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Rotorua to Auckland Including Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves
Rotorua, New Zealand
- 11 hours 15 minutes
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Embark on a one-way tour from Rotorua to Auckland, the first stop is the Hobbiton Movie Set, the world-famous film location. See Hobbit Holes, stroll through the lush gardens and learn how this private farm became Middle-earth on a private tour. The next stop is Waitomo Glowworm Caves, one of the North Island’s most popular attractions. Be amazed by the illumination of thousands of tiny glowworms on a boat tour through Glowworm Grotto, a subterranean marvel. Travel through the Mamaku Ranges and the rural farmlands of Waikato en route to Auckland, admiring highlights such as Fitzgerald Glade.
- One-way tour from Rotorua to Auckland via Hobbiton Moview Set and Waitomo Caves
- Marvel at the thousands of tiny glowworms suspended from the ceiling
- Take a boat ride through the glowworm cavern
- Enjoy a picnic lunch (if option selected)
- Discover the scenic countryside of Waikato from the comfort of your coach
- Tour includes pickup from Rotorua and drop-off in Auckland
What's Included
- Hotel pickup from Rotorua - please call to book
- Hotel drop-off at Auckland - please call to book
- Local guide
- Drinks
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Located at the Tourism Rotorua iSite Center
Start time
End point
- 102 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
What To Expect
Visit two two attractions on this Rotorua to Auckland Tour, visit The Hobbiton Movie Set made famous by the Lord of The Rings film franchise and Explore Waitomo caves on a guided tour during this one-way trip from Rotorua to Auckland.
After morning pickup from your hotel in Rotorua, get settled in a luxury coach for the journey north. En route, you’re driven past the picturesque Mamaku Ranges and through the arboreal tunnel of Fitzgerald Glade. Click away at the countryside views as you listen to onboard commentary about the sights.
The first stop is Hobbiton Movie Set, where you will see Hobbit Holes, stroll through the lush gardens and learn how this private farm became Middle-earth on a private tour.
Upon reaching the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, follow your guide down into the underground chambers where stalagmites, stalactites, and other limestone rock formations decorate the otherworldly cavern walls. First discovered in 1887, the Waitomo Caves rank among New Zealand’s most popular natural attractions. A boat ride takes you deeper into the Glowworm Grotto to see the tiny radiant lights emitted by thousands of glowworms hanging from their silk threads.
Then continue onward by coach toward Auckland. Pass through the ‘Bridge City’ of Hamilton and the dairy capital of Waikato before arriving in the 'City of Sails' by mid-afternoon. Your tour concludes here with hotel drop-off.
After morning pickup from your hotel in Rotorua, get settled in a luxury coach for the journey north. En route, you’re driven past the picturesque Mamaku Ranges and through the arboreal tunnel of Fitzgerald Glade. Click away at the countryside views as you listen to onboard commentary about the sights.
The first stop is Hobbiton Movie Set, where you will see Hobbit Holes, stroll through the lush gardens and learn how this private farm became Middle-earth on a private tour.
Upon reaching the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, follow your guide down into the underground chambers where stalagmites, stalactites, and other limestone rock formations decorate the otherworldly cavern walls. First discovered in 1887, the Waitomo Caves rank among New Zealand’s most popular natural attractions. A boat ride takes you deeper into the Glowworm Grotto to see the tiny radiant lights emitted by thousands of glowworms hanging from their silk threads.
Then continue onward by coach toward Auckland. Pass through the ‘Bridge City’ of Hamilton and the dairy capital of Waikato before arriving in the 'City of Sails' by mid-afternoon. Your tour concludes here with hotel drop-off.
Hobbiton Movie Set
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 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.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
26 reviews
Samuel_W, Sep 2023
Hobbiton is a wonderful place to visit. The hobbiton houses are very beautiful and amazing There will be some new hobbiton houses under construction. I look forward to visit these again in future.
Lavinia_W, Jun 2023
The Waitomo Caves is amazing and Hobbiton is fun to see with great tour guides.
The driver/tour guides were very informative and helpful.
Julia_S, Apr 2023
The trip was super well organised! Everything was on time, nice bus, nice drivers with interesting comments on the way. Recommended!
Patricia_L, Apr 2023
It was a great way for us to see two sites that we would have missed otherwise and return to Auckland for our flight home. Thank you. The tour guide was great too.
Charles_W, Mar 2023
Beautiful Waitomo Caves likes stars at night.
Hobbiton is a scenic farm surroundings and with good movie memories.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Hi Charles! Thank your for your review. It is important to us to get feedback from our customers. Hope to have you as customer another time:)
Ellie_N, Feb 2023
Even though I have never seen the movies, this was a great experience, I want to watch them all now. The glow worms were amazing. All staff, hosts and drivers were amazing!
Megan_H, Nov 2019
Everything ran on time. The caves are busy (because they always are), but really cool to see. Driver provided interesting commentary.
Ricardo U, Sep 2019
terrible experience cause i ended up paying money for the transportation that i didnt consider. if i booked with you was cause it includes the transportation from and back to the hotel.
hersh_l, Jun 2018
If you plan to travel from Rotorua to Auckland there is no better way than this tour. The bus is spacious and comfortable with WiFi. The driver is knowledgeable and gives commentary as you drive through NZ. The caves are a amazing. Looks like gazing into space.
ANTHONY_B, Feb 2018
I had thought about renting a car from Rotorua to Auckland, but I shied away from this because of the challenges of driving on the other side of the road. Then we learned that we could take the bus from Rotorua and stop at the famous Waitomo glowworm caves on the way to Auckland. Accomplish two goals at once? We took quick advantage of the opportunity. What can you say about glowworms? The famous song may be American, but the species of fly or gnat is unique to New Zealand. Very few persons outside of New Zealand have seen glowworms, and any opportunity to see them should not be missed. At the site, we got into a small boat and went through the caves under the innumerable dots of light above out heads. The view of the glowworms lasts just 15 minutes or so, but it is definitely worth it. The bus ride through the New Zealand countryside was lovely. All in all, this was a truly wonderful way to get from point A to point B.
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