laurab37 said... I had a great day on this tour. The guide, Lance, was very kind, funny, and accommodating in dropping us off at different places in the city at the end of the tour. Hobbiton was fun and the scenery driving to and from it was breathtaking - so many beautiful green hills and farms. Te Puia was interesting and felt authentic to the Maori culture because it is run by representatives from the community. The money from ticket sales goes towards the Maori crafts institutes (located at Te Puia) dedicated to training future generations of craft makers. The geyser and mud pools at Te Puia were very cool to see too. I would take a Cheeky Kiwi tour again, though you could probably save money by renting a car or taking a bus to these locations yourself. However, it was great to have the tour guide's commentary as we drove from place to place.