Yodan888

Thank you so much.  All your comments are much appreciated 

If, by hired car, you mean renting a car and driving ourselves, I think I could manage, despite the fact that we drive on the opposite side of road.  Do you know if there are car rental offices close to the cruise ports? And would I be able to drop the car off at the airport?

We are ending our cruise in Auckland and will be spending one night before flying back to the states and are considering the Glow worm caves at Waitomo.  What would be, in your opinion, the best way to do this?