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 is the new 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 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. Visit and explore inside the newly built fully themed Hobbit Hole on Bagshot Row. Complimentary specially brewed beverages are available at the Green Dragon Inn as you complete your tour. Afterwards, enjoy a very classic light “Kiwi” style lunch at the "Homestead" and get to share stories from Hobbiton and interact with your fellow travellers.
What‘s Included
Classic Light Kiwi café-style lunch
Hotel pickup/ drop-off from Downtown Auckland City ONLY. Closest other options if staying in suburbs
Complimentary Drink at the Green Dragon
Local taxes
Admission ticket: Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Local driver/guide
Food and drinks, unless specified
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
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
2,922 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great
joannechanhk,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The day trip was great and very enjoyable. Mike is a friendly, helpful, and easy-going guide who made the whole experience even better. We all had a lot of fun throughout the trip and really appreciated his positive energy and thoughtful arrangements. Thank you for making the day so pleasant and memorable.
Brenda rocks
Nick S,May 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Brenda our tour guide was an awesome driver and was very knowledgeable of the area. We had a great time. Thank you Brenda.
Great day
Darcy B,May 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour! The whole day was smooth and did not feel rushed. Matt was fantastic, very informative and helpful.
Liam the Legend
Hugh L,May 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00One of the best holiday day trips I have ever done.Liam was a boss,an absolute legend of a tour guide.The Hobbiton tour was fascinating even though I hadn’t seen the films for many many years.Transportation was comfortable and the ability to charge a device was handy.We had the good fortune of stopping off and having a locally made pie which was superb.The Glow-worm caves were simply amazing and a must see.New Zealand is a gem of a country
A day at the Hobbiton
boriscitrusheights,May 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour, very well organized. We are a big fans of Tolkien's books so this was a must for us when visiting New Zealand. Long drive from and to Auckland but in a comfortable vehicle with a great pair of ladies as a tour guide. Would deffinetly reccomend.
Thank you Scenic Tours for a magical day at Hobbiton!
jannisw2026,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a fantastic experience and we really appreciate the support from Auckland Scenic Tours and our phenomenal driver Nelson! With my broken foot I needed a helping hand at different points of the tour and Nelson helped me with my mobility device and convinced the local tour operators in Hobbiton and Waitomo to provide assistance. The Hobbiton tour is truly amazing and was worth our stopover in Aukland. Waitomo is not as spectacular but a nice complement for a full-day excursion and to make the long drive from downtown worth it…
Hobbiton fairytale world. Amazing
Polly T,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Liam was amazing, sweet, and caring. The Hobbiton adventure was such a thrill to see. Liam did above and beyond for us. Worms were not our thing but that's no fault of tour.
Amazing!! Even if you’re not a LOTR fan!
Grace P,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour is a must-do for anyone! Not just fans of Lord of the Rings. We were picked up straight from our hostel, and travelled straight to Hobbiton before it got overly busy. Mike, our driver and tour guide was so friendly and gave a commentary on all of the sights and places we were passing through. Halfway through the journey to Hobbiton, Mike even stopped at a McDonalds to allow us a quick stretch and go grab a bite to eat. At Hobbiton we had ample time to purchase souvenirs, grab a coffee, and nip to the loo before starting the trip Hobbiton was out of this world! Even for me, who is not a true fan of the films - I was blown away by how beautiful the scenery and atmosphere was. It actually felt like you were stepping into a little lived-in village. My boyfriend, who is an avid Lord of the Rings fan was equally excited and pleased by everything on the Hobbiton tour. I will say, however, that the tour felt slightly crowded at times and it was difficult to get some pictures/have enough time to look at everything we wanted to. This is not run by the tours company so completely out of their control! This part of the trip was 2 hours, and we were even able to grab an ale at the Green Dragon Pub afterwards. Once this was finished, Mike picked us up and took us to lunch, continuing to add his own personal flair to the commentary. We were both worried what lunch might entail, as we didn’t come across any reviews mentioning the contents and didn’t really fancy some soggy sandwiches. It’s safe to say that the lunch was brilliant! After Hobbiton we arrived at a café 10 minutes out from the Waitomo caves. There were 3 components to the lunch: Main, Dessert and Drink, but if you didn’t fancy a dessert then you were able to get a second savoury item (like a main). This was great for me as I am diabetic and being able to avoid sweet treats is a priority of mine! There was a great selection of pies, wraps, paninis and croissant sandwiches for Mains, and everything from rocky roads, to shortbreads, and cakes for Desserts. Drinks included soft drinks, hot drinks, and still + sparkling water. As you can tell, there was a great selection, in addition to this all being very tasty. Our personal favourites were the butter chicken pie and banana and walnut loaf! Overall, we were very pleased with the lunch and anyone worried about this aspect should hopefully be reassured! The glow worm caves were also amazing. We were worried that this may not have been all that we expected but it was even better! We had a lovely Māori guide, called Ace, who even gave us a rendition of a traditional Māori song in the cathedral cave. He was super informative, and ensured that the experience was utterly magical. I won’t say too much as this is better experienced first-hand but we both say it was a highlight of our trip so far. Overall, we cannot recommend Mike and the tour company more! It is great value for money, it doesn’t feel rushed, and includes two of the major North Island highlights. Thank you to Mike and the team for making this so special.
A wonderful day tour from Aukland to Hobbiton, Glow worm caves, and more!
K8526ELrobertp,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a WONDERFUL day! Our guide Alex was exceptional. He spoke clearly and loudly so he was easy to understand. He did so while navigating traffic. He was funny and friendly and thoughtful. We loved the sights that we visited. We especially appreciated being picked up at our Airbnb so we didn't have to Uber to meet him someplace. The van was comfortable and it was great being with a small group of about 14. We had a full day from 6:00 to 6:00, seeing Hobbiton, a honey factory/store/tasting, and the Glowworms. Loved the boat rides through the cave. The lunch was delicious and generous.
Best Day Trip from Auckland!
demis469,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland (incl. lunch) and it was honestly one of the best tours we’ve ever been on. The day itself was perfectly organised, with a smooth trip from start to finish. The highlight was definitely exploring the iconic film set at Hobbiton Movie Set. The attention to detail is unreal and every corner was magical. The glowworm caves at Waitomo Glowworm Caves were just as incredible. Drifting quietly through the dark cave ceiling lit up with thousands of tiny glowworms was honestly surreal. A huge shoutout to our tour guide, she was absolutely amazing! Super knowledgeable, funny, and made the whole experience even better with great stories and energy throughout the day. Lunch was also delicious and a great addition to the experience. We loved every minute of it highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Auckland ✨
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Operated by Auckland Scenic Tours