2 Day Private Charter – Auckland, Waitomo, Hobbiton & Rotorua Highlights

Departing Auckland we travel south, with your first destination being  the famous and unique Waitomo Glowworm Caves – en-route you pass through the Market Garden area known as the Bombays, before dropping over the ranges into the lush Waikato dairy farm land. Following the mighty and all powerfull Waikato River which is  New Zealands longest river running 425 kilometers through the north island with its source coming from Lake Taupo and running to the Waikato Heads just south of Auckland on the west coast. This river boasts a number of New Zealand’s hydro power plants along its pathway as well as the picturesque Huka Falls which are created by 220’000 litres of water per second being forced through a narrow canyon only 15 metrs wide and cascading down a 6 meter drop – making this a very impressive attraction to visit.

Waitomo translated in Maori means Wai = water and Tomo = a hole in the ground. Your cave adventure awaits you – the world renowned Glow-worm cave is just one of the  Waitomo Caves system  but made famous with not only its beautiful Stalagmites & Stalagtites or the acoustics of the Cathedral area but the magical boat ride which you get to enjoy under the glow-worm lights which are totally  amazing and unique to New Zealand. It really is mystical & magical.

Today is a very full day so it’s time for a quick lunch before heading off to Hobbiton Movie Set. When you arrive  on the set you embark on a 2 hour guided tour around the movie set used for the trilogy of films – The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. You can stand under the party tree, walk past the many Hobbit houses and imagine yourself among 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 and here you will understand why. Left in its original state this is a memory making tour.

You then depart Hobbiton for Rotorua, where you will be dropped off at your hotel. You can choose to relax and dine inhouse , or venture  into the city for your evening meal then visit the Polynesian Spa for a soak in one of these world leading, award winning mineral water spas – a perfect way to end a perfect day.

Accomodation – 4 Star Hotel – includes full breakfast.

We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and head out to Wai O Tapu Geothermal Park– New Zealand’s most colourful and diverse geothermal sightseeing attraction.

You are introduced to a uniquely different natural landscape – one of the most extensive geothermal systems in New Zealand.

Clearly defined tracks provide the visitor with the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of this area through a series of different walks taking from 30 to 75 minutes or more, each with their own unique volcanic vistas to fascinate all ages.

Wai-O-Tapu translated means ‘Sacred Water’ and it is easy to see why. Hot pools ranging in colour from turquoise blue, rich green and gold to an almost olive/yellow make the water at Wai-O-Tapu a dazzling must see. The array of colours is caused by mineral salts in the water including arsenic, gold and silver. The spectacular Champagne Pool is a magnificent example of the vibrant colours caused by mineral and silicate interference. Follow the pool down to where it spills over a waterfall of ethereal beauty, coming to rest at the edge of one of the best examples of silica terracing in the Southern Hemisphere since the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces in the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption.

The Lady Knox geyser is an awesome sight of spurting boiling hot water bursting from its white, conical mound of silica at 10:15am daily; Lady Knox has a special trick to her timely eruptions! Discovered by a gang of prisoners washing their clothes in the early 1900s, the geyser erupted; shooting hot water 20 meters into the air after the men had unwittingly poured soap into the spout. Now all it takes to get old Lady Knox firing is a bit of soap every day at roughly 10am!

A 30 minute drive back to Rotorua  and then a visit to Whakarewarewa geothermal region  for a guided tour of the only authentic Living Maori village of its kind in New Zealand. This also includes a genuine Maori cultural performance and  a Hangi meal (cooked in the ground). For centuries Whakarewarewa Village has been the home of the Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao People and they have continually hosted visitors from all parts of the world since the mid 1800’s. Retrace the history of tourism & guiding in New Zealand as it first began in this region by this iwi (tribe). You are invited to share in their everyday life and experience the sights, sounds and smells of their unique cultural way of living. Here they have learnt to co-exist in one of the natural geothermal fields of New Zealand using it for cooking & bathing. You will get another opportunity to view 2 more geysers – Pohutu & Prince of Wales Feathers.

From here it is a return trip to Auckland, where we can drop you off at your Hotel accommodation, alternatively you may choose to fly directly from Rotorua to Queenstown to continue your New Zealand adventures.