Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit 4-Day Private Tour from Auckland

• Fully guided private tour in Mercedes luxury vehicle.
• Pick-up and drop-off in Auckland incl. airport and cruise terminal.
• All tours support local eco-cultural initiatives.

Day 1: Auckland to Waitomo Caves

The first day of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit 4-Day Private Tour from Auckland starts when you are collected at 9:00 from your Auckland accommodation. A 2½-hour drive will take you along the Waikato River. Here you can experience stunning views of Taupiri Mountain in addition to Ngaruawahia, which is where the world-famous Maori meeting place of Turangawaewae Marae resides.

As you arrive at Waitomo you will have 45 minutes to explore the depths of the Glowworm Caves. The cave is filled with masses of amazing glowworms, and if 45 minutes isn’t enough you also have the option of a tour covering two caves in depth over 3 hours at an additional cost. Blackwater rafting is also available upon request.

Day 2: Waitomo to Tongariro National Park

A short drive South of the Waitomo Caves is where you’ll find the Hairy Feet film location, and you might like to incorporate this into your tour. Denize Bluffs farm is well-known as being a location that the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was filmed.

The Hairy Feet Tour begins at the abandoned farmhouse featured in Trollshaw Forest, and you’ll visit the cave exit to where the Troll Hoards go to stay out of the sun. You’ll also explore the location where we first saw Radagast guarding the Greenwood Forest.

Continue your adventure as you arrive in the Tongariro National Park, the world’s 4th oldest wildlife park. This location is home to the wastelands of Mordor from The Lord of The Rings as well as a variety of other scenes such as Mount Doom featured in the movies. Mt Ruapehu is also located in this area as the tallest mountain, which was known for being the filming location of the Lonely Mountain from The Hobbit movies.

You might like to stay at the hotel where the team behind The Lord of the Rings stayed during filming at the Chateau Tongariro Hotel. Or perhaps take on a spot of Trout fishing (at an additional cost), in one of the world’s best locations before spending the night in a small town beside the Tongariro River.

Day 3: Tongariro National Park to Rotorua

Day 3 of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit 4-Day Private Tour from Auckland will begin with a drive North to Rotorua. Enjoy fantastic views of Hukas Falls placed idyllically on the Waikato River, and choose to stop at the picturesque Aratiatia Rapids and watch as water trickles through as the river is lifted. The Aratiatia Rapids is also the filming location for the barrel scene featured in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Embark the rapids to experience amazing views of some of New Zealand’s iconic thermal parks, and explore Rotorua’s world-famous volcanic landscapes.

As we depart we’ll witness fantastic countryside scenery and the Mamaku Ranges before arriving at Rotorua. Traverse down the steep plateau to get an excellent viewpoint of Lake Rotorua, and you might like to stop at Mamaku Blue which boasts a beautiful blueberry farm, a winery and a cafe.

There are a wealth of sites to explore in Rotorua such as traditional Maori song and dance and tasting Maori foods. This time is yours to explore, but you might prefer to enjoy relaxing in your accommodation.

Day 4: Rotorua to Auckland

Rotorua offers a huge amount of places for you to visit, and as you begin your fourth day of the tour you might like to incorporate trout fishing on Lake Rotorua or try your hand at fly fishing. Experience a helicopter flight with fantastic sights of volcanic scenes such as Mount Tarawera, which is New Zealand’s last remaining active volcano. You can visit The Luge which is considered one of the most fun attractions of New Zealand, or witness the stunning government gardens before embracing the historic Rotorua Museum. Nestled in the Government Gardens is the area’s historic Bathhouses, which include tranquil spas for you to unwind in. You can also enjoy some of the memorable agricultural shows to experience New Zealand’s farming in the Agrodome. All Rotorua activities are optional at extra cost.

Your final stop will be at Hobbiton, which is set in the idyllic location of Matamata, where you’ll experience iconic views of the distant landscapes lined with sheep and farm life, and in the distance to the East is where the Kaimi Ranges reside. These areas deliver a true insight of where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies came to life, and where they first began.

While in Hobbiton you will be able to explore the famous Hobbit Village where the amazing Middle-earth stories first came to life. Explore the Hobbit Holes which were dug into the sides of the hills in The Shire, before paying a visit to the end of Bagshot Row to visit Bilbo Baggins’ home. You might also like to get an inside look at the Green Dragon Inn that Frodo and Samwise often visited with friends, and enjoy a cold beverage or two while you are there.

Having seen one of the best attractions for Middle-Earth fans, along with some of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenery,  your private Mercedes will transport you back to your Auckland accommodation.