Hobbiton Express Tour from Tauranga
Hobbiton Express Tour from Tauranga
First cross the harbour bridge, which offers great views of The Mount, the volcanic core 232m high which marks the entrance to the harbour of Tauranga. You will 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, the main dairy farming area of New Zealand.
Soon arrive at Hobbiton, the movie set location for the village in the Lord of The Rings films and of course The Hobbit movie trilogy. Here we will be met by our private guide for an informative 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 it unblemished landscape. Time is available for you to purchase a light lunch at the Green Dragon Pub as featured in the movies, before starting the journey back to Tauranga.
We stop at the summit of the Kaimai ranges at over 1000ft above sea level for some great photo opportunities overlooking the valley far below and extinct Volcanoes in the distance. Time permitting, stop briefly at a local honey centre to see the hives and taste some of the special local Manuka honey, and perhaps indulge in a tasty honey ice cream.
Finally we return to the ship, passing millionaires waterfront homes lining the beautiful golden sand beaches of Mount Maunganui.
Note: Departures coincide with cruise ship arrivals only.
Tour Info
| Tour Type: | Cruise Ship Shore Excursions |
| From: | Tauranga to Tauranga |
| Price: |
From (NZD) $159 per person
|
| Duration: | 1 Day |
| Tour Code: | TRG17 |
Inclusions
| Comfortable Transport |
| Experienced Guide |
| Tour at Hobbiton |
Highlights
Tour Departures
Important Information
- This tour requires some walking on well made paths, gentle inclines and some steps.
- No meals are included in this tour but time for lunch at Shire’s Rest or the Green Dragon Pub is allowed.
- Child rates for 5-9 years & 10-14 years.
- The infant option guarantees children aged 0-3 years a seat onboard the coach. If a ticket is not purchased then the infant may have to sit on an adults lap. If you have a suitable baby or infant seat, then this can be used, or you may be able to hire one from the operator. It is the parents choice as to how their children travel on the vehicles provided on the day.
- This tour must be booked at least 72 hours in advance of travel.
- Confirmation for this product will be received within 24 hours of booking, subject to availability.
- Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated.
- Complete operator information, including opening times and local contact telephone numbers are included on your e-voucher.
Tourism Affiliations
4.8/5.0
There are 25 reviews of this tour from past clients of Relaxing Journeys, averaging 4.8 out of 5.
Tour Reviews
5
Breanna Dimitrievski (Australia)
02/02/2018
Awesome tour! Such an incredible experience. Our tour guide on the bus as well as at Hobbiton were both so friendly and nice, they made the whole day much more enjoyable!
2
Silvana de Oliveira (Australia)
03/01/2018
It was a disappointing start to the tour as the Shore Trips and Tours driver was about 30-40 mins late to pick up our group from the terminal, due to traffic. Then when we got on our bus there were two extra people who weren't supposed to be on our bus and our guide spent a further 15 mins trying to sort this out. Then when we were finally on our way, the bus had mechanical failure and we had to wait for a replacement bus! When we finally got to Hobbiton, we were met with our Hobbiton tour guide who was lovely although a bit inexperienced with her commentary. Tour group sizes should be reduced as it was difficult to hear what was said if you were at back of the large group. The day definitely improved and we had a good day there. Overall, the tour start was below expectation, however the Shore Trips guide repeatedly apologized for the problems encountered and was very knowledgeable in his commentary.
5
Leon Wallace (Australia)
30/12/2017
Very enjoyable day out. Thanks.
5
Diane Davis (Australia)
22/12/2017
This was the best tour of our trip and our host gave plenty of interesting information to make the journey more fun. Even when our tour time was changed he quickly secured another time and everything ran very smoothly -we wouldn't have known that there was ever any problems. Thanks.
5
Name Withheld (Australia)
03/12/2017
The tour was great, the driver was very personable and took the time to relate to all the guests, he was very informative and made the day an enjoyable experience. The staff at Hobbiton were great and the guide was friendly and entertaining. Overall would be happy to use or recommend Relaxing Journeys to any one who trips to New Zealand.
5
Name Withheld (United Kingdom)
26/01/2017
Brilliant and very memorable day, great tour guide.
5
Name Withheld (Australia)
30/01/2016
I was not really into Hobbits as such but went along with my wife anyway. Well what a surprise. The way this company runs a tour is absolutely fantastic and the knowledge and enthusiasm of the drivers, guides and tour organisers is contagious. I will highly recommend this tour company to anyone who is or not into Hobbits.
5
Name Withheld (Australia)
26/12/2015
Our tour guide Linton was by far the best tour guide of any of the tours we have undertaken on our recent cruise to New Zealand. He imparted enough information and local knowledge to be interesting and engaging but also allowed pauses and some quiet time, to fully embrace and take in all the beautiful scenery that this tour had to offer. The only disappointment on this tour, which wasn't Linton's or Relaxing Journeys fault, was the particular day we visited Hobbiton was the busiest of the season, and so it was a bit rushed at the film set and didn't allow quite enough time to eat a relaxed lunch! That aside, we thoroughly enjoyed the whole tour, and although we didn't stop at the honey place as advertised, we had an extra stop at a working kiwi fruit farm and also drove into Mclarens Falls which we weren't expecting. (Both well worth it!)
5
John van Muyen (Australia)
21/12/2015
Regretfully I have forgotten the name of the coach driver/guide however we found him to be articulate, informative. knowledgeable and extremely friendly whilst driving to and from Hobbiton. In view of the popularity of Hobbiton etc we thought that was well worth seeing.
4
Bill & Jan Hinte (Australia)
09/03/2015
Doug, our coach captain was very good indeed. He was very informative & he could drive & did so with great courtesy to other drivers & was exceptionally smooth with his driving. (I am an old racing driver & a former defensive driving instructor). He is to be congratulated on the care that he tended to my wife, who had the misfortune for her hip go on her at that venue. That was one thing that did not come over to us clearly, the actual topography of that site, from the pictures shown, around the lake, it appeared relatively easy walking? That is not a criticism as it may well have been our own misunderstanding, however it may be prudent to advise others in the future that this site is somewhat trying for seniors. I did not find it difficult, but then I am very fit for my age, fortunately! I found this tour a very good one!
5
Monica Zhang (Australia)
14/02/2015
Fantastic tour, would definitely recommend. Linton was funny and informative, and Hobbiton was exactly as beautiful as it appears on screen. We loved the honey stop as well - overall a great day.
5
Sean Sutcliffe (Australia)
21/01/2015
Linton was absolutely amazing. We are so glad we went with him and not our cruise ship. Thanks for a great tour.
5
Rosalie Cooke (New Zealand)
16/01/2015
The bus driver was great with his commentary. The bus was comfortable, left and arrived on time. The visit to Hobbiton was excellent. I enjoyed the food offered at the pub. All in all an excellent day out. Thanks very much.
5
Name Withheld (United States)
08/12/2014
From the ease of finding our tour at the pier to the expertise of our driver, Linton, the tour was terrific. The drive was long to get there but Linton was full of information and stories that passed the time. Of course, the scenery was great. Our guide at Hobbiton was young but enthusiastic. The area was absolutely charming. The gardens and flowers were amazing (LOTS of pictures). Because we were just before high season, the crowds were manageable. The beef pie at the Green Dragon Inn was really, really delicious. I kept waiting for Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin to appear!
5
John Thompson (Thailand)
14/11/2014
Exactly as described, only better thanks to an excellent driver. The TRG17 ( Hobbiton Express tour ) bus was very close to where our Celebrity ship docked and easy to find. The bus was quite comfortable. It was also great that the tour started at 10:30am which gave us a nice relaxing breakfast on the ship beforehand, whereas most ship tours started earlier. Linton, the driver was extremely nice and gave a very informative and entertaining tour. We saw everything Relaxing Journeys advertised and the beauty of the region. The Hobbiton movie set was absolutely wonderful and a must see for any LOTR and The Hobbit movies fans, but can be enjoyed by non-Hobbits as well. We are very glad we used Relaxing Journeys for the tour as we were in a smaller group of 9 compared to most groups we saw at the movie set of about 20 people. This gave us more time to chat with the Hobbiton guide and take photos. The Green Dragon Pub makes you feel like you have stepped back in time, you wish you could stay longer. Good food and drink too! We did not expect much from the stop at the Honey Centre but were surprised. They have excellent honey ice cream and other treats. You also get a chance to taste their wonderful honeys too. Yes ... we bought a couple jars of Manuka honey. We were lucky to have excellent weather on the day we were there. Totally worth the cost and would highly recommend this tour to anyone.
5
Annalisa Nevill (Australia)
14/03/2014
I recently went on the Hobbiton tour from Tauranga in March and it was the best tour I have ever been on. Not only was the tour at Hobbiton amazing and informative but the bus driver that took us to and from the site was absolutely amazing. Full of so much information and he even took time out on the way back to show us some beautiful locations around Tauranga. There was never a dull moment. I am very impressed with the quality and service on this tour. Well done!
5
Jerry & Ann Goulet (Canada)
05/02/2014
This tour to Hobbiton got an Excellent from me mostly because the coach driver was exceptional. The tour of Hobbiton itself also merits an Excellent. Our Tour Driver did not even start the bus until he fully explained the route and what we would see and experience along the way there and back. We learned about the lives of New Zealanders in this area and stopped to see specific points of interest. I really wish that all tour operators (worldwide) would be as entertaining and informative. All the best.
5
Trish & Adrian Moore (Canada)
05/02/2014
We booked this tour on a whim three weeks before our cruise started. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our vacation. Linton, our driver and guide was terrific! He explained and showed us on a map the route we would be taking and what we could expect to see on the way. On arrival at Hobbiton, we were passed over to Sarah who guided us around the farm with expertise. Being a small group we were able to take our pictures with ease and drink in the atmosphere and sights. Sarah really knew her stuff. Her enthusiasm was contagious and her humour made the tour very enjoyable. The only downside was the gift shop. It wasn't staffed to adequately handle the number of people wanting to purchase. It would be so much more efficient if the queue to pay was away from the glass cases containing the jewellery. We only had 10 minutes and the cash registers were blocked by those wanting to look at/ buy jewellery. That aside, this tour was terrific!
5
Cheryl Janmaat (Australia)
18/01/2014
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Our bus driver Linton was fantastic, he was a pool of information. He went beyond and above what I expected. The Hobbit tour was fantastic, I was amazed at how quickly the time went while there, having lunch at the Green Dragon Inn was good, didn't have to wait very long to be served. It was well worth it.
5
Kevin James (Australia)
13/01/2014
Enjoyed the tour immensely! Hobbiton is a magical & amazing tribute to the Lord Of The Rings & Hobbit trilogies & is a Must see for all fans. The tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly & passionate about her job. Only 'downside' to the tour? Well, time was a bit rushed, but managed well given the number of simultaneous tour operators & the sheer volume of people visiting the site at any one time. Otherwise, fantastic & highly recommended ++++
4
Judy & Geoff Hicks (Australia)
05/01/2014
Very happy with our day although it rained. We enjoyed the extra side trip to the waterfall. The Hobbiton visit occurred at a good time as there were not loads of people around. We did not feel hurried. Information was good along the way and not overdone. It was a special treat for us as we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary that day.
5
Name Withheld (United States)
02/01/2014
The Hobbiton Tour was definitely the highlight of our family's trip. It met all our expectations, and we enjoyed our lunch at the Green Dragon. We were a party of five, and the pub was crowded, our tour guide found and saved a table for us while we ordered our lunch, he was so thoughtful and much appreciated. Thanks!
5
Chris Wilkinson (United Kingdom)
25/02/2013
A really excellent day trip from start to finish. Linton picked us up in a Mercedes Sprinter and the whole journey to the Hobbiton film set and back was extremely comfortable and informative. At the film set itself we had Eric as our guide. There was little he didn't know about the making of the film or the set and we had a wonderful tour. I wouldn't have missed it and would probably do it again. Eric is THE guide to get. Thank you to everyone for a splendid day.
5
Frank & Jo Ball (Australia)
23/02/2013
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and your driver Linton gave us a wonderful day out. Our trip to Hobbiton was really good, and our choice of tours excellent. It was interesting to get our credit card account yesterday and to realise that we did very well booking on the Internet with an independent company the cost for the 2 of us was $AU 255 against the $AU249 per person booking the tour through the Cruise Company. We were pleased we had left it too late to book through the cruise company. Indeed we did extremely well - we had a new Mercedas Bus which seated about 10, and an excellent tour guide. There were 5 doing the tour 2 ladies from New York and a young lass from Canada. The driver was a retired ship captain who had been in charge of cross channel ferry's and the Hovercraft in the UK. He was a Kiwi who had been OS for years and has retired to Tauranga and works as an shipping examiner for the NZ Govt and drives for Relaxing Journeys in his spare time. We got to Hobbiton and the guide who was to take us around did not turn up and they had to call in Eric who was 88 and the original guide. He had lived beside the family who sold the property to Peter Jackson and company, and just knew everything there was to know. He was part of it from day one. He even took us into the Hobbit houses which is a no no. We got the family history, and he told us the Father of the family who sold the property and still lives there looks out every morning and says this is his Klondike. Jackson and company flew over their property and decided it was the one. One Saturday afternoon he knocked on their door and said he would like to talk to them about using their property for a movie. The 3 boys and father were watching a football match NZ v Australia and told him if he wanted to talk to them to come back later when the match was over, he did and the rest is history. We were surprised to find out how many hobbit houses are there and they are so authentic with washing on the line etc. Eric now lives in Matamata and was so pleased they called him in and we were extremely lucky. The driver pointed out various places to us and it was just fantastic. We would certainly recommend Relaxing Journeys.
5
Margaret Coote (Australia)
02/02/2012
We really did enjoy our Hobbiton Tour. Our guide, Linton, was well-informed, attentive, courteous and went beyond the call of duty in returning a mislaid pair of reading glasses to the 'Sun Princess' before sailing time. We will certainly recommend you.
Tour Booking Form
Hobbiton Express Tour from Tauranga
Day Tours
Tour Code: TRG17
From (NZD)
$159 per person
25 reviews
(4.8/5)
First cross the harbour bridge, which offers great views of The Mount, the volcanic core 232m high which marks the entrance to the harbour of Tauranga... Read More
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