11 Feb 2025
It's an early rise for a 6:30am pickup but the tour ran smoothly. At the Hobbiton and the caves, the actual tours were conducted by those managing the sites not FlexiTour. The tour fee you'll be paying beyond the entry fees for the Hobbiton and the cave are in effect paid for the transport and the driver's commentary. In this respect, the coach was spacious and the driver was informative, creative and nice. It was good that the guide decided to show us some extra attractions as an alternative to us waiting an hour for the caves tour.
I must say that the tour is on the pricier side compared to other similar tours for the Hobbiton and the caves. The tour also stops at the Hobbiton first before the caves, meaning that if you intend to be dropped off at Rotorua after the caves there's a bit of extended journey time. You may need also need to finish your Hobbiton lunch relatively swiftly as there is not much time for seconds.
Overall, however, it is a pleasant experience for those who don't drive and want to join a tour where everything is sorted out for you.