Hobbiton movie set tour: relevant tips and what to expect

I’m a hardcore LOTR fan (movies and book), so doing a Hobbiton movie set tour was a no-brainer for me, and it’s still one of my favourite memories.  

But even if you’re not a LOTR fan, a tour of Hobbiton is a worthwhile experience if you’re in New Zealand, just for the beautiful rolling hills and cute hobbit houses.

And while there are a lot of those “hobbit-inspired” houses popping up in various parts of the world these days (e.g., Guatemala, US, Canada, Brazil, UK,…), nothing will beat the original Hobbiton movie set where the LOTR and The Hobbit movies were actually filmed.

Below I share insider tips and my personal experience so you can decide if a tour of Hobbiton is something you want to do.

Fun facts about the Hobbiton movie set

• Hobbiton was built on private land, on a large sheep farm in Matamata, New Zealand (North Island).
• The private land is 1,250 acres (over 5 million square metres) in size and belongs to the Alexander family.
• The Hobbiton movie set represents The Shire, where the hobbits live, and it was built and then disassembled after every LOTR movie. But when filming The Hobbit movies, the family decided to make it a permanent set and allow people to visit.
• There are around 44 hobbit holes, and you can even enter some of them.

• Despite this being a movie set, it’s all outdoors and in nature. There are no green screens or indoor movie set “installations”.
• Aside from hobbit holes, there are other cool elements related to the movies, such as the Green Dragon Inn.
• Pay special attention to the props and gardens. It’s all amazingly detailed and nicely done. The hobbit houses that are higher up on the hill are considered “wealthier” houses, staying true to the book, and you can see it in the way their gardens are maintained, compared to the hobbit holes that are located at the bottom of the hill.
• The vegetation and produce are real, so depending on the time of year you visit, you might see different vegetables and fruits. 
• When they built the Green Dragon Inn for the Hobbit movies, they created special beers and ciders just for Hobbiton, which you can purchase there. 

• For more LOTR-related experiences, I recommend the Pure Glenorchy LOTR tour in the South Island near Queenstown, a family-owned business where they take you to exclusive and privately-owned filming locations, and Weta Cave in Wellington for workshops and impressive collectibles.

Important insider tips about the Hobbiton movie set tour

• While Hobbiton does not offer accommodation (one can only hope), you can find plenty of places to stay nearby in Matamata, or drive from Auckland.
• You can’t see the Hobbiton movie set from the main road, and you’ll get to the set by coach (bus) service.
• There are various Hobbiton movie set tours to choose from (details below), but it’s important to book ahead, even months ahead, for the desired option and time slot. You can book up to 10 months in advance.
• All the tours follow the same path, except for the Behind the Scenes tour where you get to see “secret spots” of Hobbiton too. 
• You’re not allowed to visit Hobbiton on your own or wander off to explore away from your group. You’ll be put into groups who booked the same time slots as you, and you’re required to remain with your group tour at all times and depart the movie set together.
• There are no bathroom breaks once you’re on the bus until the tour is over, but you’ll have access to bathrooms and snacks at the departure meeting area (called Shire’s Rest) where there’s also a cafe, and at end of the tour, at the Green Dragon Inn, before going back to Shire’s Rest.
• Despite the popularity of the movie set, the tours are so well organised that you won’t feel that it’s overcrowded or that there’s no space to move.

• There will be some opportunities for photos while you’re on the guided tour, but you have to be quick since the guide won’t stop for photos. 
• Bag End (where Bilbo and Frodo lived, and the main attraction of Hobbiton) doesn’t allow visitors to enter the house (there’s nothing inside anyway), so you will only see the outside area. There won’t be much time for individual photos here; you’ll likely only have time for a quick selfie. 
• Drones are not allowed anywhere on the farm or the movie set.
• The tours still happen even during bad weather like rain, so best to be prepared in terms of clothes and shoes.
• Wear sensible walking shoes or comfortable sandals. While the terrain is not exactly hiking or mountainous terrain, you will be walking for a bit in nature. 

A detailed recap of my Hobbiton movie set tour 

I did the regular Hobbiton movie set tour because all the other options I wanted (especially the Second Breakfast tour) were already booked out months in advance.

1. We arrived about 30 minutes before our time slot, parked, and checked in. We were then told to wait for our coach bus at Shire’s Rest. 

1. Each group within the same slot gets on the same bus and this is your designated group that you’re not allowed to stray from. 
2. The bus ride took about 10 minutes, and on the bus they play the LOTR soundtrack as you drive through rolling hills. The views were really beautiful, and you feel like you’re indeed in the Shire before you even arrive on the movie set.
3. The bus dropped us off at the entrance where the guide gave some introductory information and guidelines, and then we walked on a small path towards the first hobbit houses. This small pathway is reminiscent of the scene where Bilbo shouts out, “I’m going on an adventure,” as he runs out of the Shire.
4. There are already plenty of hobbit holes at the very beginning of the tour, and you’ll have more time to take photos here as the guide stops to talk and share fun facts about the set.
5. You’ll be able to enter a real hobbit hole along Bagshot Row, a row of hobbit houses along the hill below Bag End.
6. Bag End is at the top of the hill. It’s the last hobbit hole stop on the guided tour, although not the very last stop because you will then go on to the Green Dragon Inn. You will still pass by other Hobbit holes along the way.

1. At the Green Dragon Inn, you’ll get a free drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available), have some time to use the bathroom, take photos, and relax, before your group goes back to the bus and back to Shire’s Rest. You aren’t allowed to walk back towards the hobbit houses, but anyway, even if you try, the guides from other tour groups that came after you will not allow it. 

All the Hobbiton movie set tour options

There are several Hobbiton movie set tours to choose from, all at different prices, and some have specific time slots.

Regular tour of Hobbiton

This is a regular tour where you get a guided tour of the set, and finish off with a free drink at the Green Dragon Inn. You can choose between various time slots, and the tour lasts about 2.5 hours total.

Regular tour of Hobbiton with pickup from Matamata town

This is the same as the regular tour but with a pickup. With the pickup time, the whole tour takes about 4 hours, but the price remains the same as the regular tour.

Second Breakfast tour 

The Second Breakfast tour of Hobbiton involves the shared guided tour and the free drink at the Green Dragon Inn, but afterwards you’ll head over to the rustic Millhouse for a big breakfast with a wide variety of options (fruits, pastries, eggs, bacon, potatoes, mushrooms, sausages, etc.). This tour lasts about 3.5 hours total. 

Tour and lunch combo

Similar to the Second Breakfast tour, you will finish the official guided tour at the Green Dragon Inn, then have lunch under the Party Marquee adjacent to the Green Dragon Inn. This tour lasts about 3 hours and 20 minutes. There are specific time slots for these tours.

Evening Banquet and tour

The Evening Banquet tour lasts about 4.5 hours and happens at dusk. It’s a very different perspective of Hobbiton as you get to see it illuminated at night under lanterns. The banquet is community-style, where you share the table with others in the group, and the food is placed in the centre of the table.

Behind the Scenes tour

A Behind the Scenes tour of Hobbiton is the best option for hardcore fans of the LOTR and Hobbit series. The tour lasts 4.5 hours, and has a maximum set number of people per group (28), which is less than the other groups I believe. 

After the regular guided tour, you will have a decadent community-style lunch at The Millhouse, after which you’ll head to the Art Department’s workshop for insider info about the set and visit workstations. 

But the tour does not end there. Oh no. The best is yet to come. After the workstations, you will then get to explore “secret” areas of the Hobbiton movie set that none of the other tour groups get to see, with gorgeous views, AND you’ll be served cheese and fruits while you appreciate the views. This is the tour I’m hoping to do the next time I’m in New Zealand.

Private tour

For a very hefty price (about 4000 NZ dollars, or €2000), you can enjoy a private tour of Hobbiton and have the guide all to yourself, although there will still be other groups of visitors on the set. The tour lasts 2.5 hours, like the regular tour. 

Note: Aside from these tours, there are also special and seasonal events like International Hobbit Day, Beer Festival, etc. (more info on the official Hobbiton website).

Best time to do a Hobbiton movie set tour

The best time of the year to do a tour of Hobbiton

The best time of the year to do a tour (or visit New Zealand for that matter) is during spring (September to November) or autumn (March to May). Both are shoulder seasons, meaning still pleasant weather but hopefully without huge crowds (although I imagine Hobbiton to always be crowded due to its popularity).

When’s the best time slot to do a Hobbiton movie set tour?

Book the very first or very last tour if you’re booking a regular tour. If you’re on the first tour of the day, you’ll have the set to yourself for a bit until the groups after you arrive, and less people in the background of your photos. The last tour of the day means soft light and fewer crowds too.

Note that specific tours like the lunch tour combo or the evening banquet have their own set schedule. 

FAQS about the Hobbiton movie set tour

• Is Hobbiton a tourist trap?

While some believe that Hobbiton is a tourist trap because it’s crowded and can be pricey (about €63 per person for the regular tour), any fans of the LOTR or The Hobbit books and movies will agree that it’s well worth the experience. 

In fact, even if not a hardcore fan, many have said that visiting the Hobbiton movie set is worth the trip because it’s so beautiful and charming, and is an iconic setup.

• Tour of Hobbiton from Auckland: how to get there?

We rented a car because we drove all over the North Island, starting from Wellington. However, if you’re not driving and are coming from Auckland, you can book tours to Hobbiton that will take you from Auckland directly to the Hobbiton movie set.