Top North Island Arts & Design

Step into Peter Jackson's Middle-earth with this guided group tour of the Hobbiton™ Movie Set from 'The Lord of the Rings' film trilogy. Learn more about the movies than you ever would by exploring by yourself with the help of your local guide. And with a shuttle service at your disposal, you enjoy a truly seamless Matamata experience.

Wētā Workshop Unleashed is an immersive, guided experience at Auckland's SkyCity, created by five-time Academy Award-winning Wētā Workshop. On this interactive tour, you'll go behind the scenes of practical filmmaking and see how props, creatures and special effects are made. The experience takes you through three original film worlds - fantasy, science fiction and horror. Led by entertaining hosts, you'll explore detailed movie sets, get hands-on with practical effects, and come face-to-face with creatures, robots and larger-than-life characters built by the Wētā Workshop crew. Photography and video are welcome throughout, so you can capture and share your visit. Suitable for film fans, families and creative minds, Wētā Workshop Unleashed is a hands-on alternative to a traditional museum and a unique thing to do in Auckland. Your ticket includes a complimentary souvenir video.

Gain entry to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia on a guided tour of this geothermal hot spot. Take a walking path up to steaming vents, boiling mud pools and erupting Pohutu Geyser at Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley; observe the emblematic kiwi bird; and discover Maori traditions at the cultural center. Upgrade to include a cultural performance of Maori song and dance, including the warlike ‘haka.’ Showtimes are available several times a day during admittance.

Visit two of New Zealand's must-see attractions on this combo tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Peek into Hobbit holes, frolic in the Shire, and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a guided tour of Middle-earth, followed by a café lunch. In the afternoon, explore Māori myths and history on an underground boat ride at Waitomo, surrounded by thousands of glowworms.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at several “The Lord of the Rings” locations around Wellington that will delight fans of the movies or books. See where scenes were filmed, take a forest walk through Tolkien’s Rivendell, and step into Weta Workshop for a movie production tour of digital special effects. Your guide shares insider gossip on how the movies were made and takes you to lunch.

Discover the essence of Napier in an intimate small-group setting, where every detail is curated to provide an enriching and memorable experience. This isn’t just sightseeing — it’s a journey through time and culture. • Art Deco & Resilience: Explore Napier, the Art Deco Capital of the World, and uncover the powerful story of a city rebuilt with elegance and vision after a devastating earthquake. Marvel at its architecture, colourful murals, and the strong spirit that shaped its identity. • Small Group Experience: With a maximum of 10 guests, enjoy a relaxed, personal atmosphere where your questions are answered, your interests are heard, and your experience feels truly exclusive. • Expert Local Guides: Our multilingual guides are passionate storytellers who bring history, culture, and landscapes to life. The heart of any great tour lies in its guide. • Sustainable Values: As proud locals, we’re committed to protecting the natural and cultural treasures of Hawke’s Bay.

Discover Devonport’s rich maritime and volcanic heritage on this 75-minute, wheelchair-friendly walking tour through one of New Zealand’s most charming seaside villages. Begin at the ferry terminal and follow paved paths past Māori pā sites, Victorian villas, and colonial landmarks. Explore the village centre, home to the Vic Devonport theatre, Devonport Library, and local artspaces, ending at scenic Windsor Reserve and Devonport Beach. Highlights include: • Devonport Naval Base and Calliope Dock • Bear Wall ruins from an 1880s pleasure garden • Historic Anne Street’s preserved villas • Tainui waka landing site at Torpedo Bay • "Old Albert," a giant 1893 fig tree • “Untidy Soldier” WWI memorial • Devonport Chocolates' artisan treats Experience a unique blend of history, culture, and coastal beauty.

Embark on a thrilling Blackwater Rafting adventure in Ruakuri Cave. Choose between two exhilarating tours: the original Black Labyrinth, where you'll float under glowworms and jump off waterfalls, or the longer Black Abyss, which includes abseiling, ziplining, and cave exploration. Both experiences offer unforgettable encounters with the natural beauty of the cave and take you to places impossible to reach on your own.

Get a personal introduction to Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, with a guided experience that adds meaning and context to what you see. Explore key highlights from the museum’s interactive exhibits, cultural collections, fine art, and natural history, while a guide shares stories and insight that bring the displays to life. Gain a deeper understanding of Māori heritage and New Zealand’s colonial history, and receive recommendations tailored to your interests so you can continue exploring with a richer perspective.

Located within Auckland’s SkyCity Precinct, the Entertainment Capital of New Zealand. Unleashed is the city’s newest location-based experience. Unleashed launched in 2020 and has already won two international tourism awards. Experience our 90 minute movie-making tour with a Mandarin Speaking Guide. You explore interactive and immersive make-believe film sets, focusing on the worlds of horror, fantasy and sci-fi. It's your chance to get up-close and hands-on with enchanting environments, resident creatures, hyper-realistic giants, a galactic robot, and much more.

Spend the morning or afternoon visiting Middle-earth on this half-day “The Lord of the Rings” tour from Wellington. A guide with insider knowledge entertains Frodo fans on a journey into the scenic New Zealand countryside. Get a behind-the-scenes look at LOTR movie production on a tour of the Weta Workshop and discover why director Peter Jackson selected this region to film the renowned trilogy, along with “The Hobbit” movies.

Art, craft, and culture-loving travelers will enjoy this guided tour of a New Zealand jade (pounamu) carving studio. Learn about the cultural significance of jade to the local Maori people, and about traditional and contemporary designs. Get the chance to meet jewelry artists and to see them at work. Choose a piece of jade to string and keep as a memento.

Gain insight into Kiwi culture when you visit the All Blacks Experience in Auckland. Whether you’re an avid rugby fan or simply interested in learning more about the Haka and the New Zealand national teams, this interactive experience entertains and informs. Hear interesting stories about the team and famous players, see All Blacks memorabilia, and even watch a powerful haka.

If you’re short on time in Napier, or wanting an overview of the city’s striking Art Deco architecture before exploring further alone, this morning tour is convenient. Admire the beautiful buildings of the Ahuriri and Marewa districts; see Art Deco landmarks such as the National Tobacco Building; and learn more about the distinctive design style. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Make the most of your time in Auckland with skip-the-line access to the Auckland War Memorial Museum (also known as the Aukland Museum). Housed in a beautiful heritage building, the museum's three floors showcase New Zealand's diverse culture, rich heritage, and its role as a place of remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives in war.

Dive into a region of mouthwatering cuisine, spectacular walking and world-class art. Whether you’re marvelling at world-class sculptures while enjoying a winery lunch at Brick Bay Sculpture Park or exploring the breathtaking trails of Tāwharanui Regional Park and the Mangawhai Coastal Walkway, you’re sure to be enchanted by the Matakana Coast. Possible locations to select from in your customisable tour: Tawharanui Regional Park, Mangawhai coastal trail and village, Matakana village – chocolatier, galleries, Brick Bay Sculpture Park, Sawmill Brewery.

Choose FlexiToursNZ for a premium tour. We put less seats in our vehicles than factory standard and only 3 seats in the back row. Pay a little more to be comfortable. This tour involves a lot of driving and is more enjoyable if you are comfortable and not crushed up against other people on the vehicle. We keep the groups small with no more than 12 people on our vehicle, meaning our drivers can and will give you, personal service. We have No minimum numbers for this tour. Check out our reviews to see what customers say about us, our vehicles and our team of experienced and enthusiastic drivers. All meals provided on the tour are prepared in a professional kitchen and are normally served in a restaurant or café. Very occasionally Meals may be served picnic style.

Te Papa Museum of New Zealand is unique for its innovative, interactive exhibits that engage visitors through cutting-edge technology, its deep respect and authentic representation of Māori culture and heritage, its comprehensive displays of New Zealand's diverse natural history and cultural narratives, and its commitment to inclusivity and community engagement, making it a dynamic and inclusive cultural hub.

Whangarei is home to the largest collection of painter, ecologist, and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s work outside Vienna. Explore his art and architecture, as well as his dedication to nature on this self-guide or optional guided tour, as well as taking in the Wairau Māori Art Gallery, which features contemporary Māori artists exploring indigenous themes and Aotearoa’s history.

Stand on the spot where New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed in 1840. Find out how this document was forged with admission to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Your day pass is valid for two consecutive days and includes an informative guided tour, an introductory film, a cultural performance, and full access to the historic site.

A promise of adventure awaits on this full day luxurious private tour to the Matakana Coast from Auckland. Experience a tasting tour to sample the very best of Matakana's wine, food & chocolate paired with a unique opportunity to experience art and nature. Discover a dynamic exhibition of large-scale sculpture set in a stunning natural environment of native bush, wildlife and ponds bursting with water lilies. Sample the many hand-crafted chocolates, artisan chocolates, handmade fudge, and classic sweets made from high quality ingredients. Matakana art, food & wine experience includes lunch at the Glass House overlooking a shimmering lake, and wine tasting of highly acclaimed range of boutique wines, in a spectacular vineyard setting. Finally compliment with a rich Italian style ice cream, artisan gelato or sorbetto to finish your day.

A fun and informative introduction to Wellington. Meeting and leaving from the main entrance of the Wellington train station, a quick walk to the Parliament grounds will provide insight into New Zealand and Wellington politics. From here we'll take a walk atop the Wellington seismic fault line to the botanic gardens, these gardens marry the exotic with the native beautifully, and we shall garner an understanding of New Zealand's unique flora and fauna as we walk through some dense New Zealand bush. Reaching the top of the gardens, at the top of the cable car, we'll take in the beautiful view, point out some landmarks and generally orientate ourselves. From here we will walk through suburbs and places most tourists will never see, winding up on Cuba st, the heart of the city, for a quick refreshment. We will finish at the national Museum on the waterfront. Guests are guaranteed to come away from this tour with a better understanding of Wellington and New Zealand.

Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set on a full-day tour from Auckland that explores New Zealand's "Middle-earth," where "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films came to life. Travel through a landscape of lush farms, then take a guided tour of the 12-acre (4.8-ha) Hobbiton Movie Set, from hobbit holes to gardens and the Green Dragon Inn. With free time to shop and explore, this tour includes transportation from selected locations in Auckland for your convenience.