Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch
By Auckland Scenic Tours
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About
Visit two of New Zealand’s top attractions on a combo trip from Auckland. Explore the Shire’s Hobbit holes and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a Hobbiton™ Movie Set tour—a favorite for "The Lord of the Rings" fans—and then listen to Māori legends on a boat ride through the mesmerizing Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Along the way, pass through some of the North Island’s most gorgeous landscapes.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 11h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Cross off two North Island highlights in one day—no rental car needed!
- "The Lord of the Rings" fans will love an official Hobbiton™ Movie Set tour
- Ride a boat through the illuminated Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- Learn about native New Zealand history and culture from a Māori guide at Waitomo
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- 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
- Entry/Admission - Hobbiton Movie Set
- Entry/Admission - Waitomo Glowworm Caves
What's not included- Food and drinks, unless specified
- After pickup at your central Auckland hotel, leave the city behind as you drive through the Bombay Hills and Hauraki Plains to reach a sheep farm used as the filming location for "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films. J.R.R. Tolkien fans will recognize Middle-earth locales like Hobbit holes, the Mill, and the Green Dragon Inn as you learn behind-the-scenes secrets of the epic movies. After a Kiwi-style lunch, depart for the mysterious underground world of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Glide through glittering caverns on a boat as thousands of bioluminescent glowworms provide a natural light show. Explore the acoustically rich Cathedral Cave on foot, and learn about the area’s history and legends from a Māori guide. Travel along the Waikato River and past a sacred Māori burial ground on the drive back to your Auckland hotel, where your tour ends.
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- We pick up from 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. We also have only 1 pick up location in South Auckland/Auckland Airport area which is the Sebel Manukau Hotel, 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau (approx 10 minutes from the airport) 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 Hotel on Princes Wharf Hobson Lodge, 224 Hobson Street Holiday Inn Express, CBD Ibis City (Wyndham Street) Imagine Intercontinental Hotel on Quay Street (1 Queen Street) 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 Park Hyatt, 99 Halsey 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, 110 Packenham Street West, Wynyard Quarter Voco VR Auckland City, 188 Queen Street VR Queen Street, 401 Queen Street YHA Backpackers, 5 Turner Street
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 37991P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers 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
- 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 16 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: 37991P3
From
$370.00
per adult (price varies by group size)
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Getaway399359973080 contributionsThe best tour everEverything was absolutely amazing. Hobbiton is an incredible place and all the staff are very friendly, the Waitomo Caves are absolutely stunning, staff very kind as well. Our tour guide Brenda was wonderful and made the whole trip enjoyable and fun, she taught us a lot about New Zealand, its culture, food, gave us recommendations, she was always looking out for us; without a doubt she is the best guide of all. I recommend this tour 100%, it exceeded my expectations :)Written 17 September 2024
- Quest594292800320 contributionsOne great adventure to rule them all!Amazing time with friends! Our tour guide was very friendly and accommodating to our questions. This was an adventure of a lifetime made extra special by this service provider. Kudos!Written 9 June 2024
- gregbR6321RB0 contributionsHappy day outGood company, they messaged us the night before with pick up time and the drivers name, Denny. Denny arrived on time and introduced us to the other passengers. He explained the day s outline and off we went for a terrific educational gently paced tour of Auckland and surrounding areas. Den was an experienced local and could answer all questions. The winery tasting, lunch and afternoon ice cream were all first class . A good day out. Thanks Greg and Jill Perth WA 01.05.24Written 30 April 2024
- U4770LIcharlesj0 contributionsExceeded expectationsGreat small group tour. We covered so much of Auckland with great views and more than we expected. Danny was a super host. Highly recommend!!Written 17 April 2024
- anuj280 contributionsFantastic experience - thanks DannyEverything that I could have asked for- punctual, knowledgable, witty and very genuine, thank you Danny for taking us around Auckland.Written 3 April 2024
- Sandra G0 contributionsAuckland city highlightsDanny was very informative and a lot of fun. He made everyone in the group feel very welcome and he also wanted to get to know everyone.Written 2 April 2024
- V8408DBsueb0 contributionsHobbiton and Glowworm caves were a long drive from Aukland but thankfully Michael our guide made the drive enjoyable!We had an amazing day all helped by Michael our tour guide! Very knowledgeable, amusing and genuinely friendly! The whole day was fun and an experience we'll never forget!Written 26 March 2024
- F3226POmarks0 contributionsGreat way to see Auckland in a dayOur guide, Dave, was great. Very personable & knowledgeable. He gave us a great overview of Auckland, which was wonderful, especially as our time in the city was limitedWritten 22 March 2024
- 51walterb0 contributionsWell worth the time and moneySteve was one of the most knowledgeable drivers/guides I ever met. He know the history and current status of Auckland and showed us all the important sites.Written 22 March 2024
- pedropicapiedras1230 contributionsThe Perfect TourMike was great! Excellent tour guide and a really nice person. He even agreed to stop by at the All Black store for us to pick up some souvenirs. He went above and beyond the regular tour routine to provide us with the perfect tour.Written 8 March 2024
- Roving386713469660 contributionsThe BEST tour of of Auckland, NZ!David and Nicole, I wanted to reach out to you to let you know, my group of 8 people had an absolute, fantastic, wonderful, eight hour tour of Auckland yesterday! We want to thank Danny, our guide, who was absolutely fabulous, helpful, friendly, informative and courteous! He showed us everything and this tour is truly a, “must do while in Auckland, NZ”! We were thrilled to have the opportunity to take this tour and with Danny as our guide! Thank you and your staff so very much for opening up this tour for us! As Americans from Virginia, Florida, and Nebraska, this was our first time to Auckland, NZ. Your gracious Kiwi hospitality and beautiful country was simply wonderful! The tour was is among the best tours that we’ve had anywhere in the world! Cheers to All! Again, thank you! Teresa Virginia, USAWritten 8 March 2024
- K8378VGtonyl0 contributionsBest city tour.A hugely enjoyable and informative introduction to this fantastic city. Our eminently professional guide Alex provided excellent commentary and educational perspectives making the tour a truly memorable experience.Written 3 March 2024
- JanetSmith950 contributions1/2 day visitWhat a fabulous 1/2 day visit!! Our guide was Mike who was informative, knowledgeable and great fun. He took us to a variety of locations, not the usual places, and we had such a great time. We chose to be dropped off in Devonport and finished the morning with a walk around this lovely town. An added bonus to the tour. Would highly recommend it.Written 2 March 2024
- mistergLongIsland0 contributionsBest way to see it all in a short timeMike our guide was fantastic. He showed us the best of the best. He took great care of us and our needs and couldn't do enough to make our adventure perfect. The sights like MT Eden volcano and views words can't describeWritten 1 March 2024
- Jfacciolla10 contributionsGreat tourMike was a great tour guide. He’s very personable, professional, and has a good sense of humor. There was a group of 19 of us and we had two buses and Denny was the second driver. I hope you enjoyed the ice cream Mike.Written 28 February 2024
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.
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5.0
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Cynthia R
Plano, TX142 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
The driver/guide picked us up right on time at 6:15am. There were just 9 in our group so we were in a small van. The driver filled us in on the details of the day and provided a lot of local info on the drive. Once you get there, you get timed tickets on a second larger bus for the short ride to the movie set with a local guide. There are restrooms, a cafe and a gift shop where you catch the bus. The scenery is breathtaking and Hobbiton doesn’t disappoint. The guide provides lots of movie info and there’s plenty of time for pics. You get a free drink at the end at the Green Dragon. The tour driver picks you up so you don’t have to take the big bus back to the parking lot.
Lunch is included at a local roadside restaurant. The glow worm caves were quite interesting and part of the tour is a boat ride. They stress repeatedly that it’s important to be very quiet on the boat otherwise the glow worms don’t light up. It’s very dark on the boat ride so young kids may have a problem. There’s a nice gift shop at the end of the tour. We stopped for ice cream on the way back to Auckland. Try the local flavors: Kiwi Pavlova and Hokey Pokey.
It was a long day with lots of driving but two not to be missed sites we couldn’t have visited on our own. We also enjoyed the New Zealand countryside. The guide was very helpful and professional and shared many interesting facts throughout the day.
Lunch is included at a local roadside restaurant. The glow worm caves were quite interesting and part of the tour is a boat ride. They stress repeatedly that it’s important to be very quiet on the boat otherwise the glow worms don’t light up. It’s very dark on the boat ride so young kids may have a problem. There’s a nice gift shop at the end of the tour. We stopped for ice cream on the way back to Auckland. Try the local flavors: Kiwi Pavlova and Hokey Pokey.
It was a long day with lots of driving but two not to be missed sites we couldn’t have visited on our own. We also enjoyed the New Zealand countryside. The guide was very helpful and professional and shared many interesting facts throughout the day.
Written 1 January 2020
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.
Thank you for these lovely comments! As you now appreciate we have taken great care in the designing and timing of our tour. You are right that it is an early start. The reason for this is two-fold as we must beat the early morning peak traffic out of Auckland as what should take 30 minutes to leave Auckland can otherwise take more than double this. The upside as you experienced is that you basically have the Hobbiton Movie Set to yourself before the 4,000 odd visitors that go there daily descend on the Movie Set. This ensures the optimum experience.
Yes, from the moment we pick you up in the comfort of one of our Mercedes, we want you just to sit back and enjoy this absolutely magical and enchanting day as you visit the 2 most famous attractions in New Zealand. I sense you loved the specially designed scenic routes where for 80% of the day we get right off the motorways onto the lovely country roads with less traffic
Thank you also for the lovely comments about one of our tour guides and also for choosing our tour
Written 19 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen L
Bellingham, WA41 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
The tour started perfectly with our guide, Dwayne, warmly and promptly greeting us as we exited our hotel. The early start enabled us to avoid traffic and enter Hobbiton as the first tour of the day. Our guides at Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves were excellent as well. Dwayne met us at the end of each tour and was kind enough to take pictures of us that will help provide lasting memories (and FB posts) of this amazing tour. Long day but worth going! Mercedes van was very comfortable and Dwayne provided good travel tips and additional insights into Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves during the drive. Also, gave interesting commentary about towns and regions we drove through. Dwayne was always attentive to passengers comfort and enjoyment of the trip.
Written 5 March 2020
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.
Thank you!! I sense you had the most special day, made even more so by our of our tour guides. You will look back on the photos that you refer and the FB posts no doubt (and the reminders that pop up a year later) and reflect on the day we shared together visiting the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand. We were privileged to share these with you. You are right that from the moment we pick you up in the luxury and comfort of one of our fleet of Mercedes Bens vehicles, we want you to just sit back and enjoy this absolutely magical and enchanting experience.
You are right that we have especially designed our tour so that we miss the early morning peak hour traffic (hence the early start) but the upside, as you now appreciate. is that you pretty much have the Hobbiton Movie Set to yourself before the thousands and thousands that visit daily descend on the Movie Set.
We really appreciated your lovely comments on one of our tour guides and you experienced first-hand why they all are so renowned for their huge depth of knowledge but equally their professionalism and their affability. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour and best wishes for the rest of 2020
Written 5 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tidgney
4 contributions
Feb 2020
Great day out this, really was enjoyable! Our guide for the day was Dwayne who was great!
So the Hobbiton Movie Set, just as amazing as you'd expect it to be, in fact a few friends think the photos aren't real haha! The only downside to this experience was that our small group of 13 was added into a few other groups for this experience (This isn't by the tour guide which is why no rating is being taken off and would happen with any tour) as the guide at Hobbiton I sometimes couldn't hear as I was so far back. Other than that, it was spot on!
The Waitomo Glowworm cave really was amazing, I actually can't believe how good of an experience it was as well as the amount I learned. Really was well done, and you can tell all the guides at the cave really do love it! No photography or filming is allowed in the cave which is understandable.
Dwayne also showed us a few additional places en route and gave some good history/lore out about things which was fantastic. I do recommend this tour!
So the Hobbiton Movie Set, just as amazing as you'd expect it to be, in fact a few friends think the photos aren't real haha! The only downside to this experience was that our small group of 13 was added into a few other groups for this experience (This isn't by the tour guide which is why no rating is being taken off and would happen with any tour) as the guide at Hobbiton I sometimes couldn't hear as I was so far back. Other than that, it was spot on!
The Waitomo Glowworm cave really was amazing, I actually can't believe how good of an experience it was as well as the amount I learned. Really was well done, and you can tell all the guides at the cave really do love it! No photography or filming is allowed in the cave which is understandable.
Dwayne also showed us a few additional places en route and gave some good history/lore out about things which was fantastic. I do recommend this tour!
Written 22 February 2020
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.
Thank you!! Like you I am in awe every time I visit the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Is there any more serene and tranquil place that in the boat on the river as you glide silenty in the caverns of the Caves and you look aloft and you are mesmerised by the myriad of Glowworms shing down on you. It is like looking at the Milky Way; the cosmos of the Sky
I sense you took some amazing photos at Hobbiton!! Is there any more special place that being beside the Green Dragon, sipping on a complimentary drink with the reflective lake in the foreground and the 44 Hobbit Holes in the background.
Thank you for your lovely comments about our tour guide. You appreciated why they are so renowned for their deep knowledge, professionalism and affability. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour
Written 22 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel S
9 contributions
Our guide Dwayne was so good at making everybody feel happy and comfortable. The trip is so worth it, if you like Lord of the Rings you should totally go on this tour. Hobbiton was a fun adventure and adorable. The glow worms are a must do in New Zealand and this tour group is so good at making everything run smoothly, and they were so professional.
Written 17 March 2020
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.
Thank you for these lovely comments about our tour, its organization and one of our tour guides. We want all our tours to be an adventure and you clearly experienced that as we unfolded the 2 most famous and iconic attractions in New Zealand on this simply magical tour. I sense you absolutely loved Hobbiton; but as you experienced, you don't have to be a LOTR fan to enjoy this enchanting tour; in fact half the 1 Million visitors annually have never read a Tokein book or watched one of the movies and you don't have to have done either to enjoy this tour. Like you, I mavel at the tranquility and serenity of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and is there any better place to be than in the boat on the river in the Caverns of the Caves and you look aloft and see the myriad of Glowworms, like the Milky Way, shinning down on you. We think not.
Thank you also for your lovely comments about of our our tour guides and the professionalism that you felt. We appreciated reading that. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour
Written 18 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jazzamm
Woodinville, WA26 contributions
If you are a Lord of the Rings or a Hobbit fan then this tour is a must. The early, 6am start in Auckland just means the drive takes a little while. Mike kept us well entertained. Make sure to grab some coffee and breakfast to go because the first stop is just after 8:30am. Hobbiton provide their own guides and since the group is large try to stick as close to the guide as possible. There are several options to choose from at lunch including vegetarian and it was delicious.
The highlight for my spouse who is not a big Hobbit fan, was the glow worm cavern. It’s novel, beautiful and a wonderful experience. I highly recommend this company and this tour.
The highlight for my spouse who is not a big Hobbit fan, was the glow worm cavern. It’s novel, beautiful and a wonderful experience. I highly recommend this company and this tour.
Written 5 February 2020
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.
Thank you for these lovely comments about our tour. You are right it is an early start but the benefit of that is that we miss the peak hour traffic out of Auckland so this take half the time; the upside is that when we get to Hobbiton you pretty much have the Movie Set to yourself before the 4,000 odd that visit daily arrive. Additionally it affords the best opportunities for photos as you now appreciate.
Like your husband, I marvel at the beauty of nature every time I visit the Word-Famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Is there any more beautiful and awe-inspiring place I New Zealand? We think not. We believe, as you mention, that every one of our 8 tours, either in or out of Auckland, are excellent value for money.
But a point of difference is our guides that you commented on who are renowned for their deep knowledge plus equally their professionalism, affability and their attention to the little details. Thank you for choosing our tour and best wishes
Written 5 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Odyssey755744
1 contribution
Mar 2020
Great all around. The Hobbiton tour was great, plus having an afternoon excursion that was unique and exceptional only added to the day. We felt like we did two interesting and special events, while also getting out of the city and seeing what the countryside and rural life was in this part of New Zealand. Our guide, Dwayne was knowledgable, friendly and helpful, as well as unflappable when a storm knocked out the power at the lunch stop and heaby rain later in the day made the driving challenging. It's a full day, certainly, both in content and time.
Would definitely recommend.
JDF
Would definitely recommend.
JDF
Written 9 March 2020
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.
Thank You! Loved your headline " Very cool and full day!" We look at our Hobbiton/Waitomo Tour as being really 3 attractions; you visited the 2 most famous attractions in New Zealand on our 1 Day return excursion from Auckland (Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves) but equally as you comment on is the 3rd attraction, which is the spectacular county routes that we take for 80% of the day where we get right off the motorway (which we could take). This has been specially designed by our company as we recognize that for most of our guests this will likely be the only time they journey into this area and we want showcase the beautiful and every changing landscape that you refer to.
We appreciate also the lovely comments about one of our tour guides and also that his and our #1 focus is the safety of our guests and their possessions and we really appreciate you noticing and commenting on this. You experienced why our team of guides are so renowned for their professionalism, their attention to detail that you mention, but equally their affability and their enormous depth of knowledge
Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour
Written 10 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jonathan W
2 contributions
Aug 2022
Our guide, David, was excellent in every way. He was energetic, friendly, polite, organized, knowledgeable and, best of all, he knew every great angle to take photos for us and what to do while on the tours to get the best experience possible. He also made a point to make reasonable amounts of stops as the journey down to Hobbiton/Waitomo from Auckland is decently long, so this was very much appreciated. We were both very impressed with how good of a tour guide David was for us and highly recommend him.
Some things you can expect just to be prepared--be ready to wake up at the crack of dawn, have a good idea of how far you need to go for your pickup spot BEFORE the morning of, and make sure you're prepared for both warm and cold temperatures. Hobbiton is completely outside in the sun while Waitomo is underground and decently cold.
If my partner and I could give this company an even higher rating, we absolutely would! It meant the world to us to do this once in a lifetime experience with a service that was so well-organized. We are extremely grateful to David and Auckland Scenic Tours as a whole for providing an above and beyond service for us to two of NZ's most stunning locations. My favorite thing about this service is that they insist on taking the scenic route down from Auckland so that you can see the countryside of NZ, which is absolutely stunning (especially at dawn)!
Some things you can expect just to be prepared--be ready to wake up at the crack of dawn, have a good idea of how far you need to go for your pickup spot BEFORE the morning of, and make sure you're prepared for both warm and cold temperatures. Hobbiton is completely outside in the sun while Waitomo is underground and decently cold.
If my partner and I could give this company an even higher rating, we absolutely would! It meant the world to us to do this once in a lifetime experience with a service that was so well-organized. We are extremely grateful to David and Auckland Scenic Tours as a whole for providing an above and beyond service for us to two of NZ's most stunning locations. My favorite thing about this service is that they insist on taking the scenic route down from Auckland so that you can see the countryside of NZ, which is absolutely stunning (especially at dawn)!
Written 23 August 2022
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.
Gorgeous photo! I sense by both of your smiles that you loved your day and your detailed comments reinforce that even more so. We loved you commenting on the route that we take as we believe that this, apart from our tour guides, is a major point of difference. So many guests say that the route that we have specially designed is an attraction it itself. We get right off the motorways for most of the day onto the quaint country roads so that we can showcase the stunning and ever changing landscape of this region.
We loved reading " If my partner and I could give this company an even higher rating, we absolutely would! It meant the world to us to do this once in a lifetime experience with a service that was so well-organized."
We pride ourselves on our organization, communication and our wider team. We want to ensure that every guest on any of our 20 tours has a very special experience that they will treasure for a long, long time. You also have some very special photos that you will look back on with absolute pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to describe our tour and your experience in such detail. Best wishes and thank you sincerely for choosing our tour.
Written 28 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
787KMuhl
Houston, TX29 contributions
Feb 2020
We enjoyed out trip but there are a few things about which you should be aware.
First. If you are staying at a downtown hotel, call them and advise of which hotel. They willgive you instructions of when to be in the lobby. Please be prompt.
Second. there is very little open for breakfast before 06:30! You will not get an opportunity to eat for a couple hours. Ask for the location of a grocery store (Countdown) and lay in some food.
Third. This is a very long day. We spent nearly six hours on the van. The van is clean and comfortable. But the roads can be very windy. We sat over the rear axle so that did not help things. But I am very tall and wanted the leg room.
Our driver, Matt, did a great job looking after everyone and giving briefings about what we were seeing, the country side the economy etc.
I would not recommend this for children due to the lenght of the day.
The quides at Hobbiton were good, some better than others as it was not difficult to hear them. 33-40% of visitors have not read the books or seen the movie! If you have not, you should.
Were were there the day after Founders day. We probably benefitted from people taking a long weekend so traffic and the crowds were lighter. These places are very popular!
The glow worms are an interesting phenomina that you won't see anywhere else. But it involves a lot of standing and going up and down a lot of stairs in very dim light. Mobility challenged, take note.
The end.
First. If you are staying at a downtown hotel, call them and advise of which hotel. They willgive you instructions of when to be in the lobby. Please be prompt.
Second. there is very little open for breakfast before 06:30! You will not get an opportunity to eat for a couple hours. Ask for the location of a grocery store (Countdown) and lay in some food.
Third. This is a very long day. We spent nearly six hours on the van. The van is clean and comfortable. But the roads can be very windy. We sat over the rear axle so that did not help things. But I am very tall and wanted the leg room.
Our driver, Matt, did a great job looking after everyone and giving briefings about what we were seeing, the country side the economy etc.
I would not recommend this for children due to the lenght of the day.
The quides at Hobbiton were good, some better than others as it was not difficult to hear them. 33-40% of visitors have not read the books or seen the movie! If you have not, you should.
Were were there the day after Founders day. We probably benefitted from people taking a long weekend so traffic and the crowds were lighter. These places are very popular!
The glow worms are an interesting phenomina that you won't see anywhere else. But it involves a lot of standing and going up and down a lot of stairs in very dim light. Mobility challenged, take note.
The end.
Written 7 February 2020
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.
Thank you for these lovely comments about our tour. Yes, we pick up/drop off from all Downtown CBD accommodation whether it be hotels, BNBs, Backpackers. Normally our guests will put this on their booking and we then communicate with them upon receipt of their booking, advising them their pick up time and other arrangements for their tour. We additionally remind them the day before so that there is always a very good communication process as you would have experienced.
You are right that it is an early start and our guests later on are grateful for this as not only is it important that we miss the peak hour morning traffic exiting Auckland (there is only 1 way south) otherwise what should take 30 minutes can otherwise take 2 -3 times this; but the upside is that when we arrive at Hobbiton our guests basically have the Movie Set to themselves before the 3,000-4,000 that visit daily arrive. Our guests then love how they can slowly meander around the Set getting the absolute best photos.
The 2 attractions (Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves) are a couple of hours south of Auckland, so if you want to go to Hobbiton etc, it is a 2 hour drive. You can't change this. Peter Jackson deliberately chose this location literally in the middle of nowhere; but we negate this by for 80% of the day getting right off the truck laden and congested highways and travel on the spectacular and ever changing landscape of our beuatiful country roads which so many of our guests comment on is one of the highlights of their day. We showcase the scenery of this area with a couple of the roads having scarcely a car which often affords us the best opportunity to see some of our native birdlife. We want you to just sit back in the luxury of one of our Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the very large viewing windows and enjoy this scenery.
Interestingly we host so many families with young children; and yes you can't escape this is a long day but for those with limited time in Auckland you get to see the 2 most famous attractions in New Zealand in 1 Day.
Almost 1 Million visitors go to Hobbiton annually and interestingly 1/2 have never watched a movie or read a Tolkein book and you don't have to have done either to enjoy this absolutely magical and enchanting tour. Clearly also we have LOTR fans who have watched the movies multiple time and they marvel at seeing the Set come alive in front of their eyes.
I am pleased you loved the Waitomo Glowworm Caves as this natural phenomenon is like nothing you can see anywhere else and isn't the boat ride towards the end just awe-inspiring when you are on the river in the caverns of the Caves with the Milky Way of Glowworms shining down on you. Yes, there are some steps as you mention but rememebr you are descending into Caves. Thank you for your lovely comments and choosing our tour. Best wishes for 2020
Written 8 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Samantha K
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia101 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Hobbiton was great (regardless of whether you’re a fan) and the Waitomo glow worm caves, albeit a little underwhelming, is still a worth a visit if you’re interested in bioluminescent organisms. Our guide Dwain is wonderful; he is honest, well organised, provided clear communication and enough space to explore and rest where needed. He was also quite informative with great little tid bits along our journey. I sometimes suffer from motion sickness and his driving was pretty smooth, even around the windy areas. It’s a beautiful scenic drive, New Zealand is really gorgeous. We were quite lucky to have an eclectic, small and friendly group of travellers with us which made the experience even more enjoyable. Dwain gave great suggestions of other things to do for those of us who were staying on in Auckland for a little while longer. Thanks Dwain for an awesome day!
Written 12 March 2020
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.
Thank you for these lovely comments about our tour and one of our tour guides. We particularly appreciated you commenting on the driving of our tour guide. For our Company, your personal safety and the safety of your possessions are our #1 prirotiy. Our tours always are secondary.
You are so right that you don't have to be a LOTR fan to enjoy this magical tour; in fact half the 1 Million visitors that go to Hobbiton annually have never watched one of the Movies or read one of the Tolkein books and you don't have to have done either to enjoy this simply enchanting and magical tour.
Was interested in your comments on the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. I personally, like so many thousands of our guests, say this is the best part of their whole time in New Zealand. The serentiy and tranquilty leaves you spellbound. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour and best wishes
Written 16 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Veronica_rhdc
Wilmington, DE51 contributions
Jan 2020
Let me start off by saying- I have never seen the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings movies, but this tour was still very cool and 100% worth it. You start the day driving to the location where Hobbiton is which is about 2 and a half hours, you do the 9am tour which involves traveling via a bus to the site then a tour guide walks with you and lets you take pictures as tour the set. After viewing the set and being able to get a picture inside one of the Hobbit cave things you end at the pub place (maybe it was called the Green Dragon) where you are offered a complimentary beer, cider or ginger beer. I recommend you use the time before you start your tour to check out shops as there is not a lot of time after the tour. Next you go with your guide back to the bus then drive another hour and get a complimentary lunch about 10 minutes from the Glow Worm Caves. You complete the tour (where you are strictly not allowed to photograph inside the cave) and then head back to the bus drive an hour and stop at a rest stop where they serve ice cream. My only compliant about this tour was that the bus (or large van) did not have charging outlets- I did the Auckland scenic tour the day before with the same company which was much shorter of a tour and their bus/van had the outlets in them.
Written 31 January 2020
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.
Thank you for these lovely comments and also for choosing 2 of our signature tours; the Hobbiton/Waitomo Caves Combo Tour and also our Full Day Tour of Auckland which , as you experienced, is widely regarded as the most comprehensive tour of Auckland.
As you comment, it is interesting that half the 1 Million visitors that go to Hobbiton have never read a Tolkein book or watched one of the movies and you don't have to have done either as you experienced first hand. You would have marvelled at the detail and how well manicured and maintained the Set is. I sense also that you took so many photos that you will treasure and look back on fondly. You are right that inside the Caves you cannot take photos; with the best camera being your eyes; the reason for this is that the Glowworms react negatively to light and will turn their lights totally off and it can take some 2 hours for them to return to their full luminesence. You would have been in awe of the cosmos of Gloworms shining down on you. Is their any more magical place that sitting in the boat on the river gliding silently through the caverns of the Caves with the milky way of Glowworms shining down on you. Yes, all our Mercedes vehicles except one have charging sockets in each seat; except one which has a centralized unit up front that you may not have been made aware of. Thank you sincerely for choosing our tour and best wishes for the rest of 2020
Written 2 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Is 4 hrs too much time at the caves? Or what do you do during that time after the 45 min glowworm tour?
Written 5 January 2024
You don't spend 4 hours at the caves. You spend maybe a little more than an hour. After that you travel back to Auckland. It's about a two hour drive.
Written 5 January 2024
Each hotel (pick up location) is given a different time. I think ours was 7am
Written 11 December 2023
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
This tour is not suited for a 3 year old.
Written 30 May 2023
is there time to shop for souvenirs at the green dragon inn?
Written 22 April 2023
There is plenty of time to shop at the souvenir shop both at the beginning and end of the tour at Hobbiton.
Written 26 April 2023
Why did you charge my card? the site said reserve now and pay later? I was planning to pay later when the trip gets closer and my plans are set.
Written 21 August 2021
Sara K
Exeter, United Kingdom
What would you recommend wearing for this tour? (I’m going mid February)
Written 15 February 2020
We just returned ( Feb 2020), all you need is a light jacket. We normally wear shorts but on this trip, jeans were perfect.
Written 16 February 2020
jeffrey l
Redlands, California
Good morning,
We would love to book this tour but I see your tour starts at 6:30 am. My family ,4 adults, arrive Sunday March 22 at 6am NZ flt #5 from Los Angeles. Not sure how long it takes to get out of the airport. Is there anyway we can book this tour and leave from the airport? Thank you for your help. Jeff
Written 10 February 2020
Sorry you would not make it. In any event it is a very long day which after a very long flight I would strongly not recommend. That said very much enjoy the day. Patrick
Written 11 February 2020
Sara K
Exeter, United Kingdom
Would this tour be okay for a solo traveller? Are there other solo travellers?
Written 10 February 2020
I went on it on my own (male) and there were 2 other solo people (women) on it who seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. The parties were all very friendly as were the guides.
Written 1 March 2020
My husband is really tall, so is he going to be able to walk upright without getting a concussion?
Written 31 January 2020
The first few metres of the caves, you will both have to bend over, but after that he won't have an issue at all.
Written 1 February 2020
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
