hobbiton tour hamilton

Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

This website helps visitors connect with providers of great tourism experiences. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider complies with its safety obligations. Users should seek more information from the provider concerned. While Hamilton & Waikato Tourism will do its utmost to ensure the information contained within this website is accurate, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, offers or details of any information or operator listings. Prices, timetables and other details or terms of business may change without notice. The information included in this website is not advice and does not imply any endorsement by Hamilton & Waikato Tourism.

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Private Tour - from Auckland or Hamilton to Hobbiton Movie Set Evening Dinner Experience

See the world-famous Hobbiton Movie Set for a tour of one of the most beautiful movie sets worldwide, made famous by the movie trilogies "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit". Or combine with the equally famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves for a very special

Winner of Multiple Global Tourism Awards in addition to many national awards, TIME Unlimited Tours offers wonderful Auckland Tours, Auckland Maori Tours, Walking Tours, Auckland Shore Excursions, Private Auckland Tours and Private New Zealand Luxury Tours

Hobbiton Movie Set Evening Dinner Experience Private Tour, TIME Unlimited Tours

17B Farnham Street , Auckland Central , New Zealand .

A once-in-a lifetime experience in Middle‑Earth™ including a banquet dinner at the world-famous Green Dragon Inn inside of Hobbiton Movie Set. Have the unique chance to see the Hobbiton Movie Set at dusk with a guided evening tour through the Shire.

Pricing and Conditions

Exclusions: Optional lunch $40 p.p. Entry fees to Sanctuary Mountain and Hobbiton.

After booking has been confirmed and 60 or more days: FOC. From 30 to 59 days: 50%. Less than 30 days: 100%.

Departing from Auckland or Hamilton in the afternoon we will take you in one of our luxury vehicles to Matamata, commonly known as ‘Hobbiton’ where many scenes of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit- trilogies were filmed. You will then have the unique chance to experience the Hobbiton Movie Set at dusk with a guided evening tour through the Shire. Your guide escorts you through the 12 acre site recounting fascinating details on how the movie set was created. The tour concludes at the Green Dragon Inn with a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit and beverages from the exclusive Hobbit South farthing range. Includes pick-up from and drop-off to various places in Auckland or Hamilton, entry fees additional but we can arrange.

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This website helps visitors connect with providers of great New Zealand tourism experiences. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets certain quality standards or legal obligations. Please contact this business for more information. See also: newzealand.com terms of use (opens in new window) .

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The Best Day Trips from Hamilton 🚗 [2024]

The top places to visit near hamilton.

The central hub of the Waikato region , Hamilton offers an excellent base for exploring glowworm caves, native forests, lakes and Hobbit Holes. Plan your next adventure with this guide to the best day trips from Hamilton. The guide includes both self-drive day trips and guided day tours from Hamilton.

Plus, check out The Complete Guide to Hamilton for more trip-planning tips.

5 Best Day Tours from Hamilton

Before getting into the self-drive day trips from Hamilton, here are some alternative guided day tours. That way, you don’t have to drive yourself or plan an itinerary.

Guided Day Tours from Hamilton

• Waikato Hiking and Food Tour with Nature & Nosh Tours (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor )
• Raglan Art Tour with Meet the Makers (on Viator and Tripadvisor )
• Hobbiton and Rotorua Day Tour with Headfirst Travel (on Viator and Tripadvisor )
• Coromandel Hiking and Food Tour with Nature & Nosh Tours (on Viator and Tripadvisor )
• Various tours from Hamilton with Leisure Time Travel .

The Best Day Trip from Hamilton for Foodies

Travel time by car : 40 minutes one-way Relevant tour : Raglan Art Tour with Meet the Makers (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor ).

Venture to the west coast of the North Island and the bohemian surf town of Raglan . A vital stop on the way is the magnificent Bridal Veil Falls , while other activities in the town include learning to surf, paddleboarding to the “ Pancake Rocks “, and browsing the streets of artisans, cafes and art galleries.

For more ideas on what to do, check out the 10 Epic Things to Do in Raglan .

The Best Day Trip from Hamilton for Luxury Travellers

Travel time by car : 1 hour one-way

If you haven’t seen New Zealand’s famous glowworms yet, then Hamilton is a great base to do so. Travel south to Waitomo to take part in caving, underground boat tours, walking tours and much more. There are also free attractions like the Mangapohue Natural Bridge , Marokopa Falls and the Ruakuri Bushwalk .

Check out more activities near Waitomo using the 10 Amazing Things to Do in Waitomo .

Hobbiton and Matamata

The best day trip from hamilton for families.

Travel time by car : 40 minutes to 1h10mins one-way Relevant tour : Hobbiton and Rotorua Day Tour with Headfirst Travel (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor ).

A popular trip for fans of The Lord of the Rings or any movie, for that matter, the Hobbiton Movie Set Tours (more info on Viator , Tripadvisor , Klook and KKday )  is a manageable drive from Hamilton. If you want to make the most of your day, however, take a side trip to the North Island’s highest waterfall, Wairere Falls . Plus, check out the Hobbit Hole information centre in the rural town of Matamata .

Check out the 10 Things to Do in Matamata (That Doesn’t Involve Hobbits) for more activities on this day trip from Hamilton.

The Best Day Trip from Hamilton for Couples

Travel time by car : 25 minutes one-way

Escape the big city for the charming town of Cambridge . While the town has some excellent boutiques and cafe, it’s what surrounds the town that is likely to excite any road tripper. Lake Karapiro is just a 10-20 minutes journey down State Highway One, which is home to kayaking glowworm tours (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor ) . Alternatively, venture down the rural roads for an additional 30 minutes to Sanctuary Mountain (more info on Klook , Viator and Tripadvisor ) .

Plan more of your day trip from Hamilton with the 10 Great Things to Do in Cambridge .

Pirongia Forest Park

The best day trip from hamilton for budget travellers.

Travel time by car : 30 minutes one-way

Nature is never too hard to find in New Zealand and the same goes for when you’re based in Hamilton. The Pirongia Forest Park offers a wealth of walks for all ages, from the family-friendly Mangkara Nature Walk to the advanced tramping trails to the Pirongia Summit . Access to the most popular walking trails is via Limestone Works Loop Road and Grey Road.

For more information on the walking trails, check out the Department of Conservation website .

More About Hamilton Day Trips

That’s it for the best day trips from Hamilton. For more day trips, you might like to hit the following destinations:

• 5 Fun Things to Do in Te Awamutu
• 5 Top Things to Do in Morrinsville
• 6 Fun Things to Do in Te Aroha
• 5 Fun Things to Do in Otorohanga

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
• DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
• Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
• AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
• Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
• Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
• Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
• TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
• NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
• Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards : At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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Hobbiton – Hamilton Gardens – 1 Day Tour from Auckland – Adults

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PLEASE BOOK YOUR TOUR NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY. Email [email protected] to check availability after Wednesdays.

Travel south through lush green farmlands and plains to Matamata, the home of the Hobbits! Then on to the Shires Rest! Here your journey begins to the original Hobbiton Village, from the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Drive through a picturesque 1250 acre working farm with 12,000 sheep and 200 beef cattle on site! Enjoy the spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges.

Your enthusiastic local tour guide will escort you through the set recounting fascinating details on how the Hobbiton set was created, stories during the filming, and recall different parts of the movies.

Hamilton Gardens covers an area of 58 hectares. The unique theme of Hamilton Gardens is “the story of gardens” which is made up of many different very beautiful, international gardens.

Experience the real Middle-earth with a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, the setting for The Shire that featured in the Peter Jackson directed films, “The Lord of The Rings”. Your tour starts with a drive through the picturesque 1,250-acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will escort you through the ten-acre site recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton set was created. The Hobbit holes, Green Dragon Inn, Mill and other structures created for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, these can be viewed and you will see how this beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into “The Shire from Middle-earth”. At the end of the tour, you have time for pictures and dress up in clothes from Middle-earth, along with a taste of home-brewed ginger beer (non-alcohol) at the Green Dragon.

After a great day, we return home at 6 pm.*

*Times are approximate, please allow for variances in times due to unforeseen situations and depending on options chosen.

Tour Reviews

Hello! I booked this tour with my friend on 8/4 sat. I cannot be more satisfied with this trip. Tour guide George was kind, witty and gentle-it was very kind of him to pick us up at Papakura, and drop us off at Manukau. Hamilton garden was lovely, not to mention Hobbiton. My friend-a big fan of Lord of the Rings-was really happy about the trip, and so was I. I cannot believe that I could have such a beautiful day trip for only $150! Two thumbs up for Kiwiana, and I will definitely book a kiwiana tour when I visit NZ again.

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Hobbiton Movie Set is open 7 days. Availability is very limited. Bookings essential.

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• Departing from Tour from The Shire's Rest™ From Matamata I-Site
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• Departing from Hobbiton™ Beer Festival - Saturday Hobbiton™ Beer Festival - Friday

Transfer & tour options from Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton.

Choose Bush and Beach for an easy day trip from Auckland. Let Bush and Beach pick you up from your hotel and take you on a magical journey to the Hobbiton Movie Set for a fascinating guided tour followed by lunch. They even include a gift voucher to use in the Hobbiton shop!  Bush and Beach specialise in informative small group tours, have been operating for over 30 years and are the longest-running eco tour company in New Zealand.  If you are interested in the people who make the beer for the Green Dragon then you could always join their  Hobbiton and Hops  tour which visits the Good George Brewery after the Hobbiton tour.

Following your pick up from your Downtown Auckland CBD accommodation, our magical and enchanting tour takes place over 8 hours and with full commentary and the insight of our highly knowledgeable local tour guide, it truly will be a day to remember. Auckland Scenic Tours have been taking thousands of guests annually to Hobbiton for many, many years and we work closely with the team at Hobbiton to ensure that every one of our guests has a magical and enchanting experience.

Auckland & Beyond Tours offers Private Luxury Tours & Daily Small Group Tours from Auckland. The Luxurious Mercedes Fleet offers a comfortable and smooth ride so you can relax and enjoy the amazing beauty of New Zealand’s scenic roads on the way to the Hobbiton Movie Set.

New Zealand’s most internationally-acclaimed tour operator with so far 3 global tourism awards to their name, TIME Unlimited Tours incorporate Hobbiton Movie Set into many of their tours. These include Private Tours from Auckland to Hobbiton, incorporating many other sights into a private day or multi-day tour, as well as a variety of Private One-Way Tours starting or finishing in Auckland, Rotorua or other locations.

Cheeky Kiwi Travel run daily, fully guided  small group tours from Auckland   to Hobbiton , return or one way, with hotel pick ups and drop offs. Their modern mini buses are specially built to enhance your tour experience including drop down screens,  USB charging ports and wifi access  in all vehicles. There are so many little things that make touring with Cheeky Kiwi Travel unique and memorable including knowledgeable guides, secret stops, surprise wildlife viewings, and complimentary water and snacks. With Cheeky Kiwi it's just as much about the journey as the amazing destination!

GreatSights  New Zealand operates a range of premium daily sightseeing tours to Hobbiton on board five-star coaches with free  WiFi  and expert driver commentary. Tours include complimentary hotel pick-ups and depart from Auckland and Rotorua, offering one-way and return options. Enjoy a buffet lunch fit for the hungriest of hobbits after your tour. Choose to include a visit to Waitomo Caves or top Rotorua sights.  

InterCity offers great value Hobbiton day tours from Auckland and Rotorua, including return bus travel to Matamata and a guided tour of Hobbiton. Full day tours from Auckland that include the Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton and lunch are also available. Or if you’ve already booked your Hobbiton tour and just need transport, you can book return bus transfers from Auckland to Matamata.  

Specialists in Hobbiton plus tours. FlexiToursNZ have packages for those who want to see as much as possible in a short time. FlexiToursNZ offer transfers for Hobbiton Movie Set's Evening Banquet Tour, special events, and have 1 Day tours including Hobbiton Movie Set, Rotorua and Waitomo Caves. 2-3 day tours are also available.

Transport is provided in a fleet of Late model Mercedes Vans configured to give extra legroom and space.

Take a tour from Rotorua to the Hobbiton Movie Set and see the farm that was transformed into a Middle-earth filming location. Your Hobbiton tour starts with a scenic drive across the Kaimai Ranges to the small town of Matamata. During your coach trip your local driver guide will entertain you with stories and information about the region and its history.

Departing Tauranga, first cross the harbour bridge, which offers great views of The Mount, the volcanic core 232m high which marks the entrance to the harbour of Tauranga. Then climb up to over 1000 feet to cross the Kaimai mountain range which divides the Bay of Plenty coastal region from the Waikato region, the main dairy farming area of New Zealand.  You'll soon arrive for your tour at  Hobbiton Movie Set , the movie set location in the  Lord of The Rings  and  The Hobbit  trilogy. 

Visit Hobbiton Movie Set and Rotorua with Zealandier Tours. Zealandier Tours offer the best Rotorua and Hobbiton Tours as shore excursions from Port of Tauranga . Day tour take you from Tauranga to the wonders of Rotorua. Then travel to middle-earth New Zealand to the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Helicorp are based in the Waikato, close to Hobbiton Movie Set, and operate throughout the North Island – offering scenic flights and transfers to visitors looking to travel in style and comfort. They have some very special scenic flight options incorporating Hobbiton Movie Set, or can develop a flight itinerary with specific needs and locations in mind.

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TEL: +64 7 888 1505

The Shire's Rest: 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera

Tours depart daily from The Shire's Rest and Matamata i-SITE

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