Waitomo Glowworm Caves & Trollshaw Forest: 12-Hour LOTR Tour

The Mangaotaki Valley doubled as both Trollshaw Forest and Staddle Farm in The Hobbit films.

A 12-hour guided tour from Waitomo combines two separate experiences: a small-group walk through Trollshaw Forest, a Hobbit trilogy filming location in the Mangaotaki Valley, and a boat ride through Waitomo Caves to see thousands of glowworms. Private transport, entrance fees and an English-speaking guide are included. The tour suits all fitness levels and welcomes children from age 3.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Trollshaws and Waitomo Glowworms

• Drive through farmland
• Walk around Trollshaws filming sites
• Join small group tour at Hairy Feet Farm
• See glowworms on cave boat ride

The experience

The tour splits into two halves, each requiring about three and a half hours of travel. You start at Hairy Feet Farm near Waitomo, where a small group joins a guide for an easy walk through the Mangaotaki Valley. This is the landscape that became Trollshaw Forest and Staddle Farm during filming of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The guides emphasize showing what it means to be a New Zealander, not just pointing out camera angles. The farmland and valley are working landscape, and the tour moves at a pace that lets you take it in.

The second half takes you to Waitomo Caves themselves. You board a boat and drift through a cave system lit by thousands of glowworms clinging to the ceiling and walls. The glowworms create a starfield effect reflected in the still water below. This is the attraction Waitomo is known for, and it arrives after the morning's walk through film locations, so the day builds from one kind of landscape to another.

An air-conditioned vehicle handles all transport between stops and from your pickup point. The guide speaks English (Korean available on request) and travels with the group the entire day. Entrance fees to both Trollshaw Forest and Waitomo Caves are included, along with the boat ride. Lunch is not included, so plan to bring food or eat before or after the tour ends.

What’s included

• Private transportation.
• entrance fees to Trollshaw Forest and Waitomo Caves.
• boat ride through the glowworm cave.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• live English-speaking guide (Korean available on request).
• pickup from your location.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (11 to 70 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Stevong Travel

Is this one for you?Pickup is included, so if you're staying in Waitomo or nearby without a car, the tour handles all transport between the two main sites and back to your accommodation. The 12-hour commitment means you'll spend most of a day on this one experience, but both the Hobbit locations and the glowworm cave are included in a single booking rather than arranged separately.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Korean.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Trollshaw Forest and why does it matter if you've seen The Hobbit films?

Trollshaw Forest is a location in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, filmed in the Mangaotaki Valley near Piopio. The valley also served as Staddle Farm in the same trilogy. On the tour, you walk through the actual filming sites and see the farmland and landscape as it appears in the movies, rather than visiting a theme park recreation.

How does the glowworm cave experience work? Do you just look at them from a distance?

You board a boat and float through the cave while glowworms light the ceiling and walls above you. The boat drifts slowly so you can see thousands of them reflected in the water below. It's a passive experience, you sit in the boat, but the glowworms are directly overhead, not behind glass or at a remove.

Is the walk through Trollshaw Forest difficult, and how long does it actually take?

The walk is described as easy and is suitable for all fitness levels. The tour as a whole is 12 hours, but that includes roughly three and a half hours of driving to reach each location and back. The walk itself and the cave boat ride make up the rest of the day.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the tour, or does pickup come with it?

Pickup is included in the tour price. Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle handles all movement between your starting point, Trollshaw Forest, Waitomo Caves and back. You do not need a car or arrange separate transport.