Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

Amazing experience and definitely not something to miss if you visit NZ anytime. The tour is about 2 hours over the entire set of the farm. Breathtaking views and the little details that were added to enhance the realism in the movies are still maintained right from the clothes hanging on the line and the chimneys and benches. We had a great tour guide who explained everything. It's easily feasible if you're taking toddlers since the path is stroller friendly.

One of the best experiences for a middle earth fan. It’s a surreal feeling when one sees the real hobbit houses and experience the movie so personally. The overall tour was well planned with a pick up from reception upto the movie set. It takes about an hour and half to complete the full tour with ample time to enjoy the houses, near by places and clicking pictures. Guide was well informed and very supportive all the time. It’s a well planned tour with a group of 20-30 people each. The tour ends with a complimentary brewed beer which was amazing. I had chosen the lunch option and after such a tour you will be hungry. The buffet was outstandingly delicious and felt like a hobbit party. A must experience and visit place.

Simply said, it is the best place on earth. This was my 6th time to go to Hobbiton and I loved it even more than before. The entire trip there was amazing going through the set. Our guide, Laurie, was amazing and tons of fun. He gave lots of good information about the movie and the grounds. If you come to New Zealnd and not come to Hobbiton, you are missiong out.

This was the best tour I’ve ever been on! Such a magical place, we had the best day out on this tour. Our tour leader was called Rob and he made the tour interesting and fun, he was really knowledgeable and funny. The set is beautiful and is so detailed. We booked the tour with lunch and we were blown away with the lunch. It was absolutely amazing. Hats off to the hospitality team their food was perfect, I have a dairy intolerance and I was well catered for. I felt included even in the desserts which usually I have to miss out on…they brought an allergy inclusive spread out for me which was so yum! Soooo worth the money would do this many times! Definitely add this to your itinerary/bucket list!

We loved the tour! We expected a tourist trap but it was totally worth it! It was great to see the locations from the movies in real life. Our guide was really enthusiastic and all in all it was a great experience. Would definitely recommend!

I can’t say anything that hasn’t been said already but the amount of love and care that has gone into maintaining the place is clear and obviously fuelled by love and passion. Even though it was raining, our guide was chipper, knowledgable and made the experience so amazing. I would absolutely recommend doing the behind the scenes tour. The best part of it was the buffet, and everyone in our group was so giddy with how much food there was! We also loved our time in the workshops and allowed us to talk to the creative workers behind the set. Loooved our time heere and anyone with appreciation for the arts - whether LOTR or otherwise will enjoy this place.

The attraction itself was really good! Got to be the only farm I've ever been to where I was asked to keep off the grass, but it's currently winter in NZ, was raining and given the volume of visitors they received it was understandable... The walk amongst the hobbit houses was enjoyable but a bit crowded. We had tours on both sides of our group which got a bit confusing at one point when they merged and made hearing a bit hard. The guide was difficult to understand at times, but was lovely and very polite. We were not allowed to see both houses towards the end, due to the group being split due to health and safety restrictions which was unfortunate but understandable, although I wish we could have swapped for the cost of the ticket, as that was by far the best part of the whole attraction. We went for the lunch combo and the food was not too bad, although the meal felt rushed. The dessert was not as enjoyable for me personally, but parts of the buffet were amazing which made up for it. We were given a complimentary beverage as part of our tour and the beer was surprisingly good! We were also given a ceramic beer mug as a gift when leaving which was pretty cool!

Awesome experience. If you have watched the Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit movies, you can really relate and connect. The guided tour is just worth it. The guide will tell stories and explain everything, a nice cool fella, helped us with photographs as well. The bus rides and the tour, refreshing shire's rest, mesmerizing experience altogether!

Where do you want to go when visiting New Zealand? HOBBITON! Where else? HOBBITON!! I want to see the Hobbitses! I was probably expecting more, but I had a wonderful experience. If you flew into Auckland, it's about a two hour trip to Hobbiton. I booked a tour to make things easier, and probably a better deal. We arrived at The Shire's Rest where you wait for the shuttle bus. There's a gift shop and cafe, but you'll return here, so you can purchase your gifts afterwards! Hobbiton is actually located within a HUGE Sheep farm called the Alexander Family Farm. Per our tour guide, Peter Jackson was scouting filming locations via helicopter, and instantly fell in love with this farm. You will see sheep everywhere during your shuttle bus ride into this gigantic compound, and Hobbiton is just a small area. Our tour guide was great! Clear, upbeat, kind, and friendly, and always keeping everyone engaged. She also takes awesome photos! She can be a professional photographer! During the tour, you can download an app to read about each specific stops. After the main hobbiton area, you get to your inside one of the houses--all hobbit sized! A cool experience! The last stop is the Green Dragon Inn where receive your complimentary beer. English Ale, Amber Ale, or Ginger beer (non-alcoholic). Water, coffee, and tea are also available. You can take your drink inside and outside this area next to a beautiful, picturesque lake. Back to The Shire's Rest! Overall, I had a wonderful experience. It was definitely interesting and unique. Our tour guide was great and an excellent photographer! The whole area was very well maintained, clean, and easy to walk around. It was nice! Almost like walking around a botanical garden. I honestly thought Hobbiton would be a little bigger, more interactive, and include some other areas besides Hobbiton itself. Basically, Sam's house looks like Bilbo's house, which also looks like Merry and Pippin's house. Even so, I'd still recommend coming here for all Hobbit and Lord of the Ring fans visiting New Zealand.

Highly recommend as a stop on your New Zealand trip! How could one miss the magic of the rolling hills and beautiful landscape of the hobbits' homes from Lord of the Rings? I had to reserve tickets more than 2 months in advance for a 2.5 hour set tour. As the website proclaims, "bookings essential!" There are over 20 tours a day, and some times fill up more quickly because of the package together with various meals. The check in area for tours were near the Shire's Rest Cafe. The food and coffee at the cafe were pretty good, at reasonable prices. I appreciated that they asked what time my tour was, so that they could ensure delivery before the tour started. The experience itself was great. We boarded a bus with our tour group to Hobbiton, which drove about 10 min through the rolling hills of Alexander Farm. After we arrived at Hobbiton, the tour guide took us through the Hobbiton set, a hobbit's home, and the Green Dragon Inn, where we received a complimentary drink. The guide seemed to love his job. He was informative, funny, and very open minded to all sorts of our group's questions and cheeky responses to his questions. It really helped that he was a LOTR fan, and was actually able to answer quite a bit in detail. After sending a question to their email regarding the Shire's Rest Cafe, I received a reply in less than 24 hours. All around great service! A bit pricey, but worth it!

"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to," Visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand was like stepping straight into J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth. It's located on the Alexander Farm, and was the movie set for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Everywhere you look, you're greeted by charming hobbit houses with their bright round doors, whimsical and lush gardens, and fantastic little details. Our guide, Sal, made the experience even more special with his enthusiasm and storytelling. He shared fun tidbits about the set, such as how Peter Jackson discovered the Alexander Farm while scouting for the perfect Shire location by helicopter. The farm's rolling green hills and large pine tree (now known as the Party Tree) were perfect. One of the highlights was getting to step inside one of the hobbit houses--love! Though the interiors were filmed elsewhere, just being inside the cozy lil houses was like we were in the movie. The tour ended with a delicious buffet lunch. I could easily imagine myself living in a hobbit hole. Such an immersive experience. I very much enjoyed it!

While there are a few small things you could nitpick on, Hobbiton is an unbelievable experience for any fan of Middle Earth. Everything is so well done, from the introduction video by Peter Jackson to the small details inside of the Hobbit homes you get to visit. The tour guide gives great information about the filming, techniques used, stories, and more. The place itself is beautiful and really does feel like you're at The Shire. I did the included lunch and while the food could have been better it was good and the price wasn't bad. Good variety too. Visiting The Green Dragon was fun as well and a free drink is included with your tour. You do have to stay with your tour group and it moves at a modest pace. We had a particular group within the tour group that were pretty annoying, always loudly talking over the guide, wandering off the paths into restricted areas, hoarding space and time for pictures like Smaug hordes gold while the rest of us quickly took our photos to accommodate others, but even they couldn't put a damper on this visit.

We did the tour with the dinner banquet. It was amazing. I'm not a big lotr fan but I totally appreciate all the hard work put into this and the fun facts learned during this tour. The food was also also super amazing and I had a little bit of everything. I think about the mash herb sweet potatoe, veggie pot pie, the herb chicken, and the lamb shank. The cider drink was really good. Staff are super sweet. For parking, make sure you follow their direction. For alcohol, make sure you have your passport or New Zealand id. If you can, go for the evening banquet tour. You get to see everything in the day and night!

I think this is worth seeing especially first thing in the morning when there are not too many people in your photos. It was mostly enjoyable for a toddler but not stroller friendly (recommend a baby carrier). Note- it is quite touristy and quite an operation but beautiful setting. There is a cafe to get coffee in the morning.

I'll start by saying my parents who were with me knew nothing about LOTR but still highly enjoyed this experience because of how pretty the area is and the highly detailed props all over. There's something for everyone and you'll never get bored because this tour is soooo interactive and entertaining. Well worth it! You get a complementary drink at the Green Dragon Inn too, with choices including nonalcoholic ginger beer and a few different beer options.

We did an 11am tour with lunch included at the Green Dragon Inn. Really a fun experience & we could enjoy walking thru a hobbit at the end. Plus the buffet lunch was spectacular.

I have zero interest in Lord of the Rings franchise (both the books and the movies), but Hobbiton was on the top of my sister and husband's list of things to see in New Zealand. However, Hobbiton is a pretty cool place that even non-fans will enjoy it! Located on a sheep farm a couple of hours from Auckland, Hobbiton is the movie set from the LOTR and Hobbit movies. Originally it was a temporary movie set, but it became such a popular attraction that it was then rebuilt permanently. You can purchase tickets for just a tour of Hobbiton, or a tour and meal combo (either second breakfast, lunch, or an evening banquet). We purchased the tour and lunch combo, and the lunch was fantastic! It was a buffet of a wide variety of food -- salad, vegetable dishes, meat, fish, pasta, desserts, etc, and they also offered gluten free items, as well as dairy free and vegan items. In addition to the meal, you were also served one complimentary beverage (beer, cider, or ginger beer), and you could purchase additional drinks (including wine!) for a very reasonable price (I think a glass of wine was $8). As I don't know much about the movies (I found them very boring), I didn't recognize the iconic Shire locations, but the scenery was beautiful and the Hobbit houses were very photo-worthy. Overall, it was a great tour, although there was this annoying middle aged couple who, despite there being the lightest sprinkle of rain, had large umbrellas and kept nearly poking me in the face with them. There was plenty of room for everyone in the tour to stand and hear the tour guide, yet they had to stand right beside me and shove their umbrella in my face. I told them to be careful and when they made no effort to move their umbrella away from my face, I moved far away from them, but they followed me and stood right beside me again, nearly poking my eyes out again! The tour guide saw what they were doing and firmly told them to behave. (They didn't, but I made damn sure not to stand anywhere near them. I don't even know why they were in the tour -- they seemed to be hating it.) [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023]

My wife and I were on vacation in Auckland, New Zealand and I signed up for the Hobbiton/Glowworms cave tour. I am so glad I did. We hung out at the gift shop/bus stop for about 45 minutes and I bought a magnet of The Shire. We boarded a bus that takes you through the family farm and they play a little video from Peter Jackson for the five minute ride. Lots of sheep and very serene. We got off the bus and they have 44 hobbit houses along a hill and there is a mill and a bridge and The Green Dragon inn. It was really cool. Our guide was from Australia and I liked her a lot. She said she moved to New Zealand just for this job. I would recommend this cool day trip, we only had five days and New Zealand, and I am glad I spent one of the days doing this.

This was the best thing I did in New Zealand and I almost didn't get a ticket. So after booking a flight to Auckland, I began researching some key points I wanted to see and this Hobbiton Tour was #1 on my list. I found various prices on different tours on several different sites. About a week before my flight I started looking at the tours again and found them all sold out for the time I would be there! All 8 days that I would be there were all sold out! How can this be? I waited too long to book. I didn't think it would sell out for whatever reason and now I was checking all websites to see if any ticket was available. Well, lo and behold I ended finding a ticket on a site I have never used before and the tour included r/t transport to and from Hobbiton and they only had a couple tix left that included the buffet and free drink at Green Garden Inn. I got very lucky to find any ticket. The bus ride takes about 2 hours each way and the tour itself was about 3-4 hours as we had lunch provided. The tour was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The place is so lush and green and the weather was a perfect day at about 25-26C (78F). The Hobbit houses are so cute and adorable and at the end we got to go inside one of them and it's bigger than you think. You will take a lot of pics inside. The lunch buffet was actually pretty decent and had a several choices. There were some desserts as well. We also had a few mins at the end to buy any souvenirs or drink/snack for the ride back to Auckland. Overall, I def would recommend the tour but buy your tix early.

We took part in the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour on July 6, 2003 (winter in New Zealand). Cost was $89/adult, $44/youth (ages 9-16), children free (ages 0-8). They also offer a Family Pass (2x adults + 2x youth) for $225 (savings of $41). I recommend purchasing your tickets and booking your tour time prior to going to Hobbiton to ensure a shorter wait and availability, particularly in the summer travel months. We were here during the winter, but is during New Zealand schools' winter break, so it was still pretty busy, however there were many foreign tourists here. You wait for the bus to Hobbiton at the designated waiting area according to your your time. If you are there early have a snack at The Shire Cafe and/or check out the gift shop and have a picture with Gandalf. There is a tour guide that is assigned to your your group who goes on the bus with you and starts giving the history of Hobbiton on the short 10 minute bus ride through the Alexander Farm where Hobbiton is located on. Once you get to Hobbiton, you will go from section to section in Hobbiton. Your tour guide will talk about the designated Hobbit Hole or area. Towards the end of the tour, you will be led to the Green Dragon where each person in your group will get a complementary drink (either alcoholic or non-alcoholic). On the way back to the tour bus, we were given a Green Dragon mug as a souvenir. For The Lord of the Rings fan, you will geek out here. The detail of the the huts and the surrounding decor is awesome! Even if you are not a Lord of the Rings fan and have no clue what the movies are about, you will appreciate the tour. This a must do when in New Zealand!

Hobbiton was what I was most looking forward to on my trip. When I went to New Zealand, I watched all the Hobbit movies on the plane (long flight). I previously watched all the LOTR movies before. The tour guide led us around and explained some of the scenes from the movie as well as some of the details that went into making Hobbiton. Everything was idyllic and cute! Only one of the hobbit-hole doors we went to was open, but there is nothing inside the home. That's going to change soon. Three existing hobbit-holes are being transformed into a series of themed rooms. Afterwards, we were led to The Green Dragon Inn for a drink. Our package also came with a buffet lunch at the Party Marquee. The spread was quite good. While we were eating, we were given mugs as an apology due to the construction. It was a nice surprise. Hobbiton did not disappoint! Even if you didn't watch the movies or read the books, you can still enjoy your experience here. The only negative thing I would say is that I would've liked more time to take pictures.

"Okay, I don't usually write reviews, but I just got back to Hobbiton, and honestly, the experience was unreal and crazy. After, a year of nonstop walking (my feet still hurt) and barely surviving Mordor, coming back to this place felt amazing. Seriously, being back home in Hobbiton is wonderful and peaceful. There's green grass everywhere, little round doors, and everyone is just super chill and happy, like I never even left. My best friend Sam Gamgee? The best best friend EVERRR. He's been through everything with me ( even when i was going crazy) and coming back here with him felt like the perfect ending. 10/10 hobbits recommend him as a travel buddy. And can we talk about the food? I forgot how amazing it was to have actual good meals that don't come in lembas bread form. The Shire might not have fancy fireworks or elves, but it's honestly better than anywhere else I've been (and I've seen A LOT). Only downside? I'm still getting weird looks from some hobbits who probably heard all the Sauron rumors. But who cares! I'm doing well, my feet are up, and it feels like a second chance in life. If you ever get the chance, definitely visit Hobbiton. You won't regret it. You might see me there."

Hobbiton is a required visit for fans of Lord of the Rings Everything is a replica, but very realistic including the green beer Expensive - not for us Film fans will greatly enjoy; others will be encouraged to see movies

Awesomely but sadly, Hobbiton, a fake movie set, is like the best thing to do in north island New Zealand. It was a cool visit and I am very happy to have visited this place as it had put my family in a fantasy world where everything just seems fun and cute. The attention to detail is extreme and the tour guides are great at explaining everything. The rolling hills here, dotted with lush trees, is what makes this setting so beautiful. Before LOTR was filmed, the producers flew a helicopter around this New Zealand and found this farm--they definitely chose right and the farm owner's life changed forever. If you're ever in New Zealand, you must absolutely check out Hobbiton!

A Lord of the Rings lover but not an expert I had no high expectations. Was this going to be cheesy? Our entire group agreed NO. It was a gorgeous farm with sheep and cattle. We all loved the quaintness of it - the walking tour (which you have to do, you can't get in without it) is informative and done at a leisurely pace - You do need reservations as it does sell out and there were some disappointed people

I'm not a big fan of the movies, and I admit I have not read the books, and I typically prefer to avoid most tourist-heavy sites in places I visit. Still, I felt Hobbiton was a necessary stop during a recent trip to the north island of New Zealand. And I'm so glad I did it! Two hours south of Auckland, or one hour north of Rotorua, Hobbiton is set in some of the most spectacular rolling countryside imaginable. It is in this place, this calming, relaxed, and exceptionally verdant setting, that Peter Jackson's location team discovered its Hobbiton. The experience begins at The Shire's Rest, a restaurant, gift shop, and check-in center for your tour. We arrived early and had lunch in the restaurant. It was fine. I had fish and chips, served with a nicely-balanced tartar sauce. They have a full range of coffee offerings and soft drinks, and also a few alcoholic choices if interested. I enjoyed a nice hazy IPA from a nearby brewery. All canned, though; no taps. There is a lot of indoor and outdoor seating, though on the beautiful spring day we visited the outside tables were all understandably taken. There's also a good amount of green space for energetic children to run around before and/or after the tour. Bathroom stop is also a good idea before the tour, as the next bathroom access is at The Green Dragon Pub at the end of the tour. A wander through the gift shop, which I found unremarkable (though I'd remind you again, I'm not a fan of the series), and then we queued up for the tour. From the moment you set off on the big green Hobbiton bus, the experience in engrossing. Beginning with a short film on the bus explaining how Hobbiton became Hobbiton, set to the amazing soundtrack from the film. It's a perfect start to the journey. 10 minutes later, you arrive. The bulk of the tour is a one-hour relaxed stroll through the 44 hobbit house exteriors, (almost) exactly as they appear in the films. The tour guide explains key moments from both film series, pointing out both locations and providing some interesting behind-the-scenes facts about actors and locations. It's interesting! There are also many opportunities for photos, and the tour guide is more than happy to take group photos. The tour ends with a stop in the Green Dragon Pub. A spectacular building masterfully reproducing the feel of a thatch-roofed pub in England. I know, I lived in a former 16th-century pub in England for a few years. It made me a bit homesick for those days, so a very convincing mock-up. The pub serves beers that are only served there, I tried them all -- the stout was the winner for me. If you're a fan or not a fan, come here. It is a wonderful place to spend a few hours.

It's fine enough, but it's a long tour. I wish we'd drove instead of taking a tour from Auckland. The farm is beautiful, but I'd prefer a shorter option than the 2 hr+ one. Our guide, Kiernan, was great, but other guides were certainly gruff and snappy. If I did it again (which I can't imagine doing), I'd make sure to ask for Kiernan. I wouldn't want one of those other guides.

Highlight of the day! Visiting Hobbiton was phenomenal! My daughter and her paternal family had a blast during her visit with them when they took the entire family to Hobbiton. A thrilling experience to be at and realizing you're actually stepping foot where the film was made. Everything here is amazing. It is like a village where legendary people actually lives We did wish we lived in Hobbiton. The village is amazing! If you live in New Zealand visit and enjoy this amazing place you have here. Tourists do stop by and enjoy the place. Take loads of photos! Sharing with you sime photos of family

The place is absolutely magical ‍ if you're a hobbit nerd, or lotr nerd, or just love things magical - I recommend coming to Hobbiton on your next visit to NZ! It was SO worth our time and money to come on this tour. You first arrive at the main center where you are then transported via a bus to the set of hobbiton. Then your personal tour guide walks you through all of hobbitsville and gives you small pockets of knowledge on the movies and how certain scenes were filmed. One of our fave things to do was that you actually get to GO INSIDE one of the hobbit holes! Take pictures in a tiny soaking tub, or at the hobbit dining table! The little trinkets were endless. At the end, you get your choice of a beverage - beers, ciders, and some nonalcoholic options. It's a definite must see!!! I wish I could have just moved here the staff is so friendly and helpful - ask them any question you may have!

The weather is like usual weather make sure to wear closed toes shoes and rain wear. Food is great.

Look, If you're a Lord of the rings fan then this is your freaking Mecca. from the second you get off the tour bus there's a nice coffee shop that you can go in and order stuff that are Hobbit themed along with the cool little store. after about a 15-minute ride on the bus with the sweet little video showing Peter Jackson you end up in the main entrance of the Shire. Not only is the ride there beautiful filled with sheep and green grasses on these nice little hills but the music on the bus is from The Hobbit music of Lord of the rings which makes you feel more excited to get there. The set itself is very well maintained and they have Wi-Fi since it's kind of in the middle of nowhere and signal isnt available. At the end of the tour you end up at the Green dragon inn for a quick lunch and a beer or cider. there's also a store there that you could buy your last minute gifts before leaving back on the tour bus. overall I teared up probably a dozen times because I was so excited to be there in Auckland while also being in one of the coolest places in the world that I had always wanted to go to. In the perfect world I would go back here someday, but we'll see.

Wonderful scene that took up the day! It was like I was a hobbit in hobbit town! Being in the day dream, seemingly! Blessed and grateful to be able to travel and just be here!

Captain's Log, Star Date 57547.2: We beamed down into Hobbiton to search for Frodo to see if we can assist in destroying Sauron's Ring of Power. And also for lunch, which costs $120NZ for Lunch and Tour Combo...not cheap but its an all you can eat lunch buffet with chicken, lamb, steak, fish, potatoes, salads, a good variety of desserts, and coffee and tea...enough food to satisfy a Hobbit's appetite, and quite delicious, but you only have about 40 minutes to stuff yourself before the tour begins. (Tour only visits costs $84NZ.) Afterward the fatty lunch, we began our search for Frodo to offer our technology to simply beam him into Mount Doom rather than walking all over Middle Earth. The Hobbit houses are all meticulously maintained, each as adorable and colorful as the next one. The people do an excellent job of upkeep of the expansive premises. Out energetic guide was full of interesting facts and information about the construction and management of Hobbiton. The grande finale leads you to the incredibly detailed Green Dragon pub, where you get to enjoy a complimentary beer or cider...though I was fortunate enough to get a 2nd free beer, thank you! We never did find Frodo, oh well. But we definitely enjoyed our visit to Hobbiton!

To truly enjoy New Zealand you must rent a car and hit the road. While making the itinerary for our New Zealand vacation, Hobbiton movie set was actually on top of my list. As soon as we arrived and had our vouchers exchanged to entrance tickets, we sensed we were up for a treat. Our tour package came with a lunch buffet which I personally recommend for ultimate experience and note (they don't skimp on dishes) One can only get to the movie set via their own coaches that leave "The Shire's Rest" every 10 minutes. Our tour started with a banquet buffet lunch at the Hobbiton Marquee. The dining system is so organized that we were started eating in less than 5 minutes, there are wide varieties of dishes for many different visitors to enjoy. After our sumptuous lunch we were then lead by our tour guide to the Shire. It was a dream come true for me since I was a big fan of The Lord Of The Rings movie and it was so amazing how man can make a fake town that is yet so believable; everything I saw was relatable. It's a must visit for fanatics but I was told that 60 percent of the visitors have not even seen the The Lord Of The Rings!

VISIT: end of February 2020 COMPANY: Auckland Scenic Tours COMMUNCIATION WITH COMPANY: 5 stars TOUR GUIDE/DRIVER: 5 stars WORTHY OF VISITING: more than 5 stars Hobbiton is heavily advertised and when I kept seeing it come up during my research, I thought, sure that looks pretty sweet. But, I was not prepared for how absolutely impressive this would be! From the pain-staking detail of each home, nook and cranny and the world-renowned gardens, this was another unforgettable tour that we did in New Zealand that I highly recommend people see. Words just can never do this place justice, please see my photos of this incredible place! LORD OF THE RINGS: a high percentage of people that visit here are actually not even lord of the rings fans or never saw the movies and it still has that much awe and beauty FOOD/SNACKS: our tour included a drink and there is a coffee shop and gift shop at the beginning of the tour PHOTOS: be prepared to take photos the entire time and be ready for video and photos as you have to keep moving with your group

The Hobbiton film location tour is one of the most amazing places you can visit in New Zealand. Whether you're a fan of the works of Tolkien, or just appreciate beautiful vistas and magical worlds, you'll love your stay here. In hindsight with some time to decompress our trip, this was my favorite activity; I would go back in an instant. Hobbiton is located in Matamata, around a two hour drive south from Auckland. It's worth your time to stay nearby, there are many B&Bs and other lodging options. Especially during the touristy season during summer, be sure to utilize their well-built website to make your reservations and read about all the options. Even during a low part of the year, our tour was still full. Hobbiton offers regular tours leaving all day, morning to evening. They also have special packages that include a lunch or a dinner. Be sure to look for their festivals and special events. The prices of each thing are different, but the tour was well worth the money. We had one in the early afternoon and got there early, so they kindly moved us to an earlier tour. Our guide was Dan, an Irish lover of Middle-earth. It was engaging, funny, and well planned. We never spent too little time in any place. It starts with a brief bus ride through the working sheep farm where you're dropped off and walk the streets of Hobbiton. You'll see all the decorated homes, real gardens, animals, and hear the stories that accompanied the filming. Some homes have partial sets inside, but all the interiors were done on soundstages in Wellington. You can take all the pictures you'd like, including inside one Hobbit Hole. At the end of your tour, you arrive at the Green Dragon Inn, a working pub, which serves four drink choices, all made by Good George Brewing: a dark ale, light ale, hard cider, and non-alcoholic ginger beer. It was a highlight getting to try these, as they're only available here. Each tour ticket includes one drink choice. They also have light food options for purchase. After your tour concludes, the bus takes you back to the visitor center. Here they have a cozy cafe upstairs that overlooks the farm. We had soup, cheese bread, and drinks to warm us up. Their gift shop is also a Tolkien fan's dream with collectibles from Weta, bottled beer from the Green Dragon, souvenirs and other items only available for purchase here. This is a must-see attraction in New Zealand; plan on giving most of a day to enjoying it!

We went in early March. You get to see many of the exterior views from the movies. It was a little cheesy, but cute and fun. I would do it again.

THIS was the reason why my wife and I choose New Zealand for our honeymoon. It was surreal walking through "The Shire". Honestly, I know it is just a movie set but it was so beautiful and serene that I felt like I could have lived here. Make sure to book the evening banquet tour. I tried booking it one year in advance but it was sold out since we were going between Christmas and New Years. I called Hobbiton 30+ times but they said that they were potentially saving those spots for tour groups. I finally got hold of a manager and she asked, "Is this James? I think you have spoken to every single person who works here. We just booked you and your wife a spot." Sometimes persistence pays off. Thank you so much for making it happen! The evening banquet tour is definitely the way to go because there are less people and you get to walk through "The Shire" twice! Once during sunset and then once again at night with a lantern. You also get to eat at the Green Dragon (pub from the movie). Sometimes at these touristy things the food isn't that good but this was the best dinner that we add on the entire trip! Chicken, steak, mashed po-ta-toes... you name it...everything was delicious! Plus they have costumes to dress up in and you can even step behind the bar to do some dancing with the ale. At the end of the night you get to stand in the grass lawn where Biblo had his birthday party...we closed our eyes and pictured our favorite spot/moment during the tour. The full moon was out, it was so peaceful and quiet...I will always remember that. If you can't make it to the Evening Banquet tour, then go for the 1st tour of the day because there are less people and you will feel like you have The Shire to yourself. The rest of the tours during the day are more crowded. I would love to come back for International Hobbit Day...they said there might be a special surprise. Thank you for making our honeymoon! This is an unforgettable experience that I still dream about now that I am back at home. It is great for anyone, even people who haven't watched the movies would enjoy it.

This is a really cool tourist attraction for fans or non fans. You drive for hours through green fields to get to the welcome center. I actually missed a turn and went many Ks out of the way before realizing I had to turn back. They are pretty strict about departure times and we had booked the last tour of the day so we were worried we'd miss it. However, we arrived a couple minutes past our ticketed time but they were just loading the bus so we were fine. But make sure you allow enough time to get there early! The coach was nice and comfortable. It's the only way to get onto the set. From there, you get off and a tour guide leads you through the winding path of the shire. You aren't allowed to go in the hobbit homes, but there was plenty of great photo ops. Our tour guide was great. Very knowledgable and a great sarcastic humor too. There was a group of very disrespected Asians not obeying the rules and he wasn't afraid to make fun of them - so good. The exterior set pieces were incredibly well preserved and it felt really cool to be on such a detailed masterpiece in Middle Earth. I think my favorite part of the tour was at the end when we got to have a drink by the fireplace at the Green Dragon pub (included in the tour). I was a big fan of the movies but my girlfriend hadn't seen them (gasp!) but we both enjoyed the tour. If you are on the North Island, it's a must visit.

I had to add an update to my last review, my husband and I visited Hobbiton on our honeymoon and treated ourselves to a feast at The Green Dragon. It was such a fun and exciting way to see Hobbiton in a different way then I had before. The dinner tour includes the last tour of the day. It is fun to see Hobbiton begin to light up and watch the sun set behind those emerald green hills studded with sheep. The Green Dragon was as lovely as ever and the wait for the grand opening of the banquet room was unbearable. As they opened the doors to the feast my first thought was- wow, they've outdone themselves. The tables were prepared in such a way that any Hobbit would be proud of. The sheer quantity of food was enough to leave a dwarf in a food induced stupor. We sat, we ate, we ate some more. The food just kept coming and their attention to my gluten allergy and another guests severe nut allergy was incredible especially considering all of the dishes and the general haphazard layout of the tables. We were so incredibly full as we commenced the lamplight tour it was almost difficult to frolic. Almost. But frolic we did.

Very few times in my life have I experienced complete peace and serenity. Hobbiton was one of those places that brought me to that point of utter relaxation. Though Hobbiton is busy, I stayed behind the group (as usual) so I could have an extra amount of time gazing at all of the perfection that is Hobbiton. Yes, this is a movie set but I could imagine myself living here. The peacefulness of Hobbiton in the Lord of the Rings movies is brought to life here. The green rolling hills, the sounds of nature, and sheep in the background truly is what I imagined it to be. You can go inside one Hobbit hole (I accidentally went inside another without knowing we couldn't go in). You can also have a drink at the Green Dragon Inn which is a MUST DO if you're a LOTR fan. I absolutely LOVED Hobbiton and I would come back in a heartbeat. It's pretty cool standing where they filmed but it's a calm place where I just want to lie on the grass and read a book. Hobbiton is perfect.

If you're a gain of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbjt Trilogy; and you have the chance to visit New Zealand- you must visit the Hobbiton! It brings the movies to life and of course you will have a greater appreciation of the set. It's one of the coolest things I was able to see and I get around just a little bit to say the least. It's a bit on the pricey side due to the 2 to 2 and 1/2 hour distance from Auckland, but nevertheless, unless you frequent to New Zealand, you must go. Also, you can bundle it up and see the glowing worm caves and the geysers and mud pools along with the lake in Rotorua.

Back in 1998 Peter Jackson was looking for a great place to set up camp for the Trilogy Lord of the Rings. When he saw the Alexander Farm he knew instantly this was the perfect local! This such a great place!! We took the tour from our hotel. It was about 2 hours away. When we arrived it had so it was rainy. Thankful I always carry an umbrella! This was such a neat place to release your inner child or to find him/her again! It was a set for the movie but the owners asked them not to tear it down. They said, Who knew this would be s thing!! Lol They didn't know we would travel half way around to visit Middle Earth! This is a beautiful village full of hobbit homes, farm, gardens, ponds, live animals and a little Refreshment and light breakfast and lunch. Make the trip! It is so worth visiting!

This place is seriously one of the cutest little villages EVER! Must see if you are in Auckland New Zealand. We took a tour from Auckland because this place is about 2 hours drive from Auckland city center. The gift center/rest area is about 5min drive from the movie set. We stopped there first to buy souvenirs and use the restrooms. Then we drove over to the set and a local tour guide met us at the entrance to explain to us the history of the movie making, how they picked this lot for the set and how things are made. It was really cool to see all the creativity of the art department in making this set so realistic, including the fake trees, the "aged" fences etc. Complimentary drink at the Green Dragon was very nice, 4 choices of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. The ginger beer I got was amazing. If you were to come to visit this place on your own the tour is $89 per person, very very expensive. So plan accordingly.

What a magical place to visit while you are in New Zealand. It was definitely at the top of the list for us and most of our itinerary revolved around this. You can get to Hobbiton on your own and do a tour directly from the site, or you can do a tour from neighboring cities such as Auckland, Hamilton, Waitomo, and Rotorua. When we arrived on set we met our tour guide who would be the one to show us all around. Now keep in mind this place is a lot bigger than one may expect and there is a good amount of walking that can be done. We were so exciting to be able to see everything. We started on one side and made our way around to end up at the bar in order to try their famous Ginger Beer. The scenery is stunning and it was exciting for both people that have and have not seen the Lord of the Rings movies. You get to wander around seeing all the colorful hobbit houses, their tools, clothes, etc. There is a body of water within hobbiton that is very pretty to admire. Once you make your way to the barn you are able to try the Ginger Beer or Cider, both of which are fantastic. Afterwords we were escorted to their buffet for lunch. I was fairly pleased with the vast variety of food and dessert options. Definitely recommend a visit to Hobbiton if you are in New Zealand!

The set is much further that I expected from the ticketing office. Once you purchase tickets and choose your tour time, you jump on your bus and head over to the set. This place is breath taking. It was so beautiful and green. After the tour was done, they took us to the Green Dragon for a complementary drink. I personally loved the cider! I kind of wish I watched the movies right before visiting Hobbiton. This way I would remember all the significant scene we were walking through.

Hobbiton overly exceeded my expectations. So I was visiting New Zealand as a part of a non-school-sponsored field trip through EF Tours that my old teacher hosted with school friends, and I was SO excited when I saw Hobbiton as a part of the itinerary! I read all the books right before going, as well as watched all the movies, so I was prepared for the amazing experience. I had already heard so many great things about this place, but I had no idea that I would have the chance to see the actual Hobbit holes and the original filming places for all the movies up close! And wow, I was astonished by how vast the whole filming set is, covering acres and acres of green land. You literally feel like you're part of the Lord of the Rings when you visit. We got a tour of the entire filming set and we had plenty of time to tour the Hobbit Holes and everything else on our own. We took some unforgettable pictures and as it was getting closer to nighttime, the filming set lit up and it looked even cooler. Throughout the whole tour, we were able to go to the Green Dragon Pub and try some delicious ginger ale with free refills and we even had dinner at this special, reservation-only place incorporated into the filming set. The food that was served was identical to the food they ate in the movies and books. I ate wayyyy too much and I had become a true Hobbit. Overall, this is the best experience for anyone who loves the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings and I recommend getting a tour guide to take you around. Our guide was fantastic and I learned so much from him. He made the whole experience wonderful and the Hobbiton staff did too!

Lord of the what? More like "oh Lord, why did I allow myself to be dragged on this tour when all I did was sleep through the first movie over 10 years ago?!!" Not a LOTR geek at all and I guess only those would truly appreciate the set and seeing others get overly excited, posing in front of the little doors with their gold rings and floppy, big ears. Whatever trips your trigger! I appreciated our tour guide, I appreciated the beauty of the landscape and the story behind how they found that place to film. The Alexander family is hella lucky and set for life! Not sure if it's an accurate number but heard they get 50% of all profits from the movies, tour, all things-related. Damn, just for owning the perfect plot of land! The lunch was an awesome cap to the tour. Not even close to a sack lunch but a whole buffet all decked out with chicken, sweet/sour meatballs (our table's fav), fish, short ribs, veggies, pasta and desserts. Definitely get that your package!

I've never been into science fiction or fantasy. I haven't read a single Harry Potter novel and couldn't even begin to fake knowing the plot line for Lord of the Rings (other than it involves a ring... And a gremlin-like creature who constantly says, "my precious"). And yes, I've seen all the movies. Don't judge! I have a hard enough time remembering all The Avengers. With all that said, it isn't too shocking that I never visited this place when I studied in nearby Hamilton 16 years ago. Back then, the set pretty much was just holes in the ground as most of the set was built to be temporary. But fast forward to 2009, when The Hobbit began filming. It took a total of 2 years to construct the current sturdy set, which transports this New Zealand hillside into the magical world. Depending on the time of year, tours leave every 20-30 minutes from the Shire's Rest (i.e. a gift shop). We arrived 30 minutes ahead of our tour, but were happy to have that time to check out the massive store with all things for those Lord of the Rings junkies. I mean, it had everything including Middle Earth wine to even a adult-sized cloak. It sounds like a party. Hobbiton is incredibly popular. It remains in the top 3 places that tourists visit in the entire country. I was slightly concerned that I wouldn't enjoy the tour given the massive size. But it actually felt very intimate and we got to chat up our guide Scarlett for pretty much most of the tour. Plus, it's a 12 acre set so you can certainly fit a lot of people in. From the Shire's Rest, we boarded the tour bus, which drove us a short distance to where we'd check out the magical Hobbit homes by foot. We were both relieved that it wasn't all on the tour bus (since we'd likely fall fast asleep from the moving vehicle). Along the way, you'll drive along the rolling hills of the Alexander family sheep farm and watch a video of the famed director, Sir Peter Jackson. Insider tip: try to get a seat at the FRONT of the bus. There is only one monitor. Of course, soon as we got to the Hobbiton holes, everyone was off running (including us). This place was basically Instagram heaven with its tiny doors and miniature decorations. But clearly keeping Hobbiton Hollywood ready is a big job. We were told that the site has 6 full-time gardeners who work around the clock. Forced perspective was a major tool in making Hobbiton look authentic on camera. So depending on the character, whether it was towering Gandolf or a tiny hobbit, the size of the background would change (big sets for Hobbits, and little sets for Gandolf). There are clearly a lot of Hobbiton homes to visit here -- a total of 44 holes for 300 hobbits to be exact. But I could tell our group of super fans were very excited for the home at the very top of the Hobbiton village that belonged to Bilbo Baggins, the main character of the film. One of the more interesting facts we learned is that the tree on top of this home was completely artificial. It was made for the 2009 Hobbiton movies to appear smaller than the original films. This was because the Hobbiton movies were set 60 years prior. And clearly, no detail was overlooked in this production. We learned so many interesting facts as we rounded our way down to the final stop -- like in order to be an extra you had to be under 5'4″ (I'd missed it!) and that none of the interior sets were shot here. Basically, these are just empty holes in the ground but with a pretty cool exterior. But perhaps my favorite fact was the scene where the Wizard hits his head on the chandelier, which was actually an accident, but was kept in the film. As we reached the Green Dragon, we were told that we'd have about 20-30 minutes to enjoy a drink included with the tour. Kevin got the hard cider and I had a beer. It was a nice way to wrap up the tour and a really fun setting. And that's a wrap. I couldn't believe that 2 hours passed. It felt more like 20 minutes. Who knows? Maybe I will become a big sci-fi fantasy geek? Okay, probably not.

It wasn't hard to find this place, coming from Auckland...and Waze does work really well in New Zealand. My family and I love this place! So much scenery, and the guided tour explains each and every part of the landscape as it relates to the movie. In fact, I watched the 3 LOTR and 3 Hobbit movies again as soon as we came home...just to be able to say, "So that's where that scene was filmed". Bring a lot of batteries and memory cards to capture the place... The souvenir shops are well stocked of items from the two movie trilogies. And the restaurant looked reasonably priced...but crowded during our visit. We decided to have lunch someplace along the drive home. If you visit the North Island of New Zealand, this is one of the places that should be a must on every itinerary!

Whether you are a fan of the movies or not (1 in our group of 6 had not seen ANY!), a super impressive, immaculately kept Movie set. You got the feeling they could show up at any time and start filming another movie. You were able to go into a few of the homes to see. They were just big enough to change what was in the window! The pub at the end was FULL Size and included a beverage. There were some 'costumes' around to put on too! Gardens were well kept and blooming and there were nice touches like smoke coming out the the chimney! A MUST see if you anywhere near it.

Obviously Hobbiton, or the Shire, is probably one of the easiest of all LOTR / The Hobbit sites to visit. We chose getting here via the bus tour route. From the time we arrived, the tour was a good three hours long. In my opinion, this was enough time to explore the set in it's entirety. I consider myself a big fan, but not an ultra fan-boy that needs to spend the whole day there. I mean, wouldn't you rather head down to Queenstown to check out Milford Sound? I'll let you research that Lord of the Rings site. Regarding the Hobbiton movie set itself, "EXCITING"! Now before actually getting there, the bus driver shared little facts about the general area. How this sheep farm area was selected, the temporary house Peter Jackson rented out, and the sheep and cattle that currently roam the land. Checking out the whole greenery of the land, exploring the actual hobbit-holes, and a admiring the details simply made for a fascinating time! Kicking it at the Green Dragon Inn and having an ale was sheer enjoyment as well. That ale they served up was pretty damn good too! About our tour guides, Ethan and Hari, they were superb! They knew information and facts from both the movies and books; Answered whatever was thrown at them, and answered any questions that weren't too tough. Patiently helped our group have a fair opportunity to take photos. Last year Hobbiton had over three hundred and ten thousand visitors to the site. Just another fact they shared. Ethan and Hari made our journey into Hobbiton a true "adventure"! Hobbit sized things you may not know: ~ The apple trees are real, and they don't mind you taking some apples home. ~ If you plan to stay all night, inquire about the Evening Dinner Tours at The Green Dragon Inn. ~ The Auckland International Airport (departure gate) has a giant dwarf statue next to the escalator. Approximately 15ft tall. I know, unrelated...

This place is incredible! I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never seen LOTR or any of the little hobbit movies. BUT I am still SO HAPPY that I went here. I've been living slash traveling around New Zealand for five months now. In that time, I have done a lot of things around the North Island (I'm based in Auckland) and have contemplated going to Hobbiton. I never felt like the time was right, until last Friday, my partner and I decided to just go. We booked two tickets online on Friday night, and there were only a few time slots left for the next day (book ahead of time!). The tickets were $79 each, which is what held us back from going earlier, but I can tell you after going that it was totally worth it. Hobbiton is definitely a highlight of my New Zealand trip. We booked the tour for 4:50, and we arrived to the Shire about 4:30. Good timing, because you have to wait in line to check in, and your bus that takes you to Hobbiton LEAVES at the time of your tour. So be prepared, folks. We had just enough time to check in, use the bathroom, and hop on the bus. The bus ride is short, less than 5 minutes. We watched a short video on the way there, which told us about how the land was found and scouted for the film. I'd done research the night before, which confirmed that the set we see at Hobbiton was not always so - it was built originally as a temporary set, and then after filming LOTR, it was taken down and rebuilt as a permanent set for tourism. Smart guys, these are. The family that owns the land is in charge of the tours, and they do a great job. You don't actually see or meet them, but they have it set up well. You'll have a tour guide who will lead you through the winding paths of Hobbiton. Don't worry - they give you plenty of time to take photos, and they're really nice (unless you are trying to sabotage the gardens - don't do that). I was really happy with our tour time as the lighting calmed down a bit by the middle of our tour (New Zealand sun is HARSH). I got some amazing photos, we were able to verify that the hobbit homes have nothing in them, and we even finished the tour with a cheeky beer at the Green Dragon. Totally recommend visiting Hobbiton while in New Zealand, even as just a day trip from Auckland (like I did). It's just over two hours and 1000% worth the drive.

So this place is a must do. I have never watched the films and was instructed to not miss it. I drove the 2 hours from Auckland to arrive. The drive is not easy and this place is worth it. Make sure you book in advance, the place was super packed and it is a ver intimate tour. They have a really nice restaurant at the location. Plan to arrive early and eat at the restaurant if you can. The drive is pretty long to not leave a margin for error. When you pull into the parking lot the magic starts. It is a lot like Disney world. We got super lucky that we were able to get tickets without making a reservation btw. The tickets were 84 new zealand. The tour lasts 2 hours and comes with a free beer or ginger beer for the kids. I have never taken so many pictures and had 2 hours disappear so quickly. The place is so relaxing and beautiful. I noticed right away what kinda of work was put into to building this place. I know want to watch the movies. Enjoy this place and you can also do the glowworm caves if you want to have a long day.

This tour is absolutely worth the time and expense. The tour is about an hour in length and the tour guide shares a wealth of information. The ending at the pub and gift shop top off the experience. My husband loved every minute of it and knew all of the trivia questions the guide asked. Please do not take this tour if you know nothing about Lord of the Rings. You ruin it for those who are fed up with tourist who take photos for popularity instead of presence. We especially loved the Chinese Nationalist who was reprimanded 5 times on the tour and then finally removed with his big camera, stench of Jean Nate and tacky Burberry shirt. I'm such case, might I suggest a concentration camp tour instead? I recall the Internet loving people having no respect for genocide a few years back, but hey, photo! You'll feel right at home with your philistine peers.

It's sort of a secret, hard to find on the map and such. Tours are not cheap but if your reading this review chances are you don't care anyways because your a nerd. It's totally worth the time and money. The photo ops and the information you'll learn on the tour is all worth it. At the end you get a drink.

It's been years since I last saw the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit series. However, I do remember loving them! So when my wife decided that she wanted to take a trip to New Zealand, the first thing I planned was a stop at the Movie Set. I even booked our tour tickets after our flights and planned our journey through the North Island around when we would be visiting this site. The day we arrived, it was wet and rainy. That just added to our "journey". Overall, it was super cool to see all of the hobbit holes. I felt like a child at the toy store. The best part about it all, is they have it running like a well oiled machine. They have tours constantly throughout the day and they are on schedule. So unlike *COUGH* the glow caves, people who have traveled across the world can visit.