2 Day Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton and Rotorua Tour: from Auckland

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Depart Auckland for Waitomo and Rotorua followed by a Maori Cultural Experience⌄

   On this tour, you will be picked up from the hotel in a comfortable mini-bus and driven through the stunning Waikato countryside on a fully guided journey to Waitomo Caves and Te Puia Geothermal Park. Once in Waitomo, you will explore the ancient and amazing caves, with their many different cave formations including Stalactites, Stalagmites, and Lime Columns, before descending even further underground for your glowworm experience. Board your glowworm boat for a cruise on the grotto river with thousands of glowworms glittering above your head. Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a must-see for any traveller.

   Arriving at your second feature destination, Te Puia, you will receive a fully guided tour to best experience the geothermal and cultural wonders including Pōhutu Geyser, Māori Architecture, The National Māori Arts School, geothermal craters, geothermal events, and even the chance to view a Kiwi bird in the Kiwi viewing house.

   This evening Mitai will pick you upfrom your accommodation and take you for a feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within the forest Pā (village). Blanketed by towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and a forest-formed amphitheatre. The Village shares Māori history, traditions, and cultural aspirations across 3 hours of celebration and feasting. These events change with each season of the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.

   Meals: Dinner: A traditional Maori 'hangi' feast.

   Overnight: You have the choice of a 3-star or 4-star hotel

2. 2Rotorua to Auckland including Hobbiton Movie Set Tour , either morning or afternoon departure.⌄

   Setting out from Rotorua, your Hobbiton Movie Set tour starts with a scenic drive across the Kaimai Ranges to Matamata, a small town in the Waikato region known for its thoroughbred industry and dairy farming. Along the way your local driver guide will provide informative commentary and share stories about the region and its history. Just outside of Matamata is the private working farm that was transformed into The Shire for the award-winning The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies. The home of Tolkien's beloved hobbits Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin has been preserved since filming wrapped, and now draws visitors from around the world. Take a two-hour guided tour of the movie set and learn how this picturesque farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth. Your guide will show you Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree, the Mill and many other structures from the movies.

   Following the Hobbiton tour, enjoy lunch at either Shire's Rest or in the marquee beside the Green Dragon Inn. After lunch, there is time for some shopping before you leave to drive north through lush Waikato dairy farms and over the Bombay Hills arriving in Auckland where you will be transferred to your inner-city accommodation.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch