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Thrifty Tours

Waitomo, Rotorua and Hobbiton 3 day tour

This 3 day tour begins in Auckland and is enjoyed from the comfort of an escorted mini-bus. Travel through the stunning countryside before enjoying a fully guided tour of Waitomo Caves and Te Puia Geothermal Park. A true highlight is the guided tour through the filming locations of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit. See New Zealand's most awarded cultural attraction Te Pā Tū at the Tamaki Maori Village and indulge in the history and traditions. Scroll down and read the full itinerary below to see how this action packed tour would suit you or contact our team of NZ Travel Specialists to customise. 

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Quick Itinerary Details

Independent tour (bus & coach)

This suggested tour costs from NZD$1,590 per person (twin share, low season)

Starts in Auckland, finishes in Auckland

3 days/2 nights

Motels

 Customisable? YES

 Viewed 252 times in the last 7 days

price pp from
NZD$1,590
twin share/double
Tour at a glance

Day 1: You will be taken on an adventure to Hobbiton and Waitomo caves
Accommodation: Silver Fern Suites & Spa

Day 2: Enjoy ziplining action in the morning, and cultural experience and dinner in Maori village in the evening
Accommodation: Silver Fern Suites & Spa

Day 3: This morning explore volcanic and geothermal Rotorua before traveling back to Auckland

Tour full itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Waitomo, Rotorua and Hobbiton 3 day tour - Day 1
Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton Movie Set and Picnic Lunch with Gray Line / GreatSights

Take a journey through the heart of the Central North Island, taking in the Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton Movie Set on a full-day sightseeing tour. Setting off from Auckland, travel through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions, enjoying your driver guide’s entertaining and informative commentary. At the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, take a guided tour through impressive underground caverns and learn how stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone structures were formed over millions of years. Your tour includes a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto – glide silently along an underground river as you gaze at the twinkling glowworms overhead. Then, travel to Matamata, take a guided tour of the famous Hobbiton Movie Set, located inside a picturesque 1,250 acre sheep and beef farm. Here, the village of Hobbiton was carefully created in amazing detail as a film location for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie trilogies. During your guided tour of this amazing location you’ll see sights like Hobbit holes, the Mill and the Green Dragon Inn, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth. The tour includes a picnic lunch. After visiting Waitomo and Hobbiton, continue to Rotorua.

Your accommodation: Silver Fern Suites & Spa

Silver Fern Suites & Spa is located just minutes from Rotorua's city centre and is close to popular thermal attractions, cafes, restaurants and golf courses. Suites have a private spa pool or double spa bath for you to unwind and relax.
Meals included: Lunch
Waitomo, Rotorua and Hobbiton 3 day tour - Day 2
Original Ziplining Experience with Rotorua Canopy Tours

Embark on a three-hour adventure through the native New Zealand forest. Journey through the beautiful forest canopy via an incredible network of trails, tree platforms, Ziplines and swing bridges. See breathtaking views of the woodland valleys and hills as you fly through tight openings in the trees. In between the thrill of the ziplines and suspended tree bridges, your guides will share their passion and knowledge for the forest and the conservation challenges to preserve it. 

It is important you read and understand the risks associated with this activity. For more information see here.

Te Pā Tū Evening Māori Cultural Experience - Dinner Included

New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Attraction, presenting Te Pā Tū. 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. Te Pā Tū shares Māori history, traditions, and cultural aspirations across 4-hours of celebration and feasting. These events change with each season of the Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Behind The Scenes Exclusive Tour with National Kiwi Hatchery

This exclusive guided experience is a truly unique opportunity to learn about the world-renowned kiwi hatchery conservation program. You are invited t...

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This exclusive guided experience is a truly unique opportunity to learn about the world-renowned kiwi hatchery conservation program. You are invited to step ‘behind the glass’ for an immersive experience to join the hatchery team in a staff-only area to learn about the incubation and chick rearing techniques from global experts. Learn all about New Zealand’s intriguing national icon and the efforts of the kiwi husbandry team, see and discover what it takes to hatch and rare chicks, and if you’re lucky, see baby chicks in person! Afterwards, take more time to learn in the interactive kiwi burrow and see adult kiwi roam and forage in our purpose-built Nocturnal house.

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Your accommodation: Silver Fern Suites & Spa

Silver Fern Suites & Spa is located just minutes from Rotorua's city centre and is close to popular thermal attractions, cafes, restaurants and golf courses. Suites have a private spa pool or double spa bath for you to unwind and relax.
Meals included: Lunch, Speciality Dinner
Waitomo, Rotorua and Hobbiton 3 day tour - Day 3
Eco Thermal Park Tour with Elite Adventures

Experience it all on the ultimate volcanic and geothermal Rotorua tour. Discover vibrant hot springs, erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools, majestic volcanoes, and lush native forests on this fully guided half-day adventure. Journey through scenic forestry and farmland to Wai-O-Tapu, home to New Zealand's largest boiling mud pool and a series of dazzling hot springs. Witness the dramatic eruption of the Lady Knox geyser before heading to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Here, your guide will share the fascinating story of the Mt Tarawera eruption that shaped this spectacular geothermal wonderland.

Rotorua to Auckland by InterCity Coach

The drive from Rotorua to Auckland takes you through the heart of the Waikato and its rich agricultural land. Along New Zealand's longest river, the Waikato. A little further than Hamilton is Auckland City, New Zealand's largest, spread over approximately 60 square kilometres. From the vibrant and trendy fashion and cuisine found in Ponsonby and Parnell to the breathtaking native bush and beaches of the West Coast, Auckland is full of life and the opportunities to explore are endless.

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Starts Status   Double (2 people sharing) Single occupancy You save  
Jan 5, 2025
(Sunday)
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Jan 6, 2025
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Jan 7, 2025
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Waitomo, Rotorua and Hobbiton 3 day tour

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