✅ What’s Included
• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Auckland CBD
• Modern air-conditioned luxury minibus transport
• Professional local guide throughout
• Fully guided Hobbiton Movie Set tour (2.5 hours)
• Entry to Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland
• Snacks and bottled water
• All entry tickets and fees

🚫 What’s Not Included
• Lunch (own arrangements)
• Dinner
• Personal expenses and souvenirs
• Travel insurance

Auckland and Rotorua enjoy mild weather year-round.
Summer (Dec–Feb) • Typical daytime: 20–26 °C • Conditions: sunny with possible showers • Practical note: pack sunscreen and layers
Autumn (Mar–May) • Typical daytime: 16–22 °C • Conditions: mild and pleasant • Practical note: light jacket for evenings
Winter (Jun–Aug) • Typical daytime: 12–17 °C • Conditions: cooler with rain possible • Practical note: warm layers and rain jacket
Spring (Sep–Nov) • Typical daytime: 15–21 °C • Conditions: fresh and green • Practical note: comfortable walking shoes

Documents & Essentials
• Photo ID and booking confirmation
• Comfortable walking shoes

Clothing (layered for variable weather)
• Light layers suitable for walking
• Hat, sunglasses and rain jacket
• Modest clothing for any cultural stops

Toiletries & First Aid
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Personal medication

Electronics
• Charged phone and camera
• Portable power bank

Accessories & Nice-to-Haves
• Small daypack
• Reusable water bottle

Hobbiton Movie Set is the actual location used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, with 44 hobbit holes and the Green Dragon Inn.

Wai-O-Tapu is known as one of the most colourful geothermal areas in New Zealand with vibrant mineral pools.

The drive from Auckland passes through the fertile Waikato region, famous for dairy farming and rolling green hills.

Rotorua sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is one of the world’s most active geothermal areas.

Local guides are passionate Kiwis who love sharing authentic stories and humour on every tour.

Small group size ensures a more personal and relaxed experience compared to large coach tours.

The Green Dragon Inn serves non-alcoholic drinks during the Hobbiton tour as part of the experience.

Tirau is often passed on the route and known for its quirky corrugated iron sculptures.

Seasonal wildflowers and lush landscapes make the countryside drive particularly scenic in spring.

Cheeky Kiwi Travel is a local, Kiwi-owned operator focused on small-group, high-quality experiences.

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 145 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Auckland pickup points)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 290 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• 9-hour full-day tour (hotel pickup ~8:00–9:00am, return late afternoon/early evening)
• Small group experience
• Starts and ends with hotel pickup/return from central Auckland hotels
• Modern air-conditioned minibus transport
• No accommodation included
• Meals: Complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn + water/snacks (lunch at own expense)
• Highlights: Official 2.5-hour guided Hobbiton Movie Set tour (44 hobbit holes, Bag End, Party Tree, mill pond), behind-the-scenes film stories, scenic Waikato countryside drive with photo stops, relaxing drink at the Green Dragon Inn

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: 9 hours
• Key locations: Central Auckland hotel pickups, scenic Waikato drive to Matamata, Hobbiton Movie Set (full guided exploration), Green Dragon Inn
• Travel style: Relaxed small-group film location day tour with expert guide and scenic commentary
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Auckland hotel pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness.

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for Auckland-to-Matamata minibus operations and tourism-level food purchases.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or lunch purchases).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 85 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Auckland hotel pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or short transfers): 30 kg
• All on-tour modern air-conditioned minibus transfers (~300 km round trip, shared small group): 55 kg – higher-end diesel factor with realistic low-occupancy buffer

Accommodation – 0 kg CO₂e

• Day tour only – no overnight stay

Meals & Food – 35 kg CO₂e

• Complimentary drink at Green Dragon Inn + water/snacks + higher-end estimate for own lunch purchases (tourism-level portions and waste): 35 kg

Activities & Excursions – 25 kg CO₂e

• Official 2.5-hour guided Hobbiton tour, film stories, scenic photo stops and commentary

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 145 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset: 2 × 145 kg = 290 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices (small groups, respectful site management, low-impact visitation to a working farm); our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

How long is the tour?
Approximately 13 hours door-to-door from Auckland CBD.

Is lunch included?
Snacks and water are provided. Lunch is at your own cost (plenty of options at stops).

What should I wear?
Comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing suitable for variable weather.

Is the tour suitable for all ages?
Yes – it’s family-friendly with easy to moderate walking.

Will I see the geyser erupt?
Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10:15 am – timing depends on your tour schedule.

Are there toilets on the bus?
No, but regular comfortable stops are made throughout the day.

Can I bring my own food?
Yes – snacks are provided but you’re welcome to bring additional items.

What happens if it rains?
The tour runs in all weather – just bring a rain jacket and enjoy the experience.

Is photography allowed?
Yes – plenty of time for photos at all stops.

Do I need to be fit?
No – short walks only with plenty of time to rest.