If you’d never turn down second breakfast or if you had a poster of Legolas on your wall in 2002 like I did, then you may have heard of a magical land deep in New Zealand’s Waikato district called Hobbiton.
But even if you’re not a Lord of the Rings superfan, the set tour of Hobbiton is something you still might want to put on your New Zealand bucket list!
When I was planning our trip to New Zealand, Hobbiton was one of the first places that popped up. Not being a huge LOTR fan myself, I wasn’t sure if I should include it on our itinerary.
But my husband, Colin, is a big fan, so we decided to go for it. After all, when would we have a chance to walk amongst Hobbit Holes again? And, spoiler alert, it was one of the coolest things we did in New Zealand!
Below, I’ll share everything you need to know about a visit to Hobbiton. I’ll explain what Hobbiton is exactly, how to get there, what you’ll see on the tour and whether or not it’s worth the price.
Whether you’re a hobbit, elf or hail from the race of Men, it’s time to find out if you should visit Hobbiton in New Zealand!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
⭐ Quick booking links
Already know that you want to visit Hobbiton? Book your set tour now so you don’t miss out – these tickets sell out quick!
What is Hobbiton?
Hobbiton is a fictional town in JRR Tolkien’s books and Peter Jackson’s movies, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. It’s part of the Shire within Middle-earth and where some of our favourite hobbits, like Frodo, Sam and Bilbo, hail from.
In real life, Hobbiton is a film set on the Alexander family’s 1250 acre beef farm in the middle of the North Island of Aotearoa (the te reo Maori word for New Zealand). It’s one of the most iconic and popular sites in all of Australia and New Zealand!
LOTR Director Peter Jackson found the farm during an aerial search in 1998 and began transforming it into the Hobbiton set in 1999 (with the help of the New Zealand Army!).
After filming the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, the set was torn down. But it was rebuilt in 2010 to be used in The Hobbit movies.
Only this time, the Alexander family asked that the set be made permanent so that fans could visit. And thus, the movie set tour of Hobbiton was born!
Set tour of Hobbiton, New Zealand fast facts
Location:
All Hobbiton tours leave from The Shire’s Rest at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera. This is just outside Matamata in the Waikato Region of the North Island of New Zealand.
From there it’s about a 10 minute bus ride to the actual film set. You can drive yourself to The Shire’s Rest or join a tour from a nearby city (more on those below).
Hours:
Hobbiton Movie Set is open 7 days a week and every day except Christmas. Opening hours vary throughout the year.
Regular Movie Set Tours last 2.5 hours, the Movie Set Tour + Lunch combo lasts 3.5 hours, Second Breakfast tours last 3.5-4 hours, and Evening Banquet and Behind the Scenes tours both last 4.5 hours.
These durations don’t include the time it takes to get to The Shire’s Rest, where tours depart from.
Price:
For the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, prices are:
- $120 NZD ($99 CAD, $72 USD, £53) for adults
- $60 NZD ($50 CAD, $36 USD, £26) for youth (11-17 years)
- Free for children 10 and under
Note that these prices are valid for tours departing until March 31, 2026. For tours departing after April 1, 2026, the ticket cost is increasing to $130 NZD/adult and $65 NZD/youth.
The adult prices for the other tours are:
- $160 NZD for the Movie Set Tour + Lunch Combo (increasing to $170 NZD)
- $190 NZD for the Second Breakfast Tour (increasing to $200 NZD)
- $230 NZD for the Evening Banquet Tour (increasing to $240 NZD)
- $280 NZD for the Behind the Scenes Tour (increasing to $290 NZD)
Like the Movie Set Tour, all of the prices above are increasing for tours departing after April 1, 2026.
Tickets:
Tickets for Hobbiton book out far in advance, especially during high season (Dec-Feb). If you want to go, don’t wait! Book your tickets in advance.
Buy your tickets for the Movie Set Tour of Hobbiton here
For other tours, such as the Evening Banquet or Second Breakfast, it’s best to book directly with Hobbiton Movie Set. These tours are more limited so book out even earlier.
How do you get from Auckland to Hobbiton?
To get from Auckland to Hobbiton you can drive, take the InterCity bus or hop on a day tour.
If you’re planning to rent a car while in New Zealand, which will give you the most freedom and flexibility to see the country, it makes sense to pick it up as you’re leaving Auckland and heading to Hobbiton. That’s what we did and it worked out great!
The drive takes about 2-2.5 hours, but give yourself more time in case of traffic or to stop for snacks.
We stopped at Sweet Painted Lady Cafe, about 20 minutes from Hobbiton, and enjoyed some of the best pies we had in Aotearoa! I suggest the steak pie and the Chelsea bun for dessert.
If you decide to rent a car in New Zealand, I highly recommend renting with Discover Cars. We were able to rent our car for just $62 NZD ($37 USD) per day including full insurance coverage (see our complete New Zealand trip budget breakdown here).
This was a steal compared to some people who told me they were paying upwards of $120 NZD/day! Customer service, pick up and drop off, and insurance were all seamless with Discover Cars.
You could instead take a an InterCity bus from Auckland to Matamata, which takes 3 hours and 15 minutes. But you would still need to get from Matamata to Hobbiton, a 15-20 minute drive.
Unfortunately, there are no public transportation options, but you can travel via taxi or join a Hobbiton tour that leaves from Matamata.
Or avoid the hassle of buses and the stress of self-driving by jumping on a day tour to Hobbiton! You can take a Hobbiton tour from Auckland or from Rotorua (or even one that starts in Auckland and ends in Rotorua).
Many of the tours also include stops in the surrounding area, such as to see glow worm caves or geothermal parks, allowing you to make the most of your time in the Waikato region.
Join a Hobbiton tour from Auckland:
Join a Hobbiton tour from Rotorua:
Planning to head to Rotorua after Hobbiton? Check out this tour that picks up in Auckland, stops in Hobbiton and drops you off in Rotorua! This is the route we did in our car, so it’s super handy to be able to do it by tour bus too.
Can you visit Hobbiton village without a tour?
While you don’t have to join a day tour from Auckland or Rotorua, you do have to go on a guided tour once you arrive at Hobbiton. You are not able to drive or walk through the area by yourself; all visits are via guided tour.
One does not simply walk into Mordor Hobbiton.
The Hobbiton village is on private land, the Alexander family farm, and set back quite a bit from the main road. So even if you do drive up to The Shire’s Rest, you won’t be able to see anything without joining one of the guided tours.
Which tour of Hobbiton should you do?
Hobbiton offers a variety of tours depending on how you want to spend your time in the Shire. We opted for the standard movie set tour of Hobbiton.
Since visiting Hobbiton is not the most budget-friendly activity in New Zealand, we wanted a more affordable tour that still gave us great value.
At 2.5 hours, this tour still gives you plenty of time to explore Hobbiton and learn all about it from the tour guides. It also includes a complimentary drink at The Green Dragon Inn.
The Move Set Tour of Hobbiton includes:
- 10-minute bus ride from The Shire’s Rest (where you’ll check in) to the Hobbiton movie set.
- A guided walking tour around the 12-acre set.
- A visit to the interior of a Hobbit Hole on Bagshot Row.
- A visit to the Green Dragon Inn and complimentary drink.
- The return bus ride back to The Shire’s Rest.
No matter your fandom level, I’m sure this movie set tour will more than satisfy you!
However if you are a big fan or have the budget for other Hobbiton tours and experiences, I have heard only good things about them. The most popular ones are the Evening Banquet and Second Breakfast, both of which include a meal and more time in Hobbiton.
I’ve heard the food is fantastic and for the evening tour, you also get to see the village all lit up with lanterns at night. The Behind the Scenes Tour is the newest (and most expensive) option, but I’m sure it’s worth it for die-hard fans.
Still not sure? The Hobbiton’s Shire Diaries blog actually has a great article to help you decide which set tour to go on.
In addition to these tours, you can also buy tickets to special celebrations at Hobbiton such as Mid Winter Feast, International Hobbit Day, Hobbiton Beer Festival and the Middle-earth Halfling Marathon.
You can also organize a private set tour of Hobbiton or host your wedding there!
Note: No matter what tour of Hobbiton you choose, you need to book early! This is especially true for the tours that include meals, as there are fewer of these each day, and if you’re visiting during the busy season (Dec-Feb).
Is the tour of Hobbiton worth it if they’re doing construction?
From March to November 2023, part of Hobbiton was under construction to create the interiors of two Hobbit Holes, which opened in December 2023. Unfortunately when we visited in April 2023, the interiors weren’t open yet and construction was still taking place.
While that project is now completed, there is still on-going maintenance and repair happening across Hobbiton. As of writing (Feb 2026), the current construction is not impacting tours, but check here for updates.
I will say, I didn’t mind visiting Hobbiton during construction. The noise was minimal and didn’t take away from our experience. In order to bypass the construction, an alternate walking route was created through the set.
The biggest downside is that we didn’t get to into the Hobbit Holes, since they weren’t ready in time for our visit. But you won’t have that problem, since they’ve been open since Dec ’23!
And on the plus side, we were given a free souvenir mug to make up for any impact the construction had on our visit.
What happens on the movie set tour of Hobbiton?
Curious what actually happens during the tour of Hobbiton? Let me walk you through it!
Step 1: Arrive at The Shire’s Rest
The first stop on your movie set tour of Hobbiton is The Shire’s Rest, where your tour bus will drop you off or where you’ll park your car.
This is where you’ll check in ahead of your Hobbiton tour, use the bathroom, and pop into the cafe or gift shop. There are also lots of picnic tables and benches around.
We showed up pretty early for our tour (they ask you to arrive at least 20 minutes before your tour time) so had a lot of time to kill at The Shire’s Rest. Since we had filled up on pies at Sweet Painted Lady Cafe, we weren’t hungry enough to visit the cafe.
We were, however, very excited to peruse the gift shop, expecting lots of items to browse through. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. The gift shop itself is very small and doesn’t have many options.
You would think the only souvenir shop at one of the biggest attractions in the country would be full of magnets, postcards and unique souvenirs. But nope! They only had three magnets to choose from, and most of the limited floor space was dedicated to figurines.
Hopefully that has improved since our visit!
When it was just about time for our tour, we joined the roped off line with the rest of our group and loaded onto a big green bus. Once everyone was on the bus we met our tour guide, Lindsey, and started the drive to Hobbiton.
During the drive, a welcome video is shown where Peter Jackson explains how Hobbiton came to be. Lindsey also pointed out various parts of the landscape on our scenic 10 minute ride.
Step 2: Go on the tour of Hobbiton village
We loaded off the bus and waited by the Hobbiton sign. Then we were led down the same path that Gandalf and Frodo ride down on their way into Hobbiton.
There we got our first look at the Hobbit Holes and gardens up close. Lindsey explained that Hobbiton has over 40 Hobbit Holes and that they were built at different sizes so they could use forced perspective while filming.
Right away I was so impressed by the attention to detail. Hobbit Holes that I’m sure are on screen for just a few seconds are intricately decorated with entire gardens and window scapes.
Many of the Hobbit Holes had a theme based on the profession of the hobbit who lived there; the beekeeper’s house had jars of honey out front and a bee on his mailbox while the fisherman’s mailbox was shaped like a fish.
To really prove Peter Jackson’s attention to detail, Lindsey pointed out a fruit tree to us.
It was an apple tree that had been planted for filming but because Tolkien mentioned a plum tree in his books, Jackson had all of the apples and apple leaves removed and attached individual plum and plum leaves in their place.
After walking along the first few rows of houses, we headed up the hill to a full-size Hobbit Hole that visitors are allowed to step into.
This was not the interior Hobbit Holes as, unfortunately, those were still under construction during our visit. With this one, there’s just enough space to take a step inside for a cute photo opp looking out the door.
Once our group had all taken photos in the doorway, we journeyed on to the most important house in Hobbiton, Bag End. This is Bilbo and Frodo’s home from the movies and features the famous sign, “No admittance except on party business.”
Fun fact: The tree above Bag End is actually fake! It’s built out of steel and foam with 200,000 leaves that were all painted and attached by hand.
Bag End is the highest point in Hobbiton and allows you to look out over The Shire (aka the Alexander family farm). The view is stunning!
I had a huge grin on my face staring out over the rolling green hills dotted with Hobbit Holes. It truly felt like walking through a magical fantasy land and not just a movie set.
Visiting an interior Hobbit Hole on Bagshot Row is also part of the set tour, but as I explained above, those were under construction when we visited.
Your guide will split your group into two and each smaller group will visit one of two Hobbit Holes. You’ll spend about 15 minutes wandering around the inside of the Hobbit Hole, where you’ll be invited to take photos and even touch the props.
Afterwards, you’ll rejoin the rest of your group and continue with your tour!
Step 3: Grab a drink at The Green Dragon Inn
After admiring many Hobbit Holes and hearing stories about filming Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, we made our way to the Green Dragon Inn. We saw the mill, crossed over a bridge and then entered the pub.
Included in the movie set tour is a free drink, which the bartenders at the inn will quickly serve you in an old-timey mug. I highly recommend the cider!
In addition to the free drink, there were other snacks and drinks available for purchase. We didn’t try any but it looked like they had a nice selection of baked goods.
The inn itself was very charming and definitely still felt like you were in Tolkien’s magical world. I was trying to track all of the little details, like signage behind the bar and even the gold leaf hangers in the bathroom (like the Leaves of Lórien brooches the fellowship members wear!).
Once we finished with our drinks, we met our guide back outside the inn and were presented with our free mugs (gifts to apologize for the construction).
I would have liked a bit more time to enjoy The Green Dragon Inn and walk around the outside, as it was really pretty under the tree by the water and looking out over the mill. But as all of the tours keep to a tight schedule, it was time for us to leave.
Step 4: Head back to The Shire’s Rest
From The Green Dragon, we walked back to the main Hobbit Hole area, passing through a beautifully maintained garden, and then loaded back onto the bus.
We drove the same route back to The Shire’s Rest. But this time, they played clips of the LOTR movies so we could see the movie sets we had just walked through on screen.
Once back at The Shire’s Rest, you can take your time and enjoy the cafe or (limited) souvenir shop again before getting into your car or tour bus and departing Middle-earth.
7 tips for visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand
1) You need to book in advance
With 1500 people visiting Hobbiton every single day, and only a limited number of tours, you need to book your tickets to Hobbiton way in advance.
Grab your movie set tour of Hobbiton tickets here (or book a Hobbiton tour from Auckland or Hobbiton tour from Rotorua).
We ran into a couple at the Matamata tourist information office who were trying to book their Hobbiton tickets for later that same day. They were informed that the next available tickets weren’t until the week after!
It would really suck to plan your whole New Zealand itinerary around Hobbiton and not be able to go. So please do book your tickets in advance.
2) Arrive early to check in
You don’t have to arrive outrageously early but definitely arrive 15-20 minutes before your tour time to check in and ensure you’re all set to go before the tour.
There’s not a ton to do at The Shire’s Rest but they do have a small gift shop, cafe, bathrooms and nice outdoor seating areas. A wizard may never be late or early but us humans sure can be!
3) The Hobbiton set tour is outside, so dress appropriately
Besides small parts of the tour (the bus ride from/back to The Shire’s Rest, inside the Hobbit Holes, inside The Green Dragon Inn), the rest of it is outside in the elements.
Dress for the weather and don’t forget about sunscreen under New Zealand’s thin ozone layer. If it’s raining, Hobbiton will provide umbrellas.
Also keep in mind that you’re walking around a farm-turned-movie-set, so there are lots of narrow paths and some bumpy terrain. So wear appropriate footwear too!
If you’re concerned about access, click here to learn more.
4) Stick with your tour group
Your tour of Hobbiton is guided so you’ll need to stick with your group so you don’t get lost or miss out on any information.
The tours run on a tight schedule so that every group can enjoy the area they’re in without other groups (an impressive feat!) so be sure to keep up and not slow your group down.
There were a few people in our group who kept loitering behind. Not only did this stress out our guide, but it also meant we had to rush past the last few areas since we were running behind.
5) Don’t worry, you will get your photo in a Hobbit Hole!
I was worried heading to Hobbiton that all of my photos would have other people in them, since you have to visit on a group tour with up to 40 other people. But there are lots of opportunities to take photos without anyone in them.
And at the main Hobbit Hole that visitors can pose in, your tour guide will ensure everyone has a chance to get their photo taken (our guide even offered to be everyone’s photographer).
Of course now that you can go in and see the Hobbit Hole interiors, there will be even more opportunities to pose inside the homes.
6) Hobbiton is more fun if you’ve seen the movies but you don’t have to be a huge LOTR fan
If you’ve seen the movies and/or have read the Lord of the Rings books, Hobbiton is all that more magical. There was one person on our tour who came dressed in elf ears – and even had brought extra pairs of ears to share with the group!
But you don’t have to be an expert or die-hard fan to enjoy yourself. I’m certainly not and I had a great time. I knew enough about Lord of the Rings to recognize where I was and beyond that, I was just amazed by the magical set, attention to detail and stunning views.
Pro tip: Watch/rewatch the films right before your visit to Hobbiton so you can pick out key moments from the movies on your tour (that’s what Colin and I did!).
7) Lower your expectations for the gift shop
As I mentioned, I was disappointed by the souvenirs on offer at Hobbiton. The shop was small and lacked options.
Considering this is the key place to go for LOTR fans who are obviously happy to spend money on LOTR experiences, you’d think their merch store would be more substantial! I really hope they’ve expanded and improved their inventory since our visit.
What other Lord of the Rings tours are there in New Zealand?
Didn’t get enough Lord of the Rings at the Hobbiton movie set? Lucky for you, there’s lots of other LOTR tours and activities in New Zealand!
In Wellington, you can visit Weta Workshop, the visual effects company behind Lord of the Rings and other big films like Avatar, Mad Max, Black Panther and more.
You can do a guided tour of Weta Workshop, a half day tour to visit Weta Workshop and LOTR film locations, or a full day tour which includes your Weta Workshop visit, filming locations and lunch.
Or if you’re in Auckland, you can do the Weta Workshop Unleashed experience. Colin and I did this while we were in Auckland and had a blast getting up close with the movie magic!
Check out more things to do in Auckland based on your travel style & interests!
You can also go on a LOTR experience on the South Island. You can join a 4WD Lord of the Rings discovery tour from Queenstown, checking out filming sites for Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings and more.
You can also DIY your own tour of Lord of the Rings film locations all around the country using the Department of Conservation’s list. We did this on our South Island road trip, stopping at some very scenic spots.
My Hobbiton tour review: Is the set tour of Hobbiton worth it?
Yes! As you may have gathered by this point in the blog post, I definitely think the set tour of Hobbiton is worth it and highly recommend adding it to your New Zealand itinerary.
If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, Hobbiton is a must-visit. In fact, you might even want to splurge on one of the meal or behind the scenes tour options in order to spend more time in the Shire.
We had a few big fans on our tour (you know the type: quoting the movie and wearing elf ears) and they definitely loved their visit.
But even if you’re not a huge fan or haven’t seen the movies in many years, I think you’ll still enjoy a trip to Hobbiton.
It’s a beautiful place and really does feel like you’re entering a magical land full of real tiny homes for tiny creatures. Learning about the work that went into creating this place is fascinating, even if you can’t recall exactly what happens in the movies.
Yes, it’s expensive. But Hobbiton is one of a kind; there’s no other place like it in the world.
That unique factor definitely makes it worth visiting in my opinion. Even though I’m not super into LOTR, I’m really glad we took the time to visit this magical place in New Zealand.
Book your set tour of Hobbiton tickets here!
Planning a trip to New Zealand? Check out these posts:
General New Zealand:
North Island of New Zealand:
South Island of New Zealand:
Share my guide to Hobbiton, New Zealand. Pin it!
