The 8 Best Two-Day Tours from Auckland

1.2 Day Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton Movie Set and Rotorua Tour from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 57 reviews · from $1,222Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Auckland to Waitomo, Rotorua and Hobbiton over two full days. See glowworms underground, visit Te Puia and attend a Māori cultural evening, then tour the Shire set. Accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Guide names vary by departure; Mark and Sarah have led some tours.

“WOW. That's all I can say. I initially looked into booking a few of these tours by themselves and figuring out our own transportation, but honestly, it's INCREDIBLE how they strung this all together perfectly and efficiently. Book this if you want to see it all without wasting time! Not once did I feel like I may have been stranded anywhere, forgotten about among buses of tour groups, or that I would have gotten on the wrong bus which were my main fears. All of the drivers were insightful, funny, and caring. Food provided on the bus was tasty. All of the tours were FANTASTIC. When we got back to…”

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2.2-Day Hobbiton, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves Tour from Auckland with Accommodation

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews · from $930

Leave central Auckland early for Hobbiton, then spend the night in Rotorua with visits to Te Puia and Mitai Māori Village. On day two, head to Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Admission, accommodation and several meals are included. Expect a small group of up to 15, long drives and, at times, different guides for different legs.

“Everything was perfectly arranged with total flexibility including reasonably priced add-ons that you can choose from depending on your schedule and destinations. The transfers were smooth and punctual, the drivers were very friendly, fun and most importantly good at what they do. Highly recommended.”

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3.Bay of Islands 2-Day Small Group Tour & Cruise from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $452Top rated

Leave Auckland at 6:30 am with a guide for Northland’s kauri forest, Hokianga Harbour and Waitangi Treaty Grounds, then stay overnight in Paihia and cruise to the Hole in the Rock and Urupukapuka Island. The group is capped at 15. Guides including Matt, Mark, Brendan and Dean have been praised for clear explanations and considerate care.

“It was wonderful fun. It's a comfortable drive through rolling hills, with views of the oceans both side. Fish and chips in a glorious bay with turquoise water. Then up to Waitangi and the ceremony on a sunny day. The accommodation was nice Read more”

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4.Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua & Taupo 2-Day Tour from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 19 reviews · 2 days · from $507

Travel from Auckland in a small group of up to 16, with a guide, snacks, bottled water, attraction entries and one night in Rotorua included. See Hobbiton, Waitomo’s glowworm caves, Wai-O-Tapu, Huka Falls, Lake Taupo and Hamilton Gardens. Guides on recent trips have included Sam, Alfredo and Matt, though your guide may differ.

“El fin de semana fue muy divertido y vimos muchas cosas, es una buena manera de hacer este mítico recorrido sin necesidad de cansarte conduciendo y despreocuparse de buscar entradas y toda la organización que requiere. Alfredo el guía fue muy amable, divertido y muy buen conductor.”

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5.2 Day Tour Auckland to Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua and Taupo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $526

Start in Auckland at 6:00 am for a small-group, two-day trip through the North Island. Visit Waitomo’s caves, take Hobbiton’s guided movie-set tour, see Rotorua and Wai-O-Tapu, then continue to Taupō, Huka Falls and Hamilton Gardens. Guides have included Jeff, Michael and Matt, though your guide may differ.

“This tour was great! It included many of the highlights of the north island. Matt was an awesome tour guide! Very nice, kept us on schedule, and gave us tips on how best to do each experience and what pics to get. 🙂 He also had recommendations on what activities we could do with our extra day in Auckland. Would recommend!”

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6.Private 2 Day Tour: Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua Geothermal & Hamilton Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $2,047

Travel by private vehicle to Waitomo’s glowworm caves, Rotorua’s Te Puia geothermal valley, Hobbiton and Hamilton Gardens. Admission, guided visits, a Green Dragon Inn drink and a four-star overnight stay are included. Pickup is available in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua or Tauranga. Ask ahead about the guide’s language and how much commentary to expect.

“Vendu comme une excursion privative avec choix de la langue en francais. La seule chose en francais furent le booklet de 2 pages remis a Hobbiton. Pour le reste un chauffeur muet qui nous a fait faire beaucoup de route pour revenir sur noRead more”

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7.Bay of Islands Tour & Cruise 2Day Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $439Best value

Travel from Auckland in a small group of up to 16, with a guide and driver in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Visit the Kauri Museum, Waipoua Forest and Waitangi Treaty Grounds, then spend 4.5 hours cruising the Bay of Islands, with wildlife spotting and a stop at Otehei Bay. Guide Ally has been praised for her helpful, passionate approach.

“The tour was fantastic. The itinerary was a perfect mix of culture and NZ countryside. The driver was excellent, he was respectful and passionate about his country and nothing was too much trouble. We enjoyed a full 2 day itinerary in the Bay of Islands on an excellent value tour.”

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8.Private Tour [2 Days]: Auckland to Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Te Puia & Wai-O-Tapu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $1,736

Leave Auckland at 6:30 am in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking escort. Visit Waitomo’s glow-worm and Ruakuri caves, stay overnight in four-star accommodation, then explore Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu before returning to Auckland. Hotel accommodation, breakfast, two lunches and admission fees are included.

“We are really glad we chose this private tour. My daughter and I only had 3 full days in New Zealand and really had to make the most of our short time. I did a lot of research and came upon Experiencekart's well curated itineraries. I started Read more”

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