Home > Auckland > 2-Day Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton Movie Set and Rotorua Tour from Auckland
USD $667.00
2-Day Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton Movie Set and Rotorua Tour from Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Immerse yourself in the otherworldly beauty of New Zealand’s North Island on a two-day escape from Auckland. From Rotorua’s famous geysers and the glowing Waitomo Caves to the re-creation of Middle-earth at Hobbiton, you’ll discover scenic beauty and natural wonders, ancient Maori traditions and movie-making magic on this fascinating two-day tour.
Day 1: Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua (L, D) Leaving Auckland, you’ll be driven south to visit the world-famous limestone formations of Waitomo Caves. Enter the subterranean labyrinth of caves to admire a magical world of stalactites and stalagmites, eerily lit by the luminescent gleam of tiny glowworms.
After your tour of the Waitomo Caves, a picnic lunch is served on board the coach as you are driven east across the North Island to Rotorua. There’s free time to explore Rotorua before boarding an amphibious ‘duck’ vehicle for a tour of Rotorua’s lovely lakes. In the evening, discover Rotorua’s rich Maori heritage during a night of ritual, ceremony and cultural performances, including a traditional Maori 'hangi' feast featuring meat and vegetables cooked in an earth oven.
Overnight: Accommodation at your chosen category in Rotorua
Day 2: Rotorua - Hobbiton - Auckland (B) After breakfast, get ready to see mud pools, spouting geysers and other geothermal displays at Te Puia, where you’ll also enjoy Maori cultural performances. Next, meet New Zealand’s signature kiwi birds at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and see sheepdogs and sheep-shearing in action at the Agrodome.
Your tour continues with a scenic drive across the Kaimai Ranges to the farm near Matamata that was transformed into Hobbiton for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie set. Here you’ll see the fairytale landscapes of the Shire, including the hobbit holes, and visit the Green Dragon Inn and Mill.
Following your memorable visit to Hobbiton, your tour concludes in the early evening, with the option to be dropped off in Auckland or Rotorua.
Excellent tour -fully recommend to future travelers!
Review by: Laura T, October 2017
One of the best organized trips I've ever been on! Everything ran on time, and when my husband and I were super impressed by how well we were looked after by everyone. Even when there was a change in schedule the staff organized it all in the background so my husband and I didn't have to worry about anything. The staff went above and beyond to make sure that we were looked after._br/_ My greatest fear on these types of trips is that I'll be forgotten by the tour bus, but this never happened. I easily could have spent more time in each of the places we stopped, but I was okay with this quicker pace as it meant we got to see more of the highlights._br/_ The only complaint my husband and I had was on the trip home we were picked up at a later spot than the majority of the tour group those who did the one day trip instead of the two day trip and remained on the same bus all day, and by that point the other guests had spread out across all the remaining seats, meaning that we were forced to sit apart. On the way out from Auckland, our bus driver had asked single travelers to sit together to allow couples and families seats together, but the bus driver on the way home not only refused, but started yelling at the person who asked her to do this, which put guests in the awkward spot of either having to ask other guests to move to a different seat, or splitting up for the drive home. A small annoyance amidst a wonderful trip, and I felt that particular bus driver was the exception rather than the rule. I would definitely book a tour with Viator again. I was very impressed with how well organized everything was.
Review by: Allen R, October 2017
Fabulous trip, pity it was a bit rushed in Rotarua. Hobbiton out of this world. Fabulous guide called Sarah
Review by: Déa, September 2017
The tour was really nice and everything work on time. The places are unbearable! Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton movie set were the best!
Review by: alyssa h, September 2017
Amazing tour!! I loved every part of this trip. Everything was planned out very well and the staff were awesome! There are other places they take you during your tour which was an added bonus for me. Highly recommend this trip!
Review by: salvam, August 2017
My son and I really enjoyed this tour package. Cost of tour based on time spent in each site, qualities of tour guides who went with us and the number of places visited is so worth it! A real value for money.
Review by: Heather F, July 2017
We really enjoyed this 2 day tour to see so many sights in New Zealand. We only had a few days in New Zealand, so this was the best way to make the most of our time there. Everything was well coordinated for us in our itinerary and we were surprised that this tour is really a compilation of several separate tours/experiences with different guides/buses/groups of people on each part of the trip. I was glad that I had printed out the overall itinerary ahead of time so we had a good idea about the sequence of events and timing. At one point we called the Great Sights phone number with a question about a bus pick-up time and they were very helpful and responsive.
Review by: Sandra B, July 2017
Best money I ever spent...INCREDIBLE!...I saw so many things, the bus drivers and tour guides were so knowledgeable. Viator looked after me every step of the way making sure that you were on the right bus for each event. A very smoothly run operation and the sites..Well, SO Unbelievably amazing..Love Love Loved it. My only recommendation is that before you book this tour, make sure that they pick you up at your hotel OR as I did stay at a hotel in downtown Auckland near the bus depot. So many wonderful memories to add to my life line..btw, I am a 65female solo traveller...Let Viator take care of you and your family, they are fabulous. My photos are from my iPhone, but I will try to add my camera ones later, if allowed
Review by: E M w, June 2017
So glad we did this tour,knowledgeable guides on all parts of the tour,never felt lost or confused with changing coaches or visiting places . If you are staying in Auckland and want to do thes tours I would suggest doing the 2 days as there is a lot of travelling and at least you have time to rest overnight. Spectacular sights in the glow worm cave and Hobbiton is everything you imagine.Rotorua is an amazing place.Would highly recommend.
Review by: Tianyi L, May 2017
It has been a great time for my mum and I. Absolutely loved the Hobbiton Movie set. The transportation was good, on time, and well arranged, very organised.
Review by: Kevin F, February 2017
Had an awesome time. Organized and enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended!
Review by: radioplastica, February 2017
Nunca me entregaron los vauchers de la comida hangi ni el duck tour , le tocó a la conserje del hotel de rotorua ponerse a llamar sitio por sitio aver en cual estábamos citados. El resto del tour muy bonito, excelentes buses y choferes-guias muy amables.
Review by: Patricia A, February 2017
This would have been a great tour as far as what you see and do but the whole first day was horrible due to our bus driver - Ben. He was mean from the start of getting on the bus then he had a melt down and ruined the cave trip for all. Good sights on tour.
Review by: Ana C, January 2017
THE BEST!!! All atractions were fantastic!!
Review by: Jill P, December 2016
Really enjoyable and fun tour. There was always something interesting to do! Well organised!
Review by: Jordan P, August 2016
WOW. That's all I can say. I initially looked into booking a few of these tours by themselves and figuring out our own transportation, but honestly, it's INCREDIBLE how they strung this all together perfectly and efficiently. Book this if you want to see it all without wasting time! _br/_ Not once did I feel like I may have been stranded anywhere, forgotten about among buses of tour groups, or that I would have gotten on the wrong bus which were my main fears. All of the drivers were insightful, funny, and caring. Food provided on the bus was tasty. All of the tours were FANTASTIC. When we got back to our accommodations I had felt as though I had seen the whole northern island! In fact when we told people what we had already seen and done within 3 days of being there they were stunned.
Review by: beth.moreland, July 2016
If you have only a short amount of time, this tour is a great way to see a whole lot of fantastic sites outside of Auckland. Every item on this tour was completely worth seeing, but the highlights for me were the glow-worm caves, the duck boat tour, Te Puia geothermal area, and definitely the Hobbiton movie set. This tour is a fantastic value, especially considering almost every attraction you visit will include a private guide. Throw in the transportation, meals, and overnight accommodations and you've got a winner. Definitely recommend this tour.
Review by: Amanda A, July 2016
Best trip of my life, so glad I found this tour amongst the others.
Review by: Alfred P, June 2016
The tour was exceptional - my wife and I had a great time! The only recommendation we would make is that you give us an overall schedule of pickup and drop off times and locations. We never were left anywhere but we often didn and #39;t know specifics on the sequence logistics.
Review by: Jennifer B, April 2016
Hobbiton is incredible!
Review by: Jennifer B, April 2016
Rainbow Springs was underwhelming. Our guide was nice and knowledgeable, but went too fast and didn't show us half the attraction and what it had to offer. The duck boat tour was great, but the exhaust coming from the vehicle made me nauseated and gave me a headache. Hobbiton was the best part, by far. I didn't want to leave!
Review by: Hideharu E, April 2016
Loved every moment. A great tour even if you are not a fan. So informative, loved the Bus Tour driver commentary. KIA ORA!!!
Review by: John B, April 2016
I realize these are tours and they are trying to get as many people through as possible. I gave it a 4 because it was an amazing experience, with 1499 strangers.
Review by: Anthony Hoi Kit L, March 2016
Excellent!
Review by: Krishnan C, March 2016
It was an awesome experience
Review by: Kerrie, March 2016
Great for those with limited time in the North Island, packs a lot of activities in a short amount of time. However, I felt a little rushed - not much time to buy souvenirs. Couldn't fully enjoy some of the activities as much as if I'd driven myself and organised my own similar trip over an extra day. Stay an extra day in Rotorua if possible to enjoy more.
Review by: Ms D M J, March 2016
Overall, the trip was a very good experience. There was a lot packed into the two days. I enjoyed all the trip activities - it was good to go along and try everything, and I rather liked swapping around buses. There were lots of friendly people on the buses including the drivers and the same people would appear at different times and places, like old friends! If you don't have a lot of time, or your own transport, this is a great way to get around. The caves were rather crowded at first, but I was surprised at the extent of the caves - and the quiet boat ride was lovely. Rotorua was fascinating. The Duck Tour was fun and I got to see the lakes around Rotorua. The Maori village was a good combination of factual information and fun, and our driver to and fro the village had a fine singing voice. He also did the actions to the songs - I've never been on a coach before where I've cried with laughter! If you're a Hobbit/Lord of the Rings fan, you'll adore Hobbiton. It was amazing! My sister is totally jealous.
Review by: Neil P, February 2016
2 words - just do it! Trust me you won't regret it :
Review by: deannakempen, January 2016
The tour was outstanding. It is a wonderful way to see and experience New Zealand in a short amount of time.
Review by: deannakempen, November 2015
This was a truly great experience. The guides were knowledgeable and the experience was wonderful. Any first timer should do this to get an overview. I am already planning an other trip.
Review by: Lois F, October 2015
This was one of the best tours I have been on. This is a 'not to be missed' tour of anyone visiting the NZ north island. If it can be worked into your schedule, spend additional time in Rotorua.
Review by: Ricardo S, October 2015
Amazing experience. Recommended for anyone visiting NZ.
Review by: Norberto C, August 2015
Great 2 day tour filled with many things to see and do. Prior to the trip we received an itinerary for the two days with times of each activity. highky recommend the tour. Wished the Waitomo caves was longer, no opportunities to take pictures inside the cave. Other than that an overall great tour
Review by: ann c, July 2015
The tour itself was very fun. It's very eye opening. Rotoura is a muse see. Stay at the Millenium and you will be able to view the lake and walk to the Polynesian Spa. However, the portion of the transportation to Hobbiton and from Hobbiton to Auckland was very confusing. No communication on when the bus will be arriving. It's not very fun to stand in the dark in the 40's temperature with the luggage and not knowing when the bus will be coming. The bus actually came about one hour after we have been dropped off by the Hobbiton shuttle. The tour company can at least gave us that information so we can head to a nearby cafe instead of waiting by the bus stop.
Review by: Alan Jr Gerzon L, June 2015
I had an amazing trip except the Rotorua tour/Maori culture experience/dinner. I wasn't able to join the tour due to the unreceipt of travel pack at the start of the tour. please provide e-itineraries so that we have a high level ideas especially multi day tour that involve multi travel agency
Review by: Teeraporn S, June 2015
It was very well organised and coordinated. We had a very good time. It would be next to impossible for us to this on our own over 2 days. It was basically a snapshot of the North. We will definitely come back to visit these sites in more details. At least we now know what to expect.
Review by: Edna S, May 2015
The tour was amazingly beautiful!!
Review by: Michael O, April 2015
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Everything was flawlessly organised and it was so easy having it all done for us. All we had to do was go along and enjoy ourselves. Would highly recommend doing this tour!!! It was absolutely fantastic!!
Review by: Max P, March 2015
The tour was wonderful. I enjoyed the duck boat and the glow worm caves. My wife thoroughly enjoyed Hobbiton, and the Tamaki village was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend this for anyone visiting New Zealand for the first time.
Review by: Max P, March 2015
The tour was wonderful. I enjoyed the duck boat and the glow worm caves. My wife thoroughly enjoyed Hobbiton, and the Tamaki village was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend this for anyone visiting New Zealand for the first time.
Review by: Max P, March 2015
The tour was wonderful. I enjoyed the duck boat and the glow worm caves. My wife thoroughly enjoyed Hobbiton, and the Tamaki village was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend this for anyone visiting New Zealand for the first time.
Review by: Max P, March 2015
The tour was wonderful. I enjoyed the duck boat and the glow worm caves. My wife thoroughly enjoyed Hobbiton, and the Tamaki village was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend this for anyone visiting New Zealand for the first time.
Review by: Max P, March 2015
The tour was wonderful. I enjoyed the duck boat and the glow worm caves. My wife thoroughly enjoyed Hobbiton, and the Tamaki village was a lot of fun. I definitely recommend this for anyone visiting New Zealand for the first time.
Review by: David H, March 2015
Much of it was much too touristy for my taste, especially the Maurie dinner. I also prefer smaller group tours.
Review by: Channing W, March 2015
Overall, it was a good experience. For a first-time experience and exposure to the north island, it was worth it. I could not have scheduled as much as they did for two days. The Maori concert/feast is a must do!! Tamiki tribe is the one I experienced and it was wonderful! Enjoy!!_br/_
Only thing else would be to create an adrenaline tour of bungee/bridge/tower jumping experience!!!
Review by: bobbeatty3755, March 2015
Did 7 different events in two days. All excellent. Room at Ibis was excellent. Drivers were excellent. Great coordination between tours.
Review by: Margaret R, February 2015
The tour was wonderful. We experienced a lot of The North Island in a short amount of time. The buses were always on time and the guides unusually helpful. A great tour.
Review by: Mark C, February 2015
There were 3 main things I wanted to see in New Zealand and this tour covered them _ Waitomo Caves, Rotorua and Hobbiton. I hadn’t done a tour like this where bus loads of people kept splitting up and getting on new buses for different tours. Although my wife and I had 7 different buses it all went smoothly. A bit of time is lost waiting and changing buses but I am not sure if this could be done better._br/_
We loved the tours of Waitomo Caves, Rotorua and Hobbiton. We also had a “duck” tour which went right into the lakes at Rotorua. The Maori village and hangi feast, spouting geysers at Te Puia, Kiwi birds at Rainbow Springs and even a sheep show at the Agrodome. The accommodation at the Millennium Hotel was very comfortable, although prepare yourself for the smell of sulphur. _br/_
I couldn’t imagine how I could have organised this myself in the time frame. I strongly recommend this tour to anybody visiting New Zealand.
Review by: Leonard L, December 2014
Great Package. I could not have coordinated a better trip for a two day period. Everyone was nice and the connections between attractions and vehicles were well organized. I would highly recommend this tour package to anyone who love to enjoy the North Island of New Zealand.
Review by: Eero E, November 2014
Lot of activies and attractions packed into two days. Facing multiple local operators looked first a little confusing but at end of day worked very well.
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