✅ What’s Included
• Pickup from Auckland CBD hotels
• Modern air-conditioned luxury minibus transport
• Fully guided tour with local guide
• Entry to Hobbiton Movie Set (2.5-hour guided tour)
• Entry to Waitomo Glowworm Caves (boat ride)
• Delicious lunch with savoury item, sweet treat and drink
• Snacks and bottled water
• All entry fees

🚫 What’s Not Included
• Breakfast or dinner
• Personal expenses and souvenirs
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• Optional activities not listed

The Waikato region enjoys mild weather year-round.
Summer (Dec–Feb) • Typical daytime: 20–26 °C • Conditions: warm and sunny • Practical note: pack sunscreen and hat
Autumn (Mar–May) • Typical daytime: 15–22 °C • Conditions: pleasant with fewer crowds • Practical note: light layers
Winter (Jun–Aug) • Typical daytime: 10–16 °C • Conditions: cooler and possible showers • Practical note: warm jacket and rain cover
Spring (Sep–Nov) • Typical daytime: 15–21 °C • Conditions: mild and green • Practical note: comfortable walking shoes

Documents & Essentials
• Photo ID and booking confirmation
• Travel insurance documents

Clothing (layered for variable weather)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Light layers, hat and sunglasses
• Light rain jacket (possible showers)

Toiletries & First Aid
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Any personal medication

Electronics
• Charged phone and camera
• Portable power bank

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

Hobbiton was built for The Lord of the Rings films and has been maintained as a permanent set on a working sheep farm.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves feature Arachnocampa luminosa – unique glowworms found only in New Zealand.

The Waikato region is known for its rolling green hills, dairy farms and as the heart of New Zealand’s film tourism.

Cheeky Kiwi Travel is a locally owned operator with passionate guides who love sharing authentic stories.

The Green Dragon Inn at Hobbiton serves non-alcoholic drinks in a setting faithful to the films.

Seal and penguin colonies exist on the island but are not part of this tour – the focus remains on Hobbiton and Waitomo.

Local lunch stops often feature fresh Waikato produce and friendly service.

The tour route passes through charming small towns that give a real taste of rural New Zealand life.

Photography is encouraged at all stops except inside the main Glowworm Grotto (no photos allowed to protect the environment).

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

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 12 hours from pickup in Auckland to drop-off.

What is included in the lunch?
A savoury item, sweet treat and drink featuring fresh local flavours.

Do I need to be fit?
Easy to moderate with some short walks. Comfortable shoes recommended.

Is the group small?
Yes, maximum 18 travellers for a more personal experience.

Can I take photos?
Yes at Hobbiton and most stops, but no photos inside the main Glowworm Grotto.

Where does pickup happen?
From selected Auckland CBD hotels – exact location provided at booking.

Is there any free time?
Yes, there is some free time at each main stop to explore at your own pace.

What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing and walking shoes suitable for light walking and possible weather changes.

Are children welcome?
Yes, this is a family-friendly tour suitable for all ages.

What happens if it rains?
The tour runs in all weather – indoor attractions mean you’ll still enjoy the day.