Category Auckland Tours and Day Trips

New Zealand · AUCKLAND TOURS AND DAY TRIPS

The 15 Best Auckland Tours & Day Trips

78 reviewed

Most people give Auckland two days and spend one of them driving south. Fair enough: Hobbiton and Waitomo are both a morning away and usually sold as a pair. These 15 cover both the long runs out and the things worth doing in the city itself, from the Hauraki Gulf islands to a west-coast black-sand afternoon, with pickup points and prices for each.

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch - Hobbiton Movie Set: where the details do the talking

1.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,677 reviews · from $229Our pick

Visit Hobbiton and Waitomo in one guided day from Auckland with hotel pickup, lunch, and a glowworm boat ride underground.

“We had a wonderful day visiting Hobbiton and the Glow Worm Caves with our two kids. The tour was very well structured and perfectly organized. Our guide and driver, Steven, was incredibly kind and attentive to our needs, making Read more”

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From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Day Trip with Lunch

From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Day Trip with Lunch - Downtown Auckland pickup, and the one big logistics catch

2.From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,505 reviews · 11 hours · from $221

Hobbiton and Waitomo in one day, with skip-the-crowds access, a glowworm boat ride, Kiwi lunch, and downtown Auckland pickup.

“It was a great day from early morning to late afternoon. Our tour guide Steven was amazing. He provided us with so much information during our drive about the area and sites. There was a stop on the way there as well as back so we could use washroom and get a snack of some sort. The sites were so interesting and enjoyable. We really had a nice time and Stephen our tour guide made it even better.”

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Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise

Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise - Your 4.5-hour route: what each stop adds to the day

3.Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,790 reviews · from $135

4.5-hour eco safari from Viaduct Harbour in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf to spot dolphins, whales, seabirds, and more with marine scientists.

“I highly recommend this crew. They were incredibly kind and knowledgeable. We had two whale sightings and saw multiple dolphin pods during our January 6th afternoon safari. This trip was truly memorable and well worth it.”

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Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Day Trip with Festive Lunch

Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Day Trip with Festive Lunch - Walking the Shire on an Official Hobbiton Tour

4.Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Day Trip with Festive Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,431 reviews · 8 hours · from $182

Official Hobbiton day trip from Auckland with roundtrip coach, skip-the-line tour, Green Dragon drink, and Hobbit-style buffet lunch.

“Hobbiton was absolutely magical. The bus ride was long, over 2 hours, but very comfortable. our driver, Marty, was very informative and funny. Our guide in Hobbiton, Stevie, was great! It was hard to stop smiling. Beer at the Green Dragon was a real treat, and Lunch at the pavilion was very good. A trip well worth doing if you are a fan of the movies or not.”

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Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour from Auckland

Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour from Auckland - Green Dragon Inn drink plus free time: photos, browsing, and timing tips

Auckland Explorer: Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Auckland Explorer: Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Tour - Stop-by-stop: Customs Street East to Sky Tower and the core landmarks

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Small-Group Tour W Lunch from Auckland

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Small-Group Tour W Lunch from Auckland - Leaving Auckland: Waikato Country Stops and Photo Windows

7.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Small-Group Tour W Lunch from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,117 reviews · from $235

Small-group Auckland day tour with guided Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves, lunch included, scenic stops, and tickets handled.

“We had an absolutely fantastic day visiting Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves. While the scenery was breathtaking, what truly made the trip stand out was our guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable, specifically regarding the indigenous Maori history and their connection to the land. We walked away not just with great photos, but with a deep understanding of the local culture. Hobbiton was perfectly detailed and felt like stepping into another world, and the glowworm caves were ethereal. If you’re looking for a tour that balances entertainment with genuine education, this is it!”

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Half-day Discover Auckland City Sightseeing Tour

Half-day Discover Auckland City Sightseeing Tour - Westhaven Marina and the Harbour Bridge Views You Actually Came For

8.Half-day Discover Auckland City Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,080 reviews · from $46

Half-day Auckland highlights by small group: Mt Eden views, Auckland Harbour Bridge, North Shore photo stops, and a smooth city orientation.

“Pick-up location easy to find. Tour is informative and interesting. It’s a good way to orientate yourself and discover things to do so as to get the most from a stay in Auckland. Tour is good value too”

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Auckland: Whale and Dolphin Watching Half-Day Eco Cruise

Auckland: Whale and Dolphin Watching Half-Day Eco Cruise - The wildlife game plan: what you can realistically expect to see

Auckland: Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket

Auckland: Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket - Finding the Bus: Customs Street East and Sky Tower Corner

10.Auckland: Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,064 reviews · 1 day · from $38

Auckland hop-on hop-off explorer bus gets you to Sky Tower, top museums, Parnell and Kelly Tarlton’s, with free WiFi and audio.

“The Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Was excellent with the price we paid. We were able to see so many nice places in Auckland- Museum, Mt. Eden, very nice & the hiking, Trinity Cathedral, you can also visit Zoo, MOTAT & other places. Both Red & Blue bus.”

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From Auckland: Waiheke Island Wineries’ Tour

From Auckland: Waiheke Island Wineries' Tour - Four winery tastings: how to get the most from each stop

Wētā Workshop Unleashed Tour – Auckland

Wētā Workshop Unleashed Tour - Auckland - The 90-minute flow: what the tour feels like in real time

12.Wētā Workshop Unleashed Tour – Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 903 reviews · from $40

Wētā Workshop Unleashed is a 90-minute hands-on practical effects tour in Auckland, with a small group feel and family fun.

“My goodness this excursion was so much fun! My kids loved it and there were so many things to see and learn about. Would absolutely do it again!”

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Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland

Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland - Waitakere Ranges rainforest walk: tree ferns, birds, and an easy pace

13.Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 807 reviews · from $124

Afternoon tour from Auckland to Arataki and Piha for black-sand beach views, rainforest walk, Māori carvings, and included tea.

“Really great day! Rainforest and the beautiful Piha Beach. Rainy day but with raincoats (provided if you didn’t have one) no problem. Rain added to the dramatic coast/beach at Piha. I had done the tour previously (solo) about two years ago. I Read more”

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Auckland Sky Tower General Admission Ticket

Auckland Sky Tower General Admission Ticket - Your main stop: Observation decks and the “instant map” effect

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour from Auckland with Lunch

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour from Auckland with Lunch - Waitomo Glowworm Caves: limestone caverns and a boat ride in the dark

15.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour from Auckland with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 796 reviews · from $271

Spend a long day from Auckland visiting Waitomo glowworm caves and Hobbiton, with guided tours, picnic lunch, and a Green Dragon drink.

“Lovely visit to the shire and Waitamo caves. Our bus driver was very knowledgeable and shared quite a few facts and stories throughout the trip. She gave good amount of time for breaks and was helpful throughout. Overall a memorable experience.”

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