Is Hobbiton Worth it? Full Guide + Hobbiton Review (2025)

Is Hobbiton Worth it? Full Guide + Hobbiton Review

Hobbiton is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand and draws in crowds from around the world. To some, it’s the highlight of their trip and a once-in-a-lifetime experience – some visitors even get married there! In this post, we’ll share our experience at the Hobbiton Movie Set, provide a guide for visiting and offer a full Hobbiton review.

Table of Contents

Where is Hobbiton?

The Hobbiton Movie Set is located near the town of Matamata in the Waikato region on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on a private farm, about a two-hour drive south of Auckland and roughly 45 minutes east of Hamilton. The site was originally chosen by filmmakers for its rolling green hills and picturesque landscape, which perfectly captured the Shire as described in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. 

Hobbiton Movie Set: exact location

How can I get to Hobbiton?

If you have access to a car, Hobbiton Movie Set is relatively straightforward to reach from major cities like Auckland. However, if you don’t have access to your own transport, there are public transport options available.

You can take an Intercity bus from Auckland, Rotorua or Hamilton and then change to a taxi or shuttle in Matamata. Driving distance from Matamata to Hobbiton is about 15 minutes.

One of the easiest ways to visit Hobbiton is with a tour. There are numerous tours which include both pick up and drop off services in your ticket price.

Tours including pickup:

Auckland

Rotorua

Matamata

How much is a Hobbiton Movie Set Tour?

Hobbiton Movie Set offers a range of tours, some include add on experiences like a buffet lunch or a banquet dinner. All however include the standard movie set tour which lasts around 2 hours. Note that self-guided tours are not available and the movie set is located on private land.

• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour: $120
• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour & Lunch Combo: $158
• Evening Banquet Tour: $230
• Second Breakfast Tour: $180
• Behind The Scenes Tour: $180

*all prices in NZD and based on adult (18+)

We would highly recommend booking a tour in advance, especially during peak season.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour – What’s included?

Most guests choose the standard Hobbiton Movie Set Tour and this is the one we experienced too, we think it’s more than enough for the average visitor.

Tour breakdown:

• Check in at The Shire’s Rest Ticketing Office
• Bus journey to the movie set (10 minutes)
• Guided walking tour through the 12 acre movie set (with photo opportunities)
• Access to the interior of a Hobbit’s home on Bagshot Row
• Complimentary beverage at the Green Dragon Inn
• Return bus journey to The Shire’s Rest

Tour Overview

Firstly, the 10 minute bus drive to the movie set is quite charming. The setting is really picturesque and you’re treated to a short video featuring Peter Jackson himself, as well as the landowner.

The guided walking tour takes approximately 2 hours, though we would set aside at least half a day for the full experience. The Shire’s Rest also has an on-site cafe and souvenir shop, which you can spend time at after the tour.

Each walking tour accommodates up to a maximum of 40-50 people, with each bus group assigned its own tour guide who stays with them throughout the experience.

The tour guide provides insights into the history of the movie set, including its construction and how it came to be. They also share fascinating fun facts and behind-the-scenes stories.

The tour concludes with some free time at the Green Dragon Inn, where you can enjoy a complimentary drink. We both chose the ginger beer, which was delicious. We also treated ourselves to a pie, and it was incredibly tasty!

Hobbiton Review

First off, I’m going to say that the movie set itself was truly spectacular and the setting is gorgeous. It’s easy to see why the area was chosen as the film location, it’s incredibly picturesque and perfect as ‘The Shire.’

Hobbiton Review – Pros

Overall, I had a fantastic experience and loved the tour, although there are a couple of things I think could be tweaked or improved.

Highlights:

• Bus Journey – the video of Peter Jackson welcoming you to the tour was a wonderful touch and I loved hearing the backstory of the location.
• Tour Guide – the guide was lovely and shared some fun facts in regards to the making of the movies. I think this really elevates the experience and I can understand why they do not offer self-guided tours because of this.
• Hobbit House – being able to step inside a Hobbit house is fairly a new addition to the tour and it is absolutely amazing! The attention to details inside the house is just incredible.
• Green Dragon Inn – I love that it’s a fully functioning inn and I especially loved ending the tour with a complimentary drink.

Hobbiton Review – Cons

Personally, there aren’t many things that I would describe as cons, other than that I had to leave!

However, I would say that I was surprised the tour guide left us as we entered the interior of the Hobbit house. I loved hearing all the background stories and facts that the guide provided during the walking tour and would have loved to have heard more about the details of the Hobbit house. Instead, we were allowed to wander through and explore the rooms to ourselves – though we did have a time limit.

I was worried initially that we wouldn’t be able to take photos due to the crowds but the tours are timed so that each location doesn’t get too crowded.

We were able to take some photos during our walking tour but we still felt a little rushed at times. The larger the group, the longer you have to wait to take a photo and the less time you have to capture the photo too. We still managed to take plenty of shots but I guess this only can be improved with a smaller group or if you book a private tour.

Is Hobbiton worth it?

Yes! I absolutely believe Hobbiton is worth it and a must-do on any trip to New Zealand. We had an amazing time, and it seemed everyone else in our tour group did too, even those who hadn’t seen the movies!

Admittedly, the ticket prices are steep. Given that New Zealand is an expensive country to visit, we weren’t too surprised by the cost. However, we understand why it might deter some people.

If you’re a fan of the movies, we wholeheartedly recommend visiting—no question about it. If you’re not a fan and you’re traveling New Zealand on a budget, this might not be the best option for you. Although the tour was fantastic, I can imagine I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much if I weren’t such a big fan.

Tips for visiting Hobbiton

I believe one of the reasons we had such a great experience was the perfect weather. It’s hard not to enjoy yourself when the sun is shining, and the sky is clear. The movie set looked especially stunning under these conditions. If possible, we highly recommend visiting on a fine weather day.

Additionally, there is very little shade during the walking tour, so be sure to bring either an umbrella or sun protection—preferably the latter.

As mentioned earlier, we definitely recommend booking in advance. Hobbiton Movie Set is one of the most famous attractions in the country and tends to get booked out quickly.

Full Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Thank You

Hi adventurers, thanks for reading this Hobbiton review and guide!

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