"The Hobbiton was very good, loved it. Even if you haven’t seen the movies or read the books, I think you will be intrigued. Lunch was good, nice choice. The Glow worm caves were fascinating, unfortunately you can’t take pictures."
Auckland to Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves · 11 hours
Hobbiton and Glow Worm Tours from Auckland and Rotorua
Auckland Scenic Tours runs a small-group day trip, up to 16 people, from downtown Auckland hotels. It includes the 2.5-hour Hobbiton Movie Set tour with a drink at The Green Dragon Inn, a cafe lunch, and the 45-minute Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour with the boat ride.
From
$210
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.9 / 5 3,025 Reviews
- 11 hours Full Day from Auckland
- Up to 16 Small Group, Driver-Guide
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Hobbiton and Glow Worm Day Trip Includes
From Auckland Scenic Tours' listing: the two entry tickets, the guided tours, the lunch and the one drink, and the single thing you pay for yourself.
In the Operator's Own Words
- Feel nostalgic as you step inside the world of Middle-earth at The Shire
- Marvel at glowworms while sailing in the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- Sip on a refreshing, specially brewed beverage at The Green Dragon Inn
- Experience a sense of movie magic as you explore Hobbiton and take pictures
- Admire the scenery en route and listen to insightful commentary from your guide
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (downtown Auckland hotels only)
- Transportation
- Local driver-guide
- Entry to Hobbiton Movie set
- Guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set
- 1 complimentary drink at The Green Dragon Inn
- Classic Light Kiwi-style cafe lunch- this is the style of lunch that most New Zealanders would have for lunch and caters for dietary requirement (vegetarian, vegan etc). As such it is not an a la carte restaurant or buffet style but enables us to provide a yummy lunch but also keep the tour the most competitive available with lunch included.
- Entry to Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- 45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves
- 7:30am departure tour also from 1 October-30 April subject to availability
Good to know: Note that hotel pick-ups operate from Downtown Auckland CBD only · Those staying near the airport or in South or East Auckland- we have 1 pick up location in that area: the Sebel Manukau Hotel, 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau · Children must be accompanied by an adult · A small amount of easy walking is involved · The tour operates in all weather conditions so please dress appropriately · This is a small group activity with a maximum of up to 16 participants and requires no minimum participants to operate as operate daily regardless of numbers. · Not suitable for: Children under 4 years, People with mobility impairments, Wheelchair users · Not Included: Tips (optional)
How a Hobbiton and Waitomo Day from Auckland Works
Four steps from the hotel pickup in central Auckland to the drop-off in the evening.
Get Picked Up in Central Auckland
Pickup is from hotels in downtown Auckland only. If you are staying near the airport or in South or East Auckland, the operator's one pickup point there is the Sebel Manukau Hotel. Between 1 October and 30 April there is also a 7:30am departure, subject to availability.
Drive South to the Shire
The road runs over the Bombay Hills into the Waikato and the Hauraki Plains, with commentary from your driver-guide. The group is small, up to 16 people, and the tour runs daily with no minimum, in all weather.
Walk the Hobbiton Movie Set
The Hobbiton tour takes 2.5 hours and is led by the set's own guides. It goes inside the themed hobbit hole on Bagshot Row, past the Mill and the Party Tree, and ends at The Green Dragon Inn with one complimentary drink.
Lunch, the Glowworms, Then Back
Lunch is a light Kiwi cafe lunch at Waitomo, with vegetarian and vegan options. Then comes the 45-minute Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour, which ends on a boat under the glowworms; photography is not allowed in the caves. The drive back ends at your hotel in the evening.
Photo Gallery
Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves, in the Operator's Photos
Photographs from Auckland Scenic Tours' own listing of the day trip.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Three Hobbiton and Glow Worm Day Trips, Side by Side
Same two sights, three ways to spend the day on them. Auckland Scenic Tours has by far the most reviews; Cheeky Kiwi Travel picks up from the most named hotels; FlexiToursNZ can drop you in Rotorua instead of bringing you back. All three were read from the booking platform in October 2026.
| Feature | OUR PICK Day Trip with Lunch | Small-Group Tour and Lunch | Auckland or Rotorua Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From about $210 on the platform; tips are the only listed extra | From about $213 on the platform; drinks and desserts at lunch are extra | From about $270 on the platform; water, snacks and tips are extra |
| Starts From | Downtown Auckland hotels, or the Sebel Manukau for the airport and South Auckland | 26 named Auckland hotels | Central Auckland accommodation, or Rotorua; one way or return |
| Length | About 11 hours | About 13 hours | About 11 to 13 hours |
| Hobbiton | 2.5-hour guided tour and a Green Dragon drink | 2.5-hour guided tour and a Green Dragon drink | Guided walking tour of the movie set |
| Waitomo | 45-minute Glowworm Caves tour | 45-minute Glowworm Caves tour with the boat ride | Caves admission and the boat through the glowworms |
| Lunch | Light Kiwi cafe lunch; vegetarian and vegan catered | Set menu in Otorohanga | Buffet at the Hobbiton marquee |
| Group Size | Up to 16; runs daily with no minimum | Up to 15; minimum numbers apply | 9 or 12 seats |
| Who Runs It | Auckland Scenic Tours | Cheeky Kiwi Travel | FlexiToursNZ |
| Reviews | 4.9 / 5 from 3,025 verified reviews | 4.9 / 5 from 774 verified reviews | 4.9 / 5 from 395 verified reviews |
| Not Suitable For | Children under 4, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users | People with mobility impairments, wheelchair users | Children under 2, wheelchair users, people with a low level of fitness |
| Best For | A first visit from central Auckland at the lowest price | Families who want booster seats and a pickup at their own hotel | Travellers heading south who want the day to end in Rotorua |
| Check Availability | See This Tour | See This Tour |
Other Ways to Do Hobbiton and the Glowworms
More Hobbiton and Glow Worm Tours
Eight more products that pair the Hobbiton Movie Set with the Waitomo Glowworm Caves: other day trips from Auckland, one-way days between Auckland and Rotorua, and a two-day tour. The titles are the operators'. Prices, ratings and review counts are the platform's own.
FARM STOP, 26 HOTEL PICKUPSAuckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Small-Group Tour & Lunch
A small-group tour from Auckland (maximum 15) with hotel pickup: the 2.5-hour Hobbiton tour, lunch from a set menu in Otorohanga, a farm stop to meet animals, and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves with the boat ride. Both entries, water and snacks are included; drinks at lunch are not.
COACH, WAITOMO FIRSTFrom Auckland: Waitomo & Hobbiton Coach Tour with Lunch
A full-day coach tour from 102 Hobson Street in central Auckland that runs the day in reverse: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves first, a picnic lunch on board, then the Hobbiton Movie Set. Commentary is offered in several languages; hotel pickup from selected downtown hotels is by request.
START OR END IN ROTORUAFrom Auckland or Rotorua: Hobbiton & Waitomo Tour with Lunch
A small-group day tour (9 or 12 seats) that can start or end in Auckland or Rotorua, so it also works as a one-way transfer between the two. Both entries and a buffet lunch at the Hobbiton marquee are included; water and snacks are not. Choose the start and finish point carefully when booking.
BUFFET + GIFT-SHOP VOUCHERAuckland: Hobbiton and Waitomo Day Tour with Buffet Lunch
A small-group tour from inner-city Auckland (up to 13 in the van, larger groups at each site) with the Hobbiton tour, a Green Dragon drink, a buffet lunch in the Party Marquee, a $10 gift-shop voucher and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The operator says it is not suitable as a cruise shore excursion.
MERCEDES VAN, LUNCH EXTRAFrom Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip
An 11-hour trip from Auckland CBD in a Mercedes van: the 2.5-hour Hobbiton tour with a Green Dragon drink, then the Waitomo Glowworm Caves with the boat ride. Water and snacks are on board; lunch is not included, so budget for it at the stops. Minimum two travellers.
ONE WAY TO ROTORUAAuckland: to Rotorua via Hobbiton & Waitomo 1-Way Tour
A one-way day from Auckland to Rotorua with your luggage on board (one large, one small bag): Waitomo Glowworm Caves with the boat ride, the Hobbiton tour, and a short drive around Rotorua before you leave the group there. Accommodation in Rotorua is not included.
ONE WAY FROM ROTORUARotorua: One-Way Trip to Auckland via Hobbiton & Waitomo
The reverse one-way: pickup from Rotorua accommodation at 8:00, the Hobbiton tour with a buffet lunch in the Party Marquee and a Green Dragon drink, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves with the boat ride, then drop-off at your inner-city Auckland accommodation. The cave has about 75 stairs.
2 DAYS, NIGHT IN ROTORUAFrom Auckland: Two-Day Hobbiton, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves Tour
A two-day tour from Auckland with a night in Rotorua: Hobbiton, Te Puia's geysers and the Maori arts centre, a Mitai cultural evening with dinner, then the Waitomo caves on day two. Admission fees, the first lunch, dinner and breakfast are included. Solo travellers who want their own room book two fares.
An Independent Guide to the Hobbiton and Waitomo Day
Two Big Sights, One Long Day, and the Tours That Link Them
What a Hobbiton and glow worm tour includes, how the day is timed, what it costs against doing it yourself, and which tour fits where you are staying.
The Hobbiton Movie Set and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves are two of the most visited sights in New Zealand’s North Island, and they sit about an hour and a half apart in the Waikato, south of Auckland. Hobbiton is the Shire from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, kept on a working sheep farm near Matamata. Waitomo is a limestone cave system where the tour ends on a small boat, in the dark, under thousands of glowworms. A “Hobbiton glow worm tour” is a day trip that does both, usually from Auckland.
The tour this site recommends is Auckland Scenic Tours’ Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves day trip: a small group of up to 16 from downtown Auckland, rated 4.9 from 3,025 reviews and from about $210 on the booking platform when we checked. Both entry tickets, the guided tours at each site, a light cafe lunch and a drink at The Green Dragon Inn are included. Tips are the only listed extra.
See dates for the Hobbiton and glow worm day trip →
How the day is timed
The Auckland day trips run about 11 to 13 hours door to door, and most of it is spent in the two attractions or on the road between them. The itineraries on the booking platform break down like this:
| Part of the day | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland to Hobbiton | about 2 hours | South over the Bombay Hills into the Waikato, with commentary |
| Hobbiton Movie Set tour | 2.5 hours | A guided walk of the set, inside a hobbit hole on Bagshot Row, ending with a drink at The Green Dragon Inn |
| Lunch | 30 minutes to 1 hour | At Hobbiton, Otorohanga or Waitomo, depending on the tour |
| Hobbiton to Waitomo | about 1.5 hours | Through farmland via Otorohanga |
| Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour | 45 minutes | A guided walk through the caves, then a boat ride through the glowworm grotto |
| Waitomo back to Auckland | 2 to 2.75 hours | Drop-off at your hotel in the evening |
Timings from the tour itineraries on the booking platform, read in October 2026. They are the operators’ estimates and traffic changes them.
Some tours run the day in reverse. GreatSights’ coach goes to Waitomo first and Hobbiton in the afternoon, and Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s one-way tour to Rotorua does the same. The order matters little to the experience, though the morning sees fewer people at whichever site comes first. How long is the Hobbiton tour has the timings for each site on its own.
What the two sights are like
At Hobbiton you walk the set with one of the attraction’s own guides; there is no other way in, because the set is on private farmland. The official tour takes 2.5 hours including the coach between The Shire’s Rest and the set. It passes 44 hobbit holes, the Mill, the double-arch bridge and the Party Tree, goes inside a furnished hobbit home on Bagshot Row, and ends at The Green Dragon Inn with one drink from the Southfarthing range, which can be alcoholic or not. Can you visit Hobbiton without a tour? explains the access rule.
At Waitomo the 45-minute tour walks you through the cave’s chambers, including the large cavern called the Cathedral, then down to an underground river. The last part is a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, where the light comes only from the glowworms on the ceiling. Photography is not allowed inside the caves, to protect them, so the memory is the souvenir. For the caves on their own, including the other Waitomo caves and blackwater rafting, waitomo-glowworm-caves-tour.com covers them in depth.
What the tours cost, and what is included
The Auckland day trips cost from about $210 to $295 a person on the platform, and the difference is mostly the lunch and the size of the vehicle. Every one includes both entry tickets and the guided tours at each site; that is the main thing you are paying for.
| Tour | From | Rating | Lunch | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Scenic Tours day trip | $210 | 4.9 (3,025) | Light cafe lunch | Up to 16 |
| Cheeky Kiwi Travel small group | $213 | 4.9 (774) | Set menu in Otorohanga | Up to 15 |
| GreatSights coach | $246 | 4.7 (888) | Picnic lunch | Coach |
| Auckland and Beyond full-day trip | $253 | 4.8 (197) | Not included | Mercedes van |
| FlexiToursNZ, Auckland or Rotorua | $270 | 4.9 (395) | Buffet at Hobbiton | 9 or 12 seats |
| Bush and Beach, buffet lunch | $295 | 4.9 (142) | Buffet in the Party Marquee | Up to 13 |
Prices, ratings and review counts from our October 2026 data check; operators use seasonal pricing, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Book by what you want the day to include:
Most reviewed
Hobbiton and Waitomo Day Trip with Lunch
Small group from downtown Auckland hotels, both entries, a cafe lunch and the Green Dragon drink.
Check dates →Wider hotel pickup
Small-Group Tour and Lunch
Pickup from 26 named Auckland hotels, a farm-animal stop, water and snacks on board.
See this tour →Ends in Rotorua
Auckland or Rotorua, One Way or Return
Starts or finishes in either city, so the day doubles as your transfer south. Buffet lunch at Hobbiton.
See this tour →The Hobbiton ticket alone is NZ$130 for an adult on the official site, valid for departures until 31 March 2028, NZ$65 for ages 11 to 17, and free for children aged 10 and under, who still need a booked ticket. How much a Hobbiton and Waitomo tour costs sets that against a hire car and a cave ticket.
From Auckland or from Rotorua
Auckland is where most of these tours start and end, and the day is long because of the drive. Rotorua is closer to Hobbiton, about an hour, but further from Waitomo, so a return day from Rotorua is no shorter. The smart use of Rotorua is a one-way day: two tours here run from Auckland to Rotorua or the other way, with your luggage on board, so the sightseeing replaces the transfer. Hobbiton and glow worm tours from Rotorua compares them, and the Auckland guide covers pickups and departure times.
Doing it yourself
With a car, both sights are easy to reach: Hobbiton tours leave from The Shire’s Rest at 501 Buckland Road, near Matamata, and Waitomo is signposted off State Highway 3. You book the Hobbiton tour and a Waitomo cave ticket separately, and you set your own pace, perhaps with a night in the Waikato. The tour wins on the driving, about five and a half hours of it in a day, and on not having to time two booked slots yourself. Is a Hobbiton and glow worm tour worth it? weighs the two.
Before you go
The Hobbiton set is outdoors and the tour runs in all weather, so bring a rain jacket. The Waitomo cave is cool and has stairs; one operator lists about 75 to climb. Several listings say the day is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments, and one excludes children under four. A Rotorua operator’s listing notes building work on the Hobbiton set between April and November ahead of a new feature, so a part of the set may look different on your visit.
Hobbiton Glow Worm Tour is an independent visitor guide. It is not affiliated with Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, the film rights holders or any tour operator named here. Tours are sold by GetYourGuide.
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say
4.9/5
from 3,025 reviews
"Even if you're not a Lord of the Rings fan, Hobbiton is absolutely worth visiting! It's beautiful, incredibly well maintained and full of thoughtful details, with postcard-worthy landscapes everywhere you look. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, on the other hand, felt almost mystical: sitting in complete darkness and silence while looking up at what resembles a starry sky was a truly unique experience. Lunch was also very satisfying. Danny, our driver and guide, was incredibly kind and knowledgeable, making us feel welcome and at home. The guides at both Hobbiton and the caves were excellent too. I highly recommend this tour!"
"My group of five coworkers had a day long break in between meetings and we wanted to see some of the countryside near Auckland. This tour was a great fit. Mike, our guide, was friendly and kind. He was a great communicator and we learned a lot. Both the glow worm cave and Hobbiton exceeded expectations!"
"Danny was very helpful & knowledgeable. the whole experience was a once in a life time and should be tried. need overhead bins in vans & free bottles of water."
"Great trip, our guide Rachel was incredible. Made us feel like we were family for the day."
"Mike was our tour guide today and he was really awesome! He was very approachable and knowledgable of the tours. The trip was on time and I would definitely recommend this to others ☺️"
"Pick up was prompt and from right outside my hotel. Tracey was the guide and she was amazing giving us facts and stories on our trip to Hobbiton. Cave tour was run by the Māori people and was amazingly insightful and a really beautiful part of the world. Highly recommend doing this tour."
"Our driver Rachel was amazing, friendly and very welcoming, made it overall very enjoyable trip to Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves. At Hobbiton we had our lovely guide Corey who was very knowledgeable on all things Lord of the Rings. Overall this tour is a must do and would highly recommend."
Read all 3,025 verified reviews
See All ReviewsBook the Hobbiton and Glow Worm Day Trip
Auckland Scenic Tours' small-group day trip covers the Hobbiton Movie Set and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves with both entries, lunch and a Green Dragon drink included. Rated 4.9/5 from 3,025 reviews, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Tips are the only listed extra. Starting from $210 per person.
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
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More tours nearby from the booking platform. Check each one's cancellation terms before you book.
Hobbiton Glow Worm Tour FAQ
What people ask before booking a Hobbiton and glow worm tour, answered in the first sentence. Prices are the booking platform's, checked in October 2026.
Yes: the day trips from Auckland do both in about 11 to 13 hours, with the 2.5-hour Hobbiton tour and the 45-minute Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour. The two sites are about an hour and a half apart, and Auckland is about two hours from Hobbiton, so most of the rest of the day is on the road. How the day is timed
For a day trip from central Auckland, Auckland Scenic Tours' tour has the most reviews on this site, 4.9 from 3,025, from about $210 with lunch included. Cheeky Kiwi Travel's small-group tour is about the same price and picks up from 26 named hotels. If you are travelling on to Rotorua, a one-way tour saves you the transfer. Compare the day tours
No: the Hobbiton Movie Set is on private farmland and can only be seen on a guided tour. You can drive yourself to The Shire's Rest on Buckland Road near Matamata and join a tour there, but you cannot wander the set alone. A day trip from Auckland includes the tour ticket. How access works
The day trips from Auckland on this site cost from about $210 to $295 a person on the platform, with both entry tickets included. The Hobbiton ticket alone is NZ$130 for an adult on the official site, valid until 31 March 2028, and free for children 10 and under. The one-way days between Auckland and Rotorua start from about $252. What the day costs
The Hobbiton Movie Set Signature Tour takes 2.5 hours from The Shire's Rest, including the coach to the set and back. The guided walk itself is the larger part of that, and it ends with a drink at The Green Dragon Inn. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour adds 45 minutes. Timings for each part
Yes: FlexiToursNZ's tour can start or finish in Rotorua, and Bush and Beach runs a one-way day from Rotorua to Auckland via both sites. Cheeky Kiwi Travel runs the opposite direction, Auckland to Rotorua with your luggage on board. Rotorua is about an hour from Hobbiton but further from Waitomo. Tours from Rotorua
No: photography is not allowed inside the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, to protect the glowworms. The tour listings say so, and you can photograph freely at Hobbiton, including at the door of a hobbit hole. One listing's notes
On most of them, yes: a cafe lunch, a set menu, a picnic or a buffet at Hobbiton, depending on the operator. Auckland and Beyond's full-day trip is the exception here: lunch is not included and you buy it at the stops. Drinks at lunch are usually extra. What each tour includes
Usually, from about age four: Auckland Scenic Tours excludes children under 4, and FlexiToursNZ under 2. Hobbiton is free for children 10 and under on the official ticket, though they still need a booking. Cheeky Kiwi Travel provides booster seats for children 7 and under. The days are long, so judge your own child's stamina. Is it worth it?
Mostly not: several listings say the day is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Hobbiton involves uneven paths and some slopes, and one operator lists about 75 stairs to climb in the Waitomo caves. Ask the operator before you book if mobility is a concern. Every tour's notes
Still have questions? Email us at info@hobbitonglowwormtour.com