Begin your journey in Auckland, where you’ll pick up a rental car to drive through New Zealand’s iconic North Island scenery. Start with a day of free exploration in Auckland, then head to Waitomo to witness the glow-worm-lit caves before continuing to Rotorua. Enjoy guided tours of Te Puia Thermal Reserve, where you’ll see Pohutu geyser and experience Māori cultural demonstrations, and visit the Agrodome for a farm show and orchard tour.
Journey to Matamata to explore Hobbiton, the famed movie set, before returning to Auckland, where your adventure concludes with a city tour and car return. Perfect for independent travelers, this Self Drive Auckland and Rotorua tour allows you the freedom to explore the highlights of Auckland and Rotorua on your own schedule.
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Arrive at Auckland International Airport, pick up your rent car.
(please note the operation hours 0600hrs – 0200hrs)
Rest of the day free at leisure.
Lunch & Dinner on own arrangements
After breakfast, drive to Waitomo to enjoy a guided tour of the WAITOMO GLOW WORM CAVES and a short boat ride through the famous Glow-Worm grotto.
See twinkling lights emitting from the ceiling like starts in a dark night. Then continue driving to Rotorua.
On arrival, enjoy a guided tour of TE PUIA THERMAL RESERVE you will see boiling mud pools and the mighty Pohutu geyser.
Be enthralled by the Maori culture of wood carving, flax weaving demonstration and the replicas of the Maori buildings here.
Lunch & Dinner on own arrangements
After breakfast, continue drive to enjoy an entertaining FARM SHOW AND ECO FARM ORCHARD TOUR at AGRODOME highlighting sheep farming industry with sheep shearing demonstration.
After enjoying the farm show and tour, free time on your own leisure.
Lunch & Dinner on own arrangements
Today you will drive over the Kaimai Ranges to the Matamata for your HOBBITON MOVIE SET TOUR.
Enjoy a guided tour of the farm where Sir Peter Jackson built the village of Hobbiton for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies.
Learn how the private farm was transformed into The Shire from Middle-earth and see Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn and the Mill on a guided Hobbiton tour before drive back to Auckland.
Suggested sightseeing: a brief city tour including a drive pass Auckland Waterfront, Mission Bay, Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Garden, Parnell Village, view the Harbour Bridge from North Wharf, and Queen Street.
Lunch & Dinner on own arrangements
Drive to airport for your international flight home then drop off your rental car
(please note the operation hours 0600hrs – 0200hrs)
RENTAL TIP: Make sure you refuel the rental car before returning.