5-Day Bay of Islands Rotorua Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton Tour from Auckland

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Auckland to Paihia with Waitangi Treaty Grounds
2 stops
1
Heading north to the Bay of Islands takes you along the coast road past the seaside villages of Orewa and Waiwera. Then its on to the township of Puhoi, New Zealand's only Bohemian settlement, then Warkworth and the harbour side city of Whangarei and the unique township of Kawakawa. Arriving into the sub tropical Bay of Islands you are greeted with bush clad hillsides dropping to golden sand beaches. Paihia is the main tourist centre in the bay and has a great beach side atmosphere.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
2
Join a guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the historic site where the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, was signed. Learn more about New Zealand's history and Maori heritage as you explore the Treaty House. Visit a traditional Maori meeting house, and marvel at the 35-meter-long hand-crafted Waka (canoe) which is still used today. A shuttle will pick you up and drop you back to your accommodation.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 2
Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach Day Tour
1 stop
3
Set out by coach on a full-day tour to Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. Along the way, stop to explore the ancient Puketi Kauri Forest, visit the famous Ninety Mile Beach where you can experience the thrills and spills of sand surfing (optional). On arrival at Cape Reinga, walk out along the coastal cliffs to the Cape Reinga lighthouse and hear about the area's Maori legends as you gaze out across the meeting point of the Tasman and Pacific Oceans. A lunch of traditional fish and chips is included, before heading back to Paihia and returning in the early evening.
12 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Head south from Paihia to Rotorua
1 stop
4
Your journey will take you past scenic native forests and sub-tropical bush, before crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge to arrive into the spectacular city scene of Auckland. Continue south into the rich farmland of the Waikato and onto the cultural heart of the North Island and Rotorua City.
10 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Rotorua to Hobbiton day tour followed by an evening Maori Cultural Experience
2 stops
5
Hobbiton Movie Set
Setting out from Rotorua, your Hobbiton Movie Set tour starts with a scenic drive across the Kaimai Ranges to Matamata, a small town in the Waikato region known for its thoroughbred industry and dairy farming. Along the way, your local driver guide will provide informative commentary. Just outside of Matamata is the private working farm that was transformed into The Shire for the award-winning The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies. Take a two-hour guided tour of the movie set and learn how this picturesque farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth. Your guide will show you Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree, the Mill and many other structures from the movies. After your Hobbiton movie set tour, you will hop back on the GreatSights coach and retrace your steps back to Rotorua.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
6
From arrival into Maori Village, you will share seasonal kai horotai (delicacies). These can include roasted tuna (native eel), creamy pāua (abalone) on rewena (bread) crostini, foraged greens, chunky smoked kahawai, ember warmed kumara and restorative kawakawa tea. Torchlight guides manuhiri (guests) to a lavish but relaxed four-course feast. Hāngī remains hero but it shares the table with lesser-known Māori delicacies, prepared fusion style. Wagyu pincanha, Watercress chimichurri, taro gratin – even kumara ice cream - each dish is inspired by or infused with traditional ingredients, stories, or cooking techniques. Celebrate the spirit of hākari (feasting) and of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Spend the morning exploring Waitomo before returning to Auckland
2 stops
7
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
After being collected from your Rotorua accommodation, you will journey through the Waikato to Waitomo, known for its caves and glow worms. On arrival you will join a guided tour of the caves, conducted by a local guide – the highlight of which is the boat ride along the Waitomo River where you have the opportunity to see the myriad of glow worm lights that make up the Glowworm Grotto. Ruakuri Cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo’s most compelling subterranean experiences. Journey down through the spectacular spiral entrance, and marvel at the softly folding shawl-like limestone formations and crystal tapestries, hear the distant thunder of the subterranean waterfalls and get up close to the glowworms. Ruakuri Cave is New Zealand’s longest guided underground walking tour and an experience that must be seen to be believed. It will leave you open-mouthed, awe-struck, and humbled by the sheer majesty of nature.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
8
Auckland
Following your Caves tour, return to Auckland, arriving in the evening.
3 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

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