape is incomparable and almost like a storybook. We're glad we went with this company to give us the tour for a day. Debra was amazing and knowledgeable. Definitely worth the money.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for these very special comments about our tour and one of our tour guides. We value immensely your comment "New Zealand landscape is incomparable and almost like a storybook." This is a major point of difference on our tour; the specially designed route that we travel all day where for 80% of the day, we are off the motorways and on the quaint country roads. And you are so right; it is this showcases the landscape which is like a "storybook" as you mention. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour. It was a privilege hosting you.

Unforgettable

Pilar_M, Apr 2024

We loved all the experience, our guide was so nice and gentle. Hobbiton is “a Dream” and the caverns in waitomo are AWESOME!!!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you! We love your headline that your experience on our tour was "Unforgettable." I sense you have so many beautiful photos that you will look back on so fondly. We agree with your comment "Hobbiton is “a Dream” and the caverns in Waitomo are AWESOME!!!." It was a privilege hosting you. Than you sincerely for choosing our tour. Best wishes.

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