Media Release: Johnston’s Coachlines launches new Kiwi Wonder Tours to Waitomo and Hobbiton

Prestige charter coach company, Johnston’s Coachlines, has launched an exciting new immersive, all-inclusive day trip tour experience for New Zealand visitors.

Kiwi Wonder Tours, which launches this week, specialises in providing personalised and authentic day trip experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand, with the first tour exploring Waitomo and Hobbiton.

The Waitomo Ruakuri & Hobbiton Day Tour from Auckland takes visitors on a journey through some of New Zealand’s most beautiful rural countryside and offers an unforgettable experience at two of New Zealand’s most exceptional tourist attractions.

Garth Stewart, GM Coaching, Johnston’s Coachlines, says the brand will be an exciting new addition to the Auckland tourism sector. “Kiwi Wonder Tours is new way to experience the best New Zealand has to offer.

“Ruakuri Cave at Waitomo is a truly unique visitor experience, and not one that is currently widely visited. We’re really excited to have worked in partnership with Discover Waitomo be able to offer it as part of our day trip itinerary, alongside the Lord of the Rings’ Hobbiton Movie Set at Matamata, to get the true Middle Earth experience.”

First discovered nearly 500 years ago by local Māori, Ruakuri Cave is one of the most extensive cave systems in Aotearoa, visitors to the caves will be treated to constellations of Glowworms through a guided 1.5-hour walking tour, before setting off to the world famous Hobbiton Movie Set in search of Bilbo Baggins.

“At Johnston’s we have over 90 years’ experience delivering award-winning tourism services,” continues Garth “The idea for Kiwi Wonder Tours came about because we could see there was a lack of innovation and quality when it came to great day trips out of Auckland. We’ve already taken some small test groups on the tour, and the feedback has been amazing.”

Kiwi Wonder Tours’ modern Mercedes-Benz sprinter vans are designed with sightseeing adventures in mind. Tours are capped at 18 people, and included in the package is a lunch option that can cater to all dietary requirements. An audio companion app in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish is currently being finalised and will be available from late spring.