Description

Custom Tour For Tracey Skaanvad

Hobbiton Movie Set &  Rotorua Te Puia  Maori Arts & Crafts Centre  

Private  Charter Tour – 11  passengers

Experience two tours in one day.

Discover the real Middle Earth on the most picturesque private farmland, where you visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit , a fascinating two hour guided tour.

Then add – A trip to Rotorua where – set amidst a landscape of erupting geothermal activity, see Pohutu geyser erupt, bubbling mud-pools , kiwi bird house

Excursion Detailed Description

Departing Tauranga; we first cross the harbour bridge, which offers great views of The Mount, 232m high and marking the entrance to the harbour of Tauranga. We then climb up to over 1000 feet to cross the Kaimai Mountain Range, which divides the Bay of Plenty coastal region from the Waikato district, New Zealand’s best dairy farm land.

We soon arrive at Hobbiton; the movie set location for Lord of The Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit films, near the town of Matamata. Here you will be met by your guide for an informative 2 hour tour around the movie set location. Stand under the party tree, walk past the Hobbit holes, imagine yourself amongst the characters. Nestled deep in the rolling hills of the Waikato, this location was chosen for its unblemished landscape. Bilbo Baggins was no typical hobbit, he did not want adventure, but you will have to come and see why he was so reluctant to leave the comfort of The Shire.  At the conclusion of your journey around the movie set you receive a special treat of venturing into the newly opened Green Dragon Inn to enjoy a local Shire ale, cider or ginger beer.

From here we continue our day’s journey over the Mamaku ranges into Rotorua. On arrival we will stop alongside the lake situated in the city centre and enjoy some lunch.  After lunch your next stop is to experience the unique Thermal Wonderland which this area boasts. You will take a tour of Whakarewarewa Thermal region situated in a landscape of erupting geothermal activity, hot thermal springs and hot bubbling mud pools. This is the location of the famous Pohutu Geyser.   Visit a fully carved meeting house Whare Tupuna (ancestral home), after which you will experience a traditional Maori welcome, traditional songs, dances and demonstrations of fighting skills including the famous Haka. This is a concert not to miss.

If time permits we will visit the Redwood forest where you will have opportunity to dress up and become your favourite Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit character. This includes Gandalf’s cloak, hat, staff and swords.  Maybe Bilbo and the Sting sword appeal to you more than Gandalf and for the ladies Eowyn and her sword.

Then it is time to say farewell “E Noho Ra” to these lovely local friends and travel back to the port via a different route in plenty of time to re-board your Cruise liner

Price NZ $1884.70