Your Guide to Hobbiton: What to know before you go

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour was the first activity we planned when mapping out our trip to New Zealand. I knew there was no way I was traveling to the other side of the globe without visiting the home of the infamous Bilbo Baggins. As a total Middle-earth nerd with a strong attachment to these books and movies, I often envisioned myself walking through the cobblestone streets lined with cozy hobbit holes, admiring the view from Bilbo’s bench, or enjoying a beer at the Green Dragon. It all seemed too good to be true…

The day before our tour, I began to worry that seeing Hobbiton in person might shatter the magic for me. Would it feel like a Hobbit theme park rather than the wondrous fantasy land I believed it to be?

I kept these thoughts to myself as we made the scenic drive through rolling green hills peppered with sheep. Saying the words out loud might make them come true. Fortunately, I’ll never know if it would have, because I quickly realized that visiting Hobbiton is undeniably amazing and a must-do experience if you are exploring North Island.

What is Hobbiton?

Hobbiton is a fictional village at the center of an area called ‘The Shire,’ a region in Middle-earth. It is home to small creatures known as hobbits, featured in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

This quaint village is known for its slow-paced and peaceful way of life. Among its idyllic landscape, hobbits focus on simple pleasures like gardening, good food, and community. Its inhabitants would rather not involve themselves with the troubles of the outside world.

In 1999, the New Zealand Army helped build the original Hobbiton for filming ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies. After filming wrapped, they partially demolished it. In 2010, during the making of ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy, they not only rebuilt Hobbiton but also expanded it from 39 to 44 hobbit holes. Since then, it has remained a permanent attraction, drawing visitors from all over the globe.

Planning Ahead

Since the movie set is located on Alexander Farms, an operating sheep farm, the only way to see Hobbiton is to book a guided tour. The classic Hobbiton Movie Set tour is NZD 120. If you’re willing to pay a little extra they also offer a variety of tours which include meals. Their website lists these experiences as The Second Breakfast Tour, The Lunch Combo, and the Evening Banquet Tour.

I recommend booking at least a few months in advance to guarantee your preferred time. There can be up to 41 people in a tour group. We went in the off-season, and our group was still completely full. If you have flexibility in your itinerary, you might be able to book a few days prior. Personally, I’d rather be safe than sorry.

You can book your tour HERE.

Getting There

The Hobbiton Movie Set is located in the city of Matamata, about 2.5 hours from Auckland. The journey through the New Zealand countryside offers scenic views of green grass and grazing sheep. Don’t worry, signs will be pointing you in the right direction the entire way. If you don’t have your own vehicle while visiting North Island, several tour buses depart from Auckland. This is a great option for a day trip, as there aren’t many other tourist attractions in the area.

You will meet at Shire’s Rest, where there is ample parking. Although you can’t see Hobbiton from here, this is where you check-in. I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early. This will allow you to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, grab some food at the café (which is surprisingly affordable), and check out the gift shop. From here, you’ll hop on a coach bus, meet your tour guide, and learn some fun facts about the set from Peter Jackson himself (via a pre-recorded video, but it’s still pretty cool).

A Walk Through Hobbiton

Upon entering, you may notice a familiar sight right away. It’s the infamous scene from An Unexpected Journey where Bilbo Baggins runs after the dwarves shouting, “I’m going on an adventure!” .

From here, you can take in your first view of Hobbiton, with its brightly colored, round doors, which all have their own personalities, and impeccable garden displays. You’ll learn early on in your tour that there is nothing behind most of the doors. The interior scenes of Bag End were filmed in a studio in Wellington. So, when you stop at the most popular photo spot, you’ll notice the lack of decor behind the red door.

Our tour guide was phenomenal, providing various facts about the set and filming. He kept us thoroughly entertained with witty humor and engaging enthusiasm. He managed our large group well, keeping us on track to finish on time without making us feel rushed.

I love tours for all the random fun facts, and they were definitely not in short supply here. This information helped me appreciate the detail that went into creating Hobbiton. As much as I’d love to share everything I learned, I want you to experience it yourself! I wouldn’t want to spoil even a small piece of the magic that awaits you.

I’m happy to report that nothing about this tour felt gimmicky. For two amazing hours, I truly felt like I had stepped into J.R.R. Tolkien’s world. It was easy to imagine hobbits stepping out of their holes to tend to their gardens or head over to their neighbor’s for tea.

Venture Beyond the Door

Walking down what is now known as Bagshot Row, visitors are led through a unique and immersive experience of seeing what it’s like to actually live inside of a hobbit hole!

The Venture Beyond the Door experience was just added in December 2023. This made it less than a year old when we took our tour in May 2024. It is included with every Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, so there is no additional fee. Our group was split in half since two hobbit holes can now be explored, and each group was assigned to one. From what I understand, the insides are set up a little bit differently but mirror one another.

This scrabble board is my favorite detail.

The tour guide essentially gave us free rein to look around and take as many photos as we liked. I can confirm, it is extremely impressive and not one tiny detail has been spared! There was so much to look at, and it radiated with the warmth and coziness you’d expect a hobbit hole to have. Make sure to give yourself a break from photo-taking now and again to take it all in.

Each room connects to another, so it isn’t likely that you’ll miss out on anything. There are a few windows that allow natural light in, but keep in mind that it is an enclosed space inside the hobbit holes. Let your tour guide know if walking through such a small space is not for you. They will be more than willing to escort you to the other side to wait for the rest of the group to finish exploring.

The Green Dragon

Since there is no better way to end a tour than with a refreshing beverage, our last stop was The Green Dragon Inn! This is where you have your choice of one of three beers brewed in-house, or a Ginger Beer if you’re not an alcohol drinker.

Here, you’ll have some time to wander around the inn; there are still plenty of clever details to be found. Or, you can opt to find a cozy spot inside or out to allow the whole experience to sink in. This is where I took a minute to imagine Merry and Pippin drunkenly singing and dancing on one of the tables.

I encourage you to take advantage of the beautiful view just outside the inn. You’ll find the shimmering pond that borders the hobbit holes; it’s a great spot to admire all of the colors nestled into the lush hills.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the books and/or the movies, or you just feel that Hobbiton is a must-do New Zealand attraction, I believe it is more than worth experiencing. The set is impressive, and the tour itself is entertaining. It provides excellent photo opportunities and beyond that, it’s an experience you can’t have anywhere else.

I had very high expectations going in since I had been dreaming of Middle Earth since I was 10 years old and have a deep love for the characters and story that unfolded here. My experience did not disappoint.

I found myself feeling a little emotional at the end of our tour when I finally took it all in. I felt so lucky to be living out a dream of mine, it was so surreal to actually be there. Seeing the Hobbiton Movie Set only added to its magical appeal, and now whenever I watch the films, I feel a stronger connection with this charming village.

I hope I have inspired you to add this extraordinary location to your New Zealand itinerary. This was without a doubt my favorite part of visiting the North Island. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be itching to dive back into the books or movies the second you leave just for a chance to relive it all again.