Discover the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Caves on a day trip from Auckland. Enter the world of Tolkien on a walking tour of Hobbiton and admire the glowworms in the world-famous Waitomo Cave.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 11 - 13 hours: Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide: English
Pickup optional: Customers should be waiting outside where they are staying or where they can see us arrive.

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

Maria – United States

Dallas was a great guide! Excellent driver and very knowledgeable about the area, sharing fun facts and the history of each area we drove through. Hobbiton was gorgeous and a wonderful time even though we weren’t huge fans of the movies. The landscapes are lovely and the included lunch was super yummy! The glow worm caves were very well managed and our guide was super knowledgeable and fun! Highly recommend, especially for those who are not renting a car and want to see both activities!

Jenn – Canada

Did this tour in April 2025 with a friend (in our 30's), got picked up & dropped back off in Auckland (was a bit of a drive but not bad - comfortable van). Would highly recommend this tour whether or not you like the Hobbit or LOTR - so cool to see & learn a few things about the making of the set. Our tour guide was amazing & enthusiastic. Plenty of time to take photos & the guide was helpful to take everyone's picture. You get to go in a Hobbit house too! Lunch buffet was great, many options, tasty lunch & dessert - groups were spaced out so it was never crowded. The cider from the Green Dragon was great! The caves were very cool! First you go into the cave & walk as your guide tells you info (there are a few stairs in the cave & to get on the boat). Once on the boat, the guide pulls the it across to see glow worms (insane amount of them). You cannot make noise on the boat as to not send voice vibrations to confuse the worms, so little children might not be the best for this activity

Highlights

Explore Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves on a day trip from Auckland or Rotorua
Take a guided walking tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set used in the LOTR movies
Travel in a spacious and comfortable vehicle - Less people - more personal service extra legroom
See the glow-worms from a small boat during your tour of the caves
Enjoy the convenience of free hotel pickup and drop-off from all central accommodation

Full description

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

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

You can book a one way or return journey from Rotorua or Auckland.

Get extra value by visiting both the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo in one day with this tour.

Upon arrival at Hobbiton, have some time to get something to eat or explore the Shires Rest souvenir shop before joining Hobbiton Tours for a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set. Be transported into the movie set by bus, then join a guided walking tour of the set.

Used for filming scenes set in the village of Hobbiton in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie series, the popular attraction is a must-see for any film or literary fan. Enjoy a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon before boarding the coach for your next stop.

On arrival in Waitomo, join the 45-minute tour of the Glowworm Cave. Walk into the cave with its stalagmites and stalactites and complex underground formation. Exit on a small boat through the Glowworm Grotto and marvel at millions of glowworms.

Your tour concludes with either a return to Auckland or Rotorua and drop-off at your hotel, or you can use this tour to transit from either Rotorua or Auckland to either Rotorua or Auckland. To finish in a different location from where you started, select the option which is correct for your journey. If you start in Auckland and go toRotorua after Waitomo caves, there is not enough time to bring you back to Auckland on the same day.

Includes

Hotel pickup and drop-off in central areas
Guide
Hobbiton movie set admission fee
Waitomo Caves admission fee
Buffet lunch at Hobbiton Marquee

Snacks
Water
Tips

Not suitable for

Children under 2 years
Wheelchair users
People with low level of fitness
Babies under 1 year

Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes

Know before you go

Make sure to choose the correct tour - start and finish point. There are 4 options available it is essential to choose the correct option, or we may not be able to get you back to where you want to be.
Photography is not permitted in Waitomo Cave.

Top Attractions in Matamata

Experiences in Matamata

Top destinations

Nearby destinations

Nearby sights

From Auckland or Rotorua: Hobbiton & Waitomo Tour with Lunch