Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Day Tour with Lunch from Auckland
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover two of New Zealand’s top attractions in one unforgettable day. Our small-group Hobbiton & Waitomo tour gives you more - more time to explore, more comfort, and thoughtful touches that set us apart.
With a maximum of 15 guests, enjoy a relaxed pace, surprise photo stops, and secret encounters along the way. Led by passionate guides and including a delicious lunch, this is the ultimate North Island adventure
Due to the delicate ecosystem within the Waitomo Caves, photography is not permitted inside. This policy helps protect the glowworms, ensuring the preservation of this unique environment.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
Due to the delicate ecosystem within the Waitomo Caves, photography is not permitted inside.
Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can provide your own or one can be provided for $20 NZD (with 24 hours notice).
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
The legal drinking age is 18, and ID may be required
Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties, a moderate amount of walking is involved.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Auckland Central
Your tour starts in New Zealand’s largest city. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventure today but also point out and guide you past some of the city’s top highlights.
Waikato Region
Exiting Auckland we travel south through the stunning Waikato countryside, the most extensive farming area in the world, encountering beautiful scenery, mighty rivers, great photo opportunities, impressive mountains and several farm animals along the way.
What‘s Included
Small Group and Fully Guided Tour
Lunch
Entry Tickets
Water available & snacks provided
Gratuities
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour from Auckland
Pickup included
Reviews
1,165 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful Visit to Waitomo & Hobbiton
T2227PGandrewm,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic time with our tour guide, Liam! He was extremely knowledgeable and personable, and made the entire day fun and easy. Everything was seamless, and we were able to relax and enjoy Hobbiton and Waitomo while also learning more about New Zealand history. We would highly recommend! Thanks, Liam!
The Cheeky Michael Experience
Go37269830996,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What can I say about this tour, other than I loved it! We started with getting picked up in Auckland CBD (at whichever hotel we chose previously) and from there we drove for about an hour and stopped at The Corner Stone Cafe for breakfast. They had a lot of great food options (gluten free, dairy free, veg, vegan) and a full espresso bar. From there, we drove down to Hobbiton and was handed a menu and order form for lunch. Again, there were options for all dietary needs, which I really appreciated. Cheeky Michael peppered our drive down with interesting historical facts and information about the land. Hobbiton was incredibly beautiful, I took so many pictures and videos there that my phone died! Our Hobbiton tour guide was Mira and she did a wonderful job taking us through the Shire. I could tell that she really loved the lotr universe and truly enjoyed working as a guide. After that we drove towards the Waitomo Caves and made a stop for lunch along the way in Otorohanga at The Thirsty Weta. After lunch we drove to Waitomo for the glow worm cave tour but made a quick stop to say hi to the local ostrich! The caves were absolutely stunning and taking a boat to see the glow worms was so cool. We even got to see some native freshwater eels. Our guide was Mary Francis and she was so sweet and knowledgeable about the caves. Cheeky Michael was a great tour guide and I really enjoyed learning more about New Zealand from a local. He even took us to get ice cream on our way back to Auckland! I had a great time on my first Cheeky Kiwi tour and will definitely be using them again and recommending them to anyone I know visiting New Zealand.
Hobbiton exceeded expectations, glow worms were delightful, and tour guide Ari was the BEST!!
V6892BVpatb,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ari was our tour guide and she was FABULOUS!! Great communication and sharing of details the day before, prompt pickup, super friendly, safe driver, and all together wonderful day! Ari shared so much information about both New Zealand as a country and the Maori as a people. Easy to talk to and ask questions, eager to share, and made our entire day a tremendous experience. 😊👏🏻🇳🇿🧙♂️
Amazing experience, great guide and smooth organization
ekaterinasF9834LA,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really enjoyed this tour and would definitely recommend it. Yes, the departure is early, but it’s absolutely worth it — you’re back in Auckland around 6–7 pm and still have your evening free. The group was small (around 15 people), which made the experience very comfortable. The minibus was clean and cozy, and everything was well organized. Our guide, Ale, was fantastic — very knowledgeable, funny, and created a great atmosphere throughout the day. Ali explained every step clearly, so the whole process felt easy and stress-free. At Hobbiton, we were guided by Jessica, who was also excellent. Lunch was a pleasant surprise — instead of a simple snack, it was a proper meal at a café. You pre-order from a menu, so your food is ready when you arrive, which saves time. The meal is included (main dish or sandwich), while drinks can be purchased separately, with water available for free. Waitomo Caves were also very impressive. The tour there is relatively short (around 40–50 minutes), so combining it with Hobbiton in one day makes perfect sense. As a nice bonus, we watched part of The Lord of the Rings during the drive, which really added to the atmosphere. Overall, I had a great experience — everything was smooth, well organized, and enjoyable. Best for: First-time visitors, LOTR fans, and anyone wanting a stress-free day trip.
Very interesting trip,...
Leszek O,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Very interesting trip, however the driver should undergo customer service training, maybe also a self-assessment process, mean-spirited man.
Great Experience but……
Willie B,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Hobbiton and Glow Worm cave were both amazing, as was our driver and guide, Mark. But it’s a long haul from Auckland out and back. About 7 hours of the 13 hour trip was spent driving in the van. Glad we did it but if you’re in Tauranga and can start there the drive time would be significantly less.
Awesome Tour
Francie S,Mar 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an amazing tour experience. The tour was very well coordinated. Ben our driver was a very knowledgeable and animated driver and tour coordinator. The 2 hour ride from Auckland was pleasant with beautiful scenery. Rob the Hobbiton tour guide was excellent! He was very entertaining and animated and kept us laughing. We had Fish and Chips for lunch. Quite good! The cave with glowworms was also very good experience. I give this tour 5 stars👍
Definite must for Hobbit fans
David F,Mar 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great for Lord of the Rings fans. There is a substantial amount of walking and doing this with some steep paths.
A must do
Aditya K,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour to Hobbiton Movie Set and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves was a great experience overall. Our guide, Cheeky Mike, was very knowledgeable, engaging, and made the trip enjoyable with interesting stories along the way. Hobbiton was beautiful and immersive, and the glowworms at Waitomo were magical. The only small downside was not being able to take photos or videos in the caves, which was a bit of a bummer. Overall, it was a very enjoyable tour and well worth doing while visiting New Zealand.
For fans of the Hobbiton and not!
H3084XZaliciam,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour to Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves. Cheeky Micheal was a great driver and guide. Picked up on time at our hotel. Stopped at a local cafe for brekkie can recommend the boysenberry sticky pudding. Hobbiton was so beautiful and really amazing to see where they filmed scenes from LOTR. So cool to walk through the hobbit homes that they have recently included. Lunch included which was good and big portions, thanks Thirsty Weta. Waitomo caves was beautiful. Recommend for those who don’t want to drive as quite some distance on the road with windy parts! Overall enjoyable day.
From NZ$379.00
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