Summary
One of the most photogenic places in New Zealand is actually a movie set — Hobbiton, from the popular ‘Lord of the Rings’ series!
Hobbiton village was filmed on green farmlands in the North Island of New Zealand, and fans will be thrilled to know that they’ve kept the entire movie set from the Shire intact for people to tour.
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
What Is Hobbiton?
Unless you’ve been living underground (no pun intended), you’ve probably heard that New Zealand is where the award-winning ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Hobbit’ trilogies were filmed.
In the books and movies, the Shire is the peaceful green countryside where the protagonist hobbits reside. Synonymous with tranquility, Hobbiton is a village paradise complete with dozens of turf-covered houses that resemble something out of medieval England (with a fantasy twist).
The Hobbiton movie set was first created for ‘Lord of the Rings’ in 1999 with assistance from the New Zealand Army, and was then entirely rebuilt and expanded in 2010 for the ‘Hobbit’ movies.
The current Shire movie set encompasses 44 hobbit homes, farms, and gardens, covering a total area of 5 hectares (12 acres)!
Where Is The Shire / Hobbiton?
The Hobbiton movie set is located just outside of Matamata, a small town on the North Island of New Zealand.
From Auckland, it’s a 2-hour drive through quaint towns and mostly rural roads.
How To Get To Hobbiton New Zealand
You can self-drive to Hobbiton, which is cheaper and recommended, or you can opt for bus tours starting from Auckland that handle all the driving for you.
Either way, a walking tour is necessary for visiting the movie set. Therefore, it is advisable to make an online booking a few days in advance, as tickets tend to sell out quickly, especially for specific time slots.
Klook provides meet-up (self-drive) Hobbiton tours for $47 USD, and also offers more premium private day tours from Auckland that include hotel pickups and other necessities.
Hobbiton New Zealand: What To Expect
Visiting the Hobbiton movie set requires participating in a walking tour that runs daily with numerous time slots available between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
Unless you’ve booked a private tour (which can be quite pricey), you will be on a shared tour with other LOTR fans eager to relive their favorite movie moments.
During our visit, our group consisted of about 25 visitors, compounded with other groups touring simultaneously, creating a somewhat crowded atmosphere on the narrow paths winding through the village.
Despite the crowds, our tour guide managed to capture photos of each of us by the hobbit holes and allowed ample time for us to take our pictures too. Consequently, I think I snapped more than 200 photos during our visit.
This movie set is incredibly impressive, showcasing numerous special details in every corner of the village. By the end of our tour, we were left wishing we could reside in the Shire.
“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.”
You can’t help but admire the immense amount of work and care that’s been dedicated to this movie set! Some of the hobbit holes can be opened, although the interiors are bare since those parts were filmed at the studio in Wellington.
This set features 44 hobbit homes along with other notable buildings from the series, such as a mill and the Green Dragon Inn, where visitors receive a complimentary drink at the tour’s conclusion.
The tour lasts about 2 hours in total, which includes a brief 10-15 minute bus ride between our meeting point and the movie set itself, and then back again.
We are fans of LOTR, though not exactly fanatics, and we enjoyed this experience tremendously!
Best Time To Visit Hobbiton
Hobbiton is one place where I genuinely believe there isn’t a ‘best’ time to visit.
The North Island of New Zealand enjoys a mild and comfortable climate year-round. Even during the dry summer months, the grass and plants in the movie set are regularly watered to maintain their vibrant green appearance.
Furthermore, the Hobbiton movie set is photogenic at any time of the day. Therefore, even photographers needn’t worry too much about lighting while in the Shire.
During our tour in the early afternoon, I initially thought this might be too late, but everything appeared stunning. I can imagine that mornings and evenings are just as lovely.
Where We Stayed
Most of our time in New Zealand was spent in a campervan; however, for our last night on the North Island, we stayed at this BNB style villa/homestay in Auckland for $55 USD ($87 NZD).
For this price, we enjoyed a clean triple bedroom with cold A/C, extremely fast WiFi, a cozy living room area, and an immaculate shared bathroom/shower. Best of all, the location was just a 15-minute Uber drive to the airport for our early morning flight.
You won’t find a better deal so close to the airport! Keep an eye out for good deals, as prices may fluctuate from time to time.
