Hobbiton and Glow Worm Tours from Auckland: Pickups, Times and Prices
Six Hobbiton and Waitomo glow worm day trips from Auckland compared: where they pick up, how long the day is, what lunch is, and the price on the platform.
Six day trips on this site leave from Auckland for Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and they cost from about $210 to $295 a person with both entry tickets included. Auckland Scenic Tours’ small-group trip is the cheapest and by far the most reviewed, 4.9 from 3,025. The others differ mainly in where they pick you up, what lunch is, and how many people share the vehicle.
Where each tour picks you up
Pickup is where these tours differ most, and it is worth checking before you compare prices.
- Auckland Scenic Tours collects from downtown Auckland CBD accommodation only. If you are near the airport or in South or East Auckland, its single pickup there is the Sebel Manukau Hotel.
- Cheeky Kiwi Travel lists 26 named hotels for pickup and drop-off, including the Park Hyatt, the Cordis and the SkyCity hotels.
- GreatSights starts at 102 Hobson Street in the city centre. Pickup from selected downtown hotels is on request, at 7:15am, and cruise passengers can be collected from the Movenpick Hotel.
- Bush and Beach and Auckland and Beyond pick up from inner-city or CBD hotels.
- FlexiToursNZ picks up from all central Auckland accommodation and charges extra for pickups further out.
How long the day is
Every one of them is a full day. The listings give about 11 hours for Auckland Scenic Tours, Auckland and Beyond and the GreatSights coach (11.5), 12 hours for Bush and Beach, and 13 hours for Cheeky Kiwi Travel, which adds a farm stop. The drive is about two hours each way plus about an hour and a half between the two sites. Auckland Scenic Tours adds a 7:30am departure between 1 October and 30 April, subject to availability, for an earlier finish.
What lunch is, and what else is included
| Tour | From | Lunch | Group | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Scenic Tours | $210 | Light cafe lunch at Waitomo | Up to 16 | 4.9 (3,025) |
| Cheeky Kiwi Travel | $213 | Set menu in Otorohanga | Up to 15 | 4.9 (774) |
| GreatSights coach | $246 | Picnic lunch | Coach | 4.7 (888) |
| Auckland and Beyond | $253 | Not included | Mercedes van | 4.8 (197) |
| FlexiToursNZ | $270 | Buffet at Hobbiton | 9 or 12 | 4.9 (395) |
| Bush and Beach | $295 | Buffet in the Party Marquee | Up to 13 | 4.9 (142) |
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.
All six include the Hobbiton tour and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour. Five of them name the drink at The Green Dragon Inn. Bush and Beach adds a $10 voucher for the Hobbiton gift shop. Auckland and Beyond is the one without lunch, which explains why it is not the cheapest despite that.
Which order the day runs in
Most go to Hobbiton in the morning and Waitomo in the afternoon. GreatSights runs it the other way, Waitomo first and Hobbiton after a picnic lunch, and its listing gives the Hobbiton tour as two hours rather than the usual two and a half.
Who should pick which
Day Trip with Lunch
The lowest price here, a group of up to 16, and it runs daily with no minimum.
Check dates →Small-Group Tour and Lunch
Pickup at 26 named hotels, booster seats for children 7 and under, and a farm-animal stop.
See this tour →Coach Tour with Lunch
A coach with Wi-Fi, Waitomo first, and English, Spanish, German, Japanese and Chinese listed.
See this tour →Before you book
Check the pickup list against your hotel first; a tour that does not collect from your street costs you a taxi before dawn. The days are long and the tours run in all weather. If you are going on to Rotorua anyway, a one-way tour saves a separate transfer: see Hobbiton and glow worm tours from Rotorua. For the timings of each site on its own, see how long the Hobbiton tour is.
Book the Hobbiton and Glow Worm Day Trip
Auckland Scenic Tours' small-group day from downtown Auckland hotels, with both entries, the Green Dragon drink and a cafe lunch included. Rated 4.9 from 3,025 reviews.
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