Hobbiton: The Amazing Hobbit Village in New Zealand

Last updated: 01/21/2019

Discover Hobbiton, the incredible village of the Hobbits that served as the setting for the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. We were delighted with the village and told in detail about how to get to know and what to expect from the visit.

THE HOBBITS 

The Hobbits are fictional creatures created by writer JRR Tolkien and live in Middle-earth, a world he also invented. The Hobbits would be "relatives" of the human race, having as characteristics the short stature and hairy feet. They appear for the first time in the book “The Hobbit”, whose protagonist is Bilbo the Baggins. When the book "The Lord of the Rings" was adapted to the cinema, these beings became even better known, especially with the characters of friends Frodo and Sam.

HOBBITON: THE AMAZING VILLAGE OF THE HOBBITS

In JRR Toklien's fictional world, Hobbiton is a village located along a creek, with a windmill and an inn called Ivy Bush, at the eastern end of the village, on the road to Bywater. In real life, this place, known as Hobbiton Movie Set, is located in Matamata, New Zealand. It was used for the filming of both the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies.

A little of history

Originally largely swampy, the area was transformed in the 19th century through a large-scale drainage scheme. Since then, it has been home to fertile agricultural land that is also a breeding ground for racehorses. In 1978, the Alexander family moved to the 500-hectare pasture estate. Since then it has been a cattle ranch with 13,000 sheep and 300 Angus cattle. The main sources of income from agriculture are sheep, wool and beef.

The Hobbiton Building

In 1998, when the director of the movie “Lord of the Rings”, Peter Jackson, from New Zealand, started looking for suitable locations to shoot, he discovered the Alexander family farm and was enchanted. The local hills were perfect for creating Hobbit houses just like in the books. After negotiations with the landowners, work began to transform the farm in order to adapt to the habitat of the characters in the books.

37 holes were dug to build the Hobbits' houses, called “Hobbit Holes”, in addition to the construction of a bridge, gardens and a mill. The area became a much sought after location by fans of the saga and opened to visitors. There are currently 44 “Hobbit Holes” and it is possible to see some of them from the inside, although they all have small, unfinished interiors.

Below, watch the official Hobbiton Movie Set video:

TYPES OF TOURS IN HOBBITON

There are several types of tours and experiences to get to know Hobbiton. The tours seek to explore the 12 acres of the property, passing through several “Hobbit Holes”, the windmill, and the famous “Green Dragon Inn”, where it is possible to try exclusive drinks prepared to make the visitor feel on an adventure on Earth. Average. For those who have more time, there are more elaborate options that include a guided tour and end with a nightly feast. During the year, there are also special events, such as the International Hobbit Day, Hobbiton Beer Festival and winter's festival. Then, check out the tour options available regularly and see which one suits you best.

1. HOBBITON MOVIE SET TOUR

This is the most traditional tour of Hobbiton. These are guided tours lasting about 2 hours, with a guide who explains details of the location and curiosities about the filming of the films of the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. The official website informs that it is essential to book in advance due to high demand. There is also the option to combine the tour with lunch (additional NZ$ 36) or brunch (additional NZ$ 26) at The Shire, where the ticket office and gift shop are also located. Meals must be selected when booking the tour.

2. EVENING BANQUET TOUR

This is a more complete tour for those who have more time, as it lasts 4 hours. The tour starts in the late afternoon and the first two hours are exactly the same as the traditional tour. The second half of the tour includes a feast in the dining room of “The Green Dragon”. On the menu are dishes full of traditional foods. To complete this premium experience, after dinner guests will rejoin the guide to make their way back. The trails will be lit and hand-held flashlights will be provided to help light the way.

3. PRIVATE TOURS

For those who want a more intimate experience, private tours are available. If you are interested, you must make an advance reservation by filling out the form available on official site. The tour begins at the picturesque sheep farm, and your guide will tell you many stories about how the Hobbiton movie set was created. Everything that is included in the traditional tour is also included in this tour, with the big difference of doing the tour with smaller groups.

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WHAT IS THE HOBBITON MOVIE SET TOUR LIKE

We did the traditional Hobbiton Movie Set tour and we can say we were blown away. It was so much cooler than we imagined and that's why we consider it a must-see attraction in the North Island of New Zealand. The tour starts at The Shire's Rest, where the Hobbiton Visitors Center is located. On the lower floor are the box office is Gift Shop with various “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” themed articles. Upstairs is a delicious Coffee serving drinks and some dishes and sandwiches.

TAKE THE BUS FROM “THE SHIRE'S REST”

With your ticket in hand, just go to the outside area of “The Shire's Rest” where the buses leave. You will need to enter the queue corresponding to the time shown on the ticket (there are indicative signs on site). Show your ticket to the employee when boarding. Inside the bus, a film about the place is shown and, along the way, you can see green plains and many white sheep on the Alexander family's farm. The guide gives some information and the bus leaves us at the beginning of the trail to begin the visit itself.

WALKING THROUGH HOBBITON

Most of the tour time is spent walking the trails and hills of Hobbiton. Our guide passed on a series of information about the construction, filming and curiosities of the place. She was showing us the most important houses that appeared in the movies. The views are incredible!

It really looks like we are in a toy town, all well finished, decorated and colorful! The green landscapes and the varied flowers make the environment even more bucolic. The details of each of the Hobbits' residences blew us away!

It's a ride that entertains all ages. A curiosity is that I'm passionate about movies, but my husband didn't really like “Lord of the Rings” and didn't even see “The Hobbit”. Even so, he loved the tour and considered it one of the best we did in New Zealand.

The village of Hobbiton

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A FREE DRINK AT “THE GREEN DRAGON INN”

After passing the windmill, take the bridge that leads to the “The Green Dragon Inn” to have a totally free artisanal drink. There are two types of drink (apple cider or a non-alcoholic ginger beer). There are several options for beers that you can buy too. Once you have your drink in hand, take the opportunity to explore both the inside and outside of the place.

It is worth remembering that “The Green Dragon Inn” was the meeting point for all the residents of Hobbiton, who gathered in the cozy atmosphere of the bar to chat and have fun. In fact, the inn was completely rebuilt in 2002 to provide an incredible experience for visitors, enjoying the surroundings as if they were actually in Middle Earth. We were delighted with the decoration and wealth of details of the place!

We took the opportunity to chat by the fireplace and enjoy the outdoor area, a Beer Garden, with an incredible view of the village. Of course, we didn't miss the chance to “dress up as Hobbits” by trying on some clothes left there for visitors to get in the mood.

The Green Dragon Inn

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The tour ends at a gift shop with assorted items with references to the movies “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”.

HOW TO REACH HOBBITON

Hobbiton Movie Set is in Matamata, about 180 km (2.5 hours) by car from Auckland; and about 71 km (1 hour) from Rotorua. For those traveling by car and going on an itinerary that includes these two cities, it is worth including the tour on the day you are traveling between these two destinations, as Hobbiton is between them. For more information, see this link. There are also several tour options that depart from some major cities in New Zealand. These excursions may be for Hobbiton only or may include excursions to other destinations. We'll talk more about these excursions later.

TOURS AND EXCURSIONS TO HOBBITON

As Hobbiton is far from New Zealand's main cities, it's worth booking a tour if you don't have a car. There are tours departing from several cities, including Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga. We had little time in the country, so we decided on a tour that included Hobbiton, Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves. The day was very tiring (13 hours and tour), but it was one of the best tours we have ever done. Everything, absolutely everything, was amazing and for that reason we cannot fail to recommend it. Our group was small, with only 11 people. We included in the tour a typical lunch in Rotorua (how delicious!) and we had an amazing day. See this and other tour and excursion options below:

> WITHOUT TRANSPORT

• Hobbiton Scenic City Guided Tour
• Guided Filming Tour of Hobbiton and Festive Buffet Lunch

> WITH TRANSPORT

>> LEAVING AUCKLAND

• Hobbiton Movie Tour with Transport from Auckland
• Hobbiton Film Set: Early Bird Express Tour from Auckland
• Auckland: Premium Scenic City of Hobbiton Tour
• Auckland: Hobbinton Scenic City Tour with Lunch
• From Auckland: Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Tour
• From Auckland: Waitomo and Hobbiton Full-Day Private Tour
• From Auckland: Hobbiton & Rotorua Tour with Lunch at Te Puia
• Private Hobbiton Movie Set and Hunua Falls Tour from Auckland
• Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Bus Tour with Festive Lunch
• Hobbiton, Rotorua and Waitomo Day Tour from Auckland (tour we did)
• Bay of Islands, Hobbiton & Waitomo 2-Day Tour from Auckland
• International Hobbit Day from Auckland (only once a year)

>> LEAVING ROTORUA

• From Rotorua: Hobbiton Scenic City Guided Tour
• Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Full-Day Tour from Rotorua
• Rotorua and Hobbiton movie set views
• Hobbiton Guided Tour and Rotorua Evening Feast

>> LEAVING TAURANGA

• Hobbiton Film Shore Excursion from Tauranga

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Hobbiton Movie Set

• Address: 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera, Matamata 3472, New Zealand
• Schedules: 
  • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour: Daily Guided Tours depart between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm / Additional tours are available between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm on select dates September to April / Additional tours are available between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm on select dates between late December and February | duration of 2 hours
  • Evening Banquet Tour: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons all year round | duration of 4 hours – check availability on official site
  • Private Tours: to be arranged | duration of 2 hours | maximum of 6 people per tour
• Entrance: 
  • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour: NZ$84 – buy your ticket online in this link / NZ$110 (with brunch) / NZ$120 (with lunch) – buy your ticket online here | free for children up to 8 years old | NZ$42 for 9-16 year olds
  • Evening Banquet Tour: NZ$195 | free for children up to 4 years old | NZ$100 for 5-8 year olds / NZ$152 for 9-16 year olds
  • Private Tours: NZ$750 group of up to 4 people / NZ$84 for additional adults aged 17+ / NZ$42 for additional youth aged 9-16

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