Second day of my New Zealand trip. I woke up at 6.30AM to take shower, get dressed and have easy breakfast what I prepared since last night. Then, I left the hotel and walked to Sky City Bus Terminal and arrived there at 7.30AM. Today, I booked my day-trip to Waitomo Cave and Hobbiton Movie Set with Great Sights* by online in advance. The tour is including the bus from Auckland to Waitomo Cave and Hobbiton Movie Set with admission tickets and picnic lunch box. It is very convenient and save for the solo traveller like me as well as the group traveler too. 😃 The package cost is 334 NZD/person (210 USD).
*Great Sights is one of the most famous tour operator in New Zealand. This company is offering plenty of tour choices around the country.
The bus of Great Sights at Sky City Bus Terminal
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At 7.45AM, the bus was departed on-time. It had about 30 passengers on that date even it was Monday. On the way, the driver had always explained the story of everything we passed by through the speaker. I enjoyed the things he spoke with the scenic of the greenery of north island. About every 2 hours, the bus was stopped for the toilet and for the passengers to stretch themselves at roadside resting points.
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The roadside view of the north island, on the way to Waitomo Cave and Hobbiton Movie Set
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At 10.30AM, we arrived at Waitomo Cave. It is a famous natural attraction located in Waitomo village which is known for extensive underground cave systems, particularly the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where thousands of tiny glowworms illuminate the cave ceilings, creating a magical and surreal experience. The most famous activities at Waitomo Cave are exploring the limestone formation cave which stalactites and stalagmites have formed over thousands of years and take the boat ride to see the miracle of Glowworm Grotto. Both activities took overall time about an hour.
There are 3 important things at Waitomo Cave. The visitor can visit the caves and take the boat ride by guided tour only, Taking photo and filming inside the cave are strictly prohibited to preserve the limestone cave and glowworm which are light sensitive and Visitor must be very quiet during on the boat to see the glowworms.
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The entrance door of Waitomo Cave
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The guide started to bring us to see inside of limestone cave and explain the story of each part. It was super huge cave with the natural architecture of stalactites and stalagmites. The amazing thing is Waitomo cave was found by Tane Tinorau, a local Maori chief, and Fred Mace, an English surveyor in 1887. At that time, they had only rope and candle to visit this place !
Next, the guide brought us to the long-boat and slowly move on the water under the cave to see the thousands of glowworms. It was miracle on earth !. The blue glowworms make the dark cave become shinny what I recommend you to see at once in your life. Unfortunately, photographing is not allowed. I just show you the photo from online sources.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Waitomo
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https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/glowworms-waitomo-caves-new-zealand/index.html
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We exited from the cave at 12PM. I did not miss to grab some souvenir at the gift shop before headed back to the bus what was waiting us at the entrance. Before getting on the bus, the driver gave the lunch box to the passengers. it had 2 choices, chicken or vegetarian. Then, the bus was departed from Waitomo Cave and headed to Hobbiton Movie Set. We could lunch on the bus. 🌯
Chicken sandwich with potato salad and waffle 😋
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We arrived Hobbiton Movie Set at 2PM. It is the location used for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film trilogy which is situated on a family-run farm about 8 km west of Hinuera. In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team of location scouts were searching for the iconic rolling hills and lush green as the location of filming of Hobbiton. By aerial search, they found Alexander farm which is 1,250 acre sheep farm in the heart of the Waikato. It is concluded that this area was “like a slice of ancient England“. In March 1999 the crew began the contruction to build-up 39 temporary Hobbit Hole across the 12 acre plot used for the set with help of New Zealand Army. The project was completed in 9 months. Nowaday, Hobbiton Movie Set is become the one of the iconic landmark of New Zealand’s north island. It is open daily, 9AM – 5.30PM. The tourist can visit the Hobbiton Movie Set by guided tour only. The tour takes about 2.50 hours. I recommended the visitor to buy the ticket in advance from this website : https://www.hobbitontours.com. Because it is always fully occupied and does not accept walk-in visitor. Fortunately, my ticket is included in the day tour package by Great Sights.
Our group tour was started on 2.15PM, the bus brought us from visitor center to the movie set which is located about 10 minutes away. The guide lady started to lead us to visit from the first Hobbit holes and explained the story of each with entertaining and cheerful voice. I could confirm that whether you are a big fan of Hobbit or Lord of the ring, you would definitely enjoy this place !
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Some hobbit hole is open for the visitors to get in to see the tiny decorations and be amused to take the photo as if we are the hobbit. 🧙🏻♂️
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The Hobbiton tour was ended at 4.30PM. The guide leaded us to the cafeteria nearby the entrance. All visitors could enjoy the free complimentary drink here. It had homemade non-alcoholic drink and apple cider beer. It was the relaxing time as I could sit and sip my drink in front of fireplace with cold weather and greenery hill outside. 🥃🔥
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About 5PM, it was the time to wave the goodbye to the Hobbiton Movie Set and get on the bus to back to Auckland. For me, even I am not the big fan of Lord of The Ring and The Hobbit, but I was really impress this place as it is the well created structure with the divisibly location. It made me think I am in the world of tales. Thus, Hobbiton Movie Set is the place where you MUST see when you visit the north island.
The bus was arrived Sky City Bus Terminal, the place where we departed this morning around 7.15PM. Then, I went to meet my Thai friends who were just incidentally visit New Zealand at the same period before back to hotel to take the rest at 9PM. Today, it was the new chapter in my life as I explored my new world of north island of New Zealand. However, my trip was just started. The next day, I would leave Auckland to persuade my dream to another city. Now, it was time to recharge the battery to write the new page of my diary. See you tomorrow. Good Night – Sleep Tight. 😴
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Written by : Shipy Siwarit Tiasuwattiseth
Shipy-Ship 