Hobbiton Movie Set & Glowworm Cave day tour from Auckland

Two film locations in one day: the Shire's sets and a cave lit by thousands of glowworms.

A full-day guided tour from Auckland combines 2.5 hours at Hobbiton Movie Set (the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit filming location) with an hour inside Waitomo Glowworm Cave, where glowworms hang from the ceiling above an underground river. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch at the Shire's rest cafe, and a professional English-speaking guide are included. The day runs 12 hours total with travel time between sites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Hobbiton Movie Set6h · entry included
2. Waitomo Caves6h · entry included

Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Cave tour

• Travel from Auckland to Hobbiton
• Stop at cafe for rest
• Join guided Hobbiton village tour
• Have lunch at Shire's rest cafe
• Travel from Hobbiton to Waitomo
• Join guided Waitomo Glowworm Cave tour
• Travel back to Auckland

The experience

The drive from Auckland to Hobbiton takes 2.5 hours, with a stop at a cafe to rest along the way. Once you arrive, a guide leads a small group through the movie set for 2.5 hours, walking the Shire's gardens, hobbit holes and working film locations where scenes from both trilogies were shot. After the tour, you eat a simple lunch at the Shire's rest cafe before heading to Waitomo.

The second leg covers 1.5 hours to Waitomo Glowworm Cave. Inside, a guide takes you through the cave for an hour to see the glowworms: tiny larvae that glow in the dark and cluster on the cave ceiling above an underground river. The return trip to Auckland takes about 3 hours, so you arrive back at your hotel by evening.

You travel in a private vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off, so there's no waiting for a shuttle or coordinating your own transport. A professional guide speaks English throughout both stops and handles the logistics of the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Auckland.
• private vehicle transport between all sites.
• guided 2.5-hour tour of Hobbiton Movie Set.
• guided one-hour tour of Waitomo Glowworm Cave.
• lunch at the Shire's rest cafe.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• GST.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 to 70 years) · Under 13: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Stevong Travel

Is this one for you?The day involves moderate walking at Hobbiton and cave entry at Waitomo, so a reasonable level of fitness helps. Private transport means you travel at your own pace between sites without waiting for group shuttles, and the guide handles all the stops and timing.

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Top questions

How far is Hobbiton Movie Set from Auckland?

Hobbiton is 2.5 hours' drive from Auckland. The tour includes a rest stop at a cafe on the way there.

What exactly is Hobbiton Movie Set?

Hobbiton is the filming location where scenes from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies were shot. The set includes hobbit holes, gardens and other structures built for the films and preserved on the working farm.

What do you see inside Waitomo Glowworm Cave?

Waitomo Glowworm Cave is an underground cave with a river running through it. Glowworms, tiny larvae that produce light, cluster on the cave ceiling, creating a starlit effect above the water. The guided tour lasts an hour.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Yes, a simple lunch is provided at the Shire's rest cafe at Hobbiton after the village tour.

What time does the tour start and end?

The full day runs 12 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. Your guide will confirm the exact pickup time when you book.