Overview
Travel in comfort from Auckland to Rotorua on this one-day tour and experience the world-famous Lord of The Rings Hobbiton movie set in the heart of Middle Earth, as well as the charm of Rotorua City. Tour highlights include Waikato, Alexander Family Sheep Farm, Shire's Rest, Hobbiton & Bagshot Row, Rotorua and Wai O Tapu.
What you will be doing
Your tour starts with a pick-up from your hotel in Auckland our comfortable minibus. We'll then drive through the stunning Waikato countryside, the most extensive farming area in the world, on a fully guided journey to Hobbiton. During the trip south you will encounter stunning scenery, great photo opportunities, beautiful mountains and several different farm animals along the way
After our drive, we will arrive at the Alexander Family Sheep Farm and Shire's Rest, which is the entrance to Hobbiton. Here you can see thousands of sheep, grab a bite to eat, get your coffee fix or enjoy an ice cream while we collect your tickets to the Hobbiton movie set. Next, you will board one of the big green Hobbiton buses to depart on your 2.5-hour fully guided tour of the amazing 12-acre movie set with a professional Hobbiton guide to ensure you get the most out of your visit. During your tour, you will step into the lush pastures of the Shire, visit 44 Hobbit holes, see amazing gardens, hear the secrets and stories about the making of the movies, and end with a cold beverage at the famous Hobbiton pub The Green Dragon Inn
After your Lord of the Rings experience you will be guided back through the Alexander Family Sheep Farm before continuing south to the active geothermal area of Rotorua. During the trip we will pass through the unique town of Tirau (the corrugated iron sculpture capital of the world), the stunning Fitzgerald Glade, plus many more attractions to see along the way
At the end of the tour, we will drop you at your accommodation in Rotorua (central hotels only) or at a main Rotorua central location
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
🗺️ Instructions: We pick up from the below hotels in Auckland: Copthorne Hotel Auckland Cordis Hotel Auckland Crowne Plaza Auckland Grand Mercure Hotel Grand Millennium Hotel Heritage Hotel Auckland Hilton Hotel Auckland Ibis Budget Auckland Kiwi International Hotel M Social Hotel Movenpick Hotel Pullman Hotel Auckland Rydges Hotel Auckland The Sebel Auckland Manukau SkyCity Hotel SkyCity Grand Hotel Sofitel Hotel Auckland SO/ Auckland If you are not staying in the above hotels, please choose the nearest pick-up location. We will meet you at the entrance. If you have not booked your hotel at the time of booking, we will set you up as picking up from SkyCity Hotel (Auckland). Please let us know once your hotel is confirmed.
Things to know
Accessibility:
Pregnancy friendly
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
While lunch is not provided on this tour, there will be several opportunities for you to purchase food along the way.
Children under the age of 7 must be in a child safety seat, as it is a legal requirement in New Zealand. If you need a safety seat or booster seat these can be added during the booking process.
In the very rare event that the weather is so bad we have to cancel due to safety reasons, we will offer a full refund. Please wait for us to contact you and check your emails regularly, and if you do not hear from us then the tour is going ahead as planned.
Wear comfortable clothing, sensible footwear, a charging cable for your phone or camera, your e-ticket or booking confirmation number, and a small amount of cash for lunch and souvenirs. A rain jacket is a handy thing to have with you in New Zealand!
We have room for luggage, There is enough room for one large case and one carry-on bag per person on all tours. Additional luggage will be an additional NZ$40 per item and must be pre-arranged with us before the day of your tour Oversized items including bikes, surfboards and your pet can not be accommodated.
Inclusion ✅
Water
Snack
Pick up and drop off transport
Tour transport
Entrance ticket
Tour guide
Exclusion ❌
Lunch
About your host
Cheeky Kiwi TravelWe are all about giving you a real Kiwi Adventure. Our tours and day trips have a maximum of 16 guests! We believe it's the small extra things we do, combined with being flexible, that make all the difference to your experience and give you an amazing trip. Our trips have been described as fun and informative, with, of course, a little bit of cheekiness. From the outset, our mission has been to nurture both our communities and the environment, aligning with and advocating for The Tiaki Promise. We've reduced our carbon emissions by adopting fuel-efficient vehicles and closely monitoring fuel usage. Our drivers are incentivised to follow eco-friendly practices, ensuring your journey is as environmentally responsible as possible. We pride ourselves on being a fully paperless office, and we prioritise responsible waste management during our operations. We encourage our guests to travel responsibly with Wild Kiwi and to commit to The Tiaki Promise to care for New Zealand, for now, and for future generations.
Qualmark Gold: Qualmark works with Tourism New Zealand to help the tourism industry deliver high-quality experiences and maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction. Only businesses that deliver a quality sustainable experience, ones that have undergone an independent evaluation, and showcase true New Zealand hospitality, are recognised through a Qualmark accreditation. It has three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.