Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch

Overview

Available languages

English

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

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

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

Options

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

Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Day Trip from Auckland

Pickup included

Reviews

4.94

2,236 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

2118

103

Perfect Day trip
Brooke K,
May 22, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Such an amazing day! Everything was perfectly timed and you had just the right amount of time at both stops! Lunch and the honey tasting were nice stops to break up the bus drives! Great way to do two top sights while getting out the city for a day
Trip for LOTR fan and interesting glowy worms 🪱
Pavan K,
May 21, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Amazing! Our primary guide (Brenda) was very courteous and helpful. She made the long ride to and back from the destinations fun by sharing interesting details about New Zealand. For a LOTR fan, the Hobbiton set was very cool, and the Hobbiton guide was very knowledgeable about the LOTR lore. The guide apparently wrote a PhD thesis about something to do with LOTR. That guy was my type of nerd :p The Hobitton shop was ok. I bought a postcard to remember the place. The tour ended with a LOTR themed tavern. We were provided a single glass of complimentary beverage (e.g., ginger beer). The Waitomo Caves were also breathtaking. While we floated in the boat staring at the cave ceiling, it was as if I was looking at the night sky and observing a constellation. It was only after the Waitomo guide reminded us, did I start breathing normally. The food included in the trip was also catered to vegetarian diets, so I was very happy with that. We had to finish our meals quickly to keep to our tight travel itinerary. Be careful about drinking too much liquid before starting the trip, because it is almost a 4-hour van drive to Hobbiton, and there are not many toilets available in between. Luckily Brenda was able to find a convenience store with a toilet for her. However, asking for the toilet mid-trip was a bit embarrassing. 😳 The trip was expensive (from my perspective), but the positive experiences, our guides' competence, the distance we traveled, and it being NZ, I think the amount paid was (perhaps) worth it.
Great tour. Our tour...
Vincent K,
May 21, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Great tour. Our tour guide, Liam, was a very friendly and outgoing guy who made everyone in the tour bus feel comfortable, myself included. He was very knowledgeable about the tour locations, and about NZ and Mapri culture as a whole.
Amazing Tour of Hobbiton and Surrounding Caves
Omar Y,
May 20, 2025
- Viator
5.00
It’s a journey into a fantasy world! Hobbiton was so beautiful and the meticulous detail put into the set was impressive. The caves were gorgeous and to see the glow worms is a breath taking experience. Thank you!
Unforgetfull experience
Sai S,
May 19, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Enjoyed the trip under the able guidance of guide, was very informative, punctual and courteous. Enjoyed. Thank you.