how long does hobbiton tour take

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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• Group size 1
• Departing from Hobbiton™ Beer Festival - Saturday Hobbiton™ Beer Festival - Friday

• Frequently Asked Questions

Booking Information

Do i need to book in advance or can i just show up.

We strongly recommend booking in advance as our tours are known to sell out, especially over the Summer months between December - February each year as this is typically our busiest time. Our website has live availability so you can book online - You can make a reservation online by clicking here . Alternatively you can make a reservation by calling us on (07) 888-1505 or by contacting us here.

Please note, all of our tours are subject to availability at the time of booking. If you do not make a booking in advance, we cannot guarantee you will be able to join a tour.  

I've booked online. Now what?

Once you have booked your tickets online, you should receive a booking confirmation through to your email address. Please read the information in this confirmation email carefully and ensure you arrive to your departure location at least 20 minutes before your scheduled tour time.

On arrival to The Shire's Rest, please visit our team at the Ticketing desk and present your confirmation. You can show this on your phone, or simply quote your reference number, tour time and party name. Our team will print off your tour tickets and give you further instructions. 

I have made a booking but haven't received a booking confirmation. What do I do?

When you make a booking with us online, our system will automatically send you a booking confirmation to the email address you entered. If you haven't received it, we recommend firstly checking your Junk Mail as they can sometimes default there (especially for Hotmail accounts). If you still cannot find the confirmation, please get in touch with our team and be sure to include your full name, email address, tour date and time and the booking reference if you have it. 

How do I amend or cancel my booking?

Amending a booking

If your travel plans change and you need to amend the date or time of your booking you can do this by contacting our Reservations team via phone on 07 888 1505 or by contacting us here . Once we receive your amendment request we will do our best to amend your booking.

Please note, all of our tours are subject to availability.

Cancelling a booking

If you wish to cancel a booking, you may do so by using the above contact details or replying directly to your booking confirmation that was emailed to you when you made your booking. Click here for our cancellation policy and COVID-19 Guarantee .

What happens if I am late for my tour?

If you are going to be late for your tour, we recommend you call us as soon as you are able to so we can discuss options with you. If you are unable to call us and arrive late, we will do our best to put you on the next available tour departure. Please note that if we are extremely busy, the next available tour may be several hours later, and in rare occurrences may not be on the same day.

What is included in a Family Pass?

A Family Pass includes 2x Adults (18+ years) and 2x Youth (11-17 years) tickets for just $306. You can book this special rate for our Hobbiton Movie Set Tour by selecting the Fare Type when checking availability for your preferred date. Any additional people travelling with your group can be booked at the same time. Children aged 10 and under are FREE but must have a ticket booked at time of purchase. Please note the Family Pass is exclusively available for bookings at hobbitontours.com and is only valid for our Hobbiton Movie Set Tour departing The Shire’s Rest or Matamata i-SITE.

How do I redeem my Hobbiton Movie Set Gift Voucher?

To redeem a Gift Voucher, we ask that you please  contact our Reservations Team  and include your voucher number so that we can secure your booking. Tours are subject to availability.

What is The Shire's Rest™?

The Shire's Rest ™ is our headquarters and location where all of our tours depart from. It is located at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata - click here for directions . 

It is located approximately 15 minutes from Matamata town centre, and from here it is about a 10 minute bus ride to the Movie Set which is included in our tours.

You do not need to book a tour to visit The Shire's Rest.  On site here at The Shire's Rest is our Ticketing Centre , Retail Shop and Cafe . There is ample parking here on site, with plenty of space for large vehicles and camper vans too. 

Does Hobbiton Movie Set have accommodation on site?

There is no accommodation available at Hobbiton Movie Set. 

For hotel, motel and other accommodation options in the Waikato region, visit www.waikatonz.com/accommodation   or contact a local i-SITE or visitor information centre. 

The recent Airbnb promotion was for 3 exclusive stays only to celebrate 10 years since the first Hobbit movie was released and is now fully booked. We will not be offering any accommodation or overnight stays in the future.

Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tour

Do i have to go on a tour or can i go by myself.

To ensure all our guests have the complete experience the only way to access the Hobbiton Movie Set is with a fully guided walking tour.

How do the tours work?

Hobbiton Movie Set is only accessible via a guided tour experience.

A tour of Hobbiton Movie Set comprises of:

• A short bus ride from your departure location to the movie set
• A 1.5 hour guided walking tour including time inside the interior of Bagshot Row
• A 20 minute visit to The Green Dragon Inn including a complimentary beverage
• At the end of your experience, you will walk with your guide back to the bus and take another short bus ride to your departure location

These times are approximate only and may differ slightly for your tour experience. 

Tours that include a meal (like Evening Banquet Tour and Second Breakfast Tour) include additional time on the Movie Set but all experiences with us begin with a guided tour as detailed above.

When your tour arrives at Bagshot Row, your group will be split in two, and you will be escorted through one of two interiors to explore at your own pace. There is an allotted period of time for each tour group within the Hobbit Hole and your guide will advise when it is your group’s time to move on and explore the rest of the movie set. 

All experiences except our Private Tour are a shared group service, meaning you will be joining a larger group of other visitors while on tour with us. For our Hobbiton Movie Set Tour and Tour + Lunch Combo experiences, the maximum group size is 41. For our Evening Banquet Tour the maximum group size is 48. For our Second Breakfast Tour the maximum group size is 30.

Can I drive myself?

All our tours currently depart from  The Shire's Rest ™.  You can drive yourself to The Shire's Rest, park your vehicles here and join one of our tours where you will be transported to the movie set via one of our Hobbiton Movie Set coaches.  Click here for directions to The Shire's Rest.  

The Shire's Rest is located approximately 15 minutes from Matamata town centre, and from here it is about a 10 minute bus ride to the Movie Set which is included in our tours. All standard tours will be transported to the Movie Set via one of our vehicles unless using a non-collapsible wheelchair .

To ensure all our guests have the complete experience the only way to access the Hobbiton Movie Set is with a fully guided tour.

What can I expect from the walking tour?

We have some detailed information on what to expect from the walking tour and pathways on our Accessibility page here . 

How long is a tour?

We recommend you arrive at The Shire's Rest at least 20 minutes before your tour time in order to check in. You may also like to spend some time at our cafe and souvenir store at The Shire's Rest. Most of our visitors spend around 3-3.5 hours in total at The Shire's Rest. 

What do I need to bring with me?

Hobbiton Movie Set is an outdoor walking tour through meandering paths. For this reason, we recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for our tour, and checking the weather forecast ahead of your visit. You can find 10 Day weather forecast information for the Matamata area on Metservice.  In the Summer months, we recommend sunscreen and a hat as the sun can become quite hot, as well as making sure you are well hydrated. In Autumn, Winter and Spring, it's best to be prepared with a rainproof outer layer and enclosed shoes as the paths can become muddy. In the event of rain, we have wide umbrellas available that you can use for the duration of your tour. We also recommend our guests bring a camera or a phone with camera capability as our Movie Set is the perfect place to get some great travel photos!

What Should I Wear?

We ask that guests wear clothing appropriate for a family friendly environment and highly recommend you also dress appropriately for the weather, with enclosed, suitable footwear. Clothing with objectionable or offensive writing or images are not permitted. Hobbiton Movie Set reserves the right to refuse entry to guests wearing items of clothing or costumes that may be considered offensive or have a negative impact on other Hobbiton Movie set guest's experiences.

Costumes are allowed and welcomed at Hobbiton Movie Set, although due to safety we only allow soft props on the premises. No weapons or accessories that have the potential to harm are permitted. Tours begin with a bus ride to the set so please ensure that your costume is appropriate and functional for this portion of your journey. 

Will my tour still operate in wet weather?

Yes, we operate in all weather conditions. Umbrellas are provided in the event of rain and we highly recommend you dress appropriately for the weather, with enclosed footwear.

In the event of extreme weather conditions we reserve the right to make alternative tour arrangements for you.

Is the Movie Set wheelchair accessible?

You can find lots of information about accessibility, mobility restrictions and wheelchair use on our  Accessibility page here .  

Can I bring my stroller on tour?

You can bring a stroller or a pram on tour with you provided it is fully collapsible and can fit in the luggage compartment of our buses. It is important to note that the Movie Set paths are made of cobblestones and dirt tracks so it is bumpy and uneven in places. The paths are also quite narrow in places and there are some low level stairs to climb so you may need an extra adult to assist you with the stroller/pram in some locations.

Twin strollers are not recommended due to the narrowness of the paths.

Can I take photos/video on tour?

Of course! We want you to take photos and capture memories while on tour with us. Please use handheld equipment only as drone use is not permitted. 

Please be aware though that any photos and video recordings taken on set are for personal use only and not to be sold or distributed for commercial gain due to our licensing agreements with the film companies. 

Can I fly my drone at Hobbiton Movie Set?

The flying of drones is not permitted on or around the Movie Set as the property owner does not allow it.

Any out-of-hours drone use for promotional purposes is at the discretion of the property owner and must be pre-approved by the Hobbiton Movie Set Marketing Department.

You are welcome to film and/or photograph your experience using handheld equipment if the content is for personal use only. Any commercial use is not permitted under our license with the film companies. 

Can I visit The Green Dragon Inn without going on a tour?

The only way to visit The Green Dragon Inn is as part of our guided tour experiences. Every tour of Hobbiton Movie Set includes a visit to this venue and the opportunity to sample our Hobbit ™ Southfarthing™ Range fresh from the kegs and a the opportunity to purchase something to eat from our blackboard menu. 

Can I bring my pet with me on tour?

Unfortunately we are not able to permit any pets onto the Movie Set. The only exception to this is for registered service dogs . Please contact our team in advance if you require a service dog to join you on tour. 

Can I propose while on tour?

Yes you can propose while on tour however it is important to remember that you are part of a fully guided experience when you visit Hobbiton and as such need to move around the set with your guide and group. That being said there are a couple of ways to find a few quiet moments for yourself.

Top tips for creating your special moment:

• Before you arrive at Bag End your group will be given a chance to have photos taken at the Artist's home, this is the door before Bag End. If you are one of the first people in your group to have your photo you will have the opportunity to wait at Bag End for the rest of your group, giving you the chance for a more private moment. Please just be mindful there is not a lot of space at Bag End, and you will be on the path with the other members of your tour group that are also waiting.
• When you arrive at The Green Dragon Inn you have 15 – 20 minutes to enjoy your complimentary beverage and explore the area. This offers the opportunity to find some space to pop your question with time to take a couple of photos.
• If you are joining a special event or an experience that includes a meal at Hobbiton Movie Set there will be further opportunities for you to create this moment.

It is always a great idea to let the Hobbiton team know you are planning to do this when you book as it helps your guide to be able to assist if possible.

Does the Evening Banquet Tour and Second Breakfast Tour include the Movie Set Tour or do I need to book both to have the full experience?

Our Evening Banquet Tour and Second Breakfast Tour experiences both include a guided tour of the Movie Set at the beginning of the experience. This is the same tour experience guests get on our day tour. If you wish to do a tour at a different time of day as well, then you are welcome to book multiple experiences. 

What does 'No Departure' or 'Fully Booked' mean when searching for tour on your website?

When you are searching for a tour on our website, there are four statuses that may appear - No Departure, Fully Booked, Book Now - Limited Places and Book Now. 

No Departure means that the tour experience you are searching for is not available on that date. 

Fully Booked means that all tickets for that tour experience on that date are sold out. 

Book Now - Limited Places will appear with a gold button and red writing below. This means that there are only a small amount of tickets left (9 or less) for that tour experience on that date. We recommend booking as soon as possible if you are hoping to join one of these tours as when tickets are fully booked we cannot increase capacity. 

Book Now will appear with a gold button with white writing on it. This means that there are greater than 10 seats available for that tour experience on that date. We still recommend pre-booking as far in advance as you can to avoid missing the tour day and time that best suits your itinerary. 

Getting Here & Around

How do i get to the hobbiton™ movie set.

Visit our  Getting Here page to view a map with driving routes from Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupo and Tauranga. You can also view a list here with transfer options from Auckland, Tauranga, and Hamilton. 

Is there parking at The Shire's Rest?

Yes, we have ample free parking at The Shire’s Rest available for customers, including space for camper vans and large vehicles.

If you're looking for more detailed information about accessibility, please learn more here .

For specific information please visit our Covid-19 page here. 

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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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UponArriving

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Review (Ultimate Guide)

I have seen some pretty cool movie set tours like the Harry Potter Warner Bros. studio tour in London and the Hobbiton Movie Set tour ranks up there with the best. In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour. I will cover things like ticket prices and tours and also give you a detailed review of what the experience is like.

Table of Contents

What is the Hobbiton Movie Set?

The Hobbiton Movie Set is a hilly farmland in Waikato, New Zealand where scenes featuring “Hobbiton” of the Shire were filmed for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film series. The site now offers several different tours and experiences that allow fans to enjoy the movie set in memorable ways, such as guided tours and festive banquets.

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Booking the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Below I will go into the details for all of the prices for the different tours .

One thing I will say right off the bat is that you need to book your tickets as soon as possible because the spots will fill up very quickly. This is especially true if you want to do one of the special tours that involve a lunch or banquet. This is not an attraction that you want to wait until the last minute to book!

There are four main different tours that you can choose from. Note that the prices will be increasing for all of the tours as of April 2020.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

This is the main tour that most people will do. It takes you through the major sites like the Hobbit Holes and Green Dragon Inn and takes about two hours (I’ll go into detail on this tour below). 

You can choose to be picked up from three different locations:

• The Shire’s Rest (the tour’s main location)
• Matamata i-SITE
• The Hobbiton™ Movie Set Shop, 1235 Fenton St, Rotorua (more expensive)

The tours from The Shire’s Rest depart every 10 minutes so there are many of these tours every single day. When you go to book a tour you will have a selection of different time slots to choose from and you should see if there are limited spaces for certain slots.

Here are the prices for the tour: 

(All prices below are in New Zealand dollars. For your reference, you can click on a price below and see the US dollar equivalent. 84 New Zealand dollars is ~$55 USD as of 12/19.)

• Adult (17 years and over): $84.00 , $89.00 from 1 April 2020
• Youth (9-16 years): $42.00 , $44.00 from 1 April 2020 
• Child (0-8 years): Children are FREE but must have ticket allocated prior to arrival and be accompanied by a full paying adult.
• Tours depart daily from 9am until 3.30pm.

If you are going to be late for your tour I suggest that you contact them immediately. They will work with you to try to get you into the soonest tour but keep in mind that if other tours are all sold out they might not be able to get you in that day.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour + Lunch

This is the tour that I wish I would have done. If you want to make your tour experience a little bit more memorable without paying a whole lot of extra money, I think this tour option is perfect. There are only three timeslots though and these tours need to be booked very far in advance to secure your preferred time slot.

Here are the prices:

• Adult (17 years and over): $120.00 , $125.00 from 1 April 2020
• Youth (9-16 years): $78.00 , $80.00 from 1 April 2020 
• 10.05am departure begins with tour followed by lunch at 11.35am
• 12.05pm departure begins with tour followed by lunch at 1.35pm
• 1.25pm departure begins with lunch followed by tour at 2.25pm

Hobbiton Movie Set Evening Banquet Tours

The Hobbiton Movie Set Evening Banquet Tour is probably the coolest way to explore the Shire because it is a tour that takes place at dusk. Also, you get to enjoy the banquet at the Green Dragon which is a unique experience.

I think I would enjoy this tour but there is something special about visiting the Shire during the daytime when the sun is out shining brightly and this tour may not offer you that same type of experience.  

• Adult (17 years and over): $195.00 , $199.00 from 1 April 2020
• Youth (9-16 years): $152.50 , $162.00 from 1 April 2020 
• Child (5-8 years): $100 , $104.00 from 1 April 2020. Children must be accompanied by a full paying adult- Must also have a ticket allocated. 
• Infant (0-4 years):  Infants must be accompanied by a full paying adult- Must also have a ticket allocated.

Private Tour

The private tour is very expensive but it is probably the best option for the diehard fans and I will explain why below.

• Private tour (up to 4 people): $750.00
• Additional Adult (17yrs+): $84.00
• Additional Youth (9-16yrs): $42.00
• Additional Child (0-8yrs): Free with full paying adult

Please note: From 1 April 2020 Private Tour departures will be $1,000.00 for maximum six adults or equivalent.

Tour packages

Because the movie set tour is a couple of hours away from Auckland, New Zealand and semi-close to other attractions, a lot of people like to package together tours and spend an entire day hitting up multiple spots.

This can be an efficient use of both time and money so it is definitely something to consider. One of the popular tourist packages you can do is what is known as the trilogy and it offers the following tours:

• 45 minute Tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Waitomo
• 2 hour tour of Ruakuri Cave, Waitomo
• 2 hour Tour of Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
• 4.5 hours exclusive guided tour of Te Puia; Maori welcome ceremony and cultural performance & Māori Feast (traditional indigenous dinner), Rotorua

The Trilogy Package Prices

• Family $924 (2 adults and 2 children; extra child add $171)

Don’t forget — watch the movies!

Once you book your tickets, I recommend that you re-watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy and also the Hobbit movies so that everything is fresh on your mind. And obviously if you have not seen the movies, you need to get on that ASAP!

Getting to the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Here is the address of the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour:

501 Buckland Road, Matamata 3472, New Zealand

Below are the approximate time frames it will take you to get to the movie set from major destinations:

• Waitomo Glowworm Caves: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Auckland, New Zealand: 2 hours
• Wellington, New Zealand: 6 hours

We stayed at the Hilton Auckland Hotel and so we were about a two hour drive away from the movie set, which we made in a rental car. 

The drive to the movie set from Auckland was very beautiful!

You will pass through many rolling green hills and beautiful farm landscapes. It reminded me a lot of driving through California when all of the hills are nice and green and full life.

Your GPS will probably take you right to the location but you will also notice several signs pointing you in the right direction as you approach the movie set. If you don’t want to drive there, you can look into getting transferred there.

Also, there are farm stays in the local area so you could stay in something like a B&B for a night and enjoy a nice complimentary dinner and breakfast. 

Arriving at the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

There are pretty large parking lots at the Hobbiton Movie Set so you shouldn’t have an issue finding a parking spot when you arrive. 

The first thing that you need to do when you arrive is to snap a photo of you underneath the Hobbiton Movie Set sign. It is a picture perfect sign and there is a little walkway that will take you right to the sign. 

The Shire’s Rest

When you arrive, you will need to check in to receive your tickets if you booked online and you will want to head to The Shire’s Rest to do this. Simply follow the signs to the Shires Rest Ticketing Centre where you can get that done. When we arrived, there was only a short line to deal with. Keep in mind that they request you to check in 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time.

If you have arrived early then you might want to spend some time at the nearby Shire’s Rest Cafe or Garden Bar. The Garden Bar offers a nice shady spot to grab a bite and craft beer before or after your tour and it’s perfect for summer days.

You can also order ice cream and milkshakes or thick shakes for around five to seven New Zealand dollars from the ice cream shop. If you really have a sweet tooth consider going with the Hobbit Crunch which is a fancy sundae that you will surely enjoy.

You can also explore the gift shop . However, a lot of visitors like to save the gift shop until the end of the tour so you might want to go that route. I will talk more about the gift shop below.

Getting ready for your tour

As the time approaches for your tour, you will want to line up where the sign indicates your tour will be taking off. I would suggest lining up about five minutes before your scheduled tour time.

Depending on the type of tour that you booked, you might be getting transported via a bus or a van. In our case, we did the bus tour.

After lining up we boarded the bus and found our seats which were in a 2-2 lay out.

Once we got going, they played some special footage related to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies and also provided us with some insightful content about the production of the movies, the 12-acres that was used for Hobbiton, and some other really cool and interesting facts.

I don’t want to give everything away but you will find out some little tidbits about the movie that you probably did not already know.

The drive through the Alexander family sheep farm over to the movie set is also an extremely scenic drive. You will wind through some beautiful rolling green pasture land dotted with sheep living a good life. 

The bus ride from the arrival area to the actual movie set took a total of 15 minutes. 

Once everybody exits the bus you will meet up at the first sign and they will go over some of the information that you need to know about the tour. Basically they just told us to stay together and to not venture into any of the areas without permission.

The way that the tour works is that you will travel as a group and your group will stop at several different Hobbit Holes throughout Hobbiton. At each stop, you will be able to check out the areas and get photos while learning some cool facts about each little site.

The biggest drawback to this tour is that they move along too efficiently.

Basically if you are in the back of the line you will feel rushed from the group behind you coming up.

It’s a very awkward experience when you are trying to get a photo and you have 30 tourists glaring at you as they impatiently wait for you to leave so that their tour guide can start showing them the site.

Therefore, if you are a true Lord of the Rings fan and you want to savor this experience, you probably want to consider a private tour. Yes, they will be much more expensive but you will be able to enjoy the sights without any pressure from the crowds.

Spoiler alert

If you don’t already know, you will find out that these little Hobbit Holes are not actually real little houses with rooms and lively corridors to explore. Some of them open up to a small area that is similar to a closet but most are just facades.

But still, it can be really fun to explore the exterior of the Hobbit Holes and the entire community.

One thing that fascinated me about the different Hobbit Holes was all of the details. Everything from the windows to the doorhandles are extremely intricate and it is really fun to explore them from up close. It really feels as if little hobbits are living inside behind those doors.

It’s really cool to see some of the sights like the detailed clothes drying out on the clothes lines.

Also the landscaping with all of the colorful flowers is pretty immaculate and a sight to see. When we visited in February, there were tons of butterflies fluttering around and it was a very magical experience.

Your tour guide will point out the residences of the most notable hobbits.

One of the coolest things to see are all of the live plants and produce that they produce on site. 

You can even find batches of raw honey.

I also appreciated the attention to detail in things like the “street signs.”

Each time you stop at a little Hobbit Hole you should have enough time to get some photos and to pose in front of them. Like I mentioned though, this is much easier to do if you are at the front of the group because you will not feel as much pressure to move along quickly.

Your tour should stop at at least one Hobbit Hole that they will allow you to step inside of and get some photos. And when I say step inside of, that literally means just taking like one step inside of the Hobbit Hole. 

Make sure you are listening to your tour guide because during our tour some of the tourists entered in one of the Hobbit Holes that was NOT meant to be entered in. This caused a little bit of commotion so just be mindful of this.

The tour will wind up and down the hillsides as you hit up the different sites. The walking required is not overly strenuous, but I would definitely bring some walking friendly shoes. 

The pathways are not wheelchair friendly but there are options for those who can’t complete all the walking.

Also, you are permitted to bring strollers on the tour but many of the pathways are cobblestone or bumpy and they also can be quite narrow so bringing a stroller can be a task.

Green Dragon Inn

Eventually you will wind up at the tavern at the end of the tour, known as the Green Dragon Inn .

According to the official Hobbiton website, “The Green Dragon Inn was the meeting place for all residents of Hobbiton, who would gather in the warm surroundings of the bar to chatter about the day’s events.” 

The Green Dragon Inn is a really cool spot where you can enjoy some grub or even some drinks from the Hobbit Southfarthing range , which I believe is brewed right on location.

Here are some drinks that you might be interested in trying:

• Girdley Fine Grain, Amber Ale
• Sackville Cider, Apple Cider
• Oatbarton Brew, Traditional English Ale
• Frogmorton Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic)

Once you find yourself a drink, head over to the fireplace and relax in a nice comfy seat.

If you have also booked a lunch tour then this is where you will depart from the other group to enjoy the lunch buffet served in the Party Marquee. The Party Marquee is adjacent to The Green Dragon Inn, with the garden bar seating overlooking the Hobbiton Movie Set.

In our case, we only did the standard movie set tour so we then headed back to the gift shop. The entire tour lasted about two hours.

The gift shop

There are a lot of interesting items to purchase at the gift shop. You will find all sorts of different collectibles, books, and some decoration items like the maps of Middle Earth which I thought were pretty awesome.

For something like a map you would be paying about NZ$35.

They also had some awesome figurines of different characters and those were more expensive — usually ranging around NZ$100-NZ$300.

Some of the items cannot be purchased at the store but they are on display and available at websites that will be shown on the display.

They also had a lot of standard gift shop items like candies and various types of sweets. You could also venture into the café and purchase sandwiches for around $6.50 and beverages like iced coffee or milk for around 3 to NZ$5.

If you wanted something more substantial you could order a meal like eggs Benedict for $16.50, second breakfast for $19.50, or a Lamb burger for around $18.

There are several picnic tables for you to enjoy your meal outside and on a nice day it can be an extremely pleasant experience.

But there are also tables located indoors just in case the weather does not cooperate.

Lord of the Rings tours

If you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy there are other tours that you can do that will take you to various destinations and locations used in the films. Some of these tours can be up to two weeks in length so you can live your fandom for days on end!

Here are some companies to look at:

• Red Carpet Tours
• Weta Studio Tours
• Hairy Feet- Waitomo
• Tongariro Crossing- Adrift Guided Adventures
• Adventure Safari Ltd- Wellington
• Hassle Free Tours- Christchurch

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Review (Ultimate Guide) FAQ

No, the tours are all guided and require visitors to be supervised. This is probably in the best interest of everyone.

Drones are not allowed during the normal tour hours. You can contact the site owners to inquire about after our drone usage but there is no guarantee they will allow it.

Yes, they will continue with tours in the rain. They will supply you with umbrellas but this is one reason why you want to bring quality closed toed shoes with you on this trip (or a poncho ).

You will likely only be allowed to step inside of one Hobbit Hole. And keep in mind there will only be a small closet-like area behind the door.

The standard movie set tour is approximately two hours and about 30 minutes of that is travel time to and from the movie set.

Yes, you can take as many photos as you would like just make sure they are not for commercial use. I brought out my professional DSLR camera and had no issues with photos.

You don’t need to bring anything special with you on this tour. But you would probably be good with a small backpack where you can hold things like sunscreen, a jacket if you don’t need to be wearing it, water bottles, etc. As mentioned above, I would consider a rain poncho if I were visiting when rain was expected.

Overall, the movie set tour is a must see destination for any fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy or the Hobbit movies. You will no doubt be floored by the amount of details in the Hobbit Holes and surrounding areas. But while I loved the tour I do think that a private tour would be much more enjoyable for a diehard fan even with the price tag of $1,000. 

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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Ultimate Guide: How to Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set

All that is gold does not glitter; Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither; Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

There are plenty of bucket-list worthy,  magical places to visit in New Zealand , including numerous Lord of the Rings filming locations (don’t forget about Hobbit’s Hideaway in Wellington ), but nothing quite hits like Hobbiton. 

Despite my 2 road-trip buddies not being the biggest fan of Tolkien, I still managed to convince them to take a trip to Bag End with me. 

Here is my guide on how to visit The Hobbiton movie set, including where to stay nearby, what to see and do, as well as some other top tips.

Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, meaning that if you click one and purchase/book something, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a little commission. Read more here . 

How to Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set

IN THIS POST:

The history of the Hobbiton Movie Set

How to get to the Hobbiton Movie Set

Where to stay near the Hobbiton Movie Set

The experience 

Hobbiton Movie Set Tickets & Events

Tips on visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set

Hobbiton History

J. R. R. Tolkien had a very specific idea of what Hobbiton would look like: “iconic rolling hills and lush green pastures”. In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson was on the hunt for such a place. Jackson’s team stumbled upon Alexander Farm – a 1,250 acre sheep farm in Waikato.

It was the perfect place for Jackson to “leave the 20th century behind… and fully submerge himself in the fantasy world of Middle-earth”. 

A year or so later, the dream started to come alive, and 39 temporary hobbit holes were built. After finishing The Shire, the holes were demolished, leaving 17 empty holes. The site opened to public guided tours in 2002 ran by the Alexander family.

In 2009, Jackson returned to film The Hobbit trilogy, and left behind the stunning movie set you can see today. The movie set features 44 permanently built hobbit holes in the same incredible detail as the films. To add to this already magical experience, The Green Dragon™ Inn opened in 2012. 

How to get to Hobbiton

Please note that bookings are essential , the movie set is only accessible via a guided tour which departs from The Shire’s Rest, which is around 15 minutes drive from the town of Matamata. 

It’s easy to fit Hobbiton into any New Zealand road-trip . The drive from Auckland to Hobbiton takes 2.5 hours, it’s 1.5 hours from Taupo, and just 1 hour from Rotorua. 

There is a car park (even for campers) if you are driving yourself. But, if you are without a car, there are numerous ways for you to get to Hobbiton from wherever you are.

There are a variety of tours   available from different parts of New Zealand, all including different things. The movie set also offers its own transfers .

Where to stay near Hobbiton 

My favourite – kaimai sunset bed & breakfast .

Although you can’t stay in Bag End itself or any of the other famous hobbit holes, there’s a B&B located just a 20 minute drive from the Hobbiton Movie Set which has it’s own hobbit hole, as well as gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, and a cat that wakes you up!

Other options

Matamata Lodge – Featuring a 9.7 guest rating on Booking.com, Matamata Lodge is a popular choice for Hobbiton visitors. This B&B offers modern decor, a free continental breakfast, as well as being close by to hiking and cycling opportunities. 

Villa Walton Bed & Breakfast – A 20-minute drive from the movie set, this B&B offers a unique stay within a historic homestead, established in 1904. This Victorian villa overlooks local Dairy Farms and the Kaimai Ranges.

The Hobbiton Movie Set

Hobbiton Movie Set tours begin at The Shire’s Rest, where you can grab a coffee, pick up your tickets, and check out the gift shop. 

The tour begins as soon as you step onto the bus; videos are shown including interviews with Peter Jackson and the family who own the farm – the Alexander’s, as well as a few movie excerpts and behind the scenes footage to get you feeling magical. 

The first stop is the “Hobbiton” sign. Here, your guide will talk about rules such as not straying away from the group, what you can and can’t touch, and a few more like avoid stepping on the grass, etc. 

I found it really overwhelming at first, and it was really hard to take in everything that the guide was saying whilst taking in the fact that I was literally stood in Hobbiton itself. 

The set looked exactly how it did on the films, and that blew my mind. As you can imagine, this means that the farmers and other workmen work extremely hard to keep the details up to scratch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

The are three different sized hobbit holes in order to cater to Gandalf, the hobbits, and the dwarves. I found it funny to learn that Gandalf’s was made to make him look tall. 

The only hole you can go inside is the one next to Bilbo’s, 40 Bagshot Row. The rest of the holes are just bare, this is due to the scenes inside being shot at Weta Workshop in Wellington. This didn’t really affect my experience, nor do I doubt it will affect yours, as the outside details really do make the experience one not to forget. 

Towards the end of the tour, you are left to explore by yourself before heading into the Green Dragon Inn. 

The tour includes a drink from Hobbiton’s own Southfarthing range, brewed by Good George Brewing. There are four drinks for you to choose from: Girdley Fine Grain Amber Ale, Sackville Apple Cider, Oatbarton Traditional English Ale, and Frogmorton Ginger Beer. 

There’s an open fire and comfy armchairs for you to enjoy your brew. You have around 20 minutes to relax before being rounded up and taken back to the Shire’s Rest.

Top Tips for visiting 

• Take photos quickly – The tours have strict times, so the guide won’t wait around for you to get the perfect instagram photo. Grab a quick pic and catch up to hear more behind the scenes facts and info!
• Visit the gift shop – there are many souvenirs here that you will only be able to buy in very specific rare stores, so take advantage whilst you’re there! 
• Prepare for the crowds – Hobbiton is New Zealand’s third largest tourist attraction. In peak season, up to 3,000 people visit in a single day.
• Don’t get burnt – New Zealand’s weather is very unpredictable, so you should be prepared for whatever. Make sure to bring sunglasses, suncream, and a hat. Umbrellas are provided by the tour guides if it does rain. 
• Prioritise – It is best to choose whether to stay at the front of the tour group within good earshot of the guide, or to stay at the back so you can 

You must buy tickets in advance. 

There is a variety of tickets available: 

• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour + Meal Combo
• Hobbiton Movie Set Evening Banquet Tour
• Second Breakfast Tour
• Private Tour 

The Hobbiton Movie Set also runs occasional events including the Hobbiton Beer Festival (October 2022), A Hobbiton Christmas, and the Summer Harvest Festival (February 2023). 

The iconic Millhouse has opened for small events for up to 32 guests. A new building, The Hub, has also been built at The Shire’s Rest for larger events up to 130 guests.

NEW FOR 2022 : Hobbiton is hosting it’s own marathon: The Middle-earth Halfling Marathon. The marathon has two distances: the Halfling Marathon of 21.1km and the Eleventyfirst at 11.1km. Both courses will journey through farmland, visiting areas used for filming that aren’t accessible any other way. The set will also be brought to life, with hobbits on set drinking or playing music, and possibly even some on horseback. 

More information about tickets and events are available on the official Hobbiton Movie Set Tour website . 

All in all, Hobbiton is 100% worth a visit, and an absolute must visit when travelling New Zealand. 

I hope this post has helped you to plan your visit, and inspired you if you were unsure about adding it to your New Zealand itinerary. 

As always, don’t hesitate to comment below if you have any questions or suggestions!

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Ultimate New Zealand Bucket List

New Zealand   i is one of the most beautiful places on earth, combining nature with adventure, ther

The Ultimate 18 Day New Zealand ​ Road Trip Itinerary

This is the route that Brit & I followed on our road-trip in New Zealand back in November 2018.

A visit to Hobbiton in New Zealand

The Shire. Hobbiton. Bag End. The Green Dragon. It’s all REAL.

Hobbiton Movie Set invites Middle Earth fans to discover Tolkien’s EPIC fantasy world as seen in The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit trilogies.

In this travel guide, you can find helpful info & tips before visiting Hobbiton and some amazing photos from my latest visit.

What is Hobbiton?

Unless you live in a burrow deep down in the ground you must have heard about The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films. Both movie trilogies were filmed in New Zealand.

Hobbiton Movie Set represents the homeland of the Hobbits , a protagonist race in both trilogies. They live in a peaceful green fantasyland , a lush paradise on (middle) earth, called The Shire.

It’s the only movie set from the movie trilogies still standing and that’s the closest anyone can get to Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. 14 acres full of farms, polished gardens and 44 hobbit holes, dug into the hillside.

Now picture this!

Colourful hobbit holes in various sizes & shapes in a region of emerald fields. The hobbit village stretches across rolling hills with spectacular views over the surrounding area.

And that’s your typical New Zealand countryside.

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. “The Hobbit” or “There and Back Again”

Where is Hobbiton in New Zealand?

Hobbiton is located just outside Matamata , a small town in the Waikato Region of the North Island . The closest big city is Rotorua, 1 hour by car.

View more beautiful locations in Middle Earth!

The farm was picked by Sir Peter Jackson to represent The Shire. The picturesque 1.250-acre property numbers approximately 13.000 sheep and 300 Angus beef cattle.

The setting is miraculously untouched by the 21st century.

No matter where I looked, it was impossible to locate tall buildings, power lines, or highways. All I could see were farmlands and sheep.

What can you see in Hobbiton Movie Set?

It’s all there. The Old Mill, the Green Dragon Inn, the famous Party Tree, and last but not least, Bag End.

In total, the set has 44 hobbit homes scattered all around the landscape. Each one has its own special little details. What this place is only missing is actual Hobbits.

I found it hard to convince myself that I wouldn’t see Frodo running and leaping onto Gandalf’s cart.

I was in a group of 25 and I could also see other groups touring Hobbiton at the same time. At some points it felt crowded and rushy but there is time to take photos on your own. There’s also that one hobbit hole you can get inside so that the tour guide can take a pic of you!

The Shire’s Rest

That’s the start of your adventure!

You can find a ticket centre, a gift shop, a café and a garden bar. Grab something to eat while enjoying some amazing views over the surrounding countryside. Tours run every 30 minutes !

A bus will take you to Hobbiton and a video featuring Peter Jackson himself will get you into the mood!

You may start feeling excited now!

Taking a tour of a real Hobbit village

“ Welcome to Hobbiton, home to those amazing creatures called Hobbits ”, our tour guide said.

As soon as I entered the Hobbiton village I instantly recognised Bag End further up the hill and the gigantic party tree , where Bilbo shot his final stunt before setting off for his adventure.

Numerous hobbit-holes all around me, each one with its own garden, ponds and colourful flowers adding to the already picturesque scenery.

After the initial shock, I noticed the incredible attention given to detail. Lichen growing on the fences, cute little picnic setups by the lake, laundry lines with miniature costumes hung up to dry, fruit stands and hobbit-sized wheelbarrows.

The set is so authentic and looks like you’ve stumbled upon a small but real village .

Decide on what you want to focus on. You either stand close to the tour guide hearing most of the interesting facts and the history of Hobbiton or fall behind to get less crowded photos. I’d say go for the photos and read all the weird facts about Hobbiton here !

Roaming around the Hobbit holes

All 44 hobbit holes look aged as they have been there for years, with extreme details and numerous other touches that reflect the occupation of the actual hobbit living there.

For example, it was easy to tell the hobbit-hole of the cheesemaker due to several huge rounds of cheese spotted in a window.

Another hobbit-hole belonged to a family with two children since a pair of tiny hobbit clothes were hung out on the clothesline to dry. A florist and a baker were also on the scene with their detailed gorgeous little shop in front of their properties.

Meanwhile, a hobbit decided to spend some time on the lake. A “Gone Fishing” sign next to the door indicated it!

It’s amazing how each individual structure on the Hobbiton Movie Set has its own colour, theme and unique decoration. Gardening tools and brooms dropped on cabbage gardens, honey pots, little picket fences, butterfly catchers and hand-painted mailboxes awaiting the morning delivery.

Those adorable details really add up to the surreal setting. I was literally expecting a Hobbit party to explode at any moment.

The whimsical landscape of Hobbiton helps you immerse into Tolkien’s amazing fantasy world of tiny creatures & magical rings of ancient power.

You’ll also notice that not all hobbit-holes are of the same size. Some of them are full human-sized while others are much smaller. Our tour guide explained that they used different scales for filming, in order to create perspective between the Hobbits, Gandalf and the Dwarves.

There is such a rich collection of weird facts & stories about the making of Hobbiton Movie Set ; hopefully, we have collected almost all of them in one article.

Facts about Hobbiton the tour guide won’t tell you

Can I go inside the hobbit hole?

As of December 2022, you cannot visit any of the hobbit holes . The hobbit-holes are just facades with all the interior filming done at a studio in Wellington.

However, a new development estimated to be completed in December 2023 will bring visitors inside a fully themed Hobbit Hole interior. Expect a fully authentic experience since the Art Director of The Hobbit is involved in the concept design.

Each interior will feature an entry hall, two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and dining area, an equipped pantry and a parlour complete with a crackling fireplace!

The tour will be increased by 30 minutes with the prices also increasing to reflect this new experience.

Bag End – The most luxurious hobbit hole

At the top of the Hobbiton Hill lies the most famous and elegant hobbit-hole, home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, Bag End.

Truly remarkable, a highlight of the tour, it holds the best view over Hobbiton – the party tree, the Old Mill, the double-arched stone bridge leading to the Green Dragon. You can spot everything easily from up here.

The entrance to Bag End was a perfectly round green door featuring a brass knob in the centre. The entryway was a tube-shaped hall with panelled walls and a tiled floor, furnished with carpeting, polished chairs, and an abundance of pegs for the hats and coats of many visitors. […] The best rooms were those on the left side of the passage for they had deep-set round windows with a view of the garden and meadows beyond down to The Water. The Hobbit, Chapter 1 – An Unexpected Party

The elaborate dwelling features a perfectly round weathered green door with a yellow brass exactly in the middle, waiting to be knocked.

The iconic hobbit-hole is surrounded by flowers, a giant pumpkin and Bilbo’s renowned “no admittance – except on party business” sign still nailed to the front gate.

Did you know? According to JRR Tolkien, the wealthier hobbits lived higher up the hill. That’s why Bilbo lived at the top of them all!

Visiting Bag End and looking at the Hobbiton village, just like Bilbo and Gandalf did while smoking pipe-weed & watching the sunset was priceless.

Tip : The oak tree overlooking Bag End is artificial, made from fibreglass. To make it look alive, hand-painted silk leaves from Taiwan were imported and glued to the tree one-by-one.

A Hobbit hole you can’t miss

Samwise Gamgee . A gardener by trade with a great love for Elves and a gift for poetry, Frodo’s best mate and a ring-bearer. The only original member of the fellowship to make the journey till the very end at Mount Doom.

Surely you don’t want to miss that hobbit’s residence right at 3 Bagshot Row. Sam’s dwelling with its yellow round door is decorated with colourful flowers – red, purple, yellow, orange. In my opinion, this is one of the cutest hobbit-holes in all Hobbiton Movie Set.

He faced far greater […] and terrible foes than he ever should have had to face, and did so with courage. He went alone into a black and terrible land, stormed a dark fortress, and resisted the most terrible temptation of his world for the sake of the friend that he loved. That in the end, it was his actions and his actions alone that made it possible for light to overcome darkness. Sanya about Samwise Gamgee

Tip : Sam’s hobbit-hole is featured in the last film of the original trilogy; after bidding farewell to Frodo, he can be seen returning home.

Drinking brew at The Green Dragon

One of the best parts of the Hobbiton tour is The Green Dragon, a popular inn frequented by Hobbits from both Bywater & Hobbiton.

There’s only one Dragon in Bywater, and that’s Green. Ted Sandyman, The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 1

That’s the spot where Bilbo met Thorin before starting the epic quest of reclaiming Erebor from the dragon Smaug.

But here’s the best…

Not only you can actually step inside but you can also order a full human-sized beer. They are all brewed locally and you can get one for free. Ginger beer is also served as an non-alcoholic option.

What’s more, you can enjoy traditional Hobbit delicacies like beef and ale pie, cold pork pie and cheese mousetrap – whatever this last one is.

The area outside the pub is rather scenic. Here, you can find the double-arched bridge along with an operational mill, a little dock with fishing rods and picnic stuff by the lake; there is even some hobbit-themed music playing. Therefore, it’s a great idea to grab your meal and head outdoors.

Don’t forget to claim your free pint; the Green Dragon is famous for the brownest ale in all Middle-Earth.

At the back exit of the inn there some hobbit clothes for you to try! Pose with your favorite costume and take that shot!

But how is the interior decorated?

The Green Dragon is a replica of what was depicted in the films!

The wood and stone used in its construction along with the earth-like bright colours make it feel welcoming and warm. A couple of leather armchairs next to the fireplace tempt you to settle in and relax reading a book by the fire.

The slanted roofs and the round doorways, the replica paintings, the authentic kegs and the aged glass panes will take you to a different age. Unfortunately, you only have about 20 to 30 minutes to soak up the atmosphere of this old-world tavern.

Once inside the pub keep your eyes open for hidden gems like the following poem:

A wizard too clever by half, Lit some fireworks just for a laugh; But with too little care, for he singed all his hair and set fire to the end of his staff!

Tip : Make sure you take some time to read the hilarious signs posted by the bar; job vacancies, lost item notes and announcements.

The story of Hobbiton so far…

The year is 1998 .

Peter Jackson is looking for a place in New Zealand to serve as the village where the hobbits live.

That’s when he flew over Alexander’s farm in Waikato. Where everyone saw a beautiful farm, Peter Jackson pictured The Shire as described by Tolkien in his books.

A small but beautiful, idyllic and fruitful land […] with unspoiled green pastures, a rising hill (where Bag End sits) and a magnificent pine tree by a lake.

Construction of the Hobbiton Movie Set and the filming of LOTR trilogy started in 1999 and took three months. The movie set was made from temporary materials like foam and was torn down after filming.

However, as word got out and the location of the movie set was identified, fans flooded in and the Alexander family started running the first tours in 2002 .

In 2009 , when the time came to film The Hobbit trilogy, Peter Jackson asked for permission to recreate Hobbiton on the farm. An agreement was struck and Hobbiton was re-built, this time with permanent materials so it can be visited in real life and stand the test of time.

Hobbiton Movie Set officially opened to public for tours in 2012 .

Visiting Hobbiton & ticket prices

Hobbiton Movie Set can only be visited on a guided tour.

It’s really popular so book early , especially in summer. Tours are running daily from 09:00 to 16:30 and last 2 hours.

As of December 2022, the ticket price for the casual Hobbiton Movie Set Tour is $89 NZD for adults, $44 NZD for youths and free for children under 8 years old. Family passes on a discount are also available.

Feeling like you want the full experience?

For all true Hobbits there are additional premium experiences.

Evening Banquet Tour – A day walking tour followed by a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit served in The Green Dragon Inn for $199 NZD Second Breakfast Tour – A privileged early morning tour followed by a hearty breakfast inside The Millhouse for $149 NZD

There are additional seasonal experiences available but can be fully booked months ago!

• Mid-Winter Feast available on selected dates during summer (4.5 hours)
• International Hobbit Day available yearly on 22nd September (5 hours)
• Hobbiton Movie Set Beer Festival including a tour, a number of ales to taste, a buffet meal and a themed band (5 hours)

You can visit the Hobbiton Tours website for more info!

Starting from December 2023, when the new development in Hobbiton Movie Set will be completed all ticket prices will be increased.

Where to stay near Hobbiton

Wished you could stay inside those tiny hobbit holes?

Unfortunately, you can’t!

I can feel your disappointment, trust me, I’ve been there!

However, there are several accommodation options in the nearby towns :

• Matamata (15 mins)
• Hamilton (45 mins)
• Rotorua (55 mins)

Still wanna spend a night inside a hobbit house? Woodlyn Park Hotel – ideal for family fun (75 mins from Hobbiton) Underhill Valley – a rustic adults-only cave house (55 mins from Hobbiton) Both of these hobbit hole houses are the closest you can get to a stay in The Shire.

Helpful Info

How can you get to hobbiton.

Back in the early 2000s, you would have to hone your tracking skills. Printed instructions found in online forums and a map (yup, a paper one not Google Maps) were vital if you were to see Hobbiton.

Today, it’s easier than ever to visit Hobbiton as there are signs all over the North Island! You can either use your own vehicle (recommended) or book a tour from the official website , from Rotorua & Matamata.

Self-driving to Hobbiton Matamata – 15 mins. (16 km) Rotorua – 55 mins (70 km) Taupo – 90 mins (120 km) Auckland – 130 mins (170 km)

What’s the best time to visit Hobbiton?

You can visit Hobbiton Movie Set all year round but, In my opinion, spring is the best season . The hobbit village is full of colourful plants and blossoming flowers tidied up in flawless gardens and grassy paths.

What you really need to think about is the weather since you’ll be outside for the biggest part of the tour. Be ready for extreme sun during summer, cold in winter and rain, at any time of the year. Tours start no matter the weather conditions, so be prepared!

Check the official website for weather info – scroll down, and you’ll find the weather section before the website’s footer.

The paths are gravel, with several ups and downs so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

In terms of photographs, I would pick the morning or later afternoon tours, as the lighting is better.

No matter the time you are visiting, always book ahead, especially during school or the summer holidays.

Is the Hobbiton tour worth the price?

Is it crowded? Definitely!

Would I do it again? Hell, yes!

Not only it was a dream coming true but it was certainly one of the highlights of my New Zealand trip.

That little special place, located in a remote corner of the world is totally surreal; it’s exactly what Tolkien described and imagined. As I strolled through Hobbiton with its lush green hills and quaint hobbit holes, I felt worlds away from reality .

I just couldn’t believe that all the magic of Middle-Earth is alive and well preserved. It’s rare to have the opportunity to visit the exact place where one of your favourite universe comes to life!

If you are not a LOTR fan or just a hobby photographer you will definitely fall in love with the village. After visiting you won’t stop wondering what it would be like to live in one of these fairytale Hobbit houses.

If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, it’s a no-brainer. That’s a must-visit in New Zealand!

What would I do different?

I would surely book the evening banquet . Not only the movie set is less crowded during the evening but you can also take shots of Hobbiton during sunset. Not to mention, the dinner inside the Green Dragon Inn!

Who wouldn’t want to live like a hobbit?

Comfort, an easygoing lifestyle, numerous parties, pipe-weed and up to six meals per day. Ever since I became a Tolkien fan, I could easily picture myself living happily in that quaint village called Hobbiton .

The moment I stepped in Hobbiton I understood why people cross the world to visit; it simply feels like home !

Know before you go

Tours depart daily from 09:00 to 16:30. View more tour times here!

Yes, order your tickets in advance and avoid any disappointments! Here are all the available ticket options!

The evening dinner tour includes a guided tour through The Shire at dusk. As soon as the tour ends, you will be taken to the Green Dragon where you will be treated to a banquet feast. The night tour experience concludes with a walk back through the wandering paths of Hobbiton under the moonlight and your lanterns illuminating the way. View all the available tours here!

The casual walking tour takes approximately 2 hours. There are several other experiences you can book to enjoy Hobbiton to its full potential. See all the tour options here!

The best season to visit is spring. The hobbit village is full of colourful plants and blossoming flowers tidied up in flawless gardens and grassy paths. More info about what’s the ideal time to visit Hobbiton here !

You can only visit Hobbiton on a guided tour that costs $89 NZD for adults. However, there are additional experiences if you want to make the best of your visit. See all the available options here!

Unfortunately not but don’t get disappointed! There are themed hobbit-house accommodation options nearby. View them all here!

Not yet, as currently, Hobbiton consists only of facades. The only exceptions are the Green Dragon Inn, The Millhouse and an empty hobbit house! However, a new development will recreate a fully themed Hobbit Hole interior thus, allowing you to go inside.

Yes, even if there are other groups touring the village simultaneously, you have the time to get some photos! However, for those who want Hobbiton for themselves, there are other less-crowded experiences! Read all about them here!

The official website provides bus transfers from Matamata & Rotorua. However, as with every experience in New Zealand, it’s always better if you self-drive. Learn more about driving distances here!

Hobbiton is one of the places where a tiny & peaceful race called The Hobbits, lives. It’s located in the centre of The Shire, homeland of the majority of the hobbits in Middle-earth. Can’t believe it’s real? See some epic photos for yourself!

Films about Hobbiton

• The Lord of the Rings (film trilogy) – follow Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship as they embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring and ensure the destruction of its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron
• The Hobbit (film trilogy) – the adventures of hobbit Bilbo Baggins and thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug

All images are licensed under the Creative Commons  Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International  license.

Planning to visit Hobbiton? Share your plans and leave your thoughts below!

• 30 weird & fun Hobbiton facts [you never knew]

Nikos Taskos

Combine travelling, food and SEO and you'll have Nikos. A Greek with a passion for exploring, he is always game for a bit of adventure and will never pass on an opportunity to discover something new – local bites and weird drinks, unique experiences, a dark cave or that mysterious footpath down the corner.

Hope see me my friends there soon. Thank you for the update.

Thanks for the write-up Nikos. It’s an amazing place, isn’t it? The attention to detail is off the charts. Cheers!

I second that! I finally had the chance to live within the fantasyland of my childhood dreams!

Nice and detailed blog about your adventure. Great work! I specifically liked your inclusion of abstracts from the book.

Thank you so much for dropping by, I am glad you have enjoyed reading it! More LOTR film location travel stories are on the way!

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Is The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Really Worth It?

New Zealand is known as the Mecca for Lord of the Rings fans. Throughout the country you can find filming locations and all kinds of tours. One of the most popular spots is Mount Doom, which you can climb while  hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing . Another one, that’s accessible for LOTR fans of all ages and fitness levels, is the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour.

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour is pretty expensive though. Is it really worth a visit? Keep reading to find out.

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour in Short

• What? fully guided walking tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set
• How long? 2 hours
• How much? NZ$89 (~ US$56 ~ €50) per person
• Bring? camera and dress to weather
• How to get there? click here for more info
• Where to buy ticket? click here to check availability and buy your ticket

The Hobbiton Movie Set

The Hobbiton Movie Set is what you see as The Shire in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. The Shire, with its lush green rolling hills and the town of Hobbiton is in reality part of the Alexander Farm. It was scouted in an aerial search in 1998 and by the end of 1999 Hobbiton was built.

The  Hobbiton Movie Set is located in Matamata, well north of Lake Taupo, on the north island of New Zealand.

The town of Hobbiton

Hobbiton counts no less than 44 hobbit holes : 39 were built for the Lord of the Rings movies and 5 more were added for The Hobbit movies. Some of the houses are themed, corresponding with the job of the hobbit living there: a florist, a cheesemaker, a baker, you name it!

The hobbit holes are just fronts though, there’s nothing inside. We’re just managing your expectations here, because we were pretty disappointed when finding this out. Apparently the filming inside the houses was done at a studio in Wellington. The gardens have real vegetables though, which they use in their café.

There is one hobbit hole that’s decorated on the inside (or for 3 meters at least): Bag End , Bilbo Baggins’ home. This was done for just one shot made from the inside of the house with an overview over The Shire. The things they did for a couple of seconds of screen time, unbelievable!

The fake tree above Bag End is another example of the great lengths they’ve gone through to add detail and make everything seem as real as possible. Your guide will gladly tell you all about it.

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

You can only visit the Hobbiton Movie Set on a fully guided walking tour , there’s no way to wander around on your own.

The tour itself is always the same, but there are departures organised from different locations (more info in the practical info section ). You can also opt to include a lunch or dinner in your Hobbiton tour, but we’ll elaborate on that in the ticket prices section .

All included, from departure at The Shire's Rest to returning there, the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour took about 2 hours . A 10 minute bus ride takes you and your fellow tour group members to Hobbiton. The driver will tell you about the discovery of the site, life on the set, and the Alexander Farm that’s been there since before the film fame.

It was a grey and rainy day when we were visiting. That didn’t temper the enthusiasm of our young guide though. She took us on a walking tour through Hobbiton, while passionately explaining us all about the 44 hobbit holes, the Party Tree and everything there’s to know about the Hobbiton Movie Set.

That includes  interesting facts and trivia about the techniques used and the astonishing amount of precision and detail Sir Peter Jackson (the director of the movies) demanded. A little sunshine would have made the experience even better, and the colours of the hobbit houses pop even more, but it was still awesome.

We ended our Hobbiton Movie Set Tour at The Green Dragon Inn with a complementary handcrafted ale. It was a pretty big cup and we only had about 10 minutes in there to finish it, so this last part felt a bit rushed.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour – practical info

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours depart from The Shire's Rest daily from 9:00 until 15:30 and take about 2 hours . In high season, from September to March, there are possibly additional tours available.

Another tour departure spot is the Matamata i-SITE , the town’s visitor information centre. Tours depart here daily at 9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, and 15:30 , and take about 3 hours . An additional tour might depart at 17:00 on certain days between December 1 and February 28.

We provide more information on how to get to these departure spots in another section below .

Note that the guided walking tour through Hobbiton is outdoors , so dress accordingly . The tours won’t be cancelled due to rain, instead you can make use of the wide umbrellas that are available for free.

TIP: Hobbiton is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of New Zealand, so best buy your tickets online beforehand to avoid disappointments!

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour – ticket prices

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour cost us NZ$79 (~ US$50 ~ €45) per person, which was the entrance fee for an adult, with guided tour, without transfer back in 2016. Now, the ticket price is NZ$89 (~ US$57 ~ €53) . This applies for departures at The Shire's Rest and Matamata i-SITE . Click here to check out availability and buy your Hobbiton tour tickets.

If you want to book the Hobbiton Tour and lunch combo , it will cost you NZ$125 (~ US$80 ~ €74) per person. Lunch will be served buffet style at the Party Marquee, adjacent to The Green Dragon Inn, where you can sit at shared tables with your tour group. There are 3 tour departure times a day for this option. Click here to check out availability and buy your Hobbiton tour and lunch combo tickets.

Probably the coolest, but also the most expensive, Hobbiton experience is the Hobbiton Evening Banquet Tour . You’ll get the same guided walking tour as any other visitor, but after the banquet feast in the The Green Dragon dining room, you’ll walk through a lit up Hobbiton in the moonlight! Ticket prices for this are NZ$199 (~ US$127 ~ €118) per person and only available on 4 days a week. Click here to check out availability and buy your Hobbiton Evening Banquet Tour tickets.

After we’ve visited, a new tour was added: the Hobbiton Second Breakfast Tour . After the guided walking tour, you’ll be served a royal second (because you probably already had one before the tour) breakfast at The Millhouse, the newest Hobbiton venue. A ticket for this tour costs NZ$149 (~ US$95 ~ €88) per person. Click here to check out availability and buy your Hobbiton Second Breakfast Tour tickets.

There are a bunch of special occasions as well, when special prices apply, but you’ll also get a special experience of course. You can celebrate the Hobbiton Summer Harvest Festival in February, the Hobbiton Mid-Winter Feast in July, International Hobbit Day in September, the Hobbiton Beer Festival in November, and a Hobbiton Christmas in December.

NEW! Starting on 1 December 2023 you can peek behind a Hobbit Hole door! Obviously, prices will go up at that time.

We bought our Hobbiton tour tickets upon arrival at The Shire's Rest , just like a bunch of others. But we were visiting in low season. Make sure you book your tickets well beforehand when visiting during high season, which is from September to March.

If you need a transfer included in your Hobbiton tour ticket, check out the section on how to get to the Hobbiton Movie Set .

TIP: Check out Bookme New Zealand for any last-minute deals on Hobbiton tour tickets. Just enter “Hobbiton” in the search bar.

How to get to the Hobbiton Movie Set

As mentioned before, the  Hobbiton Movie Set is located in Matamata, Waikato. You can book tours starting from basically every city in the neighbourhood: Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, and Matamata obviously.

However, we just booked the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour without a transfer . We were road tripping New Zealand in our rented Spaceships Campervan , so drove to Matamata in our own time. There’s a rather big car park at The Shire's Rest , which houses the ticketing centre, a gift shop, and a café.

For us, Hobbiton was a stop between our stay in Rotorua and Waitomo . The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are another crazy popular tourist attraction that tours often combine with a visit to Hobbiton. If you’ve had enough of the crowds after The Shire though, we recommend heading to the Waipu Caves for a free glowworm alternative to the Waitomo Caves .

How to get to Hobbiton from Matamata

If you’re staying in Matamata, the town where the Hobbiton Movie Set is located, you can book a tour including a transfer from the Matamata i-SITE , the local visitor information centre. Ticket prices are the same as if you’d leave from The Shire's Rest , but the tour (including transport) will take about 3 hours in this case. Click here to check out availability and book your Hobbiton Movie Set tour ticket from Matamata.

How to get to Hobbiton from Auckland

Auckland is located about 180 km (~ 112 miles) northwest of Hobbiton , a drive that’ll take over 2 hours. There are several companies offering tours that include a transfer from Auckland to Hobbiton and back, like these:

A Hobbiton tour from Auckland takes at least 8 hours , as the drive alone takes over 2 hours one way. These tours usually depart early, around 7:00. Prices vary, depending if lunch is included or not. Note that if lunch is at The Shire’s Rest Café, that’s not the tour and lunch combo mentioned above. This café is not on the Hobbiton Movie Set itself, rather at the edge of it.

While you’re in the neighbourhood, you might want to check out some other tourist attractions as well, like the Waitomo Glowworm Caves , or the geothermal city of Rotorua . You can find several day tours or 2-day tours combining these with a Hobbiton Movie Set Tour:

How to get to Hobbiton from Rotorua

Rotorua , known for its geothermal activity, is just 1 hour or 70 km (~ 44 miles) southeast of Hobbiton . Check availability for a Hobbiton Movie Set tour including a transfer from Rotorua and back:

Where to stay near Hobbiton?

If you’re planning on spending the night near Hobbiton, you can check these Hobbiton accommodation options . This is a good idea when you’re joining the Hobbiton Evening Banquet tour for example, or want to explore Matamata as well.

Is the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour worth it?

For us, the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour was definitely worth our money! We’re not Lord of the Rings geeks, just fans at best. OK, honestly, I’d only seen the movies a couple of days before our visit, under slight pressure from Brecht. It isn’t obligatory to have seen them, but it adds to your experience in our opinion. At least you’ll know what you’re looking at and posing with.

It was an interesting tour, and we loved to hear about the neat tricks and tremendous effort put into the filming of the movie. It wasn’t really busy during our visit (a rainy day in the off season), but I can image it’s hard to look past the hordes of tourists and really enjoy Hobbiton in high season. Anyway, if we had to do it all over, the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour would still be on our New Zealand bucket list!

Have you visited Hobbiton? Do you agree it was worth the money you paid for it? We’re looking forward to reading all about your experience in the comments!

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16 thoughts on Is The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Really Worth It?

My fiance and I are going to honeymoon in New Zealand next year just for the sole purpose of visiting hobbiton!! This makes me even more excited! 🙂

Haha, that’s awesome, Bri! And congratulations on the wedding. 😉 Hope the sun will be out on your visit, the colours will pop even more! We have a lot more posts on New Zealand if you’re interested. How long are you going for? And will you be campervanning?

Ahh I’m a huge LOTR fan so I’m happy to hear that it’s worth visiting. Thank you for the insightful post!

You’re welcome, Kim. Looking forward to reading about your experience when you make it there one day!

Yes, totally worth it! Hobbiton was our “splurge” in NZ. I am a LOTR fan and Tim a The Hobbit fan so it suited us both. It’s wonderful learning about the little things that were done in order to make the movie loved by millions. So much hard work but it all paid off. Glad that they decided to rebuild Hobbiton for fans to visit. Glad you enjoyed it too!

Haha, glad to read you agree Hobbiton is worth a visit, Pam! We love to learn about the little fun facts that were behind making a movie great too. So interesting!

It is expensive but it’s the only way to see the set and I think well worth it. We also got a free drink at the end which was pretty cool! I went in the middle of summer and was somewhat astounded by the dried off paddocks in Matamata in contrast to the constantly watered, green grasses of the shire!

Haha, yup, we’re paying for all that water, Sarah! 😉 Would have loved to see the set in sunlight instead of beneath a cloudy and rainy sky. You were more lucky! Or planned better. 😉

My dad is obsessed with LOTR and I’ve watched the movies with him numerous times as a child – I didn’t realised it’s a tour and not like a theme park. Thanks for the practical information 😀

You’re welcome, Nam! You should definitely take your dad to New Zealand one day. There’s a bunch of spots that were featured in the LOTR or Hobbit movies. 😉 Like Mount Doom, which you can see from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing . Pretty impressive!

Try Sweden’s first hobbit hotel next time, and stay in a replica of the Frodo and Bilbo Baggins-house – super cool! http://blog.wearenodes.com/grand-tour-of-swedens-first-hobbit-hotel/

Haha, that’s sounds awesome indeed, Yasmin! 😄 Noted for when we ever make it to Sweden. 😉

Do you know which film the Hobbiton set is seen mostly in? I, like you, have purchased the movie to see just before I visit. and what I thought was the trilogy… is just a super extreme edition of one of the films! Doh! But I would like to see it in the movie and then in real life too…

I’m not sure which movie Hobbiton is featured mostly in, but I’d recommend starting with the first movie: “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”. It has a few famous scenes in Hobbiton!

Hobbiton is such a unique place! Highly recommended!

We totally agree!

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An Honest Review of Hobbiton Movie Set Tour in Matamata, New Zealand

• June 9, 2023 July 24, 2023

Is the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Worth the Money? How Much Does the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Cost and What’s Included? Can You Visit Hobbiton Without Paying for a Guided Tour? What Do You Get to See on the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour? Can You Go Inside the Hobbit Holes at Hobbiton? Where Is Hobbiton Movie Set and How Do You Get There? Do You Need to Book Hobbiton Movie Set Tour in Advance? Can You Stay Overnight at Hobbiton Movie Set? What Do You Need to Bring With You for the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour? Does Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Have Good Reviews? Can You Visit Hobbiton Movie Set Alone?

Find any New Zealand travel guide on the internet and I can pretty much guarantee it will recommend the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour .

Featuring heavily in The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit trilogies, the 12-acre set was the chosen filming location for the fictional village of Hobbiton in the Shire, home to the Hobbits.

Each year, around 650,000 visitors flock to the movie set , keen to experience the magic of Sir Peter Jackson’s movies for themselves. But is the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour worth it?

Is the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Worth the Money?

At $56 US Dollars a ticket, we were initially unsure whether to go ahead with the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour booking.

However, after some consideration we realised that there were three reasons to go ahead and book the tour:

• We are huge fans of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
• This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand and visiting Hobbiton was a bucket-list activity.
• The New Zealand tourism industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic so we felt that it was important to support the sector.

After completing our tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set , I can honestly say that the ticket price is so worth the money and that this was one of the most magical experiences we have had whilst travelling New Zealand.

First thing’s first, if you’re a fan of the films then you’ll be amazed by Hobbiton and the fact that it looks exactly like it does in the movies.

The lush green pastures and rolling hills you’ve seen at the cinema are even more magical in real life and the 44 hobbit holes are seriously impressive up close.

Every single detail has been thought through meticulously, from the hobbit clothes hanging on washing lines to the pots of honey for sale on doorsteps and the real vegetables growing in the veggie patch.

How Much Does the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Cost and What’s Included?

The price includes a guided tour of the 12-acre Hobbiton Movie Set by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, as well as coach transport to/from the set from the carpark and ticket centre (The Shire’s Rest) . In addition to this, you’ll also receive a complimentary drink from The Green Dragon Inn at the end of the tour. In total, the tour lasts around two hours and the time will fly by because you’re having so much fun.

The entrance fee for Hobbiton Movie Set is $89 NZ dollars for adults, $44 for youths (9-16) and kids below the age of 8 go free (this seems fair to me as we had a few young kids on our tour and they had no idea what LOTR was) . I wasn’t able to find a promo code for Hobbiton tickets, but you can get a family pass discount if your group consists of 2x adult and 2x youths, which saves you $41 in total.

Can You Visit Hobbiton Without Paying for a Guided Tour?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to visit Hobbiton without a guided tour. The movie set is located in the middle of Alexander Farm, a huge 1250 acre working sheep & beef farm. You’ll be transported to the movie set by coach from The Shire’s Rest (departure point) and no other vehicles have access to the road because it’s private land.

What Do You Get to See on the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour?

From the car park and visitors centre you’ll be transported by coach through lush green fields to the Hobbiton Movie Set. The journey takes around fifteen minutes, during which your tour guide will tell you some interesting facts about the history of the set.

Your guide will also play a short video on the coach TV screens where director Peter Jackson will tell you all about the aerial search in 1998 and why they decided on Alexander Farm as the perfect location for Hobbiton.

During this journey you’ll be amazed by the beauty of the location and you really feel as though you’ve entered The Shire.

Once you arrive at the movie set, you’ll pass through a small picket fence and walk the stone-lined path from the iconic scene in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey when Bilbo runs out of Hobbiton village whilst shouting “I’m Going On An Adventure!” .

From here, you’ll explore several different Hobbit holes along with the veggie patch and the pond before heading up the big hill towards Bag End.

At Bag End, you’ll be able to see the legendary home of Bilbo Baggins, complete with the ‘no admittance except on party business’ sign on the garden gate and the iconic oak tree on top of the house. You’ll learn that the oak tree is actually fake and made of fibreglass! Even more impressive is that all of the 1000+ leaves are made of silk and were imported from Taiwan, before being individually hand-painted and attached to the branches.

Next, your tour guide will take you down to the ‘ party tree ‘, a huge pine tree overlooking the lake which was integral to J. R. R. Tolkien’s vision of Hobbiton and one of the main reasons why director Peter Jackson chose the site. You’ll be able to walk across the field where Bilbo celebrated his eleventy first birthday in the shadows of the tree with fellow Hobbits, who were actually the children and spouses of the film crew in real life.

After leaving the party field you’ll walk towards Samwise Gamgee’s house to admire the beautiful wildflowers in his garden and the real smoke coming from his chimney (fish is smoked here and sold in the The Green Dragon Inn).

From here, you’ll walk past the mill complete with a functioning water wheel and over the stone bridge which crosses the millpond to The Green Dragon Inn.

After all that walking you will have definitely worked up a thirst, so it’s time for a complimentary drink in the Inn by the roaring log fire.

The Inn offers a variety of exclusive Southfarthing Distillery ales and ciders which you can only purchase from Hobbiton and they’re truly delicious. We also got beef and ale pies for $6 each which were absolutely incredible.

On the coach back to the car park, you’ll watch a compilation of Lord of The Rings clips which showcase all of the significant locations across New Zealand that represent Middle Earth in the movies. Given that both the LOTR & Hobbit trilogies were filmed entirely in New Zealand, the footage will make you so excited about the rest of your trip around the country.

Can You Go Inside the Hobbit Holes at Hobbiton?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to go inside the Hobbit holes at Hobbiton. That’s simply because there is nothing inside them, just retaining walls and beyond that dirt.

Many visitors to Hobbiton think they’ll be able to go inside Bag End and see where Gandalf hits his head on Bilbo Baggins’ low ceiling, but the interior was actually filmed in a studio in Wellington.

Where Is Hobbiton Movie Set and How Do You Get There?

Hobbiton Movie Set is located in Matamata in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island. It’s approximately 160km south of Auckland and the drive takes just under two hours.

Most road-trippers visit Hobbiton on the way to Rotorua, a city famous for geothermal activity, bubbling mud and Maori culture which is about 70km away.

Do You Need to Book Hobbiton Movie Set Tour in Advance?

Hobbiton is New Zealand’s biggest tourist attraction, so it’s definitely a good idea to book your tickets in advance. You can book your tickets here .

Can You Stay Overnight at Hobbiton Movie Set?

Currently there are no facilities for an overnight stay at Hobbiton Movie Set. If you have a late-afternoon tour or you are lucky enough to experience one of the evening banquets at Hobbiton, definitely stay at the wonderful Hills Vista Lodge which is just 2.4 miles from the set. Other great accommodation options near Hobbiton are Peria Hills Cottage , Denchys B&B and Chalet Frodo .

What Do You Need to Bring With You for the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour?

The most important thing to bring with you to Hobbiton Movie Set is your camera. With 44 Hobbit holes to explore and not a power line or road in sight, there are ample photo opportunities and the guides are happy to take group and couples photos at various locations. *Top Tip: Morning is the best time of day to visit Hobbiton as the sun shines directly on the village.

You’ll also need to bring comfortable footwear as you’ll be walking up hills on dirt tracks and across fields. Hobbiton Movie Set Tours go ahead in sun, rain, snow and hail so it’s worth checking the weather forecast beforehand and bringing a raincoat if necessary, although the helpful guides do keep some spare rain ponchos in the Hobbit holes in case of emergencies.

Does Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Have Good Reviews?

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour has excellent reviews, with a score of 4.7 on Google with over 10,000 reviews and a score of 4.5 on Tripadvisor.

Can You Visit Hobbiton Movie Set Alone?

It’s definitely a great idea to visit Hobbiton Movie Set alone. In fact, you’re sure to find some other LOTR enthusiasts on your tour to buddy up with.

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Hi there, I was just wondering how long is...

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Hi there, I was just wondering how long is actually spent in Hobbiton? I was looking at another tour, and there was only an hour actually spent in Hobbiton, and I was just wanting to see if there was anyone who spent a longer time there. Thanks!

We booked the evening tour that included dinner: we started at 5:30; toured Hobbiton and got to The Green Dragon for dinner around 7:00; left for the twilight walk around 9:00; backtracked through Hobbiton and were finished around 9:45/10:00. It was a good, long time and well worth it. I can't speak to the regular day tours, though.

Agreed. It's abiut 30-45 min to board the buss from the Tickets/Parking area, 5 minutes to get there, about 2.5 hrs at Hobbiton Village and then a 5-10 minutes ride back to the parking.

Hello, if we'll bring a car, where do we park? From the car park, are we going to ride again another bus to the movie set or we can just walk from the car park to the main entrance of the movie set where we can meet our tour guide? Thanks! =)

From memory the actual Hobbiton tour lasts about 2 and a hald hours. We booked a full tour at the Matamata Tourist Bureau. The bus takes about 45 minutes to the site. You have only 15 minutes to spend in the shop. You change buses which takes you to the actual site. The walking tour takes about 2 hours. You then spend about half an hour in the Green Dragon before the bus takes you back to the shop (no time for shopping) and your bus back to Matamata. You can take your car to the Hobbiton car park but why bother! From memory tours leave Matamata hourly (check tourist bureau website). When we were there in October it snowed!! so be prepared for changeable weather. Each bus has sufficient umbrellas for all passengers. Be prepared to take lots of photographs.

The tour goes for a couple of hours. They are guided tours and are on a dedicated time period

Me and my husband are LOTR fans and booked the regular tour sold at the spot. It lasted approximately 2.5 hours, and we wished it had lasted more! It was great anyway. I believe spending only 1 hour inside hobbiton is a bit rushed.

We did the evening & dinner tour. I think we got there at about 3pm & left about 9pm. It was amazing!!

I would say it's about a 2.5-3 hour tour. After you walk through Hobbiton you stop off at the Green Dragon Pub and spend about 30 minutes drinking an ale and walking around. It was plenty of time to take in the whole experience.

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If you coming to Wellington or Auckland from where we are better off to take to tour to see the Hobbit place? We are cruising 2 adults and 2 children. We will be in a each port around 9 am. It’s hapenning in beginning of January.

It takes a couple of hours. There are tours running almost every 15 minutes. It just takes about 2 hrs to get there from Auckland so just plan accordingly.

The tour once you are at hobbiton takes 1.5 - 2 hours. If you are being picked up and dropped off in matamata by coach it is another hour to and from hobbiton. So total of 3 hours.

Allow a couple of hours.

I think a couple of hours is about right for the tour :-)

I can't remember now, I will have to give a rough guess of 2hours but please feel free to confirm from nakedbus website

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Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Hobbiton

18th November 2019

Posted in: Guides

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”  

• Chapter 1 of The Hobbit

Nestled in an idyllic location on a sheep farm near Matamata, the film set of Hobbiton takes its pride of place. People visit from far and wide to marvel at the beauty that takes after J.R.R Tolkien’s epic series of novels (Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit).

Renowned film director, Sir Peter Jackson discovered this hidden slice of paradise in 1998 when his team were searching the area for suitable locations to use in Lord of the Rings. When they came across the Alexander farm (where Hobbiton is located), Jackson remarked that the area “ was like a slice of ancient England ”, and it was not long before preparations began to get Hobbiton ready for the big screen.

It is true that Hobbiton attracts diehard Lord of the Rings fans from all over the world (this phenomenon is known as Tolkien Tourism ). However, a large proportion of people that come here are simply interested in experiencing something different – a unique take on rural New Zealand.

If you’re keen to be transported back to a bygone era of simplicity and tranquility, this is the place for you. Our ultimate guide to Hobbiton is here to help answer all of your questions about the majestic space, and shine an insightful light on what to expect.

Getting there

The Hobbiton Movie Set is located roughly 16km away from Matamata, in a quiet farming area known as Hinuera. Here is a rough guideline of how long it should take you to reach Hobbiton from various places around the North Island:

• 2 – 2.5 hours from Auckland Central (depending on traffic).
• 30 minutes from Cambridge.
• 55 minutes from Hamilton.
• 45 minutes from Tauranga.
• 1 hour from Rotorua.
• 1.5 hours from Waitomo.
• 1.5 hours from Taupo.
• 6.5 hours from Wellington.

Where is Hobbiton?

Hobbiton is located at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, 3472. You can purchase tickets on-site at The Shire’s Rest. They are the same price if you book them here or in Matamata.

How to get from Auckland to Hobbiton

There are a couple of routes that you can take to reach Hobbiton. Start by heading south on State Highway 1, past Pokeno. From here, you can either take the exit onto State Highway 2 towards Coromandel, or head further south until you reach the Tahuna exit.

The first exit towards Coromandel will take you over the Hauraki Plains and down through a number of farming villages along the way. If you take this route, it’s important to note that there is a 90km/hour speed limit along a significant proportion of State Highway 2.

We recommend taking the Tahuna exit and following this road past a lake and through beautiful rolling pastures. Not only is it more scenic, but there is normally less traffic, making the journey much more enjoyable.

Once you pass through Tahuna township, take the first left onto Paeroa-Tahuna Road, then turn right at the next roundabout. From here, follow the road until you reach Matamata.

Getting from Matamata to Hobbiton

There are a few turnoffs that you need to take to get from Matamata to Hobbiton. Whilst it is easiest to find your way using a GPS, here is a brief run-down of where to go:

• Follow State Highway 27 out of Matamata for roughly 6km.
• Turn right onto Hinuera Road. Follow this road (which changes into Hopkins Road) for around 4km.
• Turn right onto Puketutu Road and follow this road for 1.3km.
• Turn left onto Buckland Road.
• Drive up Buckland Road for another 5km and you will arrive at the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Tour providers and transport options

There are other ways to reach Hobbiton if you don’t have your own form of transport. In particular, these are:

• Guided tours with transportation included.
• Public buses to Matamata.

Guided tours with transportation included:

Here are a range and places to search for the right tour package and options to choose from:

• This resource on the official Hobbiton Tours website lists their recommended hobbiton tour providers from Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton. In particular, the companies offering Hobbiton tours from Auckland are: Great Sights , Bush and Beach , InterCity , FlexiToursNZ , Travel Headfirst , TIME Unlimited Tours , Auckland and Beyond Tours , Cheeky Kiwi Tours and Fly My Sky .
• Kiwiana Tours departs from Auckland at 8am and returns at 6pm. For a total price of $150NZD per person, you are provided with transport, a guided tour of Hobbiton and a visit to the Hamilton Gardens.
• Auckland Scenic Tours offers day trips from Auckland CBD for $199NZD per adult and $150NZD per child. These tours, which depart at 6:30am and return at 1:30pm include entry into Hobbiton and a visit to the Taupiri Māori burial ground on the way back.

Public buses to Matamata

If you’re planning to visit Matamata as part of a longer journey, and aren’t in a hurry to reach your next destination, a one-way bus ticket might be a more suitable option. 

InterCity is a nationwide bus company that specializes in providing transport to and from most towns and cities throughout New Zealand. This guide covers everything you need to know about travelling via bus in New Zealand.

Getting to Hobbiton is easy once you reach Matamata. Simply visit the i-Site at the northern end of town (it looks like a building from Lord of the Rings – you can’t miss it), and purchase your tickets. Another bus will take you the rest of the way from here.

What to expect

The Hobbiton Movie Set is situated on a 12 acre plot of land which is located within the 1200 acre Alexander family farm. Once you make your way here, the first thing you’ll notice is The Shire’s Rest . 

This converted woolshed serves as a ticketing centre, store, café and garden bar. Tours begin and end here. However, the actual movie set is located down a gravel driveway on the other side of the road.

Whilst it may be tempting to explore Hobbiton at your own pace, all visitors must be accompanied by a tour guide. This is to ensure that you get the proper experience, and discover all the fascinating insights that makes hobbiton special. It is also a particularly busy place, which would become unmanageable if people were allowed to wander around on their own.

“You will be fully guided around the 12 acre set; past Hobbit Holes™, the Mill and into the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn, where you will be presented with a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beverage to conclude your own Middle-earth™ adventure.”

How long is the Hobbiton tour?

It takes 2 hours to be guided around the Hobbiton movie set. Throughout this experience, your guide will share insights about how the film set was constructed and used in the movies, the history of Hobbiton and other interesting things to note as you stroll around the enchanting location.

“The hobbit holes on site have been designed and built to one of three different scales. In addition to the smallest ones built to the correct size (hobbits are smaller than humans), some are built to a larger scale to make the hobbit actors appear smaller, and some have been constructed in a “dwarf” scale for scenes containing dwarves. Apart from a few exceptions, the colour of the front door indicates the scale, for example hobbit holes with a blue door are built to the correct scale for humans.”

The tour ends at the Green Dragon Inn, where you will be served a complimentary beverage that is exclusive to the Hobbiton Movie Set and can only be found here.

How much does it cost to visit Hobbiton?

At the time of writing, the cost of admission was $84NZD for adults (for those 17 years and over), and $42NZD for youth passes. Children 8 years and under are allowed to enter for free with a paying adult. From the 1st April 2020 onwards, prices will increase to $89NZD for adults and $44NZD for youth.

These prices apply if you book at the Matamata i-Site (which includes a return bus fare) or if you arrive directly at The Shire’s Rest. 

Tours departing from Auckland range from $150-400NZD depending on whether you are taking a bus or flight, and the other attractions that you visit along the way. If you are departing from Rotorua, add another $35NZD to the standard entrance price for the cost of the return bus fare.

Before booking your tickets, it’s always worth searching “promo code Hobbiton” into Google, as tour providers occasionally promote deals and discount packages to fill their spare capacity.

Events and banquets

Evening Banquet Tours are held four times every week. During these immersive experiences, guests are shown around the film set at dusk, and taken to the Green Dragon Inn, where they are treated to a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit. 

Pre-booking is essential for Evening Banquet Tours, as numbers are limited. They cost $195NZD per adult, $152.50NZD for youth (9-17 years of age) and $100NZD for children.

Throughout the year, the team at Hobbiton organize a range of spectacular events for various occasions such as the International Hobbit Day , Summer Harvest Festival and more.

Perhaps you would prefer to have the space all to yourself? Private tours can be arranged for a more intimate experience, and if you would like to host your function or wedding here, Hobbiton has a range of offerings that can cater for crowds anywhere from 30 to 1000 people.

Why not get a package?

There are a range of package tours that include Hobbiton as a main attraction, and take guests to other destinations around the Waikato. Here are a few options:

• Two day tour which includes Black Labyrinth Rafting, Mitai Māori Village, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Hobbiton .
• Two day tour that takes you to Waitomo and Ruakuri Glowworm Caves, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Hobbiton .
• Hobbiton and Waitomo Cave day trip .
• Rotorua sightseeing and Hobbiton day trip from Auckland .

Or perhaps you already have your own form of transport? If so, Hobbiton is a great place to stop along a longer journey throughout the surrounding Waikato region. Here are some of our favourite attractions within a comfortable driving distance:

• Blue Spring and the Te Waihou Walkway – here, you will find a pristine turquoise river that is fed from an aquifer which supplies almost 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water.
• The Pinnacles – this beautiful mountain climb starts at the foothills of the Coromandel Peninsula and ascends to reach a summit with remarkable views of the surrounding forest and mountain ranges.
• Rotorua – geothermal delights, stinky smells and friendly faces. This popular small city is brimming with hot springs, geysers, lakes and adventure attractions like the Zorb .
• Taupō – otherwise known as the great lake, Taupō was formed as a result of one of the largest volcanic eruptions ever recorded. Here, you will find a beautiful lake that is awe inspiring, with plenty of outdoor activities in the surrounding area.
• Tongariro Crossing – if you’re a diehard Lord of the Rings fan, why not continue the adventure and embark on an adventure to see Mount Doom (known locally as Mount Ngauruhoe).

Tips for visiting Hobbiton

Hobbiton is one of those places that’s packed with details and fascinating exhibits. As with any popular attraction, the better prepared you are, the more you’ll get out of it. Here are our top tips for getting the most out of Hobbiton:

1. Book your tickets in advance

During the peak season, more than 3000 people visit Hobbiton every day ! 

Tickets often sell out fast, especially for the more exclusive events such as the Evening Banquet Tours. To guarantee your spot on the day(s) that you’re in the area, make sure to book well ahead of time.

2. Be prepared for crowds

The Hobbiton Movie Set is New Zealand’s third largest tourist destination. As a result, it gets quite busy. If you decide to visit during the winter season, it may be a bit quieter. However, visitors love Hobbiton, and crowds are normal (up to 3000 people visit every day at the busiest times of the year). 

3. Prepare for every kind of weather

If the weather looks sunny, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will remain that way all day. Just like many other parts of New Zealand, the weather can change quickly here. 

4. Look out for the little details

Peter Jackson and his crew are renowned for their attention to detail. From a picnic lunch setup on the wharf to pots of honey outside the beekeeper’s house, Hobbiton has been kitted out with all the minor details that make it feel like home. When Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins) visited the site, he remarked that it “ just looked like a place where people lived and where people worked ”.

5. Have a full camera battery

There’s nothing worse than arriving at a picturesque destination only to realize that you cannot take photos (especially when you have paid good money to go). Remember to charge your camera and phone batteries the night before, as you’ll want to take as many snaps of this place as possible!

6. Book the Evening Banquet Tour

These events, which only operate four times per week include a sunset tour of Hobbiton followed by a decadent multi-course hobbit inspired feast at the Green Dragon Inn. If you’re keen to get a real taste of the hobbit lifestyle, this experience is not to be missed!

Fun Facts about Hobbiton

The journey of Hobbiton has been one of epic proportions. What started as a tranquil slice of paradise on a humble sheep farm has transformed into one of New Zealand’s premier tourist destinations. Here are five fun facts about Hobbiton that shine a light on different parts of Hobbiton:

1. Hobbiton is the only intact movie set in New Zealand

When movies are filmed in the New Zealand outdoors, there are laws that require any sets or props to be removed afterwards in order to return the environment back to its natural state.

The first version of Hobbiton was constructed from materials that weren’t made to last (such as untreated timber, plywood and polystyrene foam). After filming Lord of the Rings, they started dismantling the entire film set.

“Believe it or not, Hobbiton was almost all but destroyed. Because of bad weather, the few remaining hobbit holes could not be torn down until the area dried up for heavy machinery to get back into the sheep field. While the family that owned the farm was waiting, they had curious neighbors and friends drop in to view what remained of the Shire. Word spread like wildfire, and before you could blink an eye, contract revisions were made and Hobbiton was restored to be a permanent tour location for those who wished to come visit the Shire.”

2. Looking after Hobbiton requires a large team!

Whilst the enchanting surrounds of Hobbiton may look like a work of magic, it actually takes a significant amount of manpower (and womanpower) to keep it looking beautiful and running smoothly.

The movie set employs over 50 permanent staff , which includes 5 gardeners during winter and 7-8 gardeners in the summertime. In peak periods, up to 180 people can be working for Hobbiton on any given day!

It has been estimated that this attraction brings up to $78 million per year to the Matamata-Piako district , so it’s no wonder why they need such a large workforce to keep on top of things.

3. The famous oak tree was transported here to keep with the setting of the book

“Since there was not one at the perfect location on site and in order to keep with the setting in the book, the oak tree supposed to be overlooking Bag End had to be cut down and brought in from near Matamata. Each branch was numbered and chopped, then transported and bolted together on top of Bag End (weighing 26 tonne). Artificial leaves were imported from Taiwan and individually wired onto the dead tree to look as natural as possible.”

This is another testament to the importance that Sir Peter Jackson places on the little details, and it contributes to the overall feel that you get when you come to Hobbiton.

4. Most of the scenes depicting the inside of Hobbit Holes were filmed at a studio in Wellington

There are a couple of Hobbit Holes that you can enter. However, most of the scenes that included indoor shots of Hobbit Holes were filmed off-site. Despite being designed for the needs of the film crew, Hobbiton is still an enchanting location with lots to see and do!

5. They take sustainability seriously

“Our Going Green initiative is an integral part of our corporate responsibility and we believe it is extremely important to make the effort to minimize our impact on New Zealand’s precious environment. Our aim is to become as self-sufficient and sustainable as reasonably practicable. Our plan is to utilize our surrounding area and farming roots with a number of further steps to be taken over the next few years. We look forward to becoming even more environmentally friendly in the future and taking our visitors on this journey with us.”

• Russell Alexander, Hobbiton Movie Set CEO

With such a large number of visitors every year, it is easy to create unnecessary waste and pollution if sustainability isn’t prioritized. Being such a prominent tourism provider, there are lots of eyes on the team at Hobbiton to ensure that they do the right thing when it comes to looking after the environment.

Their commitment to sustainability includes the following initiatives and measures:

• They have planted almost 3000 native seedlings around the movie set and surrounding farmland to restore native biodiversity. Most of these trees have been planted along riparian margins (land on the edges of waterways) to help improve water quality, reduce erosion and control sediment.
• A wide range of different native plants are selected to attract and nourish bird life, and the gardens at Hobbiton provide excellent conditions for supporting native pollinators.
• They monitor and manage pest animals such as rats through a proactive trapping programme.
• Compostable packaging was introduced in 2017 and now prevents 80,000 cups from heading to landfills each year.
• Packaging, food waste and green waste produced on-site are turned into compost and used to keep the gardens thriving.
• “All non-compostable food packaging has been replaced by carefully-sourced plant-based alternatives made of materials such as bamboo fibre, paper, and Bioplastic made from Polylactic Acid (PLA). This material has a carbon footprint of up to 75% less than traditional packaging materials.” – Source
• The waste that is generated by visitors on-site is sorted by hand and separated into compostable, recyclable and general waste. As a result of streamlining their waste management processes, they prevented 50 tonnes of refuse from going to landfill in the first 12 months alone!
• Hobbiton has a strict product sourcing policy that avoids buying consumables which aren’t compostable or recyclable and favours locally sourced goods to reduce packaging and transport.
• They support local community initiatives where possible, and staff are encouraged to volunteer at clean-up events, tree plantings and more.

History of the movie set

Before this property had anything to do with the movie business, it was a sheep and beef farm (it still is, with roughly 13,000 sheep and 300 angus beef cattle being reared at any given time). In 1978, the Alexander family moved to the 1200 acre property to practise farming.

“When Peter Jackson began to look for suitable locations for The Lord of the Rings film series, he first saw the Alexander Farm during an aerial search in 1998 and concluded that the area was “like a slice of ancient England”.”

The story goes that they landed the helicopter, and the location scout walked up to the house to inquire about the possibility of using their farm in a movie. Mr. Alexander told the scout that the rugby was on, and to come back later.

After suitable negotiations, they reached an agreement, and work began in 1999 to transform part of the farm into the movie set for the first series of films. The New Zealand Army brought in heavy machinery to build a 1.5km road, temporary water and sewerage services, and catering was arranged. The movie set was initially constructed with 37 doors that represented Hobbit Holes.

“I knew Hobbiton needed to be warm, comfortable and feel lived in. By letting the weeds grow through the cracks and establishing hedges and little gardens a year before filming, we ended up with an incredibly real place, not just a film set.”

• Peter Jackson

They went to great lengths during the filming of Lord of the Rings to keep the location secret. However, once word spread about the farm, people began flocking here. Guided tours began in 2002, and continue to be provided to this day.

When Peter Jackson and his team returned in 2010 to film The Hobbit, they agreed to rebuild the set from permanent materials and leave it there for use as a premier tourist attraction.

More Hobbit Holes were added during the filming of the second series, and there are now 44 holes on-site. However, you can only enter a few of them (the rest are just facades).

In 2012, the Green Dragon Inn was built and the set welcomed its 500,000th visitor in 2013 (they now receive upwards of 500,000 visitors every year). Evening events commenced in 2014.

Fast forward to today, and Hobbiton is now a critical part of New Zealand’s tourism profile. Preparations are in place to develop the infrastructure required to host 650,000 visitors per year. They are currently considering ways to establish camping and accommodation facilities .

With visitor numbers constantly growing, and tourism being a major driver of New Zealand’s economy, it is likely that Hobbiton will remain popular for many years to come!

Come stay with us

If earth-inspired, sustainable accommodation is your thing, then you’ll love our boutique hotel in the heart of Cambridge. Hidden Lake Hotel is an eco-friendly accommodation provider that embodies the natural feel of our surroundings.

Our lakeside property blends the best of interior design with the ultimate location for a luxury getaway. With floor to ceiling glass, black steel and rooms that are encased in timber, our designer interiors are made to fit the feel of the surrounding environment. We combine these beautiful design elements with a down-to-earth Kiwi atmosphere to provide the ultimate hospitality experience during your time in the Waikato.

Better yet, we are less than 30 minutes drive from Hobbiton, making it the perfect place to stay while you visit the home of Hobbits. Click here to book directly with us and get the best deal .

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For all enquiries please contact one of our friendly staff on +64 7 282 1593 or Contact Us

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VISITING HOBBITON: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Last updated on: February 8, 2023
• First published on: November 14, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we will receive a tiny commission if you choose to click through and make a purchase. But don’t worry, clicking on them won’t cost you a penny more – it just means we can keep creating free content for you – and that our furry companions can keep living their best life with all their fancy toys.  

“ It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door .”

If the above quote rings a bell (and you are already silently humming the Shire soundtrack), then visiting the Hobbiton movie set while in New Zealand should be on the top of your bucket list.

But even if you are not the biggest Lord of The Rings & Hobbit fan, or you haven’t even heard of the movies (highly unlikely, though), the charming landscape of the Shire will not let you down.

Table of Contents

ARRIVING AT HOBBITON

The bus starts to move, and in the seats around you, tourists with cameras are happily chatting, ready to capture whatever magic they are about to encounter.

Suddenly a deep voice thunders from the TV screen.

It belongs to Peter Jackson, the director of the movies, who, a second later, appears on the screen and greets us.

All the bus echoes back a loud, enthusiastic hello. It feels like the first day of school when you are super excited and can’t wait to impress your teacher.

With the difference that we are trying to impress a television. 😉

From the screen, Jackson tells us a thing or two about the movie set and explains how they discovered this lush green patch of paradise; meanwhile, our noses are already stuck to the windows, and our mouths form “oohs” and “aahs” upon entering the property.

Fluffy green hills that look just like they would be taken straight out from the Teletubbies, and hundreds of sheep chewing lazily without paying too much attention to the passing bus.

It’s like a fairytale land.

Jackson from the TV yells, “Left, look left! This is where the famous scene was filmed when Gandalf came to the Shire and told Frodo, who accused him of being late…What did he tell him?”

My brother loudly interrupts Jackson: “ A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.”

Phew, what a relief – it seems I am not the biggest fan around here. I only recited the quote in my mind after all 😀 

Another turn or two and the bus stops.

The guide swiftly performs the usual speech – stick to the group, don’t stay behind, follow my it’s-all pink-on-the-inside umbrella, I can take your photos to recreate your favorite movie scene ( spoiler alert: she really can!).

We finally manage to disembark the bus and find ourselves in front of THE sign.

For a second or two, the world stops when everyone’s face is directed toward the sign and we are all wondering the same thing: Wow, it REALLY exists.

The magic doesn’t last forever, though. As soon as the charm is broken, everyone tries to reach the sign first and take that perfect photo.

A word of advice here:

Just wait for the most enthusiastic tourists and wannabe Instagram celebrities to strike that pose (or ten). When they are done and in search of the umbrella, you’ll have plenty of time to create your own memory.

I’m not encouraging you to “break the rules” and stay behind the group, but only to wait for a few minutes for the crowds to clear. 😉

WHAT IS IT LIKE VISITING HOBBITON?

First impressions.

A slight surprise (perhaps with a touch of disappointment) is the fact that Hobbiton is NOT huge ( especially in comparison to WarnerBros studios in London where we visited Harry Potter ).

In fact, Hobbiton consists of exactly 44 hobbit holes punctuating the slope of one hill and the surrounding area.

But here comes the real surprise… there is nothing behind the door of 43 hobbit houses!

Well,  the door can’t be opened at all . 😀  The scenes inside the hobbit houses were filmed elsewhere, and only one door can be opened, which leads you to a more or less empty space.

Nevertheless, just moving the squeaky doors and stepping inside gives you the feeling that this IS REAL after all .

And even though there is just ONE actual hole, the houses are so cute from the outside, with so many details – from bread loaves on the tables to blacksmith tools and small mailboxes – you can easily forget that the magic ends behind the doors.

And best of all – 44 holes means crowds somewhat scatter around and you can take as many photos as you’d like – the only thing to consider is to bring that extra camera battery with you!

While visiting Hobbiton, make sure you pay attention to the incredible details ; miniature hobbit suits that dry in the wind, chairs and tables, wooden carts and signposts.

There are even real vegetable gardens and fruit trees to make the experience more authentic!

It’s quite remarkable to see what lengths the film crew went to make The Shire as magical as one can imagine.

Bags End – home of Bilbo & Frodo

Unfortunately, this is not the hole you can enter into! However, you are free to take as many photos as you’d like in front of Frodo’s house.

Above the house grows a tree that no one would guess is completely… artificial.

Including 200,000 hand-painted leaves!  The story goes that Jackson came to check the tree a few days before the shooting and upon seeing it, he commented: “The leaves are not the right shade of green.”

Since artists had only days to do a month’s work – one can imagine their stress levels must have been at least as high as when you can’t find your passport just before check-in. 😉

There’s more!

Besides the Hobbit holes and Bags End, you’ll find some other cool places in Hobbiton! The area in the first movie where the party took place is still set up, and toward the end of the tour, you’ll cross the bridge by the mill .

The tour ends at another famous place – The Green Dragon , where you can order refreshments or have a quick bite.

In fact, the ticket also includes a complimentary drink; depending on age, you are entitled to choose between a variety of beer or apple cider.

A pint of velvet stout with a view of Frodo’s home nicely rounded out the experience of visiting Hobbiton.

SOME JUICY FACTS FROM THE LAND OF HOBBITS

• It took many months of work to finish the movie set – not at all surprising, given the number of details they went into. However, the actual filming lasted just a month for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and only a few days were needed to film The Hobbit scenes!
• At certain times during shooting, more than 400 people lived on the property , more specifically, on a meadow near the movie set. Considering all the accommodation, food and (I can imagine) entertainment that was provided, it must have looked like a mini music festival!
• The original scenes were made of simple materials such as polystyrene, which means they were not built to last. But, as fans who wanted to see where Hobbits “lived” began to flow, the decision was made to build “a real Hobbiton” from more lasting materials.
• The Hobbiton movie set is located on private property , owned by the family Alexander, and remains farmland until today. Supposedly they had never heard of Jackson until somebody knocked on their door and suggested the crazy idea of filming The Lord of the Rings here. I believe this is the day they won the lottery. Literally. 🙂

There’s more, of course! But I’ll let you find out for yourself when you visit the home of the Hobbits. 😉

THE PROS AND CONS OF VISITING HOBBITON

⊕ the landscape is simply stunning

⊕ for all Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fans, this is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience , as it feels like you’ve actually come to the Shire

⊕ kids (and grown-ups alike) will surely love it since all those little details make the set so magical that in the end, it doesn’t even matter whether one knows the story or not

Θ Hobbiton can only be visited as part of the tour (as it is located on private land). It is not possible to buy a ticket and then stroll around and explore at your own pace.

Θ Admission is quite pricey – approx. 50 € for a 2-hour visit (these two hours also include a short bus ride and time for a complimentary drink at the end). Children under the age of 8 can visit Hobbiton for free and for children from 9-16, the ticket cost is approx. 28 €. (Feb 2023)

USEFUL TIPS FOR VISITING HOBBITON

Here are some tips to make your visit enjoyable:

• Hobbiton can be visited all year round due to the mild climate of the region.
• Opening hours are from 9 am to 5.30 pm . The tour runs every half an hour or so.
• It is advisable to book your tickets at least a few days in advance (or more, if you want a specific day or hour), as especially on weekends, Hobbiton can be quite busy.
• Be sure to be at one of the ticket offices at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour . It’s not possible to buy tickets there, you’ll just collect your pre-booked ticket and hop on a bus which will take you to the movie set.
• The ticket office that is closest to the Hobbiton movie set is Shire’s Rest , where you’ll find a big parking lot, a souvenir shop and a coffee shop. Use the restroom here if you need it since the next option will not be until the end of the tour at The Green Dragon.
• In addition to the classic tour, it’s also possible to take a dinner tour that costs around 117€, lasts about 4 hours and includes an evening buffet. Occasionally there are special events held in Hobbiton (e.g., beer festival), so check in advance if something special is happening during your visit that you might be interested in.
• I’d suggest booking tickets from the Hobbiton movie set tours official website and arriving by car/bus. Tours from Rotorua/Auckland will unnecessarily cost more due to the organized transport.
• If you are super enthusiastic about hobbits, you can get costumes and take pictures (or so we were told upon arriving at the movie set – nobody in our group expressed this wish to the guide 😉)
• Don’t come in high heels since it will be uncomfortable (and potentially dangerous 😉) to walk narrow paths with them.
• In New Zealand, occasional downpours or drizzling are common – in this case, guides will distribute big umbrellas, so there is one less thing to worry about. But bring a sweater/jacket just in case it gets chilly.

How to get to Hobbiton?

The Hobbiton is located near the village Matamata, which is a one-hour drive from Rotorua or 2.5 hours from Auckland .

→ In the case you book a whole-day tour , transportation will be included in the price.

→ If you are traveling by car , it is best to book tickets from The Shire Rest , located just across the road from the property with the Hobbiton movie set.

→ If you are traveling by bus , take one to the village of Matamata , which also houses the Hobbiton tour office (address: Matamata i-SITE, 45 Broadway, Matamata) and their bus will take you to the movie set a few kilometers away.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON VISITING HOBBITON

Are you still deciding whether it is worth visiting Hobbiton?

It is true that the overall impression was that the whole thing is slightly rushed and overpriced, but w e wouldn’t have missed it for anything since it brought the Shire “to life” for us!

And there is a pretty high 100% chance that after your visit, you’ll spend the following nights in front of your laptop , binge-watching all the movies.

Have you already visited Hobbiton? We would love to hear your thoughts about it!

And if you’re planning a trip to Hobbiton, don’t forget to pin this for later! 🙂

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