Best price guarantee Learn More
- In-depth Cultural
- Family
- Self-Guided
- Private
- Explorer
- Personalized
- Coach / Bus
- Christmas & New Year
- Silver Operator
- Thrifty Tours
- Private Tour
- Travel exclusively with your friends and family
- Self-guided
- Independent exploration, backed by expert advice and support
- Guided in English
- Age range 1 to 100
Places You’ll See
Highlights
- Release your inner Gandalf with a trip to Hobbiton
- Visit the mystical Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
- Marvel at the Wai-O-Tapu thermal reserve
- Enjoy a traditional Maori performance
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves and Te Puia Small Group Tour
- Day 2 Explore Wai-O-Tapu's bubbling mudpools and geysers, the Volcanic valley of Waimangu, and finish off with an evening of Tamaki Maori village with dinner
- Day 3 Tour the wonderful world of Hobbiton on your journey back to Auckland
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
- Free eSIMTourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services
Customer Photos
Operated by
Thrifty Tours
Number of tours
28
Age Range
5 to 99 years old
Response time
within 1 day
Response rate
100%
It's all about enjoying the flexibility of travelling where you want when you...
Read moreCustomer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationExcellent
- FoodExcellent
Mathilde· February 14th, 2025It's the second time that I picked a tour organised by you. No doubt you nailed it, I've enjoyed the 3 days in the north of NZ.Show more
Trip date: February 2025- Elizabeth· January 10th, 2024It was good! A little too much of the same thing (geothermal tours and Māori villages). I would have rather gone for an afternoon at the Polynesian spa the afternoon of the first day, after the glow worm cave (so cool!) vs the initial Māori village with geysers. The 2nd days’ activities were good, and Hobbiton was amazing!Show more
Thrifty Tours commented on this reviewHello Liz, We are delighted to hear that you had an amazing experience and you enjoyed the glow worms and the Hobbiton Movie set tours. Your feedback is valuable to us, thank you very much for taking the time to write a review. All the best with... Show moreTrip date: January 2024 - DPDeborah· August 30th, 2023A well organised package of mini tours. Excellent.Show moreThrifty Tours commented on this reviewWe are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tours Deborah! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us :)Trip date: August 2023
- JHJeffery· August 7th, 2023Excellent, knowledgeable guides. Helpful and responsive online support. Great app!Show moreThrifty Tours commented on this reviewHello Jeffery, We are delighted to hear that everything went smoothly. Thank you very much for your time and enjoy the rest of your holidays.Trip date: July 2023
- WSWayne· February 19th, 2020Bus transfers were great. Activities were well organized and interesting. Copthorne Hotel looks good in the lobby and dining room but guest rooms need updating. Peeling paint and tired bathroom were not up to expectations. Waiting 3 hours for our last day’s transfer to Auckland was poor planning. Also we left at 4:30 and arrived at 8pm with no food provided on the bus. However, pax leaving the bus at hotel were given food. As a Travel Agent I should have asked more questions. I had not realized this would be a patchwork of tours pulled together.Show moreThrifty Tours commented on this reviewHi Wayne, We are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with a few aspects of your tour. As an independent tour, you are correct that this is a selection of coaches, activities and accommodation put together to create an action packed itinerary over... Show moreTrip date: February 2020
- RDRebecca· November 22nd, 2019Awesome trip! Well planned and helped to fit in a ton of activities in limited time!Show moreTrip date: November 2019
- TFTerry· November 21st, 2019The 3 days was enough time to appreciate all...Show moreThrifty Tours commented on this reviewHi Terry, Thanks for getting in touch and it's great to hear that you had such a good time on your trip, and enjoyed seeing our kiwis. I have passed your feedback on to the above. Enjoy the rest of your travels! Kind Regards, The Thrifty team.Trip date: November 2019
- MSMartin· October 30th, 2019The tour was well organised with good...Show moreThrifty Tours commented on this reviewThank you for your commentsTrip date: October 2019
- HDHeather· April 6th, 2019This tour was phenomenal- we loved every stop &...Show moreThrifty Tours commented on this reviewHello Heather, I'm sorry this took a long time to respond to your feedback, we appreciate your time and we are glad you had a great time exploring the North Island. Thank you very much. The Thrifty Tours TeamTrip date: March 2019
- NSNico· February 4th, 2019Overall was good but there were quite signifficant waiting time in between activitiesShow moreThrifty Tours commented on this reviewHello Nico, Thank you very much for your feedback we appreciate your time and enjoy the rest of your holidays. The Thrifty Tours TeamTrip date: January 2019
Dates & Availability
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- From Sunday8 Jun, 2025To Tuesday10 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Monday9 Jun, 2025To Wednesday11 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Tuesday10 Jun, 2025To Thursday12 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Wednesday11 Jun, 2025To Friday13 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Thursday12 Jun, 2025To Saturday14 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Friday13 Jun, 2025To Sunday15 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Saturday14 Jun, 2025To Monday16 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Sunday15 Jun, 2025To Tuesday17 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Monday16 Jun, 2025To Wednesday18 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
- From Tuesday17 Jun, 2025To Thursday19 Jun, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,119
Best price guarantee Learn More
What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- N
Nora
Asked on March 21st, 2025Are there any dietary requirement forms to fill out?
Thrifty ToursOperator•Written March 2025Please inform us of any dietary needs in advance so that we can accommodate you appropriately.
- L
Lucas
Asked on March 9th, 2025Can I arrange for a transfer from the airport?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written March 2025
Yes, transfer from the airport can be arranged for an additional cost.
- M
Mallaury
Asked on January 25th, 2025What is the luggage policy on the bus?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written January 2025
You can bring small luggage, but there isn't enough space for large suitcases. Storing luggage at the hotel is possible while on tour.
- R
Rocio
Asked on November 27th, 2024What if I need to change my booking dates?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written November 2024
You can change your booking dates depending on availability. Just inform us as soon as possible.
- S
Shelley
Asked on October 13th, 2024How far in advance should I book the tour?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written October 2024
It's best to book within 30 days of your intended travel date to ensure availability.
- F
Fernando
Asked on July 21st, 2024Can I customize the tour itinerary?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written July 2024
Yes, the tour can be customized to suit your preferences as long as it's feasible with available tours.
- P
Pauline
Asked on July 3rd, 2024What is the maximum group size on the tour?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written July 2024
The coach has a capacity of about 15-18 seats for passengers.
- B
Bastian
Asked on June 12th, 2024What accommodation options are available?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written June 2024
This tour offers 3-star accommodation, with options to upgrade to 4-star facilities depending on availability.
- P
Pierine
Asked on March 11th, 2024Is insurance required for this tour?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written March 2024
It is recommended to have insurance for coverage against unforeseen issues, especially given potential weather changes.
- E
Ethan
Asked on March 5th, 2024What pick-up arrangements can be made?
- Thrifty ToursOperator•Written March 2024
Pick-up usually happens from central Auckland hotels, but alternative arrangements can be discussed.
Good to Know
Tour ID: 140947
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