In a nutshell
- Filming locations from the Lord of the Rings movies are scattered across New Zealand — the most famous is The Shire in Matamata, better known as the Hobbiton Movie Set.
- Hobbiton is one of the top attractions in New Zealand — and honestly, it’s worth visiting even if you’ve never seen the films. The set is seriously impressive.
- You can only visit on a guided tour, and spots sell out fast. Book ahead online: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour.
- We’ve done the Hobbiton tour ourselves — this article gives you everything you need to plan your visit, from ticket prices to the best places to stay nearby.
Where Is Hobbiton in New Zealand?
Hobbiton is located on the North Island of New Zealand, near the town of Matamata. The nearest larger cities are Tauranga, Hamilton, and Rotorua — all three make great bases for a day trip to Hobbiton.
Plan for half a day to a full day here, depending on which tour you book.
How Do You Get to the Hobbit Village?
The easiest way to get to Hobbiton is by car. There’s a large, free parking lot right at the entrance to the movie set.
Depending on where you’re staying, here’s roughly how long the drive takes:
- Auckland: 2.5 hours
- Rotorua: 1 hour
- Hamilton: 1 hour
- Tauranga: 1 hour
- Taupo: 1.5 hours
- Matamata: 15 minutes
Traveling without a car? You can book guided tours from Rotorua, Auckland, and Matamata that include transportation — super convenient.
How Early Do You Need to Arrive at Hobbiton?
If you’re driving yourself, aim to arrive at Hobbiton 30 minutes before your tour starts — that gives you enough time without feeling rushed.
At the entrance, you’ll need to exchange your online ticket for a printed ticket.
Tickets and Tours for the Hobbiton Movie Set
You must book a guided tour to visit the Hobbiton Movie Set — independent exploration isn’t allowed.
The standard tours last about 2.5 hours and include a guided walk through The Shire plus a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn. You can also book a version with lunch included, which runs a bit longer.
If you book a Hobbiton tour from another city like Rotorua, you’ll do the exact same movie set experience — just with the transfer included.
Where Do You Book Hobbiton Tours?
Book your Hobbiton tour well in advance online. During peak season — December through March — tours regularly sell out weeks ahead of time.
You can book through GetYourGuide or directly on the official Hobbiton website.
Prices are the same on both platforms, and you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. The range of available tours varies slightly between the two.
Note: All Hobbiton tours are conducted in English.
Booking Hobbiton Tickets on GetYourGuide
Through GetYourGuide, you can browse and book tours easily via the app. You’ll need to exchange your voucher on-site for a printed ticket. The price is the same as on the official website.
Guided Tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set
GetYourGuide also has plenty of options to book tours with transfers from various cities across New Zealand.
Hobbiton Tour from Auckland incl. Lunch
Hobbiton Tour from Rotorua incl. Lunch
Booking Hobbiton Tickets on the Official Website
On the official Hobbiton website, you have three options for the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour:
- The standard tour, 2.5 hours
- The standard tour incl. lunch, 3.5 hours
- The standard tour incl. bus transfer from Matamata
Want something extra special? You can also book experiences like Behind the Scenes or an Evening Banquet Tour.
Just browse the Hobbiton website for all the details.
Prices for Hobbiton
Here’s an overview of the admission prices for Hobbiton:
| Price (Adults) | Price (Children 11–17 years) | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Tour | 120 NZD | 60 NZD | 2.5 hours |
| Standard Tour from Matamata | 120 NZD | 60 NZD | 3.5 hours |
| Standard Tour + Lunch | 159 NZD | 98 NZD | 3.5 hours |
Children under 11 get in free.
Hobbiton Movie Set Hours
The first tours start at 8:30 AM and the last ones at 5:30 PM. It’s worth booking the very first or last tour of the day — the movie set tends to be noticeably less crowded at those times.
Our Review of the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Here’s what you can expect from the tour and what you’ll actually see at the movie set. But first, the most important thing: visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand is absolutely worth it! Even if you’ve never watched Lord of the Rings.
We booked the Hobbiton tour on GetYourGuide including transfer from Matamata, since we spent a night there.
We arrived at the iSite Matamata 20 minutes before the tour started. All we had to do was give our name and we got our printed ticket — super easy!
Right at 11 AM, our tour bus arrived and took us on a 15-minute ride to the start of the Hobbiton tour. The bus has a TV screen showing clips from the films to get you in the mood.
At the entrance to the movie set, we made a brief stop where more visitors boarded — including our guide, who gave a short introduction on the bus.
From the entrance, it’s about another 10–15 minutes by bus to the movie set itself.
Once there, we had a chance to use the restroom and then we were straight into The Shire. Our guide led us past the various hobbit holes at a relaxed pace.
Our guide shared some genuinely fascinating details about how the films were made and how the set was built. We won’t spoil the cool tricks here — better to discover them yourself!
You’ll have plenty of time in The Shire to photograph the houses. You’re not allowed inside most of them, but there’s honestly nothing to see in there anyway — the scenes set inside the hobbit holes were filmed in studios in Wellington.
If the studios interest you, the Weta Workshop in Wellington is absolutely awesome — seriously don’t skip it!
After the guided walk through the village, you do actually get to step inside one hobbit hole. It was specially built for tourists, and the attention to detail in the interior is truly impressive.
After the hobbit hole visit, it’s off to the pub — where you get a complimentary beer or a non-alcoholic drink. If you look younger than 25, bring your ID.
We had 30 minutes in the pub before heading back to the bus.
Right on the 2.5-hour mark, we were back at the entrance to the movie set. There you’ll find restrooms, a shop, and a café.
Before our transfer back to Matamata departed, we had plenty of time to grab a bite at the café and pick up some souvenirs.
Check out even more amazing filming locations around the world!
Where to Stay Near Hobbiton?
We recommend staying in Tauranga, Rotorua, or Matamata.
Tauranga and Rotorua are both great places to base yourself in New Zealand — each has plenty to see on its own. From either city, you can easily do a day trip by car to the Hobbiton movie set.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Tauranga
Our Hotel Recommendations for Rotorua
Matamata is a smart pick if you’ve booked an early or late tour, or if you’re doing a road trip through New Zealand and prefer to stay close to the set.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Matamata
Frequently Asked Questions About Hobbiton
Is Hobbiton wheelchair accessible?
Not on the standard tour — but there are special tours available for visitors with limited mobility.
You’ll be taken through The Shire by golf cart instead. You do need to book this option in advance.
All the details are here: Official Hobbiton Website: Accessibility
Can you visit Hobbiton without a tour?
No. You need to book a guided tour — independent visits aren’t permitted.
