hobbiton movie set visit

Hobbiton New Zealand: How To Visit The Shire Movie Set

One of the most photogenic places in New Zealand is actually a movie set — Hobbiton, from the popular ‘Lord of the Rings’ series!

Hobbiton village was filmed on green farmlands in the North Island of New Zealand, and fans will be thrilled to know that they’ve kept the entire movie set from the Shire intact for people to tour.

My wife was in love with this place. If you’re a fan of the LOTR series, or fantasy movies in general (or even if you’re just a hobby photographer), don’t miss out on it! The shire was one of the highlights of our New Zealand trip!

What Is Hobbiton?

Unless you’ve been living underground (no pun), you’ve probably heard that New Zealand is where the award-winning ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Hobbit’ trilogies were filmed.

In the books (and movies), the Shire is the peaceful green countryside where the protagonist hobbits live. Synonymous with peace and quiet, Hobbiton is a village paradise complete with dozens of little turf covered houses that look like something out of medieval England (with a fantasy twist).

The Hobbiton movie set was first created for ‘Lord of the Rings’ in 1999, with road-building help from the New Zealand Army, and then the set was completely rebuilt and expanded in 2010 for the ‘Hobbit’ movies.

The current Shire movie set you see today has 44 hobbit homes, farms, and gardens, and covers 5 hectares (12 acres)!

Where Is The Shire / Hobbiton?

The Hobbiton movie set is located just outside of Matamata , a tiny town on the North Island of New Zealand.

From the city of Auckland, it’s a 2 hour drive through small towns and mostly rural roads.

How To Get To Hobbiton New Zealand

You can self-drive to Hobbiton (cheaper and recommended), or there are bus tours starting from Auckland that do all the driving for you.

Either way, a walking tour is required for visiting the movie set, and you will want to make an online booking at least a few days in advance, because the tickets do sell out, especially if you’re wanting a specific time slot.

Klook has meet up (self drive) Hobbiton New Zealand tours for $47 USD or they also have more pricey private day tours from Auckland that include hotel pickups and everything else you might need.

Hobbiton New Zealand: What To Expect

Visiting the Hobbiton New Zealand movie set requires a walking tour, and these run daily with dozens of time slots to choose from between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Unless you’ve booked a private tour (very pricey!), this also means you will be on a shared tour with other LOTR fans eager to relive their favorite movie memories.

Our group had about 25 visitors and, compounded with the other groups touring the set at the same time, I have to admit it felt pretty crowded on the narrow paths winding through the village.

It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. Bilbo Baggins, In The Lord Of The Rings

Best Time To Visit Hobbiton New Zealand

Honestly, Hobbiton is one place where I don’t think there is any ‘best’ time to visit.

The North Island of New Zealand has a mild/comfortable climate all year round, and even during the dry summer months, the grass and plants in the movie set are watered to keep them looking fresh and green.

The Hobbiton movie set is also photogenic at any time of the day. Even if you’re a photographer, you don’t need to worry about lighting at the Shire.

Where We Stayed

Most of our time in New Zealand was spent in a campervan, but for our last night on the North Island we stayed at this BNB style villa/homestay in Auckland for $55 USD ($87 NZD).

For this price we got a clean triple bedroom with cold A/C, extremely fast WiFi, a comfy living room area, and a shared bathroom/shower that were immaculate. Best of all, the location was just a 15 minute Uber drive to the airport for our early morning flight.

You won't find a better deal this close to the airport! Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.

We stayed at this BNB style homestay in Auckland for $55 USD.

• New Zealand Travel Guide - Tips, Info & Photos

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Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

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Hobbiton Movie Set

The lake front village

Bag End, home of Frodo & Bilbo Baggins

The Green Dragon Inn

The Evening Banquet Tour feast.

The Hobbiton Lights

Experience Hobbiton Movie Set at dusk with a guided tour of the Shire. Your guide escorts you through the twelve acre site recounting fascinating details of how the movie set was created. The tour concludes at The Green Dragon Inn with ample time to relax

Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

501 Buckland Road , Matamata , New Zealand .

For your own Middle‑earth™ adventure, daily tours are available to visit the original Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy and The Hobbit films.

Pricing and Conditions

Children aged 0-10 are free Youth aged 11 - 17 are $60 Adults 18+ Please note children and infants are free but must have a ticket allocated prior to arrival and be accompanied by a full paying adult. Please book a ticket for all children travelling in your group.

Refunds will be paid at 100% if a cancellation is made more than 24 hours before the scheduled tour departure. If cancellation is made less than 24 hours before the scheduled tour departure, no refund will be given.

Experience Middle‑earth™ with a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. Your guided tour starts with a drive through our picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges. Journey past the colourful Hobbit Hole™ doors that scatter the hillsides, including the iconic Bag End, home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, before arriving at Bagshot Row™ for a glimpse of the interior of a humble Hobbit’s home. Continue along the pathways past The Millhouse, across the double-arch stone bridge and into the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn, where you will enjoy a complimentary, exclusive beverage Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ range to conclude your Middle‑earth™ adventure.

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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.

Hobbiton Movie Set

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Hobbiton Movie Set - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Hobbiton™ Movie Set Walking Tour from Shires Rest (From $73.50)
• Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland (From $226.62)
• Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour from Auckland (From $107.18)
• 6hr Hobbiton Movie Set Tour - Departs Tauranga (From $143.93)
• Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour from Auckland (From $229.68)
• (5.45 mi) Chestnut Lane Cottage
• (7.22 mi) ArtHouse Bed and Breakfast
• (9.35 mi) Huntington Stables Retreat Accommodation
• (7.41 mi) Tower Road Motel
• (6.62 mi) Broadway Motel & Miro Court Villas
• (0.00 mi) The Shire's rest cafe
• (0.86 mi) The Green Dragon Inn
• (6.55 mi) The Redoubt Bar and Eatery
• (6.55 mi) Osteria Matamata
• (6.55 mi) Workmans Cafe Bar
• (1.04 mi) Headfirst Travel - Waitomo Wanderer
• (7.46 mi) Riverside Adventures Waikato
• (8.49 mi) The Boatshed Kayaks
• (6.52 mi) Matamata isite Visitor Information Centre
• (8.28 mi) Firth Tower Estate and Museum

• Work With Me

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.

How to Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand

For any Lord of the Rings fan, visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand is an absolute must! Here’s everything you need to know about the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour…

How to Visit the Hobbiton Lord of the Rings Movie Set in New Zealand

New Zealand is a mecca for Lord of the Rings fans. It took us five years to ride our motorcycles from the UK to New Zealand. Landing on its shores marked the halfway point of our round the world ride – it was a big deal for us, but, to be honest we were more excited about nerding out on LOTR more than anything else!

Our plan was to scout out filming locations as we rode around the country, but at the top of our list was the Weta Workshop (more on this at the end of the article) and Hobbiton – and Hobbiton turned out to be the absolute highlight!

This guide will help you plan your visit there, figure out what to expect and get the most out of your tour.

What is Hobbiton?

Hobbiton is the village in the Shire where the hobbits live in Lord of the Rings. Location scouts found a sheep farm in Waikato, North Island of New Zealand in 1998, got in touch with the owner and Hobbiton was born – and then demolished.

The initial set build was for the trilogy, but was knocked down once filming was complete. However, when it came time to film the next trilogy (The Hobbit), the production team built a permanent set, which is what you can now visit today. 

What will I find at Hobbiton?

You’ll find a surprisingly large and incredibly well looked after movie set. It doesn’t feel like a movie set though due to the sheer scale. There are 44 hobbit holes and the Green Dragon Inn, which serves drinks.

You’ll start the tour from Shire’s Rest. This is where you park your car and buy tickets. You’ll find a gift shop, bar and café with awesome views there too. 

How do I visit Hobbiton?

To visit Hobbiton, you must join an organised tour. You can not drive there and walk around on your own.

Make your way to Shire’s Rest and park up (there’s a large car park there). You then go in and either buy your tickets there or show them the tickets you’ve bought online. You’ll then be asked to queue with your allotted group for your designated tour bus and will then be driven to the set. 

What happens on the Hobbiton tour?

Your tour starts the second you get on the bus. Expect the entire tour to last two hours. Your guide welcomes the group and explains the process. You’ll then watch a little intro on a TV at the front of the bus.

After a ten-minute drive you’ll be dropped off and your tour will start.

The groups can be large, but it doesn’t feel rushed, so there’s plenty of time to get the snaps you want.

Your guide will chat about the films, sets, hobbit holes and more as you’re led around the set. You can peer into the hobbit holes but there’s nothing inside. All of the interior scenes were filmed in Weta Workshop (more on that at the end of this article).

However, they are working on building interiors, so guests may be able to go inside from early 2024. On the outside though, the attention to detail is phenomenal.

Once you’ve walked through the entire set you’ll be taken to the Green Dragon Inn. It’s a proper pub! And you’ll be given a complimentary drink with a choice of real beer, cider, ale or a soft drink like ginger beer. You’re then given plenty of time to sit in front of the fire, buy some snacks, wonder around and chill out.

Once you’ve finished, you’ll be taken back to the bus and returned to Shire’s Rest. 

How do I book tickets for the tour?

We recommend using Viator to book your tickets. You can book your tour tickets for Hobbiton, and also find some pretty good combo deals. For example, you’ll find deals that also include a driver and pick-up or additional Lord of the Rings sights and stops along the way.

• Here’s the link to Hobbiton on viator.com/hobbiton
• And here’s the link to the official Hobbiton website: hobbitontours.com

How much does it cost?

Expect tickets to cost around £55-£60 per person for a standard tour. There are discounts for youths, children and family passes.

What do I need to take with me?

Take the appropriate clothing for the time of year you’re travelling, comfortable trainers, sunglasses and sun cream. You may want to carry a bottle of water too as there’s no drinks until the end of the tour at the Inn. And most importantly – don’t forget your camera!

What about food and drink?

There is an excellent café at the Shire’s Rest serving great food and drink. There’s also a very cool gift shop too. There is drink available at the end of the walking tour at the Inn where you will be given a free beer or cider. You can also buy snacks and extra drinks here.

When to visit Hobbiton?

The summer months in New Zealand are from December to February, but the staff on site keep the grass and flowers watered so everything looks lush all year round. We visited in May and the weather was a little drizzly in the morning, but perfect for the rest of the day.

How do I get to Hobbiton?

Hobbiton is in Matamata. Put directions into the Shire’s Rest in Google if you’re driving yourself there as this is the car park. You’ll see signs for the Hobbiton Movie Set as you get nearer. Here’s a Google Map link below.

Where to stay when visiting Hobbiton

Hobbiton is easily accessible from nearby towns. We would recommend staying in lovely Hamilton or Matamata itself.

To help, check out the below Booking.com map. It’s pin pointed on Hobbiton, so you can move the map around and easily see the types and prices of nearby accommodation.

What else can you do at Hobbiton?

The dinner banquet tour.

You’ll still get to tour the movie set (and still get your beer at the Dragon’s Inn), but will also be treated to an evening feast! After you’ve eaten, you’ll get another walking tour through Hobbiton at night.

Second Breakfast Tour

This one is just as posh. Enjoy a second breakfast in the Millhouse followed by a walking tour.

Private events

Hobbiton can also cater for private events and functions. You’ll find more info on this on their website.

Weta Workshop

We can’t talk about Hobbiton without mentioning the incredible Weta Workshop! Weta are the guys who made all the props and costumes for the Lord of the Rings films. You can tour their studio and learn about how they make everything at their studio in Wellington or their Weta Workshop – Unleashed experience in Auckland.

• We recommend booking tickets for this with Viator as you’ll find better deals. viator.com/wetaworkshop
• And check out their official website here: tours.wetaworkshop.com

More Lord of the Rings tours

If visiting the Hobbiton movie set tour and checking out Weta Workshop still hasn’t quenched your Lord of the Rings thirst, then luckily for you there’s loads more tours you can do around New Zealand. If you don’t have your own vehicle, or want a guide who really knows their stuff, we recommend joining an organised filming location tour.

The best way to book onto one of these is again to check out Viator, because you’ll find loads of examples with reviews and current prices on one page. Here’s the link to the tours: viator.com/lordoftheringstours

We may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase a product using the affiliate links on this page. We’re not sponsored, are completely impartial and don’t run ads. So this helps us keep the site running. Thank you for your support.

Read more on motorcycle travel in New Zealand

Thanks for checking out the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Guide. We hope you enjoyed it! Here’s a few more articles on motorcycle travel in New Zealand that we recommend you read next. 

• All New Zealand Guides
• Motorcycle Travel Guide: New Zealand

The Best Motorcycle Routes in New Zealand

• Motorcycle Travel Blog New Zealand: We Made it!
• New Zealand’s Motorcycle Mecca Museum Guide

Try these next…

How to Make Money While Motorcycle Travelling

The Best Adventure Motorcycle Destinations

The Ultimate Motorcycle Trip Packing List

How to visit Japan’s stunning Vine Bridges

The Cutest Place in Japan: Rabbit Island, Okunoshima

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I've never seen 'The Lord of the Rings' but went to the New Zealand set where it was filmed. It's one of the most magical places I've ever been.

• I visited the New Zealand set where scenes from "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" filmed.
• I hadn't seen the movies and wondered if I was wasting my time by visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set.
• Even without seeing LOTR, I thought it was a New Zealand attraction that's not to be missed. 

Hours after my red-eye flight landed in Auckland, New Zealand, I was in a van heading to the Hobbiton Movie Set, where scenes from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit" were filmed.

Source: Hobbiton Movie Set

Hobbiton is a fictional place in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" books. It's part of what the book calls The Shire, located in a fantasy world named Middle-earth.

Hobbiton is home to some of the series' most famous hobbits like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, and the Hobbiton Movie Set is where many scenes were filmed. Today, it's one of New Zealand's most famous tourist attractions, according to Culture Trip.

Source: Culture Trip

For many, "The Lord of the Rings" is a main motivator to visit New Zealand. In 2019, for example, Matador Network reported that tourism around the movies, known as "Tolkien Tourism," contributed $428 million USD to the county's economy.

Source: Matador Network

As a tourist in New Zealand, I felt like an outlier. I'm not the biggest fantasy fan, and I've never seen the movies or picked up the books.

But since it seemed like a quintessential part of visiting New Zealand, I signed up for a tour of Hobbiton.

I booked a tour through the third-party company FlexiToursNZ for $175 USD, which included transportation and an official tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Source:  FlexiToursNZ

On my first day in the country, a driver arrived at my hotel in downtown Auckland to transport me and a group of six others to the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Source: FlexiToursNZ

On the two-hour drive from Auckland to New Zealand's Matamata region, where the Hobbiton Movie Set is located, I felt a flurry of emotions.

I was thrilled to be in a beautiful country with 10 days of adventuring ahead. I was exhausted from the 13-hour flight. And I wondered if I was wasting my day by exploring an attraction created around something I knew so little about.

Read more: I took a 13-hour flight to New Zealand from LA. Here are 8 mistakes I made and what I'll do differently on my flight home.

As the van barreled down narrow roads, I was thankful that at the bare minimum, I'd at least enjoy a stunning drive. As the city's skyscrapers filled the rearview mirror, ahead were vibrant rolling hills dotted with sheep.

Finally, I arrived at the Hobbiton Movie Set. I spotted a café, a souvenir shop selling hobbit trinkets, and bathrooms. What I didn't see was Hobbiton.

From listening to friends rave about the movies, I knew Hobbiton was known for its round, colorful doors and homes built into a hillside. I saw none of that as I looked around.

My driver explained that this was where the tour departed — not where Hobbiton was located. I'd join a larger group on a bus where I'd meet my official tour guide and head to Hobbiton, the driver said.

I did just that and embarked on a five-minute drive to Hobbiton. On the short ride, the tour guide assured us that we'd have a fun time regardless of if we've seen "The Lord of the Rings."

Once off the bus, I again searched for the colorful hobbit holes. The only thing I noticed was a sign confirming I was in the right place.

Our group of about 20 people walked along a muddy, narrow path. As I turned a corner, Hobbiton finally came into view.

The reveal felt magical. Built into a hillside were bright, circular doors and hobbit homes. Smoke billowed from tiny chimneys and a vegetable garden sat at the bottom of the hill.

As the tour zig-zagged up the hill, I stopped at tiny hobbit holes with little mailboxes and miniature-sized fences. Our guide explained that this was the location used in both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit."

According to my guide, the movie's director Peter Jackson first spotted the land on an aerial search for filming locations for "The Lord of the Rings."

When Jackson saw the rolling hills with mountain views, massive oaks, and ponds, our tour guide said the director immediately knew that this was the closest thing to Middle-earth.

According to my guide, when movie scouts approached the farm's owner, Ian Alexander, he had never heard of "The Lord of the Rings." Ultimately, he agreed to the construction of Hobbiton on his 1,250-acre sheep farm.

The same location was used for filming both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies. However, the movie set for "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was disassembled after filming, my tour guide said.

When directors approached the Alexander family again to film "The Hobbit," the family insisted that the directors build a permanent set and transform their farm into a tourist attraction.

The filmmakers agreed, and today, there are 44 permanent hobbit holes on 14 acres of farmland co-owned by the movie makers and the Alexander family, the guide said.

As I looked around, I didn't feel like I was on a movie set. Instead, it felt like I had stepped into a real-life fantasy.

I towered over the circular doors and peered into the little homes.

Each one was unique. One hobbit hole was staged to look like a baker's home with a stand of fake bread outside. Another had a picnic table lined with child-size replicas of cheese, vegetables, and cakes.

According to my guide, the property's biggest undertaking was a giant oak above Bag End, which is where the hobbit characters Bilbo and Frodo Baggins live.

The massive oak was real when they filmed "The Lord of the Rings." But since "The Hobbit" takes place 60 years earlier, they cut it down and replaced it with a younger replica of the same tree, my tour guide said.

That replica, the tour guide said, has 200 branches and thousands of hand-painted leaves imported from Taiwan. "On a windy day, the tree sways just like the natural trees," my guide said.

From a distance, it was impossible to spot which tree was fake. As I approached the replica, I was amazed by how real it looked.

As the two-hour tour continued, plenty of details and references went over my head due to my lack of movie knowledge.

Luckily, the stories about the lengths the filmmakers went to create movies that were similar to the books they're based on kept me fascinated throughout the entire tour.

For example, the farm had more than 10,000 sheep when filming started. But because Jackson didn't think the look of the breed matched the book, he imported thousands of Suffolk sheep to the set instead.

And even after all that effort, there isn't a single sheep spotted in the movie, the tour guide said..

After walking past the 44 hobbit holes, the group headed to the Party Tree and Party Field, which I learned was where Bilbo's farewell party scene took place.

It was once a swamp, our tour guide said, but was transformed into an open field and decorated with lanterns.

From the field, we crossed over a bridge to the Green Dragon Inn, which was the meeting place for Hobbiton residents in the movies.

Here, our tour guide switched roles and became a bartender. He poured us ales and ciders, which were included in the price of the tour, to help us feel like we reenacting the movies.

I grabbed a glass of ginger beer and walked around the interior and exterior of the inn, which our guide said was a replica of what was featured in the films.

The intricate details I saw throughout the inn and across the entire property impressed me. It seemed like the directors went to impressive lengths to recreate every detail from the books.

Once my ceramic mug was drained, the tour was over. As my group headed back to the bus, another group was starting their tour, and I spotted a few tourists dressed up as movie characters.

Two hours in the whimsical world flew by, even with my limited knowledge. As I spoke with the fans around me, they said they were even more mystified and amazed by Hobbiton than I was.

On the drive back to Auckland, I scrolled through the hundreds of photos I snapped, and realized I was already missing the magical place with its stunning scenery and impressive details.

Ultimately, the Hobbiton Movie Set tour felt like an ideal way to kick off my trip to New Zealand. And it gave me an even better reason to finally watch the iconic films.

• Main content

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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10 Places In New Zealand Made Famous By Movies

• The Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand is a major tourist attraction and the filming location for the Hobbit Shire in Lord of the Rings.
• Tongariro Alpine Crossing offers stunning volcanic landscapes and was used as the filming location for Mordor in Lord of the Rings.
• Milford Sound is a popular destination in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park and was featured in the movie Alien: Covenant as an alien world.

New Zealand is a stunning country famous for its breathtaking landscapes. Some places have been made famous by movies filmed in New Zealand - including The Lord of the Rings, 10,000 BC, The Last Samurai, Mulan (2020), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , and others.

Today, there are many Lord of the Rings tours around New Zealand , while visitors should also visit Weta Cave and see where the makeup, stage props , and more of the movies are made. Here are ten places in New Zealand made famous by movies.

Hobbiton Movie Set

Perhaps the most famous location in New Zealand is the Hobbiton Movie Set. The Hobbiton Movie Set was the filming location of the Hobbit Shire in the Lord of the Rings . Today, it is a massive tourist attraction in New Zealand, and the site has been developed progressively.

Enjoy a feast fit for a Hobbit at the Green Dragon and tour inside the Hobbit holes from next year.

• Movie: Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit Trilogy

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing was the filming location for the lands of Mordor in the Lord of the Rings (Mount Doom is the volcano Mt Ngāuruhoe).

The Tongariro National Park may not look anything like the movie, but it is one of the most stunning locations in New Zealand with other-worldly volcanic landscapes.

• Movie: Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Mount Cook is the largest mountain in New Zealand, offering a true mountaineering experience for those who would like to climb it.

Much of the 2020 movie Mulan was filmed in New Zealand , including some of the most dramatic mountainous landscapes in the movie.

• Movie: Mulan (2020)

Related: Reaching Mount Cook: How To Climb New Zealand's Most Challenging & Toughest Mountain

Mount Taranaki

At first glance, people might think that New Zealand's volcano, Mount Taranaki, is Japan's more famous Mount Fuji.

This is what the producers of the 2003 movie The Last Samurai were betting on. The romantic telling of the Samauri as Japan modernized in the 1870s is set in Japan but filmed in New Zealand.

• Movie: The Last Samurai (2003)

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a dramatic fjord in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park - the largest national park in New Zealand. It is one of the top destinations in the country, but in the movie Alien: Covenant , the alien world that the shuttle lands on is, in fact, Milford Sound.

The scene is also filmed in such a way that the iconic-giveaway features of Milford Sound are readily visible.

• Movie: Alien: Covenant (2017)

Bowen Falls

Scenes from the movies X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Mission: Impossible Fallout were also filmed in Milford Sound.

The early wedding scene in Mission: Impossible Fallout was focused on Milford Sound's Bowen Falls. In the movie X-Men Origin: Wolverine , the Wolverine is seen jumping out of one of the waterfalls in Milford after getting his Adamantium skeleton.

• Movies: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and Mission: Impossible Fallout (2018)

Related: Take One Of The New Zealand's Instagrammable Picture With Milford Sound's Bowen Falls

The hills, mountains, and lakes around Queenstown have been the scene of a number of filming locations in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

While none of these movies filmed the alpine resort town itself, Queenstown is a great place to go on Lord of the Rings tours to discover the nearby filming locations.

Related: Why Adrenaline Seekers Love Queenstown, New Zealand

Pūtangirua Pinnacles

The PÅ«tangirua Pinnacles (locally called The Pinnacles) are the best examples in New Zealand of badlands erosion. They are made up of a number of earth pillars (aka hoodoos).

The Pinnacles are located near the capital, Wellington, and were used in the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King as the Paths of the Dead.

• Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Kawarau Gorge

The Kawarau Gorge is located just out of Queenstown and was made famous as the filming site of the mighty Argonath or Pillar of the Kings from Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring .

The Kawarau Gorge is one of the most stunning gorges in New Zealand and was the first place in the world to offer commercial bungy jumping (which is still its main activity).

• Movie: Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring

Flock Hill in the interior of the South Island was used as the filming location for the Great Battle in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe .

There are other locations around the country to discover that were filmed in the movie, including Woodhill Forest as the White Witch's Camp and the Elephant Rocks as Aslan's Camp.

• Movie: Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

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These Notorious So-called 'Tourist Traps' Are Worth Visiting, According to Travelers

Travelers are speaking out to say these spots aren't half bad.

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

Alex Livesey/FIFA via Getty Images

Ah, the traveler’s debacle: To follow the crowd to major, must-see sights knowing they’ll be met with overpriced services, entertainment, food, and souvenirs — or to avoid these sites completely and search out hidden gems void of other tourists. To some, visiting Paris without going up the Eiffel Tower isn’t seeing Paris , while to others, the complete opposite is true. 

It’s a question — or way of traveling — that isn’t always black-and-white. Most of us want to see the major sites — preferably without giant tour groups and overpriced crêpe stands — and stumble upon authentic places that few others will get to experience. So when is it worth following the crowd to a site you really want to see, even though it’s probably a tourist trap?

One user on Reddit , u/MarathonMarathon, posed that question , noting that for them, the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel in Shanghai was a tourist trap they ended up genuinely liking. “It's basically this short 5-minute tourist trap light show tram thing that takes you across the Huangpu River from the Bund to Pudong, with bizarre voice-overs. Sort of like some Disney attraction, but sadder, the very epitome of a kitsch tourist trap.”

The Reddit community responded, sharing the tourist-trap-inclined sites and tours that they genuinely liked and would recommend to others. Below are the “best” responses in order:

Maid of the Mist Boat Tour — Niagara Falls, U.S.

The 20-minute Maid of the Mist boat tour, which claims to be “the original Niagara Falls boat tour” — takes travelers to the foot of Niagara Falls where they can feel the power of 600,000 gallons of water crashing down and enjoy the resulting mist.

“You wait in line forever, the boat is packed, it seems cheesy ... and then you get up to the Falls and feel their power, you realize that the boat has the engine running at full power yet it struggles against the current and you realize that yeah, this is awesome,” said u/twoeightnine.

Original Sound of Music bus tour — Salzburg, Germany

The Original Sound of Music bus tour takes travelers through Salzburg, where "The Sound of Music" movie was filmed. The bus visits Mirabell Garden and Pegasus Fountain, where Maria and the children danced in the movie; Schloss Leopoldskron, the house, where the Trapp Family lived; and Church Mondsee, where Maria and Baron von Trapp got married, along with other sites.

User u/opuntialantana said the four-hour journey included, “Glorious views, drinks, snacks, and a Maria von Trapp lookalike leading us in singalongs as we drove from one filming location to the next. It was cheesy and it was perfect.”

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours — Matamata, New Zealand

At Hobbiton , visitors can walk through the lush pastures of the Shire and through the movie set used in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" film trilogies. The part-bus, part-walking tour includes visits to the series’ most famous locations, including the Hobbit Hole where Bilbo and Frodo Baggins lived. 

The 2.5-hour tour ends with a visit to the Green Dragon Inn , where a free drink concludes the tour of Middle-earth.

Guinness Storehouse — Dublin

The home of Ireland’s most iconic beer offers daily self-guided tours that include entry to the Guinness tasting rooms and a pint of Guinness. If you’re a true beer or Guinness connoisseur, you can opt for a “ premium experience ,” like a guided tasting with storytelling or a tour through the brewery’s historic sites — including their famous underground tunnels.

“When anyone came to visit [sic] me I always took them there; it never got old! It’s a well-curated museum and of course, the tap room is always fun to go to. Also, all my Irish friends were happy to go with me when I first moved there so it seems to be well-liked among people that live there too,” said u/tcpower2.

Hofbräuhaus München — Munich

Reddit user u/Triple10X said they initially went to Hofbräuhaus München “just to say that we've been there.” But after visiting several smaller German beer halls they felt that Hofbräuhaus was the best. 

The three-floor beer hall has a Bavarian restaurant and ongoing shows that take place in a historic, 16th-century building. According to u/Triple10X, “The food we got was phenomenal, the beer was obviously good and the atmosphere was eclectic with multiple couples around us all talking to each other in different languages.”

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

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In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team of location scouts were searching for the iconic rolling hills and lush green pastures of Hobbiton™. An aerial search led them to the Alexander farm, a stunning 1,250 acre sheep farm in the heart of the Waikato. They noted the area’s striking similarity to The Shire™, as described by JRR Tolkien, and quickly realised that the Hobbits™ had found a home.

In one particular part of the farm, a magnificent pine tree towered over a nearby lake, adjacent to a rising hill. Bag End now sits atop that hill, overlooking the Party Tree, as that pine would later be known. The surrounding areas were untouched; no power lines, no buildings and no roads in sight. This meant that Sir Peter Jackson could leave the 20th century behind, and fully submerge himself in the fantasy world of Middle-earth™.

In March 1999 the crew began the nine month quest to bring the ideas for Hobbiton to fruition; help was provided by the New Zealand Army, and soon 39 temporary Hobbit Holes™ were scattered across the 12 acre plot used for the set. Secrecy was key, and strict security measures were put in place by the production company throughout construction and filming. Filming commenced in December 1999, and it took around three months to get a wrap on The Shire.

After an initial attempt at demolition, 17 bare plywood facades remained. These shells would serve as the catalyst that propelled Hobbiton forward into the public eye, with guided tours commencing in 2002.

In 2009, Sir Peter Jackson returned to film The Hobbit trilogy, and he left behind the beautiful movie set you’ll see today; 44 permanently reconstructed Hobbit Holes, in the same fantastic detail seen in the movies. In 2012 The Green Dragon™ Inn was opened as the finale to the journey. Guests now finish their Hobbiton Movie Set experience with a refreshing beverage from the Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ Range. There’s an abundance of movie magic nestled inside the fully operational farm.

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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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