Pre-cruise: Glowworms & Hobbiton & other not to miss?

[TylerRose]

We have 3 nights in Aukland pre-cruise next week. I am considering a Trilogy Cave & Hobbiton tour... but wonder if it is too much for 1 day? (I want to be realistic with jet lag from USA...)

Tour recommendations would be most appreciated... my husbands passion is photography.
Below is tour I am considering:

WAITOMO GLOWWORM CAVES + RUAKURI CAVE + HOBBITON + TE PUIA

Experience the Trilogy: three of the best attractions that the North Island has to offer -

visit the glowworms of the Waitomo Caves, walk amongst the bubbling geysers of Rotorua and travel to Hobbiton Movie Set on this iconic tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Janet987]

I don't know about that tour, other than you could also see some of those destinations from our first port if concerns are too much for one day.  In searching information about Auckland, I did notice a Photography Tour.  https://www.newzealand.com/us/plan/business/auckland-photography-walks/    and some other stops, like the Canterbury area and Wellington, also have specific photography tours.  https://www.newzealand.com/us/photography/        On Wednesday, we booked a 6 hour food & wine tour on Waiheke Island, supposedly also a with beautiful scenery.

 

 

Edited February 13, 2020 by Janet987

[TylerRose]

6 hours ago, Janet987 said:

I don't know about that tour, other than you could also see some of those destinations from our first port if concerns are too much for one day.  In searching information about Auckland, I did notice a Photography Tour.  https://www.newzealand.com/us/plan/business/auckland-photography-walks/    and some other stops, like the Canterbury area and Wellington, also have specific photography tours.  https://www.newzealand.com/us/photography/        On Wednesday, we booked a 6 hour food & wine tour on Waiheke Island, supposedly also a with beautiful scenery.

 

 

TY Janet, I'll check them out. We fly out Sun and arrive Tues morn leaving all day Weds & Thurs to tour. Which food/wine did you book?

[Janet987]

We booked this one directly. https://travelagents.viator.com/tours/Waiheke-Island/Full-Day-Waiheke-Island-Food-and-Wine-Tour/d32653-23077P1  it was an agent recommendation because she took this tour herself and enjoyed it.  

[qqq266]

We booked a trip with KiwiDayTrips to visit Hot Water Beach. A few other stops were included-Cathedral Cove being the other main attraction. There are YouTube videos of Hot Water Beach if you want to check it out. I liked the tour a lot because It was a completely unique experience for me. Note that the walk to Cathedral Cove from the parking lot is about two miles. The entire tour lasted 10+ hours.

[WESTEAST]

We really enjoyed Hobbiton and had a wonderful private tour with Judy of https://www.cjaystourgroup.co.nz last week. She can modify your trip to meet your needs and highly recommend her.

[qqq266]

We went to Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu at the Tauranga port. It was a custom tour that we booked with Scott Tours. I highly recommend it.

[Markanddonna]

Haven't been to the others mentioned, but we spent the day in Hobbiton. That has to be one of my top three adventures of a lifetime. It was like being in a  fairytale, and I'm not a big Hobbit fan!  I understand the glowworm caves don't allow photography.  You will get lots of great pics at Hobbiton!  

[zalusky]

Just because its Hobbiton!