Skip to content
Adventure

Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Day Tour from Auckland

The Shire in the morning, the glowworm grotto by afternoon, one 12 hour day.

Two of the North Island's big names in one day from Auckland: a guided walk through the Hobbiton Movie Set, then limestone caves and a silent boat ride under thousands of glowworms at Waitomo. Lunch included.

📍 New Zealand ⏱ 12 Hours 👥 Up to 16 🔥 Active

More New Zealand trips

Compare all 109 New Zealand trips

From

$359 AUD

per person

Booked with Wanderlust, an Australian travel business based in Byron Bay (ABN 34 636 612 523). We handle your booking ourselves, before and after you travel.

Choose a date Got a question first? Ask our team →

Booking guarantee Price Match Promise Secure payment via Square

  • Instant confirmation

    Booked instantly · confirmation and ticket by email within 30 minutes.

  • No change fees from us

    Need to move? Just message us and we'll arrange it for you.

  • Licensed local operator

    An established operator with public reviews.

Pick your start date

Pick an available date. Your confirmation and ticket arrive together in one email within 30 minutes.

SuMoTuWeThFrSa

Available, pick any date Instant booking, confirmed in minutes

From

$359 AUD pp

Choose a start date →

Travellers
1
Pick a date to book
Secure payment via Square · you don't pay for a spot we can't confirm

Overview

This is the double: Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in a single day, with a guide doing the driving and a group of no more than 16 in a modern minibus. This does both in 12 hours from central Auckland with lunch included.

Your guide collects you from a central Auckland hotel or meeting point and heads south through the Waikato farmland and river valleys. At Hobbiton you board one of the big green set buses for a two and a half hour guided tour of the 12-acre set: 44 hobbit holes, the Party Tree, the Mill and a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Then a leg-stretch at Lake Karapiro, home to New Zealand's top rowers and one of the country's first hydro dams, a pass through Otorohanga, the self-styled Kiwiana capital, and a sit-down lunch chosen from a set menu that your guide orders on the day. A stop near a miniature animal farm, where the residents often wander up to the fence, then Waitomo: a guided walk through the limestone chambers and a silent boat ride under thousands of glowworms. Secret stops and stories fill the drive back to Auckland.

It runs about 12 hours. Entry tickets to both attractions, lunch, bottled water and snacks are included, plus a safety or booster seat for children aged 7 and under. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a warm layer for the cave and a rain jacket for the day. The cave has stairs and handrails but no wheelchair access. It suits all ages, including infants.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Guided 2.5 hour tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set

  2. 2

    Complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn

  3. 3

    Silent boat ride under the Waitomo glowworms

  4. 4

    Lake Karapiro and Otorohanga, the Kiwiana capital

  5. 5

    Lunch from a set menu, ordered for you on the day

  6. 6

    Maximum 16 guests in a modern minibus

  7. 7

    Secret stops on the drive back to Auckland

Itinerary at a glance

1 Morning · Depart central Auckland

Your guide collects you from a central Auckland hotel or meeting point, points out the city's highlights on the way out and heads south through the Waikato farmland and river valleys.

1 Stop 1 · Hobbiton Movie Set, 2.5 hours

Board a green Hobbiton bus for the official guided tour of the 12-acre set: 44 hobbit holes, the Party Tree and the Mill, finishing with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.

1 Stop 2 · Lake Karapiro

A short stop at the lake where New Zealand's top rowers train, beside one of the country's first hydro dams.

1 Stop 3 · Otorohanga and lunch

Pass through Otorohanga, the Kiwiana capital, and sit down for the included lunch. You pick from a set menu and your guide orders for you. Then a stop near a miniature animal farm where the animals often come to the fence.

1 Stop 4 · Waitomo Glowworm Caves

A guided walk through the limestone chambers, then the silent boat ride beneath thousands of glowworms. Expect stairs and cool air.

1 Evening · Return to Auckland

Secret stops and stories on the drive north, with drop-off back in central Auckland around 12 hours after you left.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Small group tour, fully guided, maximum 16 guests
  • Entry tickets to Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves
  • Lunch, chosen from a set menu on the day
  • Complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn
  • Bottled water and snacks
  • Pick-up and drop-off at selected central Auckland locations
  • Safety or booster seat for children aged 7 and under

✕ Not included

  • ✕Souvenir photos at Waitomo
  • ✕Food and drink beyond the included lunch, snacks and water
  • ✕Pick-up outside central Auckland

Common questions about this trip

  • Where is the pick-up and how early should I be ready?
    Pick-up is from selected central Auckland hotels and meeting points, and you choose yours when booking. If your accommodation is not on the list, pick the nearest point. Your confirmation shows your exact pick-up time; be waiting outside a few minutes early because the bus runs to a tight schedule for Hobbiton.

  • What should I bring and wear?
    Comfortable walking shoes, clothing for changing weather and a rain jacket. The cave stays cool all year, so bring a light jacket or warm layer. Add a charging cable for your phone or camera, your booking confirmation and a card for souvenirs.

  • How fit do I need to be?
    Moderately. Hobbiton is two and a half hours on foot over gentle paths. The Waitomo cave has stairs and handrails and some wet, slippery sections, and the Glowworm Cave has no wheelchair access.

  • Can children and babies come?
    Yes, the tour is suitable for all ages including infants. Children under 7 must be in a child safety seat by law, and the operator supplies a safety or booster seat. Infant fares cover under 4s and child fares cover ages 4 to 14.

  • What happens in bad weather?
    Hobbiton and the caves both run in rain, so the day goes ahead in most weather. In the rare case the operator cancels for safety, a full refund is issued.

  • Is there a toilet on the bus?
    No. The minibus has no toilet but the day includes frequent comfort stops, plus facilities at Hobbiton, the lunch stop and the Waitomo visitor centre.

  • What costs extra?
    Souvenir photos at Waitomo, and any food or drink beyond the included lunch, snacks and water. Everything else, including both entry tickets and the Green Dragon drink, is in the ticket.

  • How big is the group?
    A maximum of 16 guests in a modern air-conditioned minibus with USB charging. At Hobbiton you join the set's own guided tour on their bus for the two and a half hour walk.

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    Cancellation terms for this trip are set by the operator and confirmed on your booking voucher. Refunds mirror the operator's policy, if they can refund, so can we. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf. Message us for the exact day-by-day terms before you book.

Got a question that's not here? Ask us or hit the chat, instant AI reply with a follow-up from the Wanderlust crew.

What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Even if you have not seen Lord of the Rings, this is a really neat to see. The land scape on the drive down is amazing. And the farm that this site is is beautiful. Highly recommend the tour."
R

Robin B

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"The museum stops gave a great look into the history and culture, and all the stops for views, visits, and food were spot on. All in all, a really fun tour and a great experience!"
C

Coline G

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Picked up at a very convenient place close to our hotel. Very nice vehicle (new) and a great guide."
P

Petur

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

Read before you book

You might also like

Secure checkout · you don't pay for a spot we can't confirm

From

$359

Choose a date