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Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui
Waitomo
Waitomo

Tauranga

Tauranga → Waitomo → Tauranga

11 hours Up to 12 guests Tauranga pickup

Tauranga → Waitomo → Tauranga — photo 1

Overview

Head south-west from Tauranga through the Waikato to Waitomo. Glide silently through the glowworm grotto on an underground boat ride, see limestone formations, and walk through the cave system. The day is relaxed but long, so an early start gives you the best light and fewer crowds.

Fully private, fully flexible

Private car and driver for up to 12 hours (return to Auckland) with unlimited kilometres. Stop wherever you like, linger longer at one spot, skip another, or change plans on the day.

Highlights

  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves boat ride
  • Limestone cathedral chamber
  • Glowworm grotto
  • Waikato countryside

Your day at a glance

You pick the start time. Most guests leave around 9:00 am and are back by roughly 8 pm. Earlier or later starts are fine — just tell us at checkout. Nothing below is a fixed schedule; your driver flexes with how long you want at each spot.

  1. 1
    Pickup from Tauranga
  2. 2
    Scenic drive through the Waikato
  3. 3
    Waitomo Glowworm Caves experience
  4. 4
    Lunch in Waitomo village
  5. 5
    Optional Ruakuri Cave or return drive
  6. 6
    Drop-off in Tauranga

⇄Round trip — you start and finish at Tauranga. Numbers 2 onwards are the stops along the way.

This route is a suggestion, not a timetable

  • Booking this trip doesn't lock you into these exact places. On the day you can ask your driver to skip a stop, linger longer somewhere, or head somewhere else entirely.
  • The one thing we do need to keep is where you're picked up and where you finish — those stay as booked.
  • Your booked time still applies (11 hours for this trip). Your driver has to get home too, so anything beyond that needs to be arranged and paid for in advance.

Price covers the private vehicle, driver and fuel. Activity tickets (e.g. Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, geothermal parks) are the customer's responsibility.

What's included

  • Private vehicle & driver
  • Tauranga pickup & drop-off
  • Fuel & road costs
  • Flexible itinerary

What's not included

  • Waitomo cave entry tickets
  • Meals & drinks
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance

Pickup points

These are just examples. We can pick you up from any address inside Tauranga — your hotel, home, airport or anywhere else within the town boundaries. Just type your address when you book.

  • Tauranga CBD hotels
  • Mount Maunganui accommodation

What to bring

  • Warm layer for the caves
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Water bottle

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup.

Frequently asked questions

Are Waitomo cave tickets included?

No. We time the day around your booking, but cave entry tickets are paid separately.

Can I add Black Water Rafting?

Yes. Let us know and we can build in extra time for rafting or the Ruakuri Cave tour.

Is photography allowed inside the caves?

No flash photography is permitted to protect the glowworms and cave environment.

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From
$999.00 NZD
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