What is the most charming spot in New Zealand? The answer is Hobbiton, the meticulously maintained movie set for The Shire in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
Take a tour through this whimsical property, stroll past the Hobbit holes, enjoy a drink at the Green Dragon, and see why this is a required stop for any New Zealand itinerary.
Our photo tour of Hobbiton offers a glimpse into the magic, along with everything you need to know before you go.
What is Hobbiton?
Hobbiton was constructed in 1999 for the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was used for just several weeks of filming and not intended to be a permanent structure. Upon the release of the first Lord of the Rings movie, residents who lived in the area of Hobbiton recognized the nearby mountain range. Once the location of Hobbiton was discovered and the Lord of the Rings movies grew in popularity, fans began requesting tours of the movie set.
Hobbiton was rebuilt as a permanent structure for the filming of the Hobbit trilogy of movies. Now the owners of the farm, the Alexanders, run tours to see the movie set.
The only way to see Hobbiton is with a tour. Tours run every half an hour starting at 9 am and go all day. On Wednesdays and Sundays there is a special twilight tour where the houses are illuminated and dinner is served in the Green Dragon alehouse. You can also schedule a private tour or book a tour in Chinese.
We took the 9:30 am tour, one of the most popular time slots as it is the best time for photos.
Taking a Tour through Hobbiton
While walking through Hobbiton with our tour group of approximately twenty five people, we wandered among the forty five Hobbit holes, learned interesting facts about the filming of the LoTR movies, and enjoyed the scenery. What a peaceful, bucolic setting. As we toured the property, we couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to live in one of these quaint, undersized, fairytale-like Hobbit houses.
Tyler and Kara, who were Hobbit sized when we visited New Zealand, loved these little houses. Tim, who is the size of Gandalf, would have a much harder time living here if that ever were an option.
Our tour concluded at the Green Dragon with a drink for everyone. Tyler and Kara had the non-alcoholic ginger beer while Tim and I drank amber ale (at 11 am). It’s twelve o’clock somewhere, right!
We loved this tour and it was fascinating to learn more about what goes into film production and set design. Plus, Tyler and Kara are still daydreaming about what it would be like to live in one of these Hobbit houses.
Hobbiton in Photos
How to Visit Hobbiton
Hobbiton is located just outside the town of Matamata, one hour from Rotorua (70 km) and two hours (160 km) from Auckland.
Tours can be booked with departures from The Shires Rest (the main ticketing center, located on the Hobbiton property), Matamata, or Rotorua. The tour of the property lasts approximately two hours, where you walk the 12 acres of property, learn the history behind Hobbiton, and end with a pint of ale at the Green Dragon.
For a schedule of tours and prices, look at the Hobbiton Movie Set website. Since our visit, more tours have been added to the daily schedule, including tours that are available in Chinese, a Second Breakfast Tour, and an Evening Banquet Tour.
Order your tickets in advance. Tours can sell out several weeks to even a month in advance, even if you are not visiting during high season. If tickets are sold out, you can also purchase them through GetYourGuide.
Tours from Auckland. If you will be in Auckland and want to tour Hobbiton, this full day tour gets rave reviews. It includes your transportation, entrance ticket into Hobbiton, a visit to Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and lunch.
Best time to take photos. The morning is the best time to take photos as the lighting is better. The afternoon hours are quieter with less visitors.
You are permitted to take as many photos and videos as you would like. Our guide told us that the record for number of photographs taken stands at 3,400 during the two hour tour (in 2015). Wow! In case you are wondering, I took a measly 158 pix.
Don’t Miss Waitomo Caves!
Waitomo Caves is an hour and fifteen minute drive from Hobbiton and Matamata. Seeing the glowworms is the main reason for visiting the Waitomo Caves, but if you are looking to do something more adventurous, you can go blackwater rafting in Waitomo.
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