The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy steeped in magic. Whilst not actually set in New Zealand, the country has become known as the home of LoTR and Hobbits thanks to director Peter Jackson who filmed the movies in his homeland. With a trip planned to New Zealand with the kids, I asked them to develop their bucket list and was a little surprised when they both added the Hobbiton movie set to the top of their list.
Visiting Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand took some careful consideration to ensure we booked the right day and time to slot into our itinerary. We had to think about where to stay and how long it would take to get to Hobbiton. But we managed to book everything quite easily, with everything seamlessly falling into place on the day of our visit.
Please note that we received a small media discount on our visit but self-funded most of the cost. All opinions are our own.
Visiting Hobbiton Movie Set New Zealand with Kids
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John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, commonly known as J. R. R. Tolkien, was born in South Africa in 1892 and was to become one of the greatest fantasy fiction writers of all time. The Hobbit was published in 1937 with The Lord of the Rings following in 1954 and 1955.
However, for many today it is The Lord of the Rings films directed by Peter Jackson that brought the world of Middle-Earth to life. It is one of the most successful trilogies of all time, filling cinema seats throughout its screening period.
Thanks to the brilliance of Sir Peter Jackson, you can visit the original outdoor film set of Hobbiton and wander the pathways on your own Hobbiton movie set New Zealand with kids!
The History of Hobbiton
It’s said that in spring 1998 Peter Jackson hopped in a helicopter and set off on a scouting adventure to find the perfect spot for The Shire. Noting a spectacular pine tree near a lake between rolling green hills, he was sure he had found his spot.
Sure enough, a little while later, the Alexander Family received a knock at the door. It was their sheep farm that Jackson had found and he was keen to use it as the location for The Shire in the LoTR films. The Alexanders told them to come back when they weren’t busy watching an international test rugby match. Finally, thanks to a little persistence, the location was confirmed.
In March 1999, and with help from the New Zealand Army, the process of constructing Hobbiton began. It took nine months but finally, in December 1999, filming began. In 2009, the trilogy was finalised. What was left behind was 44 permanently reconstructed Hobbit Holes, a number of landscaped areas, and the Green Dragon Inn. From this Peter Jackson and the Alexander family developed the idea of an ongoing Hobbiton Movie Set Tour which you can now visit on your family trip to New Zealand!
What you will see on your visit to Hobbiton Movie Set New Zealand
Before we go any further it is crucial to reassure you that you don’t need to be a fan or even have watched the Lord of the Rings movies to enjoy a visit to Hobbiton.
Our family is notorious for avoiding organised tours, always a little resistant to the idea of being packed together with a dozen other travelling groups. However, knowing that Hobbiton is only accessible via one of the daily scheduled saw us push caution to the wind and book into one of the tours. At the time we chose NOT to reserve a spot at the evening banquet as I was worried about the whole tour feel….I’m still kicking myself about missing out on this experience!
So what will you see on your visit to Hobbiton movie set New Zealand with kids? To be honest, for us, it was completely different from what we imagined. On arrival at Shire’s Rest, we picked up our tickets, wandered around a little and then lined up for our tour. A large coach pulled up which were prompted to then board. And off we went. You see, Hobbiton isn’t actually near the car park or even on the site of your check in spot. It was on the bus that I realised exactly why you need to be on a tour to access Hobbiton!
You will be assigned to a tour group
When you book your tickets you will need to select your tour time. From the moment you hop on to the coach to Hobbiton until the time you return to the departure spot, you will be with the same group. Your guide will make sure that you don’t wander away, and that you come together at different spots to listen to directions.
There’s a whole lot of walking
The Alexander Farm spans across 1,250 acres. Of this, 12 acres are dedicated to Hobbiton. During your Hobbiton movie set tour you will walk across much of the property. There’s a lot of walking!
For parents with little kids, my suggestion is to bring a baby carrier. Many of the pathways that you will be led around are quite steep and narrow and I think many prams and strollers would find the terrain a little tricky. There was a member of our tour group in a wheelchair, and I noticed that they were prompted to different access points along the way, missing some of the spots that I found most interesting. So whilst it is an accessible site, it is limited.
When visiting, be mindful that it is an all weather tour. This means that when it is wet, the pathways can become muddy. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and make sure you have sturdy, enclosed shoes to wear on the day.
Quirky Facts – What will you see?
Across Hobbiton there are some rather unique finds. One is the enormous fake tree at Bag End. I wonder if you will be able to spot it on your trip. It looks real but is actually completely constructed by hand with every single leaf attached one by one!
All of the apple trees in Hobbiton were stripped of their fruit during the film and fake plums were attached. I wonder if you can find them too?
All of the produce that you see at Hobbiton is actually real. Up to seven full time gardeners are employed at any one time to ensure everything looks perfect! We even saw a hedgehog (now before you get angry and wonder why they’re brought hedgehogs to Hobbiton, I have learned that they are an introduced species that is all around New Zealand!).
Bring your camera along!
Many movie sets have a strict no photography rule when visiting. Whilst you won’t be able to fly your drone around the site, you can take as many photos as you like with your phone, point and shoot or DSLR. Due to your access being via a guided tour, I would suggest that you leave the tripod at home.
You can’t actually go inside the Hobbit holes
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole and that meant comfort.” Well, yes, in the movies…..but not so much at the Hobbiton Movie Set!
When it comes to creating movies, there’s a whole lot of movie magic that happens to create the pictures that you see when you’re sitting watching the big picture. When it comes to the Lord of the Rings movies, Hobbiton was used to film all of the outdoor scenes whilst most of the indoor scenes based in The Shire were actually filmed in a studio.
Knowing that movie magic happens, it should be no surprise to discover that the Hobbit Holes at Hobbiton are actually shells. They are delightful on the inside but basic empty shells in the inside. Filming didn’t occur within them, so there was no need to deck them out.
When you visit Hobbiton you won’t be able to explore each Hobbit hole. It would be quite boring as they are empty. However, the creators of the tour understand that unless you have a photo it didn’t really happen in today’s social media world, so there is one Hobbit Hole dedicated to the opportunity to get a photo of yourself inside!
Drinking at the Green Dragon Inn – All Ages
For those familiar with the Lord of the Rings movies, you will know that the Green Dragon Inn was the main meeting spot to catch up with your neighbours and friends. As such, it is a fitting spot to conclude the tour of Hobbiton on your visit where you will receive a complimentary choice between two traditional ales, an apple cider or non-alcoholic ginger beer, all handcrafted and exclusive to Hobbiton Movie Set. As non-drinkers we enjoyed the ginger beer which was served in a heavy mug in front of a roaring fire!
Booking Tickets to Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Before you proceed, know the date and time you would like to visit. Pre-booking your tickets is essential to securing your preferred tour date and time. When we arrived for our visit, we noted that all tours were already FULL so many visitors who had not booked in advance left disappointed, not having a chance to head out to Hobbiton.
Whilst most tours are the same, your departure point can be selected from either Shire’s Rest, Matamata i-SITE, and Rotorua. There is no difference between these tours. We chose Shire’s Rest as we were travelling from Auckland in our hire car. If you don’t have access to transport, the Matamata i-SITE and Rotorua site will get you to the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour. This tour starts at $84.00 per adult and $ 42.00 per child if departing from Shire’s Rest.
There is also the choice to book an Evening Banquet Tour. The tour of Hobbiton begins at dusk. Unlike the day tours which end with a drink at the Green Dragon Inn, this tour includes a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit. I sometimes ponder whether we made the right decision to skip this option. It is over $100 more per person, but it includes a Hobbit feast! Magic, right! You can click here for the latest menu.
Getting to Hobbiton
Driving to Hobbiton is relatively easy with Google Maps a useful tool to direct you straight to the Shire’s Rest without issue. For those without transportation, you can book your tour via Matamata and Rotorua with transfers included.
Travelling to Hobbiton from Auckland
We drove from Auckland direct to Hobbiton in just over two hours. This included a rest stop along the way. We travelled initially along the Highway 1 heading south before turning off at Highway 27 and following the signs to Matamata.
Hobbiton New Zealand Details
Location: 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera, Matamata 3472, New Zealand
Cost: Starting at $84.00 per adult
Opening Hours: Tours depart daily from 9am until 3:30pm. | Additional tours at 4pm & 4.30pm may operate on all or selected dates between 1 Sep to 30 April. | Additional tours at 5pm & 5.30pm may operate on all or selected dates between 27 Dec to 28 Feb.
Website: Head to the official Hobbiton website for full details
Visiting New Zealand with Kids
New Zealand has been on the Kid Bucket List for some time. We have been working towards exploring the North Island and checking off a range of experiences. We hope our growing resources help you plan your trip.
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