Waitomo and Rotorua Experience: Auckland to Rotorua

Please note: this tour is not currently operating.

Experience New Zealand’s rich cultural heritage and the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua, plus a trip through the famous glowworm caves at Waitomo, on this full day sightseeing tour.

Leaving Auckland in the morning, journey through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions while listening to entertaining commentary from your driver guide. Hear about the history of the region as you pass sites of interest.

Your first stop is in the small town of Waitomo, where you’ll enjoy a 45-minute guided tour through the world famous Waitomo Caves. Travel through these underground limestone caverns, discovered in 1887, and hear how the amazing stalactites, stalagmites, and other weird and wonderful rock formations were formed over a period of 30 million years. Your tour finishes with a short but magical boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto – a subterranean cavern illuminated by thousands of tiny glowworms.

Enjoy a delicious picnic-style lunch (vegetarian and other dietary options available on request) as we make our way to Rotorua, in the heart of the Central North Island. On the outskirts of the city, we stop at the Agrodome, an organic working farm where you can learn all about farming in New Zealand. Take a tour of the Agrodome farm in an all-terrain vehicle, see how sheep are shorn and watch a live sheep dog trial.

Leaving the Agrodome, we make our way to Te Puia, one of New Zealand’s foremost cultural venues. At Te Puia’s marae (meeting house) you will receive a traditional welcome and be invited to experience a Māori cultural performance, in which ancient and modern stories are told through song, dance, poi and stick games. You’ll gain an understanding of this unique culture and its history and be thoroughly entertained by the talented and charismatic performers.

Te Puia sits within the famous Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley. Take a guided tour of its active geysers and boiling mudpools and see the world-famous Pohutu geyser unleash vapour jets up to 30 metres high. Your tour also includes entry to Te Puia’s woodcarving and weaving schools, where you can see apprentices being trained in these traditional skills.

The tour concludes in Rotorua, where you can also experience everything from adrenaline rushes like luging and jet boating to nature encounters and relaxing spa treatments. Hotel drop-offs are available.