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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Including Rotorua Sightseeing
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
- 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Tauranga Tours
Recommendations
Overview
Take a shore excursion to the Hobbiton Movie Set and sightsee Rotorua with a guide when your cruise ship pulls into port at Tauranga. Journey to Middle-earth and The Shire of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fame, featured in the popular LOTR trilogy and ‘The Hobbit.’ Then learn traditional customs at the Maori village of Whakarewarewa before strolling past the spouting geysers and steaming hot springs of thermal Rotorua. Numbers are limited to 19 participants in this small-group tour to the land of hobbits and hot pools.
- Lord of the Rings Hobbiton movie set and Rotorua shore excursion from Tauranga
- Tour the Hobbiton movie set from The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit
- Enjoy a tour of Whakarewarewa thermal region and Maori Village
- See the landscape of erupting geothermal activity, hot thermal springs and hot bubbling mud pools
What's Included
- Driver/guide
- Live commentary on board
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
Meeting And Pickup
Pickup point
- Port of Tauranga Ltd2 Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand
Start time
08:30 AM
Pickup details
Departure Point: Outside the Port of Tauranga main pedestrian gate Directions: After disembarking your ships gangway; please proceed along the pathway marked by safety barriers which run alongside your ship to the port of Tauranga exit gates. There will be port security staff and local ambassadors along this short walkway to direct you to the gates. Our local representative will be standing outside the port gates on the grass section directly under the flag pole with a name board held high with your names on. Your driver / guides will be dressed in uniform of black trousers, white shirts and the females may be wearing some orange apparel. The vehicles will be in the car park directly behind where you will be met, which is less than 100 meters. Dates: See Availability Return point: Returns to original departure point at approximately 5pm
What To Expect
Start your full-day shore excursion to Middle-earth and Rotorua with pickup from the Tauranga cruise port. Your coach follows a scenic route, crossing the Tauranga Harbour Bridge before departing the Bay of Plenty. After climbing the Kaimai mountain range, note the fertile farmlands of Waikato as you near the town of Matamata and the filming site used for the Hobbiton Movie Set.
Stroll with your guide past hobbit holes belonging to the likes of Bilbo and Frodo during a 2-hour tour of The Shire, an actual New Zealand sheep farm. You’ll recognize scenes from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies, including the party tree, the Mill and the Green Dragon Inn, where you can finish your Hobbiton tour with a mug of beer, cider or ginger beer (own expense).
Back on board the bus, continue into Rotorua via the Mamaku mountain range. After a stop for lunch (own expense) beside Lake Rotorua, you’re treated to a traditional welcome into the authentic Maori village of Whakarewarewa.
Accompanied by a Maori guide, witness the astounding thermal activity of Rotorua’s bubbling hot springs and mud pools, and watch Pohutu Geyser erupt. Learn how New Zealand’s indigenous people made use of the region, bathing in the hot springs and cooking over steam vents.
Step foot inside Whare Tupuna, a Maori meeting house designed with symbolic wood carvings. Hear songs, see dances and discover Maori customs during a demonstration of warlike fighting skills included in the haka dance.
Your driver takes a separate route on the return trip and, if time allows, stops for an impromptu photo shoot in a redwood forest. You can use provided hats, cloaks, staffs and swords to pose as Gandalf or your favorite hobbit from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit before drop-off at the cruise port.
Worry-free Shore Excursion:We will ensure your timely return to the Tauranga port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
Stroll with your guide past hobbit holes belonging to the likes of Bilbo and Frodo during a 2-hour tour of The Shire, an actual New Zealand sheep farm. You’ll recognize scenes from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies, including the party tree, the Mill and the Green Dragon Inn, where you can finish your Hobbiton tour with a mug of beer, cider or ginger beer (own expense).
Back on board the bus, continue into Rotorua via the Mamaku mountain range. After a stop for lunch (own expense) beside Lake Rotorua, you’re treated to a traditional welcome into the authentic Maori village of Whakarewarewa.
Accompanied by a Maori guide, witness the astounding thermal activity of Rotorua’s bubbling hot springs and mud pools, and watch Pohutu Geyser erupt. Learn how New Zealand’s indigenous people made use of the region, bathing in the hot springs and cooking over steam vents.
Step foot inside Whare Tupuna, a Maori meeting house designed with symbolic wood carvings. Hear songs, see dances and discover Maori customs during a demonstration of warlike fighting skills included in the haka dance.
Your driver takes a separate route on the return trip and, if time allows, stops for an impromptu photo shoot in a redwood forest. You can use provided hats, cloaks, staffs and swords to pose as Gandalf or your favorite hobbit from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit before drop-off at the cruise port.
Worry-free Shore Excursion:We will ensure your timely return to the Tauranga port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
Zealandier Tours (Pass By)
Hobbiton Movie Set
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Lake Rotorua
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes
- Please bring sun protection and a light jacket for cooler weather
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Operated by Zealandier Tours
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Traveler Tips
It was a long day but I would thoroughly recommend it really enjoyed the snacks too.
Fully recommend this tour company and the tour to Hobbiton and Maori experience/hot springs and ht mud pools.
Reviews
5.0
120 reviews
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 120 reviews
Beautiful tour you shouldn’t miss.
Catherine_O, Mar 2023
Rolf was an excellent guide who made sure each and everyone on the tour was happy and well taken care of. The sights you see on this tour are AMAZING. Even though I’d never read the books or saw the movies this tour I would highly recommend. The landscape is incredible and I have nothing but good to say about the entire day and the experience. I would give it 100 stars if I could!
Fun Time in Tauranga
Erwin_R, Mar 2023
Rolf was a great guide, very knowledgeable!! Loved Hobbiton and the Mauri Tribal experience…………..!!!!!!
Worth the money
GAYLE_B, Mar 2023
Really enjoyed the whole day - our guide Rolfe was fantastic with his chats and I would recommend to all and sundry - thank you Viator
Wonderful experiences
Viligaile_L, Feb 2023
Loved the Whaka village experience as well as Hobbiton. Rolf our guide/driver was excellent- informative and friendly. He even took us took us to Mcclaren Falls and stopped at a Kiwi farm. It was a great day!
Excellent alternative to Cruise shop excursion
Teah_F, Feb 2023
Wonderful trip! Pick up just as described. They were very conscious of timing of the cruise ship- everything was right on schedule. Tour guide Rolf was wonderful! Provided a big bag of snacks! It was a great trip and Hobbiton is not to be missed attraction.
Good day in Tauranga
Robin_R, Feb 2023
Hobbiton is wonderful for LOTR fans. Much larger than I expected. Even with rain it was well worth going. Our tour guide was excellent. The only negative was that I thought I had booked the excursion that also went to a Maori village in Rotorua and I was on the one that went to the Maori arts and craft center instead. It was interesting just not what I expected. I think the descriptions of the different tours need to be a bit clearer.
Great Hobbiton and Rotorua shore excursion!
Vicki_G, Feb 2023
We started off with a well-organized meeting at the end of the pier where we met our tour guide, Rolf. He was absolutely delightful, funny and full of information about every place we visited. Even though I'm not an uber, fan of the Lord of the Rings movies (heresy, I'm sure), Hobbiton was much better than I expected and Rotorua was most interesting. I also enjoyed learning more about the Maori culture.
Magic in Rotorua and Hobbiton
Sherri_B, Feb 2023
Both Rotorua and Hobbiton were magic. I would do both again in a heartbeat. Rolf was a great driver/ tour guide.
Good Experience with Canceled Port Stop
Cynthia_F, Feb 2023
Princess Cruise was to stop in Tauranga on January 28, 2023. Sadly, we were affected by the devastating rains and flooding in Tauranga / Auckland around those dates and our ship was unable to dock in Tauranga. We had booked through Viator only days prior to docking at that port. (Our similar excursion through Princess had been canceled.) When we learned that our ship could not dock at Tauranga we immediately called and texted the local agents for the tour. We were refunded our payment within a few days. Viator is an excellent way to book tours around the world!. Hate that we didn't get to the Hobbiton Movie Set or view the Rotorua area. If we make it back "down under" we will definitely book through Viator.
Great way to enjoy Tauranga
Christine_R, Feb 2023
We were greeted promptly by our guide at the cruise port. Rolf, our guide was entertaining, very friendly, and very knowledgeable about the places we visited. He kept the bus alert with his sharing of stories and explaining the area we were driving through. First stop was 1 1/2 hours away, but the ride through the countryside was beautiful! Māori Village was interesting and fun. The Hobbiton did not disappoint. The guide from Hobbiton was also funny and loved sharing movie facts! A very cool trip!
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