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Auckland Central Tours
Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour (One Way)
5

Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour (One Way)

By Cheeky Kiwi Travel
Recommended by 97% of travellers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Small Group & Fully Guided Tour
  • Entry ticket and fully guided tour - Waitomo Caves
  • Water available & snacks provided
  • Luggage allowance - 1 large & 1 small per person
  • Entry/Admission - Waitomo Glowworm Caves
What's not included
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
  • Optional extras and activities - please select the tour option you want at time of booking


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • - Pick-ups are available only from the hotels listed. If your location isn’t listed, please select the nearest option. - Pick-ups start up to 20 minutes before the tour time. Be ready and waiting outside by this time to avoid missing your pick-up. -Not all locations are serviced daily—pick-up points are pre-determined for each tour. If your pick-up location changes, please notify us in advance. - Guides may arrive up to 10 minutes late due to multiple stops but cannot wait for late passengers. We recommend being ready 5–10 minutes early. PICKUP TIMES: Park Hyatt 5:40 AM Swiss Belsuites Victoria Park 5:40 AM Sofitel Viaduct Harbour 5:40 AM Hilton Hotel 5:45 AM M Social 5:45 AM Movenpick Hotel 5: 45 AM Adina Apartment Hotel 5:45 AM Copthorne Auckland City 5:45 AM Nesuto Stadium Hotel & Apartments 5:45 AM Pullman Auckland 5:45 AM SO/Auckland05:45 AM JW Marriott Auckland City 5:50 AM Heritage Auckland 5:50 AM Ibis Budget Auckland Central 5:50 AM Rydges Hotel 5:50 AM Crowne Plaza 5:55 AM The Grand By SkyCity 5:55 AM SkyCity Hotel 5:55 AM Four Points by Sheraton 5:55 AM Grand Millennium Auckland 6:00 AM Kiwi International Hotel 6:00 AM Mercure Queen St 6:00 AM VR Auckland City, 188 Hobson Street 6:00 AM Cordis Auckland 6:05 AM Sebel Manukau 6:15 AM
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        • Pushchair accessible
        • Near public transportation
        • Infant seats available
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 56760P15

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
        • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
        • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
        • Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
        • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
        • Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can provide your own or one can be provided for $20 NZD (with 24 hours notice).
        • Due to the delicate ecosystem within the Waitomo Caves, photography is not permitted inside.
        • Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties, a moderate amount of walking is involved.
        • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 56760P15

        From
        AU$285.65
        per adult
        Select date and travellers
        Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Cheeky Kiwi Travel
          2,474
          New Zealand
          Joined in August 2017
        • khanithat2015
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great day tour.
          We were a group of 14 , the van was very comfortable and Simon our tour guide/driver made it a fun day for all. He gave us a glimpse of NZ history and had answers to any questions we may have. Schedule was spot on.
          Written 15 January 2025
        • 45gabrielai
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Waitomo caves and Te Puia
          We loved the whole trip, as did our guide! It was very well organized, and the guide was always helpful and had fantastic knowledge about the area and New Zealand.
          Written 15 January 2025
        • Meander37867597901
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Awesome beaches and landscape
          Thank you Dain for being so entertaining and educacional! I've learnt so many interesting data on the Coromandel Peninsula. The beaches are amazing!! Catedral Cove well deserves the trekking!! Hot Water Beach is awesome!!! I'd love to come back.
          Written 14 January 2025
        • Sightsee28731249775
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing way to spend a day in NZ
          Our guide Hanaz was very entertaining and very accommodating. Made the trip amazing! It’s a long trip that was very rewarding.
          Written 14 January 2025
        • hmthmt
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Bay of Islands fab trip
          The Bay of Islands trip was fantastic -Saw great places and was very informative on NZ culture. Our guide David made the trip fun, relaxed and looked after us spectacularly -Lots of photo stops and information. It felt like going away with friends. Totally recommend this trip.
          Written 14 January 2025
        • JesperT263
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Exciting
          Awsome and fun. Very good guide. Could easyly have spend more time there. One minus though. The groups Are to big.we were 41. And that was atleast 15 to many.
          Written 14 January 2025
        • 541ozbaca
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          recommended!
          great company to travel with - our guide Grant was great, he wanted to make sure all participants have a good time. Everything was on time, the details of the tour were well explained.
          Written 14 January 2025
        • Johannes S
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A timeless positive journey, there and back again.
          For anyone who might have doubts about this tour I can tell you for someone who was with them already three times that it's worth every cent! Beginning from the city of sails, Auckland, to far of the levels and heights of the Waikato region to no other place then Hobbiton. Accompanied by professional and educational Maori driver who will brightly enlighten and teach you some major things about this country and its region. I always knew to meet some of them and hear their stories again, and magically it felt like I would have done I for the first time again. This whole thing, the whole tour from Auckland to Hobbiton and back again. This is not your average hop-on hop-off tour, THIS is the real deal of the North Island and it will always bear a special place deep within my heart.🫶 Thank you CheekyKiwiTravel for having me gifted this adventure. See you on the next tour☺️
          Written 13 January 2025
        • 131tristand
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          10/10 Hobbits Agree
          Had a great time! Our guide Mark did a wonderful job of keeping everyone engaged and relaxed. He had a lot of good stories and trivia to share and he was very accommodating.
          Written 12 January 2025
        • ceasarn2025
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Hobbiton & Waitomo Cave Tour
          Trip was amazing good weather at Hobbiton and glowworm cave was super interesting to see. The driver was super funny and had super much knowledge about the landscape/ cities you drive past. The guides at Hobbiton and waitamo caves was also funny and gave good info about the sites. Big ups to the driver John. :)
          Written 12 January 2025
        • H5IQmichelles
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Who's up for an adventure?
          It was an amazing journey, with cheeky Michael as our tour guide from Auckland to Matamata and vice versa who tells so many stories about NZ and even the cow who looks lonely along the way. Also the tour guide in Hobbiton Movie set is awesome. The experience itself is amazing. Will bring my family next time.
          Written 11 January 2025
        • Fearless62434334020
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great Hobbit tour
          Very cool experience, our tour guide Anne was great. Loved the hobbit houses and the glow worm cave. We also fed an ostrich and stopped for ice cream.
          Written 11 January 2025
        • G9258PFrobing
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A fabulous day!
          We had an amazing time visiting Hobbiton. It was everything we hoped it would be!! Brendan was a great driver and entertained us with information and stories about New Zealand and the areas we were driving to. Loved seeing all the lambs and the deer farms. Beautiful landscape. The tour of Hobbiton was amazing and we loved every minute.
          Written 11 January 2025
        • Curiosity59042429934
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Visit to Hobbiton
          Cheeky kiwi offered an amazing experience, taking care of every detail of the tour. The guide was always on time, open to questions, kind and made sure everybody was safe an having a good time. We didn't have to worry about anything and just enjoyed the experience.
          Written 11 January 2025
        • 68shirs
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Guide and Trip
          My friends and I had lots of fun and Malcom (our driver and guide) was very knowledgable about the local areas. Hobbiton and Te Puia were amazing to visit!
          Written 11 January 2025
        See all 2,474 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles36 reviews
        Excellent
        31
        Very good
        4
        Average
        1
        Poor
        0
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        0

        NinaL
        59 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2024 • Couples
        This was a fantastic trip with Greg as our driver/guide. He was on time, funny, informative, considerate and full of great stories about New Zealand. He made comfort stops, as well as fun stop to feed the ostrich! (They are fast and hungry!) We went on to the Waitomo Caves, and what a stunning experience! Loved being in a small group, makes for easy access to the venue. Weather cooperated for a fantastic drive to Rotorua.
        Written 20 March 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Maggie C
        Sydney, Australia1,079 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2024 • Family
        The full day tour to bioluminescent Waitomo caves, Lake Rotorua and hot geysers plus the cultural visit to the Māori arts and crafts school was everything we expected. Stunning views, good time to enjoy sites, lovely staff, gift shops and comfort stops if needed. Our small group guide - Kiwi-Aussie Matt- was a safe driver, informative, funny and easy going. Yes pick up was early but that helped us enjoy all sites ahead of the crowds. Cheeky Kiwi Travel was punctual and sent several reminders before the day. The trip was long but broken up into meaningful segments. We recommend the experience of seeing NZ this way.
        Written 1 April 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Ruben
        Den Bosch, The Netherlands1 contribution
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nice trip to travel from Auckland to Rotorua, while visiting the glowworm caves. Very nice and knowledgeable host. The travel was a bit shorter than expected and the description on trip advisor it seemed unclear if the geyser in Rotorua was also included or not. Nonetheless, enjoyed the travel!
        Written 16 October 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for the feedback! We will be sure to update the listing so that the product is clearly communicated. We hope to see you again in the future!
        Written 16 October 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Flyer05749989001
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2025 • Couples
        The tour guide (Grant) was very friendly and informative along, keeping us entertained along the way. He even went to the trouble of showing the couple of us who were taking the one-way tour around the local Rotorua area, showing us points of interest. The tour was on time and Grant got us where we needed to go. Snacks and water, and a coffee/rest stop along the way. Would book again with Kiwi Tours :)
        Written 3 January 2025
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Kia ora! Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback! It sounds like Grant went the extra mile to ensure your journey from Auckland to Rotorua was both informative and enjoyable. We’re thrilled to hear you appreciated his local insights around Rotorua—what a fantastic way to start your time in the area! We’re glad you found the journey comfortable with the added touches of snacks, water, and a rest stop. It’s great to know you’d book with us again, and we’d love to welcome you back for another adventure in the future. Ngā mihi, Cheeky Kiwi Travel 🚌🥝
        Written 12 January 2025
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        DipMtra
        Nagpur, India21 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2024 • Couples
        Wonderful trip, great hosting especially by driver cum guide Greg Leneham. He made sure our trip was conducted efficiently and interestingly. He was caring, punctual and jovial and added value to the tour. The journey itself was comfortable and the experience inside the cave was sublime
        Written 7 May 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Happiness25477311583
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nov 2023 • Solo
        What a great experience! I needed a way to get from Auckland to Rotorua, and this was the right choice!! Cameron is phenomenal and didn't mind me rambling about rugby or practicing my Te Reo with him. Plus, having everyone introduce themselves on the tour made it like traveling with a bunch of new friends!
        Written 7 November 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Jess K
        San Leandro, CA9 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2024 • Family
        I can't remember our driver's name, but he was originally from South America and had fantastic commentary during our trip to Rotorua! This ended up being a fantastic way to get from Auckland to Rotorua (the glowworm caves were absolutely amazing) and the drive was safe and entertaining. He even went the extra step and dropped us off directly at our Airbnb. Totally recommend using Cheeky Kiwi.
        Written 2 November 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Kia ora! Thank you for the kind words! It sounds like either Alessandro or Alfredo was your guide, both of whom bring that wonderful South American warmth and charm to our tours. We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the safe, scenic drive and the glowworm caves—aren’t they incredible? And we’re glad he could make your journey even more convenient with the Airbnb drop-off. Nga mihi, Cameron 🥝🚌
        Written 4 November 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        TRobert2017
        Peachtree City, GA13 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2024 • Couples
        We had such a great time traveling to the Waitomo glow worm caves and then to Rotorua to see the geothermal park. It was a long day but so thankful to be able to see these New Zealand landmarks. The scenery was superb and so was our guide! If your in Auckland run and reserve this tour.
        Written 27 May 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Passenger63098087213
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sept 2023 • Friends
        The tour guide is friendly and amiable .I quite enjoyed this journey.Even if our English skills are not good.The tour guide was still very patient in taking care of us.
        Every moment is excellent.
        The view is spectacular
        Thank you for this trip and the tour guide
        Thank you so much
        Written 2 September 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Chris B
        Frederick, MD12 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2023
        Pick up was prompt. Tour guide friendly. Tour was great. Loved the Waitomo caves and the Māori Cultural Center. Only criticism I would give is I would have skipped the 15-minute tour if Rotorua. I highly recommend purchasing the buffet add-on. Food was delicious. Tour was long but highly recommended
        Written 23 February 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour (One Way) provided by Cheeky Kiwi Travel

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