There and Back Again: A Visit to Hobbiton New Zealand
There and Back Again: A Visit to Hobbiton New Zealand
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to”
Those famous words, originally written by J.R.R. Tolkien, were again quoted in Sir Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It’s these very words that kick off Frodo and Sam’s unlikely journey from their home in Hobbiton to Mordor. But what made their journey so unlikely is arguably how charming their home, Hobbiton, is.
Enter Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand, the real-life filming location for Hobbiton in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. What was once a former movie set is now a beaming travel bucket list location. If you’re interested in stopping by Hobbiton on your journey through New Zealand, here’s all you need to know. I’m sharing the history, ticket types and exactly what to expect on one of their tours!
hobbiton, new zealand
History and The Films
Endless rolling hills of emerald green grasslands and a striking tree towering over a lake. This was the rough vision that The Lord of the Rings location scouts had in mind for Hobbiton back in 1998.
And it was exactly this vision that landed them in Matamata, New Zealand on the Alexander family’s remote sheep farm – literally. Having scouted the farm by helicopter, one of Sir Peter Jackson’s location scouts landed to ask local farmer and property owner, Ian Alexander, about using the land in their film.
As the story goes, Ian shooed the scout away on account of watching a rugby game, telling him to return once the game had finished. And luckily, the scout did, with Ian only finding out the name of the films after having signed the contract.
Filming began at the end of 1999 and continued for 3 months before wrapping and demolishing most of set. For the next ten years, only 17 bare plywood “Hobbit Holes” remained.
In 2009, Sir Peter Jackson returned with a crew to reconstruct the infamous set and film The Hobbit trilogy. This time, he left a more permanent build behind: 44 beautifully-crafted Hobbit Holes.
Joining them in 2012 and fully rounding out the experience is The Green Dragon Inn, a fully-functioning bar and restaurant on the property modeled after the one from the story.
hobbiton, new zealand
Tickets
Four Main Ticket Options
Today, you can visit the 12-acre movie set, journeying around the Hobbit Holes, infamous Mill and Green Dragon via multiple tours:
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour – The base tour package lasts 2 hours, includes one beverage and costs up to $89 per person*.
Evening Banquet Tour – Approximately 4 hours in length, I chose this tour to max out my Shire experience and LOVED it! This option includes the same base tour package inclusions, a 2-course banquet feast (allergy restrictions are accommodated!) and a lantern-lit walk. Costs range from $104 – $199 NZD per person*.
Second Breakfast Tour – A more budget-friendly alternative to the Evening Banquet. This tour lasts 3 hours and includes the same base tour package inclusions and a “second breakfast” spread (allergy restrictions are accommodated!). Costs range from $49 – $149 NZD per person*.
Private Tour – The ultimate solo experience. If you’re a photographer or are traveling in a small group, this might be the option for you. This tour lasts 2 hours and costs $1000 NZD for up to 6 people*.
*Ticket prices at time of writing
Special Events
Hobbiton also hosts special ticketed events throughout the year, such as:
- International Hobbit Day – September 22
- Beer Festival – October**
- Christmas – December**
- Halfling Marathon – April**
- Mid-Winter Feast – July**
**Dates vary each year
hobbiton, new zealand
Transportation
The Hobbiton Movie Set is located in Matamata, a small town about 2 hours south of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island.
Address: 501 Buckland Road, Matamata
Since Hobbiton is one of the country’s most popular travel destinations, there’s a few transportation options available for visitors:
Rental Car – My recommendation. Renting a car from the Auckland airport is the quickest way to get to Matamata. Keep in mind that Kiwis drive on the left side of the road and right side of the car!
Transfer – If opposite side driving isn’t your style, consider taking a transfer! Hobbiton’s website lists all the companies offering day tours and transfers to the set.
hobbiton, new zealand
Matamata & Accomodations
Matamata
Matamata, where Hobbiton is located, was the first place I went after touching down in New Zealand.
The town itself was very small, but full of people. It reminded me of a historic mining town built around the late 1800s to early 1900s with not a whole lot going on, but with an adorable main street. The main source of income for the town is definitely Hobbiton tourism, and you’ll see that reflected just about everywhere you go – even the grocery stores.
Accommodations
Broadway Motel – $
Camellia Cottage – $
hobbiton, new zealand
Arriving at Hobbiton
The Shire’s Rest
All tours depart from The Shire’s Rest which is part cafe, part gift shop, part ticketing office. Address for The Shire’s Rest can be found above in the Transportation section.
During our visit, my friends and I parked our car in the nearby lot and spent a good 30 minutes perusing the gift shop before the tour. I ended up taking home a painting print, t-shirt, coasters and a few magnets!
Souvenirs:
Attending the Evening Banquet Tour? The Shire’s Rest gift shop closes before the tour ends so make sure to grab souvenirs before departure.
Bus into Hobbiton
After our allotted time, we lined up for the bus that would take us across the main road from the gift shop and into the farm and Hobbiton. Our driver took us slowly along country road, while our guide explained a bit about the land and how this area ended up being scouted for the films. Circling downward and to the right, we were alerted to our first glimpse into the Shire! Unfortunately, our seats were along the left side of the bus, so our view wasn’t as clear as those seated to our right, but I made a mental note that I’d try to sit along the right hand side of the bus on future visits.
Secret Tip:
Sitting along the right side of the bus on the way down will afford you the best first views of the Shire from slightly above.
hobbiton, new zealand
The Evening Banquet Tour
Entering Hobbiton
Barely containing our excitement, we exited the bus and made our way to a large map of the grounds. Our guide told us a brief history of the set and we continued on.
We walked through that ever so familiar pathway from the film, the one carved between two hedges and held up by small rocks. It was here Gandalf rode through on horse and buggy in Fellowship of the Ring and here that we got our first glimpse of the set.
A Winding Path of Hobbit Holes
Colorful round doors, pristine green gardens and thoughtfully placed props dotted the neighborhood. Everywhere I looked there seemed to be signs of “life“, making it feel all the more real. Hobbit-sized laundry on a clothes line, a table of faux cheeses outside a cheesemonger’s home, and gardening tools galore.
It was hard to stop us from lingering at each individual Hobbit Hole. There was so much detail and every new sight made us so giddy my cheeks hurt from laughing. I still don’t know how many photos we took or how many times we skipped and danced around the winding pathways between the bright doorways and lush gardens.
We snaked our way through the neighborhood; purposely trailing the pack so we would have the most time to have fun and just be in the experience without feeling the rush of anyone waiting behind.
Bag End
Of course, the highlight of the tour is the stop at Bag End, which is located at the very top of the Hill overlooking the rest of Hobbiton.
Here, we learned a bit more about the physical construction and what the filmmakers did to best replicate the home’s description from the books.
hobbiton, new zealand
Dinner and Supper at the Green Dragon
After the main tour of the town, our group gathered inside of the Green Dragon for drinks while the finishing touches of our dinner were laid out in the next room.
Secret Tip:
Food allergies or dietary restrictions? Make those known when you book the Evening Banquet or Second Breakfast tours online. With advance notice, Hobbiton Movie Set can accommodate you.
The food was spectacular – a true Hobbit feast. Having visited around the end of November, the meal reminded me of a traditional American Thanksgiving style feast, albeit with more fresh vegetables.
Although shared with the larger group, the kitchen staff informed me of what I could and could not eat with a dairy allergy. And there was still plenty for me to choose from, having put in a note about my allergy before the tour.
hobbiton, new zealand
A Night To Remember
After an amazing dinner, we began the lantern tour. And on the way, we were given the most magical surprise! One that any fan of the films would absolutely love. While I won’t spoil it in case you’re planning an Evening Banquet Tour visit, I’ll at least hint that music is involved!
We next made our way back down through the Hobbit Holes. I felt very much like Frodo and Sam coming home from a late night at the Green Dragon, particularly on the night when Gandalf surprised Frodo with a hand on his shoulder, and rushed question of, “Is it Secret? Is it Safe?”. That particular night in the story marked the official start of Frodo and Sam’s journey, and in a way, this moment in Hobbiton marked mine as well.
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