Auckland to Rotorua, Hobbiton and Waitomo 1 Way Small Group Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

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Auckland, New Zealand

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

13 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

There’s no need to choose between a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, or Rotorua on this small-group one-way tour. After getting picked up from your Auckland hotel, set out for a full-day adventure taking in the actual movie set used in the Hobbit movies and the natural wonders of the bioluminescent worms in Waitomo before being dropped off at your Rotorua accommodation.

Don’t worry about your luggage: Plenty of space for your bags
A small-group tour means a more personalized experience
Grab a drink in the Green Dragon Inn as seen in The Lord of the Rings
Feel free to snap pictures of the glowworms with no photo restrictions

What's Included

Fully Guided 1-Way Small Group Tour
Hotel pickup in Auckland (listed locations only)
Hotel drop off in Rotorua (central locations only)
Admission Fee - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Admission Fee - Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Bottled water & snacks
Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person

Accommodation in Rotorua

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

*If no pickup is selected at time of booking, you will be allocated our default meeting point. You are welcome to update this at any time. If your location isn’t listed, please choose your nearest available option & meet us there. *Pick-ups can begin up to 20 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on location. To ensure a smooth start, please be ready and waiting outside 5 minute prior to your specific pickup time. *Pick-up locations are carefully planned for each tour and may vary by day. If your pick-up location changes, kindly inform us in advance. *Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. We are unable to wait for late guests.

Meeting point

SkyCity Hotel Auckland
72 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Please wait outside the SkyCity Hotel Lobby, by the glass doors, at the bottom of the Sky tower.

End point

Rotorua, New Zealand
Drop available to central locations

Operating hours
.6:00 am

Itinerary

Waikato Region (Pass By)

Waitomo Caves

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Hobbiton Movie Set

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Tirau (Pass By)

Rotorua

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can hire seats ($20NZD per seat) or you can provide your own
Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties, a moderate amount of walking is involved. Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
Guests can bring 1 large & 1 small piece of luggage each
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 20 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Best place to visit in North NZ

Aninda_P, Mar 2026

Lot of walking involved . See the Lord of the Rings once again to refresh your memory , that way u will definitely have a better experience . We had a lovely time - it is absolutely worth a visit . The place has been created with a lot of detailing - innumerable photo opportunities.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Kia ora! It’s great to hear you enjoyed the Hobbiton experience so much. All those little details really do make it feel like stepping straight into Middle-earth, and you’re right, having a refresher on the movies adds a bit of extra magic! Glad you had a lovely time and made the most of all those photo opportunities. We’d love to see you back for more North Island adventures in the future. Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

Great tour

Bob_D, Feb 2026

Great guide. Provided humor and interesting history facts about New Zealand. When something was left on the bus he went out of his way to be sure we got it back. Very much appreciated.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Kia ora Bob, Love reading this. A good dose of humour mixed with a few solid history nuggets is exactly how we like to roll on that run south. It’s a big day covering some pretty iconic spots, so having a guide who can keep things engaging makes all the difference. I’m especially pleased to hear you got your lost item back. We know how stressful that can be when you’re travelling, so going the extra mile to sort it out is just part of looking after our people properly. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

see glow worm cave, Hobbiton without a car

Becky_D, Feb 2026

As we were independent travellers without a car, this tour combines transfer from Auckland to rotorua, tour to glow worm cave and hobbiton in a cost effective, stress free and time saving manner. Was a lot of fun to spend the day with travel mates too

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Kia ora Becky, It’s great to hear the tour worked so well for you as independent travellers! Combining transport with Hobbiton and the glow worm caves really does make for a stress-free and fun day, and it sounds like you enjoyed the company of your travel mates along the way too. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

A wonderful day trip

Sara_B, Dec 2025

Our guide was exceptional. Taught us so much about New Zealand. Hobbiton was fantastic. Glowworm caves were touristy but still really cool.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Kia ora Sara, Sounds like a pretty full day, and I’m glad it landed well overall. It’s awesome to hear your guide added real context to the day and shared plenty about New Zealand along the way. Hobbiton is hard to beat, and you’re spot on about Waitomo. It can feel busy, but those glowworms still have a way of stopping everyone in their tracks. Thanks for choosing to travel with us and for taking the time to share your thoughts. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure if you’re ever back this way. Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝

Super great walk

Silvia_B, Mar 2026

The guide John was spectacular. The tour is amazing and we love every minute.. Hobbiton is a wonderful place.

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Response from Host, Mar 2026

Kia ora! It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed every minute of your tour! John will be thrilled to know his guidance helped make the experience so memorable, and Hobbiton truly does have that special magic. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and thanks again for choosing Cheeky Kiwi! Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝