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3 Day Best of Central Attractions

3 days
Start and end in Auckland
4.6
9 traveler reviews
3 Day Best of Central Attractions - Thrifty Tours
From
US $1,198
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Price based on per person in Double / Twin for departure 03 February 2025

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Plan your adventure:
Self-guided
Independent exploration, backed by expert advice and support
Guided in English
Age range 1 to 100
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

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

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves and Te Puia Small Group Tour
  2. 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
  3. Day 3 Tour the wonderful world of Hobbiton on your journey back to Auckland
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

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

12 hours

Response rate

96%

It's all about enjoying the flexibility of travelling where you want when you...

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Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.7
  • Guide
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.8
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.5
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.2
  • 4.5
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • 3 Day Best of Central Attractions reviewer 1
    · January 10th, 2024
    It 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 review
    Hello 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 more
    Trip date: January 2024
  • DP
    · August 30th, 2023
    A well organised package of mini tours. Excellent.
    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tours Deborah! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us :)
    Trip date: August 2023
  • JH
    · August 7th, 2023
    Excellent, knowledgeable guides. Helpful and responsive online support. Great app!
    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Hello Jeffery, We are delighted to hear that everything went smoothly. Thank you very much for your time and enjoy the rest of your holidays.
    3 Day Best of Central Attractions customer review photo 13 Day Best of Central Attractions customer review photo 23 Day Best of Central Attractions customer review photo 3
    Trip date: July 2023
  • WS
    · February 19th, 2020
    Bus 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 more
    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Hi 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 more
    Trip date: February 2020
  • RD
    · November 22nd, 2019
    Awesome trip! Well planned and helped to fit in...
    Show more
    Trip date: November 2019
  • TF
    · November 21st, 2019
    The 3 days was enough time to appreciate all...
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    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Hi 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
  • MS
    · October 30th, 2019
    The tour was well organised with good...
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    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Thank you for your comments
    Trip date: October 2019
  • HD
    · April 6th, 2019
    This tour was phenomenal- we loved every stop &...
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    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Hello 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 Team
    3 Day Best of Central Attractions customer review photo 13 Day Best of Central Attractions customer review photo 2
    Trip date: March 2019
  • NS
    · February 4th, 2019
    Overall was good but there were quite signifficant waiting time in between activities
    Thrifty Tours commented on this review
    Hello Nico, Thank you very much for your feedback we appreciate your time and enjoy the rest of your holidays. The Thrifty Tours Team
    Trip date: January 2019

Dates & Availability

3 days
3 Day Best of Central Attractions
From Auckland to Auckland

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Ends on 5 Feb, 2025
  • Monday
    3 Feb, 2025
    Wednesday
    5 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Tuesday
    4 Feb, 2025
    Thursday
    6 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Wednesday
    5 Feb, 2025
    Friday
    7 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Thursday
    6 Feb, 2025
    Saturday
    8 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Friday
    7 Feb, 2025
    Sunday
    9 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Saturday
    8 Feb, 2025
    Monday
    10 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Sunday
    9 Feb, 2025
    Tuesday
    11 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Monday
    10 Feb, 2025
    Wednesday
    12 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Tuesday
    11 Feb, 2025
    Thursday
    13 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197
  • Wednesday
    12 Feb, 2025
    Friday
    14 Feb, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $1,197

What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • What's the price range for this tour?

      Prices typically range between $550 to $1100 per person, depending on various factors.

    • How far in advance should I book the tour?

      It's best to book within 30 days of your intended travel date to ensure availability.

    • What happens if my flight is delayed?

      We can arrange alternative plans, but please let us know promptly for adjustments.

    • Can I arrange for a transfer from the airport?

      Yes, transfer from the airport can be arranged for an additional cost.

    • Can I customize the tour itinerary?

      Yes, the tour can be customized to suit your preferences as long as it's feasible with available tours.

    • What pick-up arrangements can be made?

      Pick-up usually happens from central Auckland hotels, but alternative arrangements can be discussed.

    • Are there any dietary requirement forms to fill out?

      Please inform us of any dietary needs in advance so that we can accommodate you appropriately.

    • How can I get to my accommodation after the tour?

      The usual drop-off location will be in central Auckland, but additional costs may apply for airport drop-off.

    • What accommodation options are available?

      This tour offers 3-star accommodation, with options to upgrade to 4-star facilities depending on availability.

    • What if I need to change my booking dates?

      You can change your booking dates depending on availability. Just inform us as soon as possible.

    Can’t find the answer to your question?
    Reach out to the experts at Thrifty Tours with your enquiry, they usually respond within 12 hours.

    Good to Know

    Tour ID: 140947

    • Currency
      $
      New Zealand Dollar
      New Zealand
    • Plugs & Adapters

      As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.

      Type I
      New Zealand
    • Visa
      • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
      • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
    • Payment information
      • For any tour departing before April 1st, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after April 1st, 2025, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Thrifty Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
      • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Thrifty Tours will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
      • The following cards are accepted for "Thrifty Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Accessibility
      Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.