Auckland to Rotorua: Hobbiton & Waitomo Tour with Picnic Lunch

This is a review from someone who has never watched The Lord of the Rings. Overall, the tour was efficient, enjoyable, and very smooth from start to finish. The bus stop near the Sky Tower was easy to find, and the staff kindly helped me when I asked. I had accidentally booked a one-way ticket, but they informed me in advance so I could change it to a round trip — something to keep in mind! Our driver, Todd, was funny, engaging, and very kind. At the Waitomo Caves, the guide explains everything as you walk through. The main highlight, the boat ride, is a no-photo area, but you can purchase a composite photo afterward. The Hobbiton tour lasts about two hours, with plenty of time to take photos without rushing. Even without knowing the movie, I still enjoyed the beautiful, storybook-like scenery. My husband, who is a fan, said it was the highlight of our New Zealand trip. It was a full and very satisfying day — definitely worth the price!

The trip was wonderful. We had a friendly driver, David, who paced the itinerary nicely throughout the journey. Both tours were well guided with clear and information explanations provided along the way. Overall, it was definitely value for money. The only thing to note is that you will need to contact the tour operator in advance after booking to confirm your trip details.

One of the highlights of my trip to New Zealand! The Hobbiton is straight out of the movie and a must-visit! The Waitomo Cave is definitely out of this world! The trasnfer was smooth and the tour guide/driver was very nice!

Nice tour guide. I wrongly booked the destination to Rotorua, so I was so panicked when I noticed this. By keeping calling the CS, luckily they answered and let me change to round-trip back to Auckland at 7am on the trip day. Thanksful for that! Enjoyed a lot in the trip. The nature of NZ is so amazing!

The bus driver was really helpful, polite, and accommodating. His commentaries and anecdotes really made the tour a wholesome experience. The waitomo caves and hobbiton are really great places!

A convenient transfer from Auckland and Rotorua, with Waitomo and Hobbiton as scenic spots in between. Thanks for the drivers to introduce the sight seeing spots along the drive.

As a Lord of the Rings fan, I was very happy to be able to go to Hobbiton. I wanted to live like a hobbit. And the buffet lunch at Hobbiton is really delicious. I took the bus operated by greatsight, and the drivers on this great sight bus were friendlier and better at explaining things than the Intercity buses. So it was great!!

A great deal generally my opinion as I made the journey from Rotorua to Auckland and got two activities in between. Hobbiton was very nice although the group was quite big and it was hard to hear the guide, we were quite rushed during meal time wish I had more time to eat as I was the last table and rushed. Dessert was nice and buffet had a decent range. The drivers were amazing (Rachel and Hana), entertaining. Waitomo caves a decent experience wish we had time to do some of the walks.

it was a very good trip! the tours were very fun and the pick up was on time.

From my pick-up in the morning in Rotorua, to my drop-off in the evening in Auckland, this trip went pretty seamlessly. My driver was early to pick me up, which was handy as I was also early, and we had a mostly empty bus on the way to Hobbiton. The Hobbiton movie set is definitely worth seeing. There is some walking involved and a large hill to climb, but the guide allowed the group to move slowly so all guests got the full experience. The buffet lunch was served on the early side (around 11:30am), but it was delicious. We transferred on to a second bus for the trip to the Waitomo Caves. The Caves were quite impressive as well, though you aren't allowed to take photos inside. It was fun to see the glowworms, but be warned: the seats on the boat were wet and cold! A great day and a great way to get from Rotorua to Auckland and have some fun along the way.