Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour from Auckland with Lunch
4.5
Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour from Auckland with Lunch
By GreatSights
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Visit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and the Hobbiton Movie Set on a convenient tour from Auckland that explores two top sites in one all-inclusive day. You’ll cruise an underground river lit by twinkling glowworms, then see hobbit holes and filming sites, all while taking in the North Island’s gorgeous scenery.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 48 per group
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Tour Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Hobbiton Movie Set from Auckland
- Combine two great sites to conveniently see more of New Zealand
- Watch the sparkling display of glowworms on an underground boat tour
- Picnic lunch served in the beautiful Waitomo Valley
- Guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set goes behind the scenes
- Transport by luxury coach
- Picnic Lunch
- Pick up from selected hotels - please call to book
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- Restroom on board
- Entry/Admission - Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- Entry/Admission - Hobbiton Movie Set
- Start the day with pickup at selected hotels in Auckland, or at a centrally located meeting point. You’ll board a coach for the trip to Waitomo, enjoying a morning snack as you pass through rolling hills and farmland. Upon arrival in Waitomo, go underground on a boat tour of the Waitomo River, where twinkling glowworms provide the only light in a series of caves and caverns. After the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour, pause for an included picnic lunch and continue through the Kaimai Ranges to Matamata. At the Hobbiton Movie Set, join a guide for a behind-the-scenes tour of the film site for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, where director Peter Jackson recreated the world of Middle Earth.
- Start:
- 102 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New ZealandThe meeting point is the InterCity Bus Terminal
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3910GS16H_GS11H- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 48 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3910GS16H_GS11H
From
$379.00
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 102 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New ZealandThe meeting point is the InterCity Bus Terminal
- 1
- 2
- 3
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- joannasD7863AR0 contributionsHobbitonAt first I was worried about booking this due to the reviews but everything was done so perfectly! The driver was on time and so punctual. Rachel who was our driver was so knowledgable and funny which may the trip so enjoyable. The tour and the food were just amazing as well whether you’re a fan of the movies or not, I say do it!Written 14 May 2024
- JeevaDavid0 contributionsBest Coach Driver gives the best expereinceWe are here to share our poistive feedback about Brian our Coach Driver / Tour Guide/ Encyclopedia etc. It was an epic tour all because Brian went out of his way to explain and provide information about things we did not even know existed in the first place. Thank you Brian. We did the Greymouth to Franz Josef (Great scenery) Franz Josef to Queenstown (almost dream and picturisque) Queenstown to Christchurch via Mt Cook (the best because Brian was heading it)Written 7 May 2024
- SriramJSS0 contributionsGood your to HobbitonBeing an LOTR fan, we enjoyed a lot. Transport, drink and lunch were very comfortable. They had decent options for vegetarian as well.Written 1 May 2024
- Nomad494319117100 contributionsA great organised excursion !The experience was amazing ! From the moment we set off from Rotorua to Hobbiton, the driver made us feel at ease. We laughed a lot and he explained a lot about the town and the surrounding area. When we got there, we were immediately immersed in the atmosphere with the cafeteria and the shop. The guided tour of the place was really interesting, and we learnt a lot about the films and the shooting. There's plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, take lots of photos and observe the set in detail. The meal was very good and varied, giving us lots of time to eat and chat before heading back on the bus. Whether or not you're a fan of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, this is a must-see. The scenery and landscapes are stunning ! Thank you for this day !Written 21 April 2024
- S8294TZjenniferb0 contributionsExceeded our expectations!Excellent and beautiful tour of The Shire set, lovely guides and driver, and a delicious lunch buffet is included in the tour, as well as a nice drink.Written 17 April 2024
- lindabP8371HX0 contributionsDisappointedWe were booked on a tour early morning to Hobbiton going as a group, we arrived at hotel for pick-up and the coach never turned up! Our tour guide phoned and was told that the trip had been cancelled due to an “error “ on the 1st March, our trip was on the 3rd March, and we were not notified that it had been cancelled.Very disappointed. Heard from other people this company not very reliable. Check your tour is going!Written 22 March 2024
- lindabP8371HX0 contributionsDisgustedWe were up early to get our coach from hotel in Rotorua, our tour guide was waiting with us. Our coach from Great Sights never turned up! Our tour guide was told that the trip was cancelled on 1st March but he wasn’t informed of that fact, we were booked to go on 3rd March. Wish I could give no marks, as this coach company not worth booking, and heard of other people being disappointed with them. Was really angry that the coach company cancelled our booking without our and tour guides knowledge, so never got to Hobbiton!Written 16 March 2024
- Inspire192063885590 contributionsSiblings step foot on setLovely experience. The tour guide gave plenty of background knowledge of the life on set and the different tidbits. Plenty of photo opportunities and great history. My brother and I plan on going again with more of our family.Written 2 March 2024
- ChristineA1820 contributionsGood news Bad newsI'm not sure how yo divide this review. The Hobbiton staff were incredible. They were knowledgeable, kind, organized, and professional. Our lunch was amazing. This I would rate 10/10. I was in a wheel chair, having recently broken my leg. OLIVIA drove us around in a golf cart. She was perfect. However, the company that provided the bus and the bus driver, city sights, was the worst organization I've ever used for travel. The bus driver was rude and embarrassed the vacationers. Comments made were personal and rude. No parking was available near the bus puck up, and when inquiries were made, no help was forthcoming. All arrangements for handicapped accessibility were made directly with Hobbiton. In fact, I was told that by City Sights, that it was my problem, they offered no accessibility. I crawled onto the bus using what is called a bum shuffle to protect my leg that was in a cast.Written 21 February 2024
- Lonnie L0 contributionsAwesomeGreat experience. Very large set and good guides. Bus driver Hana was exceptional. Highly recommend this for any Hobbit fans.Written 12 February 2024
- br14n_l0 contributionsA must place to visitIt's a must place you have to tick off on you're to-do list. Great for families and adults alike. The tour was great and easy walking and was a thoroughly enjoyable day.Written 19 January 2024
- Dreamer3091550 contributions"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."WOW! This was a phenomenal tour!! I can't recommend it enough. I was picked up by our coach driver RACHEL, who gave us amazing information on our way down to The Shire. Everything from a brief history of Auckland, trivia about the production of the Lord of the Rings, and the current news, culture, and events of New Zealand. You are very, very lucky if Rachel is your coach driver. She told us the most optimal way to access the tour, right down to when to order coffee and use the restroom. The Shire itself was amazing. Lots of photo opportunities, a chance to learn about the production of the film, the family that owns the farm/property where the film was shot, and more! We had an excellent tour guide, Hayden, who provided great insight on the film. The lunch was GREAT! Amazing food that was fit for a pescatarian (and would accommodate a veg* diet as well) like myself. It's a great way to round out the trip after a long journey from Auckland. The transfer to Rotorua was easy. CHRIS, the coach driver to Rotorua also provided some amazing information regarding the area. I am so glad that I go some background info on things to do, see, and history. Do yourself a favor and get on this tour. Like now. It's a once in lifetime experience, that would delight Tolkien fans and detractors alike!Written 17 January 2024
- AngieDavey0 contributionsHighly recommend for adults as well as little people. Time and money well spent.So well organized and great day out. Driver informative, helpful and funny. Hobbiton totally amazing and lunch exceptional. Enjoyed the company of others on the tour too. Excellent value for money.Written 10 January 2024
- nataschasT2584XQ0 contributionsNot cheap - but SO WORTH IT!Once in a Lifetime experience for everyone who loves The Hobbit/LotR. And exciting for every agegroup. It was great to see how every visitor (especially adults) was looking for a place to hide - because no one wanted to leave after the official tour 🫣 We were lucky to see one of the recently opened Hobbit Wholes: so much love put into this work. So many details. You literally wait for Bilbo to knock at the door….Written 27 December 2023
- 754mimmig0 contributionsSplendidI had the pleasure to go with the amazing tour guide and bus driver Rachael. Amazing experience. I’ll definitely go again but only if I get to go with her.Written 24 December 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
105 reviews
Excellent
76
Very good
17
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Luke R
10 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
It was a brilliant tour! We had plenty of time in Hobbiton, sets were brilliant and the guide was very informative about stories behind the scenes of the LOTR and Hobbit films. The caves were spectacular and beautiful going on the boat to see the glow worms. Was like seeing blue stars in the night sky. Rachael our bus driver was a joy and told us everything about New Zealand the whole bus trip. You’ll have a ball if you have Rachael as the bus driver!
Written 7 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NEONeill
North Saanich, Canada23 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
The Hobbiton was an amazing experience, and far more than a feeling we were just seeing a movie set! It felt like we were stepping back in time in a world of fantasy that had become a reality! The lunch meal served in the marquee was so delicious and definitely as filling as a Thanksgiving dinner if one wanted it to be!!
The caves and quiet glowworm boat ride are a beauty of nature, so rarely found… a very special experience.
Both tours are easy walking and my daughter and I were able to do it in sandals. However, if it had been pouring rain, I would have appreciated runners as it could get muddy at Hobbiton (naturally, as we are outside in a beautiful, hilly region).
The caves are cool, so it felt nice having a light sweater inside. The walking portion of the caves is easy as the floors are flattened in tile with many stairs to help with the descend and ascend.
The two events were not too much in one day. They were spaced out between napping on the coach bus just perfectly.
Our Coach bus driver, Rachel, was wonderful! They told stories throughout the time on the coach, which was so informative and educational of New Zealand history, lands and people, as well as their own personal stories of life on a farm. My daughter and I very much appreciated it all!
Thank you!
The caves and quiet glowworm boat ride are a beauty of nature, so rarely found… a very special experience.
Both tours are easy walking and my daughter and I were able to do it in sandals. However, if it had been pouring rain, I would have appreciated runners as it could get muddy at Hobbiton (naturally, as we are outside in a beautiful, hilly region).
The caves are cool, so it felt nice having a light sweater inside. The walking portion of the caves is easy as the floors are flattened in tile with many stairs to help with the descend and ascend.
The two events were not too much in one day. They were spaced out between napping on the coach bus just perfectly.
Our Coach bus driver, Rachel, was wonderful! They told stories throughout the time on the coach, which was so informative and educational of New Zealand history, lands and people, as well as their own personal stories of life on a farm. My daughter and I very much appreciated it all!
Thank you!
Written 18 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good morning Neo! We really appreciate you spending time to write such a nice review. It will definitely help other travelers in deciding to do the tour and visit the places. We are glad you had a great time and enjoyed our crew:)
Regards
Cris
Written 10 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lauren T
3 contributions
The trip was amazing!! First we went to hobbiton, where we had a tour guide take us across the property and give us a detailed tour of the set and all the work that went into creating it. Next we were served a hobbit feast for lunch where there was a buffet with a large array of options for food and drink. We even got to go to The Green Dragon for a classic ale (they also have nonalcoholic options). After this we boarded the bus and made our way to the glowworm caves. Again, we had a guided tour of the caves which consisted of a walk through and the story behind the caves. At the end of the tour you board onto a boat and float down the river to see all the worms, they were super cool!! You’re not allowed to take any pictures which was a bummer and I do wish we had more time to see the actual Glowworms, but all in all a great experience! Our tour guide/ bus driver for the day was also great! When driving to and from your destinations he gave insight on the places we were passing and did a good job at setting realistic times to arrive and depart the bus to make sure there was adequate time to see everything without feeling rushed. Highly recommend this tour!!
Written 11 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine J
Sacramento, CA24 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
Rachel was our driver and she was funny and informative. We ran into a traffic jam that put us an hour behind and she made sure we were taken care of and didn’t miss a thing. Hobbiton was awesome! Our guide was Keith and he was great. This particular tour includes a drink and buffet lunch at the Green Dragon and everything was delicious. We left feeling quite full. We had booked this same tour with a different company but they cancelled and I ended up booking with Great Sights, and I’m glad I did! The other tour didn’t include lunch. The glow worm cave was magical and the tour guides Max and Ty were very sweet. It’s a long day coming from Auckland but it was quite enjoyable.
Written 7 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosalba F
London, UK142 contributions
I strongly recommend the tour Hobbiton + Waitomo Caves by Great Sights. The tour is simply amazing, Hobbiton is magic and Waitomo caves are so magnificent that moved me to tears. I recommend everyone to put them in their bucket list. The organization was perfect and the driver/guide Rachel exceeded my expectations. Very professional and educated, Rachel gave us wonderful and interesting insights about New Zealand history and everyday life. Now I’m in love with the “silver fern” country ^__^
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wander15519880413
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Family
Waitomo Glowworm Caves were the highlight of our entire trip. Highly recommended and great photos! The bus picked us up at the bus stop right in front of our hotel. Our guide, Rachel was absolutely incredible. Informed us on every detail: lavatory rest stops on the way, bus pick up and drop off times, what to expect at our destination. The bus ride was long, but not having to drive made it possible to enjoy the beautiful countryside along the way. Rachel was very knowledgeable and professional!
Written 26 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren C
15 contributions
Jan 2023
Such a fun experience! As a LOTR and Hobbit fan, I was so excited to check out Hobbiton. The whole day was fun - the bus ride out there was good, our bus driver ( I can't remember his name) was very knowledgeable on the history of Auckland and the areas we were driving through.
At Hobbiton we had a great guide (Kara I think her name was) and she was very knowledgeable on the movies and the set. It was raining the day we went but we were provided with umbrellas and still managed to get some good photos.
We were able to have a drink in the Green Dragon hotel and were given an amazing buffet feast lunch at the end which was delicious.
The Waitomo Caves were wonderful - we were given some good insights on the caves and its history and our guide - Moi was great! The glow worms at the end just topped off a great trip.
At Hobbiton we had a great guide (Kara I think her name was) and she was very knowledgeable on the movies and the set. It was raining the day we went but we were provided with umbrellas and still managed to get some good photos.
We were able to have a drink in the Green Dragon hotel and were given an amazing buffet feast lunch at the end which was delicious.
The Waitomo Caves were wonderful - we were given some good insights on the caves and its history and our guide - Moi was great! The glow worms at the end just topped off a great trip.
Written 30 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Langjitianya
US10 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
The confirmation letter had Cordis Auckland as the depart location (also this is what is listed in the depart location when we booked the tour online). However, our family arrived earlier and waited there for 15 mins without seeing the coach (while some other tours' coaches were in front of the hotel). The meeting time passed, so we got worried and called the Contact Center. The call is quickly answered and the operator is helpful, however we had to run 15 mins to get to another meeting location as the coach has left Cordis already. The issue discovered is that the coach actually waited in the bus stop on Symonds Street, but this location is not written in the text box that highlights the depart location, but rather in smaller font below the text box in the confirmation letter. For the rest of the trip, it was mostly good (lunch was good, the driver to Rotorua is especially nice and helpful, but the wifi didn't work on the bus, the Waitomo cave was not really impressive comparing to what I saw elsewhere and the Hobbiton tour was in such a hurry that you don't have much time to take photos). The pick up was really a problem - a bad way to start your vacation. What made it worse is that when we arrived at the new meeting point and pointed the problem to the girl who signs people up, she said "that's not our problem"
Written 11 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon A
1 contribution
Feb 2023
Tony, our bus driver was rude to many of the passengers, particularly those who didn't speak English as their first language. I thought he might come to blows with one gentleman. The sights were great and the on-site guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Upon arrival back in Auckland, we were informed there would be no returns to our hotels were we had been picked up. Tony's response was "not my problem." Emails to the company were ignored.
Written 14 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good morning! Thank you for taking time to review our services. We apologize for our late response and also regarding the situation with our bus driver. The situation is not definitely in line with how we operate our tours and how the bus drivers are instructed to behave. We will appreciate if you can send us your booking number and date of your travel in order to follow up on this case.
You can either contact us
By phone:
Freephone (within New Zealand): 0800 744 487 International Calls: +64 9 583 5790
or
E-mail:
info@greatsights.co.nz
Regards,
Cris
Written 10 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ron R
Unteruhldingen, Germany4 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Rachel, our bus driver, did a great job. Lots of great info on New Zealand going and coming back.
Hobbiton was wonderful with an excellent lunch. Guides were very knowledgeable and numerous stories about which scenes were shot where etc.
The Waitomo caves were magical. Probably better with a smaller group
Hobbiton was wonderful with an excellent lunch. Guides were very knowledgeable and numerous stories about which scenes were shot where etc.
The Waitomo caves were magical. Probably better with a smaller group
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia Ora! Thank your for your reviews. It helps us to keep improving the tours in order to meet our customer's expectations, like you :)
Written 22 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
冠崴 王
Sanchong, New Taipei
Attendee: 2 adults, 1 kid (3-years-old)
After I book the tour, will you notify WAITOMO GLOWWORM CAVES? The description below is from their website.
Besides the tickets, will you charge the corresponding for the 3-year-old kid? If the answer is "yes", how much is it?
Do you have the seat for the kid in the bus?
Are kids free?
Under 4-year-olds go free, but they must be booked to secure a place on tour.
Written 28 May 2023
Ilysia Sana
Waianae, Hawaii
If we wanted to be dropped of in Rotorua after, what would be the estimated time of arrival?
Written 19 June 2019
No idea but suggest u contact the transport company.
Written 19 June 2019
Hola que tal, quería saber si luego de la excursión uno puede quedarse en Rotorua o la vuelta es si o si a Auckland?
Written 29 December 2018
Hi, I have a folding wheelchair. Can I do this tour?
Written 20 September 2018
Probably not. We walked on a lot of uneven and uphill surfaces
Written 23 September 2018
HI, I have similar ? if we want to be dropped at Rotorua, can you please confirm that you have arrangements for us to keep our luggage in the coach and help us in transit of the same? Any info is very much appreciated.
Written 7 July 2018
We were each traveling with a large suitcase and they safety and securely stowed all of it luggage throughout the excursion. Once finished with the cave tour, they helped guide us and our luggage to another bus that dropped us in Rotorua.
Written 6 September 2018
Hello, two people are taking a trip to New Zealand in a few days and we were wondering if you have pick up from Rotorua and dropped off at Rotorua? If so, what time would the pick up and drop off be and how much would it cost to and from Rotorua. Is there any availability on June 13th or June 14th? Thank you!
Written 30 May 2018
This particular tour does not appear to leave from Rotorua. However if you look at things to do in Rotorua on Trip Advisor there is at least one outfit that operates from there. Suggest you try contacting them for best options
Written 30 May 2018
Hi, Do you have availability in second week of November as I can't see it in the calendar.
Also, if I want to be dropped at Rotorua, can you please confirm that you have arrangements for us to keep our luggage in the coach and help us in transit of the same ?
Written 21 May 2018
Hi Team, could you please help me with my query above ?
Written 27 May 2018
Showing results 1-8 of 8