4. From Auckland: Hobbiton, Rotorua & Waitomo Caves Day Trip
Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, and Waitomo Caves in one day on a fully-guided tour from Auckland. See three of North Island’s iconic sites in one attraction-filled day. Be ready and waiting at your hotel in time for your specified pickup time.
Travel from Auckland to Hobbiton through Waikato. On arrival, you’ll be guided through the picturesque twelve-acre site and given fascinating details of how the movie set was created. The official tour concludes with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Climb back into the vehicle for the approximately 55-minute drive to Rotorua where you will spend around 1.5-hours.
Arrive at Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute where you’ll have lunch. Te Puia is home to the Pohutu geyser, mud pools, hot springs, silica formations, the Kiwi bird, and the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. Then, drive to the world-renowned Waitomo Caves where you’ll enter the caves on foot and ride out in a small boat. Marvel at thousands of tiny glowworms radiating their unmistakable luminescent light as an expert guide provides informative commentary.
Sample itinerary:
6:30-6:40 AM pickups from downtown Auckland hotels
9:00 AM Arrive Hobbiton Movie Set (time for a snack and visit souvenir shop)
9:30 AM Hobbiton Movie Set tour
11:15 AM Depart Green Dragon Inn to travel onto Rotorua
12:15 PM Arrive in Rotorua
12:30 PM Buffet-style lunch at Te Puia
After lunch you have until 1:45 pm to explore Te Puia
1:45 PM Rejoin bus to travel to Watiomo Caves
3:15-4:00 PM Waitomo Caves tour
Rejoin bus to travel to Auckland
7:15-8:00 PM Arrive Auckland (subject to traffic)