hobbiton tours matamata

About Hobbiton

In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s set out to search for a suitable location to become the Movie Set for Hobbiton. When location scouts spotted the Alexander farm from the air, noticing the rolling hills and stunning green pastures, they immediately noted the similarities to The Shire that JRR Tolkien describes in her books.

In 1999 the transformation of the Alexanders sheep farm in the heart of Waikato began. With the help of the New Zealand Army, 39 temporary Hobbit Holes were built and Hobbiton was born. Filming began in December 1999 and soon after, when all filming was complete, an attempt at demolition began leaving 17 bare plywood facades. These shells later became the catalyst that launched Hobbiton in to the public eye.

Guided tours began in 2002 and have been running ever since, with a break in 2009 to film The Hobbit trilogy. Now Matamata biggest attraction, Hobbiton welcomes thousands of guests every year.

Hobbiton Movie Set runs a shuttle from the i-site out to Hobbiton at 11am daily in time for the 11am tour. Bookings are essential so contact the i-site to secure your seat.

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Matamata (Hobbiton)

Hobbiton Movie Set

Once a small rural township of very little note (except to local farmers and horse breeders), Matamata has become world famous due to a nearby farm which was the filming location for parts of the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and Hobbit trilogies. After filming ended, part of the working sheep farm has been turned into a top New Zealand visitor attraction: Hobbiton. Fans and those who enjoy seeing the incredible attention to detail that went into making these blockbuster movies leave Hobbiton feeling like they’ve had a visit to a story-book world, which is literally quite true!

New Zealand often doubles for Middle-earth, the fantastical realm created by J.R.R. Tolkien in his classic Lord of the Rings and Hobbit books which were then turned into cinematic gold by New Zealand’s own Sir Peter Jackson. However, nowhere else quite captures the magic of the movie-making phenomenon as this place which is synonymous with The Shire.

what to expect

Visitors to the 12-acre movie set will be delighted that they can walk in the footsteps of hobbits along pathways that wend between rolling hills, grassy meadows, and wander across double-arched stone bridge over a small lake so that they can stop by the Mill, the Party Tree and over 40 circular doorways to hobbit holes including Bag End! Of course, no journey to Hobbiton would be complete without a stop at The Green Dragon Inn where you can enjoy a tasty beverage only available in this part of Middle-earth on a Hobbiton tour.

If you’re a mega-LOTR fan, you may want to dress up for the day – we’ve even heard tales of super fans speaking Elvish during their visit! The wonderful thing about Hobbiton is that no matter what time of year you visit, it is always so picturesque, but our Haka guides especially love to see The Shire in Spring (September through to November) when the Hobbit gardens are in full new-growth swing.

The Matamata region

Matamata town itself has embraced its role in helping fans experience Hobbiton; giving its information centre (now named The Gatehouse) a Hobbiton-esque makeover and giving pride of place to a statue of Gollum depicted with fish in hand at the Forbidden Pool. Sharp-eyed visitors will also spot Hobbit Sushi and Strider Shoes (Strider is the alias of Aragorn), and there’s even a bar with a pizza menu featuring LOTR-themed options such as Bilbo’s Patch and Sauron’s Fury. While we don’t technically stay in this North Island rural town, it is the location of one of our most popular included activities so we just had to put it on the map.

The working farm that is the location for Hobbiton movie set has views across the Matamata region and across to the Kaimai Range. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse the North Island’s largest waterfall in the of the foothills ranges. WIth two drops, one of 91 metres and one of 60 metres, the Wairere Falls is an impressive sight.

INTERNATIONAL HOBBIT DAY IS CELEBRATED ON 22ND SEPTEMBER

If you’re a true J. R.R Tolkien fan you may already have the date that honours the birthdays of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins circled in your diary. At Hobbiton Movie Set, Hobbit Day is celebrated with an evening of food, fireworks, dancing and much merriment – just like the party that sets the scene in The Fellowship of the Ring! If you’re far from the Shire on this date, you can always celebrate by going dancing barefoot in honour of the shoeless hobbits. If you are looking for a New Zealand Lord of the Rings tour this is the place to visit!

Photo Credits: Hobbiton Movie Set, Bay of Plenty Tourism

Tours including Matamata (Hobbiton)

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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.

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 waiting 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 AU$114.34)
• Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland (From AU$352.57)
• Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour from Auckland (From AU$166.75)
• Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour from Auckland (From AU$357.34)
• Hobbiton & Rotorua including Wai-O-Tapu - Small Group Tour from Auckland (From AU$380.20)
• (8.72 km) Chestnut Lane Cottage
• (11.55 km) ArtHouse Bed and Breakfast
• (14.96 km) Huntington Stables Retreat Accommodation
• (11.86 km) Tower Road Motel
• (10.58 km) Broadway Motel & Miro Court Villas
• (0.00 km) The Shire's rest cafe
• (1.38 km) The Green Dragon Inn
• (10.49 km) The Redoubt Bar and Eatery
• (10.47 km) Osteria Matamata
• (10.48 km) Workmans Cafe Bar
• (1.67 km) Headfirst Travel - Waitomo Wanderer
• (11.94 km) Riverside Adventures Waikato
• (13.58 km) The Boatshed Kayaks
• (10.43 km) Matamata isite Visitor Information Centre
• (13.24 km) Firth Tower Estate and Museum

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

Please note: Tours will not be running the afternoon of Saturday 23 March due to the Middle-earth Halfling Marathon event. 

Choose a Tour

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

• The Shire's Rest™

A converted woolshed, The Shire's™ Rest is located in the heart of the Waikato countryside, with a tranquil country setting. The Shire's Rest is surrounded by stunning landscapes and far-reaching views of Mount Te Aroha and the Kaimai Ranges. Start your trip in true Kiwi fashion at the Cafe or Garden Bar, with home cooked food from our wide range of delicious meals, snacks, craft beers and drinks in authentic New Zealand surroundings. The Shire's Rest  Ticketing Centre , Store  is situated below the Cafe . Our friendly staff can assist you in booking your tour or purchasing something special to remember your adventure to Hobbiton Movie Set. 

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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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Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

Due to copyright, all the movie sets around NZ were dismantled after the filming of The Lord of the Ring s , but Hobbiton’s owners negotiated to keep their hobbit holes, which were then rebuilt for the filming of The Hobbit . Tours include a drink at the wonderful Green Dragon Inn. Free transfers leave from the Matamata i-SITE – check timings on the Hobbiton website. Book ahead. The popular Evening Dinner Tours from Sunday to Wednesday include a banquet dinner.

To get to Hobbiton with your own transport, head towards Cambridge from Matamata, turn right into Puketutu Rd and then left into Buckland Rd, stopping at the Shire’s Rest Cafe.

501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera

Get In Touch

0508 446 224 866

https://www.hobbitontours.com

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The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Published by bry on november 26, 2019 november 26, 2019.

Disclaimer: This blog in no way sponsored by, or affiliated with Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, Wingnut Films, or New Line Cinema. The commentary provided in this post falls under fair use .

My Experience at Hobbiton

My first stop both times I’ve been to New Zealand has been to Matamata, home of the Hobbiton movie set where the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies were filmed. Hobbiton was originally built in 1999 for the filming of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, but was mostly torn down after filming concluded.

The set was rebuilt more permanently in 2010 for the filming of The Hobbit trilogy and has remained as a popular tourist destination for Tolkien fans, movie lovers, and others to visit. Matamata was once a tiny town made up of farmers and horse breeders. It’s now a booming hub for tourists because of Alexander Farm where Hobbiton is located. The only way to see the Hobbiton set is to take the official tour operated by the farm. Thankfully, the tour is amazing and well worth the money! 

There are two pick-up locations for the tour, the Matamata I-Site and The Shire’s Rest. The Matamata I-Site is Hobbiton themed and has a small gift shop, but I recommend choosing Shire’s Rest to get the full Hobbiton experience! There is a large themed building, a huge gift shop, and even a great cafe. 

From The Shire’s Rest, the bus ride to the set was scenic and the bus driver was knowledgeable and interesting. They even play a video on the bus of Peter Jackson and the farm’s owner introducing you to Hobbiton. Once we reached the farm, our friendly tour guide was quick to take us on our way.

We entered on the same path as Gandalf in the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring and were greeted by a beautiful garden (with all real plants!). 

As you move up the hill, the hobbits are supposed to get more wealthy, so we started at the base of the hill viewing the ‘less luxurious’ hobbit holes. I don’t know about you, but I’d love to live in any of these cozy homes.

Click to Enlarge

Each hobbit hole was masterfully crafted by artists from Weta Workshop in Wellington, NZ. Everything, from the door to the mailbox to the stuff in the windows, was designed and handcrafted with a specific hobbit resident in mind. Many of the hobbits’ professions could be easily surmised from the decorations around their homes.

If you’re scratching your head trying to figure out how Gandalf could look so huge while the hobbits looked so hobbit sized, you’re not alone. On the tour, we got to see exactly how this worked. Most hobbit holes are “hobbit sized,” meaning a human actor playing a hobbit could fit comfortably in the doorway. Some hobbit holes, however, were “Gandalf sized,” meaning the hobbit holes were made to be much smaller so when actor Ian McKellen walked by, he would appear very large compared to the door.

Not a single detail was overlooked by the artists at Weta Workshop. There were chimneys, clothes hanging to dry, windows (and even stuff in the windows!), and a mailbox for each and every hobbit hole. Some of the chimneys even had smoke coming out of them; I still haven’t been able to figure that one out. The attention to detail makes Hobbiton look beautifully lived in and as though the hobbit holes have been around in their isolated little paradise for years.

Finally, we made it to the top of the hill and to the end of Bagshot Row to Bag End, the home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.

After seeing Bag End, we began descending down the hill, through the edge of a forest, past the field where Bilbo had his birthday bash, towards the picturesque water mill and pond.

My favorite part of all, however, was the Green Dragon Inn where the tour ended. With its authentic thatched roof, real fireplaces, and cozy interior, it was the perfect place to enjoy our complimentary beverages.

What would you be most excited to see in real life on the Hobbiton Movie Set? Is Hobbiton on your must-see list? Let me know in the comments down below!

Know Before You Go

• Tickets usually need to be purchased well ahead of time. Don’t expect to show up and buy your tickets for the day there. Buy your tickets online here .
• If you can’t make it to the Matamata I-Site or to The Shire’s Rest Cafe, there is an option to get picked up from Rotorua.
• The tour takes about 2 hours start to finish.
• The tour is entirely on foot and it includes some stairs, some steep parts, and uneven terrain. Though it is not a very intense walk, make sure you have comfortable footwear and definitely steer clear of high heels.
• If you are in a wheelchair or will have trouble getting around by yourself for any reason, make sure you have someone with you on the tour to help or contact Hobbiton Tours to see if they can help accommodate you.
• A couple of times a year, Hobbiton has special events with food, celebrations, and sometimes even surprise appearances from actors in the movies! Check the special events page to see if events such as International Hobbit Day, the Hobbiton Beer Festival, or the Mid-Summer Celebration are happening when you’re visiting!

Other Things to do in the Area

• Various Bars, Restaurants, and Cafes in Matamata The center of Matamata (right by the Hobbiton sign!) is full of bars, restaurants, and cafes, some of which are vaguely Lord of the Rings themed.

If I have used your image in this article and you would like it removed, please contact me and I would be happy to remove it.

Pin to read later!

Jono · October 16, 2021 at 5:44 pm

Excellent place experience everything you hope for and much much more great guide information and easy to travel to if you stay in lake taupo. I recommend doing the mt ruapehu round the mountain track afterwards if you have a few extra days staying at either national park or ohakune there is heaps of other lotr attractions in these parts and great views of mt doom (mt ngarahoe)

Bry · October 16, 2021 at 5:56 pm

Definitely agree about Ruapehu! Thanks for the comment!

Ultimate Lord of the Rings Road Trip - Walking into Mordor and Other Traveling Tales · October 20, 2021 at 12:42 pm

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Hobbiton Movie Set, Waikato

By Alistair Guthrie

• Hobbiton Movie Set
• Wairere Falls

2 hours from Auckland

45 minutes from Hamilton

1 hour from Rotorua

Matamata is a must see if you're a Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan. Take a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set™ and enjoy the town's fabulous cafes.

Hobbiton™ Movie Set, Waikato

By Hobbiton™ Movie Set

Hobbit Day, Waikato

By Hobbiton Tours

Wairere Falls, Waikato

By Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

Two hours south of Auckland lies the lush farmland of  Hobbiton Movie Set (opens in new window) ; it has more than 44 unique hobbit holes, including Bag End (Bilbo's house). As you wander through the heart of the Shire, you'll get to hear the fascinating commentary about how it was all created.

Along your journey you'll see the mill, the double arched bridge and the famous Party Tree before stopping for a drink at the Green Dragon™ Inn. Evening tours are also available, and they include a feast fit for a hobbit!

A number of great farmstays are also on offer in Matamata. Just east of town you can discover the North Island’s highest waterfalls, Wairere Falls, which are a spectacular sight plunging 153m. The Wairere Falls walking track showcases a diverse range of natural scenery and from the lookout you can enjoy magnificent views over the valley and the Waikato Plains.

Matamata is situated 2 hours' drive from Auckland, 45 minutes from Hamilton and 1 hour from Rotorua.

Explore Matamata

Find things to do, find places to stay, find transport, find a multi-day tour.

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