Wonderful Memories of New Zealand

We booked a tour from Auckland to the Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton Village, accompanied by our Japanese guide, Take-san.

In the morning, Take-san picked us up at the Marriott Hotel in Auckland. We were especially grateful for this service, considering how early it was. During the drive, we were able to rest, and when we were awake, Take-san shared fascinating information and trivia about New Zealand, which was both educational and engaging. We also appreciated the bathroom breaks along the way.

At the Waitomo Caves, Take-san followed us at the back of the group led by a local guide, providing detailed explanations in Japanese. It was a relief, as we likely wouldn’t have understood the finer points in English. Having a Japanese guide made the experience much more enjoyable.

On the bus ride to Hobbiton, Take-san shared stories about The Lord of the Rings, which, as fans of the movies, we thoroughly enjoyed even before arriving. At Hobbiton Village, we had lunch first. It was a delightful meal shared with two other Japanese participants, Take-san, and us, making for a cozy group of five.

The tour itself had many great photo opportunities, and Take-san kindly took numerous pictures for us, which we really appreciated. He also shared behind-the-scenes stories about The Lord of the Rings, which were incredibly interesting and made the tour unforgettable for fans of the films.

After visiting the two spots, we were planning to stay overnight in Waitomo, so Take-san dropped us off at the Matamata bus stop.

The only regret we have is forgetting to take a photo with Take-san. If any of our Japanese family or friends plan a trip to New Zealand and need a Japanese-speaking guide, we would definitely recommend a tour with Take-san.

Thank you for giving us such a wonderful experience and happy memories!

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