For Lord of the Rings fans, a pilgrimage to the Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand is something you must do at least once in your life. Even if you aren’t a fan, the experience of touring the Shire is wonderfully engaging and interesting. I went with someone who wasn’t a fan, who still loved it! Hobbiton is located just outside Matamata on the North Island of New Zealand. The attraction is on the Alexander farm, which was the film location of Hobbiton and the Shire in both the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies. If you’re planning a trip to Hobbiton, there’s a lot that you need to know before you go – here’s a guide for visiting this slice of heaven in Middle Earth!
Tips for Visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set
You MUST book tickets in advance!!!
Hobbiton can sell out months in advance (I’m not kidding). If you want to visit Hobbiton, I highly recommend booking your tickets as early as possible. I regularly checked ticket availability for the end of April for months, and booked tickets approximately 6 weeks in advance for the date I wanted. If the date you want is sold out through the official website, or you’re unable to book in advance and can only book last minute, I recommend booking Hobbiton through GetYourGuide. External tour operators and booking platforms will bulk buy tickets far in advance. So even if there is no availability through the official website, there may be tickets available through GetYourGuide.
Book the earliest time slot possible for fewer crowds.
Hobbiton is one of the most popular attractions in the entire country – and, as noted above, they can sell out months in advance. If you want to avoid the crowds, book the earliest time slot available. I went at 8:30am (the first slot that day was at 8:00am, and already sold out), and was very happy to be one of the first tours on the set. While tour groups are expertly managed by the guides, you’ll have a better experience if there are fewer people around.
Either drive yourself there, or book a tour with transportation included.
There is no public transportation to or from the attraction, so you’ll need to get to Hobbiton by vehicle. If you don’t have a car, book a tour ticket that includes a transfer. The most popular options are a tour from Matamata, a tour from Rotorua, or you can even book a tour from Auckland. If you book an Auckland tour, this will be a full-day experience.
The weather will hugely impact your Hobbiton experience.
The vast majority of the Hobbiton Movie Set is all outside. You’ll be subject to the elements, and this will affect your tour. I felt so lucky to go on a sunny and bright morning – it wasn’t super warm, but it was dry and sunny! The day before it had rained all day. It definitely would have been a lesser experience if the weather was bad. Be prepared and bring waterproof layers, a warm jacket, hat, and gloves in cool weather, and sunscreen and a hat in hot weather.
The guides at Hobbiton are truly amazing.
As a LOTR fan of two decades, I really didn’t think I would learn anything new – but I did! I learned several new fun facts about Lord of the Rings while on the tour, thanks to my guide. The guides at Hobbiton are fantastic, and make the experience special for both fans and regular visitors alike. My tour guide, Seb (Sebastian), took us around the movie set with enthusiasm, and patiently answered my many questions. He also kindly took pictures for myself and other people on the tour! I was so impressed with their knowledge and expertise of all things Middle Earth.
Visiting Hobbiton: What to Expect on Arrival
There is a large car park on-site, along with toilets, a cafe, and a gift shop. Follow the instructions provided, and arrive 15-20 minutes before your tour departure time. When it’s time to set off, your guide will introduce themselves to the group and you’ll take a coach transfer to the film set. An introduction video, including scenes from the movies and commentary by director Peter Jackson, plays as you drive to the set.
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Highlights
The tour follows a set route through the film set, taking you past 44 specially made hobbit holes, and notable film locations. Your tour guide will give you plenty of time to take photos along the way, pointing out small details and explaining the construction history of the set and all sorts of LOTR trivia.
For me, seeing Hobbiton and especially Bag End was a real highlight. Bag End is Bilbo’s house, the most featured hobbit house in Lord of the Rings. I’d been dreaming of visiting this place for so many years – it was such a special moment to see it in real life!
At my high school graduation party in 2011, my sister helped make a “no admittance except on party business” sign for me. Enjoy a throwback pic of me, age 18, with the sign in our backyard!
Another highlight for me was getting to step inside a real-life hobbit house on Bagshot Row. This is a new addition to the Hobbition Movie Set experience, and I can’t imagine the tour without it! The group splits into two, and each get to see the interior of a fully furnished hobbit house. The hobbit houses you see in Hobbiton are not furnished – behind the door, there’s nothing. So, I loved getting to see all the intricate details and furnishings of a real hobbit house!
I also loved getting to have a pint for the brave and true at the Green Dragon, the pub located on the film set. A beer, cider, or non-alcoholic drink (ginger beer) is included in your ticket; food and snacks are available for purchase (I recommend the scones!). Groups are given about 20 minutes to enjoy their drink in the atmospheric pub. As someone who did the Green Dragon drinking song on stage at a Lord of the Rings marathon with her best friends at age 14, this was a top highlight of Hobbiton for me!!
After the Green Dragon, the tour goes on one last stroll through Hobbiton. I loved getting to see the pond, which has beautiful reflections of the Shire in the sunshine. All too soon, we were boarding the coach to go back to the car park. I wept watching the rolling green hills of the Shire fade from view, as Howard Shore’s soundtrack played on the bus. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
What to Do Near Hobbiton: Mount Maungakawa Hike (Te Tapui Reserve)
The Hobbiton Movie Set tour lasts about 3 hours, from start to finish including transfers. If you’re looking for other things to do in the area, I loved hiking Mount Maungawaka! This is about a 30-minute drive from the attraction (some of which is on a well-maintained unsealed road), and perfect to do in the morning before your tour, or in the afternoon after the tour. There’s a small parking area at the start of the hike.
The walk can be done as a loop, with the highlight being the fire tower at the Mount Maungakawa summit. The views from the top over the area are just stunning – I felt like I was back in the Shire! Most of the hike is through the forest, and the trail was pretty muddy when I went so sturdy footwear is recommended. Overall, the Mount Maungakawa hike is 8.1 km in total, and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. Pin the exact start location on GoogleMaps (Te Tapui Reserve) so you know where to go!
Where to Stay Near Hobbiton (Matamata)
There’s unfortunately a dearth of freedom campsites or cheap campgrounds around Matamata. Because of how popular the attraction is, I would be very careful stealth camping in the area. I can imagine the authorities would love to dole out fines for prohibited overnight stays. I stayed at Opal Hot Springs & Holiday Park, which was $40 per night. This included two adults at a powered site, as well as access to all facilities (great showers and an excellent kitchen!), and access to the hot pools. I’d definitely stay here again, and it was a short 20-minute drive to the Hobbiton Movie Set in the morning.
There are also some accommodation options in Matamata, the closest town to Hobbiton.
- Matamata Central Motel – clean and comfy rooms in a convenient location in town
- Central Matamata Boutique – a boutique studio apartment, with French design and garden views
- housewithnonails – a truly unique property, with double or twin rooms available and welcoming hosts
Check out more options using the map below!
Planning Your Trip to Hobbiton (Matamata)
The nearest airport to the Hobbiton Movie Set is Hamilton airport, although Auckland airport is the closest major hub. I use Skyscanner to book the cheapest flights. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
There is no public transportation to the site, so you’ll need your own car to get there. If you don’t have a vehicle, be sure to book a Hobbiton tour that includes transfers. There are a lot of tour options for tickets to Hobbiton – which may include transfers, a festive lunch, a trip to Waitomo Caves (if choosing the Auckland tour) and more. Check out all of the tour choices and book your Hobbiton Movie Set ticket below!
Visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set was a dream come true. This is one thing you must do on a trip to New Zealand – but it does require a fair amount of advance planning. Enjoy your visit to the Shire and have a pint for me at the Green Dragon! I hope this post helps planning your trip to the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata.
Have you visited Hobbiton Movie Set – or any other Lord of the Rings film locations? Share your experience in the comments!
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