Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch
Overview
Available languages
11 hours
Mobile ticket
Join this tour to visit two of New Zealand’s most famous attractions, Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Caves, in one easy day trip from Auckland. Our tour from 1 December 2023 will be the extended Hobbiton Experience (now 2.5 hours) where you can venture beyond the door to a fully themed Hobbit Hole interior. Immerse yourself in the interior with entry hall, bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, dining area, equipped bathroom, parlour and crackling fireplace. Be fascinated as the magical world of Hobbiton comes to life and take photos in front of your favourite places like the Hobbit Holes, the Shire and the Green Dragon Inn. Then journey to the World Famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves and be captivated by the thousands of magical glowworms twinkling in the Grottos, the stalactites and stalagmites as you glide silently through the cave by boat. Marvel at the stunning scenery en route as we journey off the motorways into the real hinterland of New Zealand. All admission fees and cafe lunch included.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
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
There is no photography allowed in the area of the Caves where the glowworms are as the glowworms react negatively to flashlight and will turn their lights off and they then take 2 hours to return to their full luminescence.
Tour leaves Auckland at 6:30am with everyone on board-the pickups occur across the CBD in the 25 minutes prior to that
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Small-group tour (11-16)
Light Kiwi café-style lunch
Local taxes
Admission ticket: Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Hotel pickup and drop-off from downtown Auckland City
Local driver/guide
Food and drinks, unless specified
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Auckland Central
After leaving Auckland you will travel south over the Bombay Hills as you get elevated panoramic views of the Waikato Region and travel across the scenic Hauraki Plains to Matamata, the home of Hobbiton Movie Set.
Hobbiton Movie Set
Begin with a tour through the picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will escort you through the 10 acre site recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton Movie Set was created. Hobbit Holes, The Green Dragon Inn, The Mill and other structures can be viewed and you will see how this beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into the Shire from Middle-earth. Complimentary specially brewed beverages are available at the Green Dragon Inn as you complete your tour Afterwards, enjoy a very “Kiwi” style lunch at the "Homestead" and get to share stories from Hobbiton and interact with your fellow travellers.
Options
Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Day Trip from Auckland
Pickup included
Hobbiton New Experience
Venture Beyond the Hobbit Door: Experience a fully themed Hobbit Hole Interior
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: Enjoy an extended Hobbiton Movie Set experience with our increased tour length time to a 2.5 hour tour.
Complimentary Drink: Included in our tour will be a complimentary ale, stout, apple cider or non-alcoholic ginger beer.
Start Time: The start time of the tour with everyone picked up across the CBD is at 6:30am. The pickups occur in the preceding 25 minutes
Pickup included
Reviews
2,553 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Must do tour when in Auckland
seven done,
Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great day tour. Hobbiton is a must see if you are not a Lord of the Rings fan. They have done a fantastic job of preserving the set and expanding the experience. The new walkthrough hobbit holes are amazing. The cave and glow worms are also a unique experience. If you get Shelley as your driver and guide you are very fortunate, she was amazing. Very knowledgeable and made the drive fun. Can't say enough good things about this tour.
Just do it!
Jeff K,
Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great day tour. Hobbiton is a must see if you are not a Lord of the Rings fan. They have done a fantastic job of preserving the set and expanding the experience. The new walkthrough hobbit holes are amazing. The cave and glow worms are also a unique experience. If you get Shelly as your driver and guide you are very fortunate, she was amazing. Very knowledgeable and made the drive fun. Can't say enough good things about this tour.
It's the little touches
raymondmI4172OB,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00am writing the review to express my thanks the tour was beautiful and nice the guide had jokes from 6 am to 6 pm very fun He was so helpful and informative And loved the local knowledge of the area. Even later in the day when my partner were slowing down, the tour guide was very generous the frequency of rest stops was also pleasant
A wonderful hobbit-y day
lauramB4229BC,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the best time with Matt today!!! The trip is well worth the cost, between the drive from Auckland to Hobbiton, entry fee, drive to lunch covered by the tour, entry fee at Waitomo Caves, and a honey tasting along the drive back??? Hard to beat! Was a wonderful way to finally experience Hobbiton and the gorgeous landscape of New Zealand after 24 years of dreaming about it. And we were back in plenty of time for dinner. So grateful for all the insider info Matt gave us; would 1000% do this again.
Thank you, Matt! A lovely experience!!
J5928FNsarahm,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Matt was wonderful!!!! We enjoyed our adventure to hobbiton and the glow worm caves. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about New Zealand in general and helped us experience the countryside in a very enjoyable way. (We were the dressed up ones, also Matt took lovely pictures)
Book this fun day!!
Chelsea S,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Danny was such a great guide! Very informative and had great banter for the whole day. He stopped conveniently for breakfast along the way and on the way back took us to one of his favorite honey and ice cream shops! Would highly recommend, very smooth travel and an effortless day - no thinking required!
Fun filled but crowded day at Hobbiton and Waitomo cave experience.
D192YRjeffo,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00First I have to say that Brenda our tour guide was excellent! She was so knowledgeable and easy to work with. She adapted to some pretty difficult situations, got us to hobbiton, lunch and waitomo and back you auckland on time and was just the best! I highly recommend her, and this tour! Hobbiton was a great experience and fun my wife and my two children. Our your guide was nice for the hobbiton movie set, but I feel like the hobbiton experience was a little rushed, it was a 45 min tour but out in the weather, with very few seating opportunities (I get it people need to move along, but for an old guy like me trying to keep up and getting overheated was a bit much. I loved being able to go into the hobbit holes (it was very cool and nice/fun to experience what a hobbit home would have been like.) and they offered some complimentary drinks at the green dragon at the end of that tour which was nice but it would have been nice to have more nonalcoholic options than ginger beer. But it was very cool overall. Lunch was great and all three of my family members who are a bit picky when it comes to food, found something that they enjoyed for lunch. For the waitomo leg of the journey we had a awesome tour guide for the cave named joe who was funny and helped us navigate the glow worm caves, my girls liked the cave the lease, (I thought it was pretty cool, but it felt short, and a bit rushed. Overall good value for the Money and an awesome experience with great people. Would there be things I might do a bit differently, yes, but I recommend booking this i feel like it is worth the money.
Hobbiton/Watitomo Gloworm Caves your
Allen E,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Hobbiton tour was better than expected and the glowworm caves were good. Matt our driver was right on time to pick us up at Auckland hotel. Narration and getting us into and out was excellent and efficient. Expect a long day and a lot of driving
The Hobbit movie set...
Barbara S,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The Hobbit movie set visit was well worth it. Amazed at the number of houses now on set as well as the new walk thru unit. Made us want to go back and watch the movie again. Lunch was great. Glow worm caves were fabulous also.
Memorable experience
chirag483,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was very much looking forward to visiting Hobbiton during our trip to New Zealand and was so happy I booked with this company. Out hide was Danny who was very knowledgeable and friendly. He showed us some great highlights along the way and both stops to Hobbiton and Waimoto were wonderful. Also having pickup and drop off back to the hotel was extremely convenient. Would definitely recommmend!
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Operated by Auckland Scenic Tours