Reviews of Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours. (Museum) in Matamata (Waikato).
Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours
501 Buckland Road, Matamata 3472, New Zealand
Description
Information of Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours, Museum in Matamata (Waikato)
Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.
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Map
Open hours of Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours
Sunday
9am–5pm
Monday
9am–5pm
Tuesday
9am–5pm
Wednesday
9am–5pm
Thursday
9am–5pm
Friday
9am–5pm
Saturday
9am–5pm
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Reviews of Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours
J.
Amazing experience. Definitely recommend if you are in the area or want make a wee trip from Auckland.
Our tour guide Anna was great. Perfect level of information whilst still letting us have free reign to wander a bit.
The actual Hobbiton village is so beautiful. Such amazing attention to detail throughout. The gardens were absolutely outstanding. It's also so much bigger than we thought!
Going whilst NZ is still quiet was so great. We had the whole village to ourselves, so it was quiet and let us get photos without other people in it.
Will definitely go back one day!
N.
Amazing tour! If you’re a fan of the LOTR and the hobbit this is a must! The guide explains the art and production of this masterpiece creation with such passion and detail, that you cannot learn anywhere. It was amazing to see how well they take care of the place, showing consideration towards us, the fans. Our guide Luke was so amazing!! I had the best experience. Beyond expectations! It was a day to remember
P.
Can not recommend this enough. After years of seeing the signs and thinking about it, and thinking it was a bit expensive, we decided to do a family tour. It was worth every cent and we all had the best time. Our group was aged 5 years old to 74 years old and everyone had a ball!
A.
It's a beautiful location, beautiful tour, great staff and love the complimentary drink at the end of the tour at the Green Dragon. However, the tour guide said there would be complimentary food and drink, but I had to pay for the muffin. Also, $90.00nzd I think it's a bit too pricey, because the tour is so quick, we were 3 of us - taking photos, always loosing the tour guide as we were runing behind. It would have been lovely to be able to stay there longer and take all in rather than moving through really quickly.
G.
Well well well what more can I say than this amazing place is a must visit for bothe kids and adults whether you are a fan of Hobbit and LOTR or not. We had a superb tour guide and his level of presentation was at a another level, he was fun and very informative. It was a a very hot day but thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
C.
Amazing experience. I’ve never watched the films (i didn’t tell anyone though lol) but i felt like I learnt so much because of how awesome our tour guide, Benji, was. It was a hot day so that complimentary drink was perfect. Lovely cider, I bought two bottles from the gift shop. Would come again after watching the movies. Highly recommend this tour, it’s an experience like no other. I felt like i was in middle-earth.
H.
I really enjoyed our visit, it was a magical place and our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. I wish our stay at the Green Dragon has been twice as long but as it was a busy day on a full tour we were in a bit of a rush. I was also disappointed that some of the posters match was sold out at the gift shop. All of the amenities and the staff were excellent however.
C.
100% recommend. The tour guide Sonny was so funny and kept us entertained the whole way. I worked on this set in the Makeup department in the first movie and it was a walk down memory lane for me. The set had been upgraded and also kept perfect. So much work has gone into keeping this looking amazing. Would highly recommend.
K.
Such a magical experience. We were late on our scheduled time due to unforeseeable circumstances but the staff were so considerate to accommodate us in the next trip. A perfect place to bond with your family and ki
L.
Kids had a blast. Sunny the Tour Guide was awesome! He knows his stuff and how to entertain a crowd. Good beer!
C.
Great experience! It's 100% a must do for anyone who wants to be transported in the Lord of the rings universe. The guide was very friendly and we got lucky enough to be alone on our tour which made it even more magical. You learn a lot about how the movies were made. My expectations were exceeded in so many ways.
j.
Amazing experience . The tour begins on time . The bus will take you to the movie site . The friendly guide explains everything about the movie site . There is q&a sessions. The tour ends with free beverages.
L.
Such an exciting and gorgeous place to visit. My son and I absolutely loved our time spent here. Our guide Kevin was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and great fun. The set is simply beautiful and a must-see for anyone with an interest in the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. Fabulous day out that we will always remember.
J.
Highly recommended. You can switch your mind off and pretend you're a hobbit. What else do you need?
It's much better than expected, but better to go for the first tour of a day though
J.
Every part of the Hobbiton is like walking into an unreal world. I love how they maintain the hills, trees and houses, making every single part of Shire vibrant and pure. Even who never watched LOTR still can feel the vitality of Shire.
K.
Absolutely loved this place, it's so fantastic. It is very well run and I really enjoyed my experience there.
Don't forget to like my review if you find it useful. :-)
M.
This was my third trip to Hobbiton and it was just as magical and awesome as all the other trips! Our guide was Danny and he was super friendly and helpful and able to answer any questions anyone had. He was really passionate about the world of LoTR and it made it all the more enjoyable. I would have loved to spend more time at the Green Dragon but that just means we’ll need to come back for one of the special events. Would recommend this adventure to anyone!
The gift shop is great too as most things are a bit cheaper than on the Weta website.
Thanks for keeping everyone safe with the Covid-19 precautions too.
f.
Nice guided tour to Hobbiton Movie set.
Book online and reach there by required time frame. 2 hrs tour
F.
Not only the place is amazing, but the overall experience was superb!
Kudos to our tour guide, Jacob, whose charism and knowledge of the Lord of the Rings universe elevated the experience.
B.
I've been a big fan since childhood and after wanting to visit for many years we finally made it. Thank you for the truly magical day for myself and my family. We're grateful for all the attention to detail given by Peter Jackson and the team who make this such a special place.
Our tour guide, Jacob, was very knowledgeable, explained everything with great passion and answered all our questions.
We loved the time at the end of the tour at the Green Dragon and their genuine English brews. Highly recommend the stout and the cider.
I came away from the experience touched by Tolkien's concept of the idyllic English village which he had in mind when creating the concept of Hobbiton and The Shire with each person doing their part to contribute to the community, free from as much of the individualism and disparity of today.
Thank you so much.
A.
Had such a great time! Luke was a wonderful guide, knowledgable and funny and super friendly. We went for the 20th anniversary event and it was well worth the ticket price. The food was delicious (and endless!) and we felt very well looked after.
J.
My family and I really enjoyed our visit to Hobbiton. The movie set tour is really good and is highly recommended.
V.
I highly recommend taking the tour even if it’s at least once in your life! This place is definitely worth its price, even if you’re not knowledgeable about any of the franchise the tour guide covers anything and everything that you would walk past. The drinks in the end were super scrumptious and they also provide non-alcoholic drinks for the kids 😊. Hopefully I can try the night tour next time~
H.
Absolutely fantastic! Only 7 people in the morning tour! You won’t regret 🤩
E.
Not a massive Lord of the Rings fan myself but going to the set has given me a real appreciation for all the effort and attention to detail that has gone in to the set! I’m definitely going to rewatch the franchise after this as it was an amazing day, and the tour I did was spot on.
Only negative was that there were a lot of toddlers/young kids in our group who were loud and running about when we were trying to listen to the amazing guide talk... not a fault of the tour, but was definitely a bit infuriating when you’ve paid money to listen to the guide and can’t hear them.
J.
100% worth a visit. I was skeptical since I don't typically like touristy places and prefer to stay off the beaten path, but as a huge LOTR fan, I decided to check it out. So glad I did! Our guide was fantastic, the set is pristine, and really spacious. They really pack in a lot. I only wish they let you explore on your own rather than herding you along in your group. Sometimes there was barely time for everyone to get a photo.
E.
This was a once in a lifetime and an enchanting experience which my friends and I will always remember. It feels like you’re in a completely unreal world. The tour was fantastic and the toy guides had so much knowledge it was super enjoyable to listen to. We were incredibly entertained and also learnt so much about the movie series! The set was creatively decorated and has been maintain stunningly. There are so many delightful things to see. Watch the movies at least once before heading this way, trust me you will appreciate it more. Tour ended with an amazing dinner and dancing.
M.
A must to see full of adventure and nostalgia for movie fans. The Hobbiton Movie Set is a significant location used for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film trilogy. 30 min drive from Hamilton. Entry fee applies and guided tour is offered. Early morning is the best time to visit and take nice photos. The tour guide was awesome and made the tour much more interesting.
G.
Whether you like the movies, books or neither, this is a must see! It is so interesting to get an insight into how the movie was made and just how intricate every detail is. My wife and I had a fantastic time and Keith, our guide, was perfect in explaining the many scenes and sharing some laughs on the way too.
I would definitely recommend this for anyone, the complimentary drink at The Green Dragon is something to look forward to and the views and landscapes are stunning! 10/10 from us through and through.
A.
In my opinion and regarding to the tour price is too expensive just to see all hobbiton from outside without getting in Bilbo’s house which is the famous one. Even so, Kevin, our tour guider made a well explanation.
F.
Really enjoyed wandering around the film set taking loads of photos and being followed by the cat (Pickles). Sonny is an awesome guide. Highly recommended.
A.
LOVED every moment of this experience. Go and discover that great art is made by the disciplines of detail and just have a great time. Brilliant for adults and kids alike.
J.
A magical place to visit if you are a The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fan.
C.
An absolutely brilliant experience, and worth the drive even if you're not a hardcore fan of the Hobbit/LOTR. Seeing the permanent movie set was just incredible and our guide, Luke, was very passionate and knowledgeable about the movie set and the work that went into the production of the movies, sharing really interesting facts, insights and anecdotes about the Hobbit set.
The tour started with a short bus trip to 'Hobbiton' which includes some behind-the-scenes videos that provide an introduction into where the set appears in the films/how it was built, and how things were filmed with the 400-size film crew in The Shire. Once at Hobbiton we took a leisurely trip around the village, past all the individually designed and built Hobbit houses (I think there are 44 in total). The detail of these houses is absolutely incredible, and there are plenty of opportunities to take photos by them including one house where you can stand inside the doorway. The trip ends with a complementary drink each at The Green Dragon Inn, also part of Hobbiton. We were really impressed throughout the whole trip, and it was absolutely worth the ticket value.
The last tour of the day is 3pm, and you can't see the set without being on a tour, so just plan in advance and ensure you arrive in advance of your tour time (we just rocked up and were just incredibly lucky not to have missed the last tour of the day, after driving for 2 hours from Auckland to get there!).
L.
Whether you like the movie or not, being here is such a magical experience. We were late on our scheduled time due to unforeseeable circumstances but the staff were so considerate to accommodate us in the next trip. KUDOS! A perfect place to bond with your family and kids.
P.
Loved the books and the movies, but always stayed away due to the crowds. With it being quieter on midday Monday, tour was running at about half capacity. Was also nice to be reminded at how beautiful our country is. Being able to soak in atmosphere that only a film set can evoke, with the additional commentary from our lovely guide izzy. The team here work very hard to make it look so good and to keep it maintained. Thank you for an amazing experience.
M.
A must do!
You have to do this at least once. Our tour guide was lovely and funny. The walk is a bit uphill into the shire but it is worth it. The rain came out on our tour but they were prepared with umbrellas for us.
Get your camera ready, the views and set is still intact and beautiful as ever!!!
M.
Great trip. Awesome staff. Especially our tour guide! Really enjoyed. Stunning scenery.
N.
Excellent place to visit even if you are not the movie fan. Buy tickets online. Small bus ride to the set. The guide shows you around and tells interesting facts. Its a small paradise with lush green surrounding, chirping birds, smell of grass. Tour ends in a very nice cozy cafe where they serve free drinks !
M.
Great experience, beautiful place with a lot of memories of the movie.
C.
The tour was so amazing! The attention to detail was fantastic at each of the hobbit holes and in the green dragon. The grounds are well cared for and maintained. Even if not a fan, such a cool tour to visit and you'll want to watch the films afterwards 😁
A.
Travelled with my daughter and we had an amazing time. It is well worth the money spend. The attention to detail at the various Hobbit holes and the Green Dragon - absolutely brilliant. The Shire's rest cafe was good, food very nice and staff friendly - all in all a great day out.
J.
Really amazing place to see LOTR movie set whether you are a fan or just curious about this place. Always consider the weather when you will make a booking. During our tour, it was drizzling...but they have lend us an umbrella (or a poncho if you're a solo travller)😅 Enjoy🤙
M.
Amazing tour! I love the whole experience. Planning to visit again on winter. 💛💛
S.
This place is a dream! Fully recommend to do the tour! It includes a delicious beer! The staff is amazing as well! The whole experience is a must!
R.
The whole experience was amazing - our guide Mike was great. The knowledge and insights really brought the whole thing to life. What a magical place.
D.
Great afternoon walking around the set and finishing with a beer at the green dragon Inn.
L.
Where do I start ... from the minute we got on the bus with Sonny till the moment he dropped us back he made the whole experience magical, fun, action-packed and he didn't leave one member of our tour out.
He took the time to remember people's names/locations etc. Helped take group pictures etc.
The main complex staff were also friendly and helpful.
Building , bus etc were so clean and welcoming.
I was treated for my birthday today and it made my whole birthday just perfect, thank you all .
M.
Awesome experience. If you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings this is a must tour. Really enjoyed exploring the Shire. Complimentary drinks at The Green Dragon were nice too.
E.
We did the evening tour, at first it seemed a bit pricey...WORTH every penny. Our tour guide was named Sonny who was an absolute legend and was hilarious. The food was high quality and high quantity. Drinks were great, and I wish I had more. First drink is free and then after it was $6 (CHEAP) Also the evening tour is 1 group compared to the day tours have multiple groups walking around.
The views were amazing and you really felt away from everything in a different realm...middle-earth that is.
This was a magical evening which we will always cherish. Thank you to the team for showing us such a great time.
S.
We had a great time. A must-do experience esp. if you are a fan.
g.
A fantastic experience. Sonny and Anna were amazing hosts and it was magic. We went with our 6 & 8 year olds and it couldn't have been better. The dinner at the Green Dragon was top notch and great fun.
Highly recommend for families.
V.
Pretty intriguing location and tour for fans or non - fans alike! Really worth the visit. Very good beer location made beer as well!!
L.
The guided tour was awesome, the guide girl was friendly. Had the special ginger ale (alcohol free) in the Green Dragon Inn, and it was the coldest and best ginger ale i have ever had, period. Absolutely stunning views and super happy to be in the most famous movie set in the world, certainly takes the LOTR experience up another notch!
A.
I loved the whole experience. From the tour guide and videos, to the village itself to the drink at the end. To be honest what made it a great experience what the service. Knowledgeable, funny and friendly tourguide and service from the gift shop to the restaurant was on point. Super friendly and fast service. We loved our meals at the restaurant aswell! Will be back to experience the banquet night tour!
J.
This was such a fun and interesting tour even if you're not a Lord of the Rings fan. The country side is so beautiful and there is so much history and tid bits of information that the tour guides share. This has been on my life list for a while and I'm so glad that I took this tour and would highly recommend it.
D.
My daughter and I visited Hobbiton for the first time yesterday and absolutely loved it. Benji our guide was witty and full of interesting facts about the creation of the set, the movies and area. Even the bus driver had great information in the trip in. The set is beautifully maintained and full of gorgeous decorations, birds and wonderful things to see. Even if your not a fan of the movies it’s a must see destination. We had an absolute blast. Now is the perfect time to go as there are no crowds and you can take your time around the set. Very pleased with our trip and my daughters highlight for her school holidays.
J.
Our driver/tour guide was very lovely and cool! Definitely enjoys what she is doing. This is our 2nd time to visit the movie set but we are still amazed by how beautiful the scene is.
J.
We loved Hobbiton. It was much bigger than we thought it would be and very much exceeded our expectations. The tour guide at Hobbiton was wonderful, as were Flexitours who organised our trip from Auckland.
S.
A must visit for all Tolkien and LOTR/Hobbit fans - and even if you're not, this is a great way to spend a couple of hours in the beautiful New Zealand countryside. The tour is well organised and there is a good website with all the information you need. There's ample parking, a cafe, gift shop and clean toilets. A short bus trip will take you to the set location and your guide will give you all the background information you'll need about the tour and the history behind Hobbiton. There are over 40 Hobbit holes on the site and you'll wind your way around the village over a period of about an hour. You'll enjoy trying to decide what is real/natural and what are simply props (so you think those cobwebs are real?) - the level of detail is quite remarkable. The guides give you great insights into the making of the film and some of the secrets. You'll end the tour at the Green Dragon Inn - a fully working establishment - where you can enjoy a free glass of local cider (or coffee/tea if your prefer) and snacks are available. It takes about 2 hours to complete the tour. The only way to see it is to take the tour - self-guided tours are not permitted as you are on private farmland.
S.
Super like, can't imagine i've been there and i'll be back soon...
C.
Great trip for families, both kids and adults enjoy themselves in the Hobbit world. Complimentary drinks are well received by all. The place has its own magic for sure. Our Tour guide "Sunny" was very friendly and professional.
L.
Even fun for people who haven't seen the movies. My five year old loved exploring and Kevin was a fantastic guide. Full of facts and willing to answer questions.
It's worth ordering a pie 😉
L.
Massive shout-out to our incredible tour guide Kevin. He really went above and beyond to make sure everyone was having a great time. He was a wealth of brilliant information and catered to all levels of LOTR/Hobbit familiarity. Thank you so much Kevin!
U.
At first I thought the tour was a bit pricey, but turned out it worths every penny. The guide was so informative and ensuring us to have enough time to take photos!
No matter if you never watch the movies, or even you're not a great fan of LOTR or The Hobbit, you'll find this place magically hypnotizing!
M.
One of the most amazing tours and amazing places that we visited during our road trip around New Zealand!!
If you are a LOTR or Hobbit fan, you MUST visit Hobbiton and do this tour while you are traveling in NZ!
It is the actual place where the movies were shot. The original Hobbit village constructed for the LOTR movies was mostly dismantled, then rebuilt in a more permanent way for the Hobbit movie series shoot, and that is what you will see.
Our tour guide was friendly, informative, and engaging. She made sure that we all had plenty of time to take photos, and made sure that she helped everyone to get their photos taken in front of the most famous and popular places in Hobbiton. We never felt rushed or felt like we were being “herded” or ignored.
We were there on a less busy day, (I would recommend scheduling your tour on a less busy weekday and avoid holidays) so we were able to spend quite a bit of time getting photos and enjoying the scenery.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Frodo and Bilbo’s Hobbit house, Sam’s house, the party grounds, and the Green Dragon pub.
It was like being inside the movies and the scenes that I have watched so many times.
We spent about half an hour in the Green Dragon having a few pints of Ale, then spent a while wondering through the huge gift shop.
You can drive to Hobbiton if you have a rental car, but if it is a busy time, parking may be a bit limited. We chose to buy the tickets online before we traveled to New Zealand that included the bus ride out to Hobbiton to avoid parking problems and enjoy the scenery. It was a good choice for us, as the more than 3 hours that we were able to spend there was more than enough time to see everything.
Definitely put this on your list as a “must do” when you come to New Zealand!
H.
Hobbiton is truly magical - five stars just doesn't feel like enough.
My boys and I are big fans of Lord of the Rings so had high expectations and these were not just met, but blown out of the park. The whole experience was just amazing. We loved the attention to detail and really felt we'd been transformed to another world.
Good value too, given the duration of the tour.
So wonderful and we can't wait to return sometime.
B.
An absolutely amazing place for non fans and fans alike. It was a trip of a lifetime for us to travel there in 2016 and got married and had an afternoon tour and and also we had evening supper tour absolutely brilliant absolutely amazing a must-see For any human being.
C.
A magical must-do!! I thought this might be a bit too touristy-it was incredible. An absolute must-do as this movie set has been carefully re-created in everiy detail to take you away! The pub and village were incredible as were the gardens. Our tour guide was in her 17th year-so we had all the scoop! Well worth it-very professional and a memorable time!
D.
We had the best experience! Our guide, Sarah is perfect for the job! So knowledgeable, full of excitement about her job! She has such an incredible vibe! My children are atill raving about how cool Sarah is 👍 We learnt so much and had the best day! We will be back for the evening banquet 👍
R.
Visited on 5th March, the tour guide (sonny) from memory was amazing, funny and very patient, especially with our son who was over excited!
Very informative and tour was at a great pace. Thank you so much for an amazing adventure! Can't wait to go again (without the kids) lol
Thanks team! X
B.
Meticulously preserved movie set. Worth coming here on a sunny day. Excellent service from the knowledgeable staff members on site.
Drink prices are reasonable for a tourist attraction.
Hopefully tourism picks up again soon as COVID-19 has had an impact on business here.
M.
A must visit place in North island. Lord of the rings and Hobbiton should be seen before you visit there , so that you know which place was which in movie. It’s is guided 2 hour tour cannot be done alone. Free ginger beer was yummy. This place was magical and had jaw dropping views . The shades of sunlight omg! Looks like a Disneyland. Beautiful spot to click pictures .
J.
Beautiful place, really fun and friendly guide Peter Jackson 👍🏼
B.
Awesome. Izzie had a great knowledge and a bubbly personality that was great. A great experience
S.
Excellent tour, amazing place. The guide was great, and had such interesting information about how it was built, and the filming. We had just finished re-watching all the LOTR and Hobbit movies, so it was awesome to walk into Hobbiton.
A.
What a wonderful and awesome experience this was! So worth the quick drive or flight from Auckland. Well done with tour guides telling stories and pointing out little things on the set. Beautiful area and even if you are not a hard core Lord of the Rings fan you will still enjoy it. So glad I went! 🙂🧝🏻♂️🧝🏻love Hobbiton!
A.
I expected so little out of this because although I loved the books I only liked the movies. I was so wrong. I literally cried when I walked into the village because I felt like I was walking into the books I had read to all three of my children. It was amazing. Our guide was phenomenal and I to top it off we had a beer at the Dragon Inn. I couldn’t have been more thrilled.
R.
I defiantly have the travel bug. I am just remembering when I was here 5 years ago and it was a once in life time experience. It was a rainy day on The Shire but I wouldn't change this day for anything! It truly was magical day, and the tour was really great and informative. I hope I can be lucky and come back one day!!
A.
Overall everything was absolutely perfect. Kudos to the team for the amazing arrangement. Anna was very insightful and very informative about the whole tour. It was a great experience. Cheers
N.
I had zero expectations for this, ( mostly because of my own distrust of massively over publisized tourist traps), boy was I wrong! Yes this was a well oiled tourist machine but it had a down to middle earth Kiwi run side to it. I had no idea as to the size and epic nature of this tour but it was really enjoyable and Very informative. The free beer in the Green Dragon was the icing in the cake.
M.
I haven't seen any of the movies, so my expectations about this place were really low, but I gotta say, the tour is excellent.
We took the tour plus lunch combo and it was excellent.
We had like 45 mins for lunch, it was buffet style, and it was really good with plenty of options.
After lunch, our guide took us through the movie set and it was really interesting as she was giving us details about how they did to shoot the movie and to solve issues while filming it.
I highly recommend this tour, even if you haven't seen the movies like me
C.
Beautiful and well-kept scenery! Sunny is a fantastic tour guide: friendly, humorous, patient, and most especially, cold-resistant. I had a fantastic time here and recommend it to everyone that’s interested!
W.
A truly great experience. If you come here on the Movie Set Tour, you won't regret it. The countryside and Hobbits village is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately the second breakfast and dinner were booked out, but I will try again another time. I would say maybe look well in advance too book.
C.
Our guide was awesome, very informative and entertaining. It was great to hear some of the behind the scenes stories from when the films were being made, and the work behind getting the set constructed.
D.
An absolute treat. I don't remember my guide's name but he was from Ireland and was an absolute legend. The guide did share the shooting sequences and revealed some amazing facts.
Went on the first tour for the day and have no regrets. Not sure about the best time to do the tour though.
The shire is a must visit.
K.
Loved the place- I have watched all the movies but even though you haven’t still the friendly staff explains you where what happened and how it was made all the history and interesting stories. One thing is to say that this place is for any age group from toddler to very aged person they just love it. Worth visiting if you are in New Zealand. Here are some pictures but trust me Its much more beautiful than the photos I could take. Enjoy guys
I.
This place is awesome! Not only the movie set which is immaculately preserved and maintained, right down to keeping the lush green of the grass, but the tour guides make the whole experience magical with the little details and nuggets of info.
It may be a bit out of the way, but this attraction is well worth the journey.
We took the package including the Hobbit buffet lunch which was just as entertaining!
A flagon of ale at the Green Dragon pub and all you can eat (literally!) of delicious food at the end of the tour.
Unforgettable!
If you like the review and the pics...spread the love and hit the like button 👍🏼
a.
Very professional tour, the guide was very good, informative and friendly.
My only negative was it did feel a little rushed, when you have 36 people in the group and everyone wants a photo at every stop, it does take time to get this done, there is no avoiding falling behind the tour group.
S.
Absolutely amazing, went in with low expectations of a cheesy movie set, but it was really cool. The place is built up like a real village with a functioning pub etc. And is absolutely stunning. The tour guide was really funny and friendly and sincerely cared about what she was talking about.
The only thing is it’s quite busy, so it’s wise to reserve a place in advance especially in the peak season. Overall I highly recommend this, an absolute must if you’re a fan of the movies and books.
R.
This was a once in a lifetime and an enchanting experience which we will always treasure. It felt like you are in that dreamy world. Just before the tour we had lunch which was delicious, high quality and there was plenty. The tour was fantastic. The set was creatively decorated and has been maintain stunningly. There are delightful things to see. Watch the movies at least once before heading this way so you get the whole gist of it. A must do I strongly believe.
L.
The BEST and most BEAUTIFUL experience I have ever had! I am such a huge fan of Lord of the Rings and coming to Hobbiton, on such a special occasion, was one of the most memorable moments of my life. So much magic! Thanks to Sunny our tour guide and all the staff that made the day so magnificent.
L.
The Hobbiton Evening tour with banquet dinner was amazing!! I would highly recommend this for any LOTR/hobbit fans. You start with a tour of the village and end with a banquet dinner at the Green Dragon. The tour guides we're super friendly and a lot of fun. They give you tones of time to check out the hobbit holes and take lots of pictures. The food and beer was really good and they have a lot of little surprises throughout the night which add a really nice touch to the evening.
K.
We had a fantastic time visiting Hobbiton. I highly recommend the Evening Banquet Tour, as it seems you get a bit more time to take all the photos you want and you get to enjoy an absolutely delicious hobbit feast. Seriously, the food was really, really good. I expected the food to just be OK, but it was great. After dinner they provided hobbit costumes for some fun pictures and we got to walk back through hobbiton at night with some cool lanterns. This tour is great for fans, as the guides had tons of stories to share about the production, and great for non fans alike, as the landscape is beautiful even without context and the food was top notch. They really put a lot of time and care into maintaining this piece of movie history.
M.
Amazing fairy like experience!!! The guide was very entertaining and even though there were crowds visiting we still managed to take lots of pics and see wonderful world of Hobbiton. I had a stroller and even though it was challenging pushing it up and down the hills it is still doable. At the end of the trip we had a nice refreshing ginger ale drink. It was so yum that lots of bees came as well. Just beware 😜
D.
I have watched all LOTR and Hobbiton movies, but forgot some of the details already. Suggest you re-watch the movies before going on this tour. Still pretty cool though; the attention to detail and overall feeling is remarkable, you'll definitely be transported to The Shire 😊
Our tour guide (Mike) was also very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He had a lot of fun and interesting facts to share which was a good value add to the tour.
Coffee from the Shire's Rest Cafe was also a good final touch after the tour ☕ highly recommended!
T.
This tour was one of the highlights during my trip. It was really great seeing everything that you saw in the movie, in person. I chose the last tour of the day at 5:30 PM during the end of February since the local holidays and major tourist groups are gone by the end of this month. The sun was going down at that time so you could get some awesome sunset shots and you're not burning in the sun. There were no groups behind or in front of us either so taking photos were super easy. The tour guide didn't rush us either so I would say this is one of the better times to go.
C.
Beautiful place! Loved it. Around 30 people on the tour so it's a little bit hard to take photos. But it totally worth! The guide gives you lots of information about the set/movie. You get a free drink and they have a couple of snacks to choose from (not free).
M.
We traveled from Germany to New Zealand mainly to see Hobbiton and it was stunning. Definetly worth the price. Like a green oasis. Also our guide Jacob was a very funny dude and was willing to show his knowledge with everyone and let them participate in the tour. Loved it, give this guy a promotion!
P.
Awesome experience.. Guided tour.
J.
Awesome experience. Highly recommend it
R.
We attended the 20th anniversary of LOTR event and it was an incredible experience from top to bottom. A quality operation that had us buzzing for days after. Absolutely must come see!
S.
Absolutely loved this place. The dinner is what made it! Make sure you book in advance as they sell out quick due to numbers. My kids were young and had fun walking around the set. The scenery is stunning and just a nice place to be. Due to the popularity of the place is it very commercialized when you turn up but once you get off the bus, it’s forgotten about. The guide was lovely and basically an enjoyable outing.
N.
I know the movies are iconic but sorry, I was just underwhelmed. I felt that for the money you paid, they could've dug one of the houses out so you could go inside, instead of just facades. Also maybe dress the guides up as Bilbo Baggins or some other character. Won't go back, but I know others on our bus were there for the 2nd or 3rd time. Go figure.....
P.
The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour is definitely worth visiting. Make sure to buy your tickets online before arriving because you can’t just walk around on your own. You need to meet at a place called the Shires Rest which has toilets and a cafe as well as a gift and ice cream store. You need to meet at a certain point five minutes before your tour time. Everything is signed well making it super easy and there is plenty of parking. You will then board a bus which takes you into the private property which houses the movie set. You need to stick with your tour guide and follow them around while they talk about what you a are seeing. There are plenty of photo opportunities and you even get a 15 minute break at the Dragons Inn with a free drink included in the tour price.
L.
The price is really expensive for what you're getting, however still worth it if you're a fan of lord of the rings as the scenery is beautiful. Try to avoid main tourist season so you can get views of the hobbiton holes without other groups in the scenery.
N.
Amazing views and a great back story. The tour guide was knowledgeable and funny. Very picturesque. We went on a morning tour in the rain. The tour provides wet weather gear to not spoil the fun. You get finish off with a drink at the green dragon. The stout was yum. A must see in NZ.
C.
Definitely a must-do when you're in New Zealand. The guides are enthusiastic and friendly, and they don't rush you when you're taking photos, they even help you take them! There was never a dull moment during the tour as the guide would talk about fun facts and interact with the group. There's also free ginger beer at the end of it and a shop to buy items from the series.
Would definitely recommend taking the first two or the last two tour time slots as anything in between is when the tour buses would come and although you would still have time to get photos, you would be with a huge group.
Other than that, it's a wonderful place and I hope everyone takes care of it when visiting.
T.
Awesome Tour!
Very organized. The Tour guide was really energetic and also full of passion in what she was doing!
The place was ok.
We went on the very first tour in the morning, so the view wasn't crowded.
Place seemed a bit dull for my taste I guess. But over all great!
Their home made beer found only there in the world which the first glass was free was also not worth it. PS: I'm not really a beer drinker so I probably wouldn't know better. Best that you try it for yourself!
Improvement Suggestions:
1. Include a free photo as part of the inclusion for the tour.
2. Have a free show randomly occurring through out the set.
3. Have the people maintaining the place to dress up as hobbits and not in their uniform to make it more lively.
4. Have hobbit related music around the place.
5. Have more food selection, warm meal or warm chips.
They have the food after the tour, but would be nice on set.
I understand that issues could be pollution and the reason why they may have not allowed this.
Overall 4 Star! :)
R.
BEST PLACE EVERRRRRR.
10/10 fun, friendly, and knowledgeable staff.
Hobbiton is just so beautiful and amazing, I would live there if I could. The detail on everything is insane. Worth every penny ❤️
L.
Great tour! The guide told us all about the movies and how they were filmed. We got to hear just how crazy some of the details for the movies were.
We also had the buffet which was good but not a necessary experience, you will still see the green dragon and have a drink even you don't choose that option, that means you also have more time to visit the hobbiton gift shop.
S.
A New Zealand cannot be completed without visiting the Hobbiton. Highly recommended to take this tour and remember to book the tickets in advance online as it is a very popular place to visit with a lot of tourist! But you get split into small groups so when you get the tour it doesn’t feel so crowded at all. The tour guide is amazing at making recommendation on where to capture the right images as well!
S.
Every December we watch TLOR and the Hobit Trilogies. Always wanted to visit Hobbiton but found it too expensive so finally when it was on special the entire family attended. It was fabulous. Absolutely stunning and a dream come true. Would love to attend the evening banquet if it becomes more affordable. Really wish that you guys make it more affordable for locals though, just a suggestion.
N.
If the opportunity comes your way...GO TO HOBBITON! So cool! Special thanks to our Tourguide Sarah...you are the best!
G.
This place is absolutely amazing! If you are a fan of the franchise this must be on your list to do while you are here in New Zealand. Takes around 3 hours in and out which is a good enough time, and enough tike while going around to take photos.
The detail of the place is incredible and the tour guides them self’s are well knowledgable and energetic which is great. Gave us enough time to look at each section while we followed a path around. You take a coach trip to and from the main entrance to the village itself which shows an entrance DVD on the screen with history and location while filing was happening.
Luckily it was a beautiful day we went..
And don’t forget your free hobbit beer at the end!!
L.
Great tour to showcase the creativity and immaculate attention to detail of the film set. Beautifully done and definitely worth visiting!
J.
Can I give this 10 stars?! A dream come true for an movie buff. Apparently 40% of people who visit haven’t seen the movies. Or they accidentally thought they were going to a Harry Potter set. The place is painstakingly preserved to the high standards of Sir Peter Jackson. The staff is funny and friendly and kept a great pace and assisted with getting everyone’s photos taken. It was wonderful. And the stout and beef pie were epic.
L.
Hobbiton is AWESOME! I highly recommend going on the evening tour with dinner in November. The sun's lighting was absolutely perfect the evening I went, it made the entire place magical and look exactly as it did out of the movies. Each Hobbit home is unique from one another so it was fun to really study each one and look for the little details. The tour guides were wonderful - friendly, patient, kind, and funny. They gave us plenty of time to take pictures. I never felt rushed and I took as many pictures as I wanted. They were also willing to take a picture with your phone if you wanted to get in the picture.
It was so much fun getting a drink at The Green Dragon Inn, signing the guest book, and then being served a Hobbit feast. The feast itself was picture worthy and delicious. There was plenty of food, if only we could have taken leftovers.
The night tour was beautiful and magical as well. Getting to walk around Hobbiton at night with lanterns was a lovely experience. It was all just the right length of time.
I had such a wonderful time on the tour - definitely worth the price.
I.
Great tour, excellent location. The movie set still have the magic of the movies.
It is a perfect location, all the stuff are really nice, they know a lot of the movie and the history of the place.
All the places are well preserved, you have a lot of places to walk and take pictures.
Highly highly recommended 🤙
C.
This was a dream come true! As a fan of the books and movies it was a true yet magical experience. The attention to detail and beauty of the Shire is well maintained. So much care is outbid to preserving this precious place. I wish I could spend all day strolling the paths, lounging atop the hill over Bag End and frequenting the Green Dragon!
m.
super nice staff, highly recommended evening tour with dinner. surreal place, very natural and not very artificial, it seems that at the right moment the inhabitants of the county will come out of their houses to greet you. excellent dinner, the number of people was not high so that we could socialize and be better followed by guides who could even take memorable photos. Highly recommended !!!! the company is worth the expense.
L.
It's an experience for any fans of the films. I recommend going twice. The first time you stock with the tour guide and pick up all the fun information. The second time you hang back and while they are taking you can go off and take all the pics you want.
Their beers are also pretty good.
S.
Awesome place and great tour! We aren’t even big Lord of the Rings fans but we still loved our visit to Hobbiton! It is very organized and well put together! Their Ginger beer was amazing best ginger beer I have ever had! You get a free drink (beer or ginger beer) at the green dragon inn during the tour!
C.
So worth the trip even if not Lord of the Rings fan. Breathtaking and whimsical views. Staff are friendly and and are helpful in giving pointers where to take pics. I also appreciate our guide recounting scenes from the movie on specific sites.
Highly recommend!
S.
A beautiful place to celebrate the hard work and detail that went into the making of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. Our tour guide Patrick was excellent, with knowledge of the set and history coming out of his ears, it was very interesting to listen and look out for everything we were being told about. The tour is worth the money and I would love to come back when one of the special events is on to spend more time there and maybe have a meal at the Green Dragon.
P.
Whether you have seen the movies or not, it's a very nice place and the visit is fun. The landscape is great and the movie set is very well taken care of. It's all full of flowers and every detail is still there. The guided visit lasts around 2 hours (including a shirt bus trip) and the guide tries to give you some time for pics in the spots we stopped. You have to be fast with the photos or choose between listening to the full explanation or take your pics without people in the middle of them. However, yes, it's expensive. They so offer you a free drink by the end of the tour, at least.
N.
We loved Hobbiton. It was a great experience, only made better by our wonderful guide, Mike. The hobbit holes are beautifully done and the green dragon inn is an amazing piece of art full of all the details you would expect at a dragon inn. Anytime we have visitors, we plan to take them there.
Z.
Amazing tour. Tour guide was very good. Really enjoyed experience and will be recommending to all my friends!
E.
Visited October 2018
I mean if your a fan of anything The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings and you get the chance to visit this place your going to be like a kid at Christmas! We had an amazing time here and left on a serious high!! The guides are so knowledgeable and answered everyone's questions and told interesting facts about the set and the filming of the films. They even got us dancing around the may pole! We followed our tour with a drink and good and that didn't disappoint either. Would 100% recommend and would return if went back to the beautiful country on New Zealand!!
M.
Really is like stepping into the movies. As a long time fan of the books I had to come here. And it was mindblowingly good.
Sets have been maintained to the highest standard. Gardens are immaculate.
So many visitors that you are escorted in groups. Guides are very knowledgeable and fun. Plenty of time to take photos.
Cannot recommend highly enough. A must do
C.
Excellent experience visiting the Hobbiton movie set. Our tour guide, Donovan, was friendly and approachable. You get to see a lot of variations of 'Hobbit holes', the orchard and the little lake.
At the end of the tour, you visit the pub for a complimentary drink; I had the English stout which was good.
F.
It's really nice to be here and definitely a place you should visit when you are in New Zealand!
The famous movie set is full of people from young kids running away from their tour guides to the biggest Lord of the rings and the Hobbit fans.
One highlight is the green dragon where you can sit and drink one of the best ginger beers in New Zealand (for free!).
The staff is really friendly and always finds something new and interesting to tell you. And also gives you enough time to take a lot of photos.
Because it's so famous plan to spend some money.
M.
Loved our Hobbiton experience!! The group you explore with is kept to a reasonable size. The guide was very friendly. Lots of facts and additional information given about the site & filming. They offer umbrellas if it's raining. The set is just beautiful. Well worth the money & taking the time to go if you're even a little bit a fan of the books or films! I found the souvenir shop disappointing though - poorly stocked & not a massive choice of items you couldn't just buy online. Would be nice if maybe you could purchase the cup from your drink at the Inn?
N.
A fun day out in the sun. Great for fans of the films and total newbies alike.
Great for families.
The tour guides do a super job.
S.
Fantastic! We had terrible weather (it rained so much during the whole tour) but the place was so magical and well made, and the guides were so good and passionate about it, that we had outstanding experience despite the rain. We went for the evening tour with banquet- the food was amazing too and seeing Hobbiton after sunset was great. Would definitely recommend and would love to visit again - it’s so worth it!
S.
Lovely out there.. we had a very relaxing and enjoyable day tour . Did a walk around the set and was amused of the tiny houses and the whole farm where The Lord of the Rings was partly filmed. We took a bus from Auckland and was taken to a lovely country side and to Alexander family farm.. Absoulutely fantastic, a very organized tour. I would say it is a must see and do when in Auckland.
O.
Can't say anything other than this place is picture perfect! The surrounding farmland is surreal and hard to believe how green and perfect the landscape is. Hobbiton itself was quite impressive with the sophisticated layout and attention to detail throughout. Our tour guide for the day was also quite friendly and knowledgeable of the area. At the end of the tour you have the choice of an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage at The Green Dragon which was a good finishing touch to the tour.
It did rain for about half the tour for us so it's worth taking wet weather gear so you don't have to cart an umbrella around.
N.
Really great experience, amazing for Lord of the rings fans.
We bought a ticket that included a bus drive to and from the place.
We had a cute guide that made the experience a whole lot better, that amount of new things we learned about the movie is amazing.
At the end you get to go to a nice bar and drink cool beer.
The whole tour took around 1-2 hours.
R.
Went to Hobbiton yesterday, we were the last tour group thru for the day. Eli was our tour guide.
Honestly, going to Hobbiton was one of the coolest things I've ever done. I literally shed a tear as we went thru to the village. Getting to see the set up close & hearing loads of trivia about production made the tour so much more than I expected it to be. The village was beautifully kept, gardens full of life, looked like Hobbits could pop out at any second. All topped off with a ginger beer at the Green Dragon.
I will definitely go back one day, definitely want to do the Evening Banquet Tour.
C.
Loved visiting here. A must see for Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fans. Incredible attention to detail throughout the entire set. Guide was knowledgeable and funny. Experience was well organized and perfectly timed. The food at the buffet lunch was absolutely incredibly, we were full all day. Plenty to choose from even with dietary restrictions. My only complaint is that the gift shop is a little lacking!
N.
Minimum price is 85 dollars.
You get a very nice 2-3 hours tour trough the film set with interesting information.
In the end of the tour we also got a free drink in the Hobbtion bar.
A bit expensive but would still recommend it.
C.
I enjoyed the tour with a group of people, walked around the farm of the movie scene, heard interesting stories from tour guide on a sunny day about 3 hours!
We got a cup of iced drink to end the tour which came very nice in a hot sunny day!!
Everything has been kept well, it was amazing to keep everything in such good condition as it’s a vast space!
If you enjoyed the movies, you’ll enjoying visiting the place as well!!
N.
What a great afternoon/evening out. The attention to detail made this destination a real win. Highly recommended.
B.
If you're in the area. Just do it. You won't regret it. Even if you're not the biggest fan you'll enjoy this tour. Unless you absolutely hate Hobbits for some reason. We had loads of fun and it was so cool seeing the familiar areas from the movies. Tour guide was great and the drinks at the end were awesome.
One thing to know though, the hobbit houses are just a "facade" if you will. There is no interior, just a small 3'x4' crouching space behind the door. They did all the interior filming in a studio in NZ. Not a huge deal though, just don't expect to see anything inside the hobbit homes.
B.
We enjoyed the movies, but are not huge, knowledgeable fans, such a those who know the books backwards as well. Therefore, we were stunned at the detail and care that was taken to create this area, and the maintenance that goes on. You can only take a guided tour, as you enter private property, but you wouldn't want it another way, with the knowledgable guides.
You are not rushed through the tour, and there is more than enough time and break for photo and questions, even with a large group. There is even some spare time at the end for a beer, or non-alcoholic ginger beer, that is included in the tour, where you can relax and reflect on the visit, or take some more photos.
Just be aware that many tour groups pass through here as a matter of course, so some people on the tour may not care or necessarily want to be there. We had a large group talking though our tour, until the guide asked them to be quiet or trail the main group.
If you are passing through the area, check it out. If you are a Hobbit/LOTR fan, rearrange your trip to make it to here.
C.
Such a wonderful day out on the movie set. Whilst it was quite busy on the day of our visit, the groups are staggered so you have plenty of time within your group to take photos, pose with the sets, etc. The scenery in the area is breathtaking.
If you’ve seen the movies some of the sets will be familiar.
N.
Awesome tour! Delicious food and amazing beer/cider/gingerbeer. Involved tour guide, barman and chef! Definitely benefit from q guided tour!
ฟ.
Pros: well organised tour and well maintenanced set. Everything is set up ,of course, and been taken good care of. Clean property and plenty of toilets. Friendly services
Cons: OverCrowded , you dont really have time to take much photos and hard to take a good one since there is always lots of people , since it is fully guided tour so you dont really have much time to spend or chill out too.
Expensive tour, $84/one adult admission compare to the experience I get afterward at the end of tour , i would say it is not value for money in my opinion.
Overall is not wow or that impressive , just very so-so. If you have something else to do and in a very tight budget or limited time and also not a big fan of the movie, just skip this place and throw your money and time to some other tours or good food.
E.
Excellent tour. Guide gave us some awesome insight. Tour was well organized, bit of course crowded. Amazing how the set is kept in beautiful condition. Well worth the trip.
J.
Interesting place to visit whether you have seen the lords of the rings or not. Beautiful rolling hills and interesting hobbits sets. Would recommend a visit if you are on your way up to Auckland. You also get to learn more about the movies as well.
N.
Such a beautiful place!! Whether you are a Hobbit/LOR fan or not, you will fall in love with this place. You would wish to live a hobbit life if only it were real. Regarding the tour, it is very well organized. The guides are really wonderful and witty and provide really fascinating facts about how the movies were filmed.
V.
It feels like a major tourist trap at first but gets a bit better. I actually enjoyed the tour a lot more than I thought I would and our guide was very good. I recommend doing this if you are a fan of the movies.
F.
An unforgettable, magical experience for major fans and the ones who’ve just seen the movies. We had a super informed guide and she was sweet. The buses make the whole experience a lot more luxurious! And free beer at the end of the tour at the Green Dragon!
I.
Came here for the tour and buffet lunch combo.
The tour was great - our tour guide Jacob was friendly and knowledgeable, able to share little stories at each stop and answer most questions. The tour involves a little bit of a walk uphill as you go around the hill.
After the tour was a quick complementary drink - 3 alcoholic and 1 non alcoholic options - followed by buffet lunch. I recommend adding the lunch on as it was a different experience.
F.
Book early to avoid disappointment! Hobbiton is a must-do if you’re visiting NZ, even if you’re not a LOTR fan. The attention to detail is amazing. The tour guide is informative and there is sufficient time to wander around and take pictures. The tour concludes with a drink at the green dragon inn.
N.
We loved this tour! Lola (blonde) our guide was very knowledgeable and shared her passion of the films with us. The meal was a must and we would recommend it highly.
The Shire was amazing and it was great to see it being treasured.
F.
People was polite, nice, gentle and really helpful. We were a lot of people but they took care of each one of us, answering questions, ( we didn't even have to wait for or passes or anything). The experience was just amazing. If you like the Lord of the Rings saga this is a MuST DO.
-The tour guide was from London it self so it added a lot to the experience - Just perfect. Definitely I'll do it again.
A.
If you are fan or not of the Lord of the ring or the Hobbit you will love Hobbiton movie set !
Stunning view!
Take an hour to do the tour if the place is not too crowded.
It’s possible to do a break at the tavern.
Was a great experience and if I can I’ll go back again certainly.
A.
It was a great experience. Not the crowds of cruise ship days. We had an excellent guide. It was a great visit
G.
So much fun!! This place is seriously a piece of heaven on Earth.
We were worried it wouldn't be worth the hefty price of going, but we were not disappointed! We learned so many fun movie facts, and the scenery is unreal. If you live in the area or are traveling to the area, this is a must see!
C.
First of all the guide Cassandra is incredible. It was my 30th the day after and she made my experience so special. I recommend paying extra and doing the evening banquet. The food is insanely good and your not rushed around. It started at 5.45 and didn't leave till 10! So plenty of time to take lots of photos. The ginger beer is to die for at the green dragon! I would highly recommend a visit!
J.
My husband and I did the tour+lunch combo and enjoyed it! Our guide was nice and gave some interesting insights into the making of the movies. The level of detail and creativity that went into crafting these sets is fascinating. Lunch was a buffet of various salads, meat, roasted veggies, and desserts. We also each got a complimentary beer. Everything was lovely, and our only complaint was that lunch was squeezed into a 35-minute window, which felt very rushed (we love to indulge in buffets), whereas the tour was 1.5 hours and felt quite slow-paced. If it were an hour tour and an hour lunch, it would have been perfect for me. Nevertheless, a wonderful experience and worth the money!
G.
Went here with our family of 3 young boys.
They lived all the hobbit holes, and the fact that they were too big for some of them.
The guide was knowledgeable and informative.
This whole operation is run very very well. The busses carton tourists to the set, the facilities, Tue level of detail, and the whole atmosphere of the set leaves you expecting to see Mr Frodo poke his head out of a window.
If you're on a tour with a lot of Asian tourists, expect them to get in every one of your photos, cut in front of you, and wonder off and not listen to the tour guide. If you're after photos without people in them you'll find yourself at the very back of the group, and not hear any of the guides information.
D.
Fantastic insight into the set that became part of an epic story. The tour is well worth the time and cost. The beautiful countryside is enhanced by the intricate sets and brought to life by the knowledgeable tour guides. Even on wet rainy days like the day I visited, there is plenty to see and with umbrellas provided, the day didn't get as dreary as it could have. As they say though, if you don't like the weather in New Zealand, just wait 10 mins...
S.
I love movies, I mean who doesn't? And I've been on several movie and show tours, and this one ranks right up there on the top of my list if the best. I had my whole family with me which includes three kids under 5 and they all had so much fun. They loved seeing all the Hobbit homes and there's a couple place where the can touch some small Hobbit sized things like an old fashioned wood working area and such. The behind the scenes info that you learn will feed the need for knowledge for any fan of the movies and books. Even if you never seen or read the books you will have fun. I would highly recommend this to anyone.
L.
It was my wife’s idea to visit Hobbiton whilst in Auckland, New Zealand for a conference. I was not exactly thrilled by the idea but we hired a car and drove the nearly 3 hours to Matamata (closest suburb to the set). It seemed expensive to me but the tour was absolutely fantastic. The location is unbelievable. It is some of the most beautiful countryside I’ve ever seen. The guide was great and the free beer at the hobbit tavern at the end was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Was very grateful my wife forced me to come along!! Only regret is I didn’t bring the kids. They would have loved it too.
R.
If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, you don’t want to miss a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set. Guided walking tours take you around the set, and guides share behind the scenes stories while you admire props and costumes seen on screen.
M.
I'm not a great LoTR or Hobbit fan, but this is a nice place, and worth a visit. The pub and conference dinner were nicely done.
M.
If you're a Lord of the Rings or Hobbit fan this place is a must-see. The tours are very well-organised and our guide Nolan did a fantastic job of talking us through the set as well as telling us some hidden details that made the tour extra fun. We'd highly recommend taking the lunch option which was delicious and ended the tour well.
J.
We did a morning tour followed by lunch. It was super busy but it was a sunny day and everyone was happy to wait for photos. Our guide Audrey was great. The attention to detail is amazing. Lunch was really good. In a marquee outside the green dragon.
S.
This place is magical! The movie set is just what you watch in the movie. The scenery is very exceptional. The tour guide is very experienced. They will walk with you around even if it is raining. You need to book in advance if you want to visit this place.
There will be a bus that bring you from the main lobby to the site. It is quite far from the town. So you may need to book it fron i site and they will pick you up there and bring you to the main lobby.
S.
Best day trip out of Auckland, taking in the sun, green and breeze in a movie set. Catching up on Hobbit lore is a great experience.
K.
Lovely place! Perfectly maintained! Anyone travels in New Zealand must visit it! The tour was perfect as well as the tour guide fully informed of the subject. There are lots of souvenirs in the store.
P.S Make sure you try Green Dragon's Ginger beer at the end of the tour!
T.
We really didn't know what to expect before getting there. It's such a big production with the number of tours they do daily. Make sure you arrive early lol. It's such a Great experience and walk in the beautiful landscape. Our guide was awesome too. The free drink at the end was tasty. Gotta try all the different drinks they give. We really loved the ginger beer. You must try it. Cider was pretty good too. I absolutely hate beer but could appreciate the flavour and smell of their dark ale. The lunch was also great.
V.
Amazing setting makes you feel like in the movie, very well kept even in the summer
H.
This is an outstanding experience for every JRR Tolkien fan. A really breathtaking place where you can experience all the Shires Rest. There are only guided tours, but do not worry you will have enough time to make your photos and to enjoy the place. It is so authentic, more than 60 people keep it daily alive. Even the chmineys smoke ;-) You will also hear a lot of background stories which are funny, such as the last scene in the return of the king, where Sam returns to his home and his wife and his children rush out. One was his daughter, but he did not know this before, so the surprise in the film was real :-) You finish the journey in the green dragon, the most frequented pub in NZ.
K.
The tours are very well-run; the booking and ticketing process was efficient, the guide was hilarious and knowledgeable, and the attention to detail on the set is incredible. An awesome experience that I would recommend whether you are a fanatic or have only watched the films once.
The tour is a slow walking pace along easy paths. You are expected to stay as a group and keep up with the guide; this means you can't wander off of spend ages at each site but still allows plenty of time for photos. It can be a little frustrating waiting for group members that dont listen or wander off. I'd recommend to stay close to the guide anyway because there are lots of hidden details you would miss otherwise!
The tours are very punctual to start so make sure you are there on time. There is plenty of parking, clean bathrooms and food and beverage on-site. The tickets are a little pricey, but includes a complimentary beverage at the green dragon bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic available).
T.
A must see for any fan!
Had a great time here, the set is really interesting and the tours were well managed.
There's a cafe here with reasonably priced food (regular cafe prices, which was cheaper than we expected) and a shop full of Tolkien themed souvenirs.
C.
Awesome Kevin the tour guide was great and made me feel welcome and the hobiton movie set is unbelievable
L.
Well worth a visit for fans of Middle-earth! My wife and I came during the middle of the New Zealand summer in January 2019. The place is easy enough to get to from Auckland - about 2 hours 30 minutes south by car. Make sure you are back on the road by 14:30 latest to avoid rush-hour traffic on the way into Auckland.
We arrived about 45 minutes before our tour, which was enough time to get a coffee at the café and browse the shop. There's not a huge amount for vegans but the long black I had was good.
You queue for your tour's time slot outside and then get on a bus to take you to the set. The tour guide and videos were quite entertaining! The tour itself takes about an hour and our guide had some interesting trivia and good LOTR/Hobbit knowledge to boot.
We got a free drink at The Green Dragon as part of the tour; I'll review that separately. The set itself is pretty and well maintained, which was helped by gorgeous weather!
A.
I was really blown away by the attention to detail and the quality of work that went into creating the movie set. It's really worth a visit to appreciate the masterpiece!
M.
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” Having grown up reading the books and watching the movies this place lived up to every expectation. First of all it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen; so green and well maintained. Second, it is magical to walk making the holes of Hobbiton and make your way up to Bag End. I only wish they had speakers hidden in the hills playing the music from the movie. The gardens are all real while the homes are only a facade. They never built out the interiors. However the Green Dragon Inn is completely real and fully functioning! After your tour you’ll get to go there for a complimentary pint in front of a warm fire. It was everything I hoped it would be and if I’m ever in NZ again it’ll be one of my first stops!
Y.
Better than I expect, even though I am not a fan of Lord of the ring.
Definitely worth visiting, especially if you are a fan.
Not a fan ? No worry (me neither), as the tour guide said 30% of the visitors never read the book or watch the movie but still have fun (me too)
C.
Really great experience! Before starting this review I want to emphasize the importance of pre booking your tickets at least a week in advance. You can't just show up and expect to get a spot. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan it is a must. It probably would be cool for non-fans as well as it is a guided tour. Your guide will explain a lot about the behind the scenes of the movie. Our guides name was Jade and she was very enthusiastic and personable! Make sure to wear sunscreen as you are in the sun for pretty much all of the hour and a half tour. There are a probably about 50 or more Hobbit holes and you are allowed to go into one of them to snap a pic as well. Unfortunately there is nothing in the Hobbit hole but still kind of cool...I guess. The only thing I would recommend as a suggestion would be to have Bilbo's hole kind of like a museum instead of just a closed door. Thanks Jade and hobbiton for an awesome experience!
M.
Please be sure to watch the movie before you come here, it makes sooo much more sense to you! And don't forget to grab a drink at the green dragon ;)
U.
It was a great experience.
The place was very unique.
They actually bring you to the village through a short bus ride.
The place itself is very beautiful.
They have umbrellas at the beginning of the tour if it rains.
I don't think it'll be everyone's cup of tea.
So just make sure that you know what you're going for.
Only thing I think is that it's over priced but it's worth it if you're into it.
A.
We loved it!!! Even if you haven't seen the movies the place is pretty magical. You should book in advance just in case, there a several tours in an hour for you to choose from. The bus took us to the set, and on the way you can see the beautiful farm lands and hear stories on how they found the place. The tour takes about 2 hours, and you have a lot of time to take pictures. You'll be able to see all 44 Hobbit holes, and the tour ends in the Green Dragon for a complimentary beer or cider. Choose a nice day to go, and enjoy!!
J.
Experiencing Hobbiton was one of the best days I've ever had. I was so excited and happy to live out every LOTR fans fantasies. Hobbiton brings you in, and floods your senses with sights, smells, and tastes of the movie. The tour guide was amazing and I could have spent days there learning and seeing such amazing things. I also loved the catered lunch they had at the end as well as the beer that is made exclusively for the guests. This was a treat among treats and I love talking about my experiences spent at Hobbiton.
M.
Yes, it's very expensive and you have to go on the official tour to see everything. That said, it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, and going in early spring with all the trees blossoming and the flowers in bloom was amazing. The tour lasts about 2 hours, included plenty of time to take a lot of photos, and a free cup of beer or ginger ale at the end. The location is gorgeous and worth the trip. Touristy, but worth it.
M.
I would have to say that this was by far the best and most well run tour that I have ever been on. From start to finish the experience was first rate.
Being the idiot I am I showed up a day early for the evening banquet tour and Sunny & Sam (who were also our guides) arranged to get us on that nights tour and did so with a smile.
The tour around the Hobbiton was just spectacular. It was amazing to see the hobbit holes up close and the attention to detail in making them was impeccable.
The stop at the Green Dragon Inn at the end of the tour was definitely a highlight. To sit and have an ale by the fire followed by a banquet dinner at the famed middle earth inn is something that I will truly never forget.
The whole experience was absolutely incredible and this was due largely to our guides Sunny and Sam. Two genuinely nice guys they were informative, entertaining, engaging and I cannot speak highly enough of them.
G.
If you've watched any of the Hobbit or Lord of the rings movies, this is a must see. The place is extremely well kept and very detailed. The tour is on time and super organized. The tickets cost $84 (Which could be considered quite expensive, but for a fan this will be worth the money) The tour takes about 2 hours to complete fully. There is special buses which come from local towns and the parking is free for anyone that is driving.
The tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor.
There is a cafe at the enterance to the tour which is great for grabbing a bite or drink before or after. You also get a drink and a quick bite to eat in the green dragon cafe area when you are half way finished the tour.
The only pity that you cant go around the movie set alone and you have to move as part of the group. The hobbiton store (gift shop) is extremely expensive and full of merchandise.
Ovelall a very enjoyable day!
B.
A must do if you are a fan of either the hobbit or Lord of the ring movies. Very professionally set out and run.
Meting you’re guide at the visitors centre, onto a bus and short drive to the movie set. Commentary and movie clips along the way before arriving fir a walking tour around the set, which is extensive. Lots of opportunities to get photos before arriving at the Hobbiton pub fir a drink and food.
P.
Gorgeous place. Truly represented middle earth well. My expectations were low since it is a tour and an extremely touristy one at that. But hobbiton is truly a must visit if one visits New Zealand.
We started off taking a coach into The Green Dragon where lunch awaited us. Lunch is a mad rush and big let down and also the reason I rated this experience 4 instead of 5 star.
The tour was amazing and well paced. A huge plus is our guide Melissa who is funny and extremely knowledgeable. Also, she led the tour in a way that leaves just the right gap between the different tour groups for us to fully enjoy the spectacular setting we were in. Best best part of the trip was how we ended with a pint of ale back at The Green Dragon Inn. 🍻💯
S.
What an incredible place! It's a magical and totally immersive experience! Hobbiton is so professionally run. Despite the large number of visitors that go through there everyone, they make it very easy, and it never feels crowded. The cafe is also excellent serving a variety of meals some of which are the sort of thing a hobbit might eat. I recommend the second breakfast. I'll be back for more as we were not able to get a spot on a dinner tour at short notice. Book well in advance if you want to have lunch of dinner there.
T.
If you are a Fan from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, this is a must see, it's so magical and you think you are in the Movie!
Unfortunately you can't go inside the Hobbit house, just in one and it's nothing inside... but the whole trip is absolutely amazing and totally worth it our team guide was Kaleb a very nice and funny guy he tell you how they make the scenes and everything around!
The price is little bit to much for my opinion but it's worth it! I'll drop some pictures for the people who can't wait ;)
Cheers
J.
It's the thing to do in New Zealand even if you are not a Lord of the Rings fan.
The place has been preserved and maintained exactly how it was in the movie - and it is every bit as magical and cute as in the movie, just missing the hobbits and a wizard.
Reservations way in advance are recommended. The place gets a LOT of tourists but is run very smoothly, with buses departing at set times and tours running in parallel.
The drive to get here is also great - very scenic. The tour starts with checking in and getting in queue for the bus (there are restrooms and big gift shop near the area). Everything is run smoothly.
Then big green buses with 'Hobbiton' written over them take each tour spaced about 5 mins apart across rolling meadows specked with cute little sheep to where the Shire is.
We booked the lunch tour - and were provided with a nice lunch before our tour in a middle earth looking tent.
The tour guides take you from hobbit home to hobbit home and around the Shire. They are true LOTR fans and tell you about all the nuances that related to the movie and how Peter Jackson built each space with attention to detail (i wont spoil it here).
As the tours are close to each other, it does feel a little rushed but not too much so. You can take your pictures at the homes, but cant linger too long.
Of course you get to see Frodo/Bilbo's house (the highlight), Sam's house, the area of Bilbo's 111th birthday party, and all the Shire paths. We can't go inside the homes though.
The tour ends with a drink (great ginger beer) at the original Green Dragon and the bus ride back to the gift shop.
This was a bucket list item, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Small kids who never say LOTR enjoyed it a lot as well.
C.
Wow. What can I say. The tour and banquet was absolutely incredible! It was easily one of the highlights of my tour to New Zealand.
The whole experience, from the moment you enter the van, get provided information about the set, then actually see the set was mesmerising.
Being able to walk around Hobbiton, take photos, relax outside the Green Dragon before having a full banquet meal (If you book the banquet meal in advance). Then walking with lanterns at night to the party tree.
I couldn't fault the tour at all. The staff were exceptional and would recommend this in a heartbeat to anyone. Whether you like Lord of the Rings or not, this is a must.
M.
It's all I ever dreamed it would be. The staff was kind and used to fanatics. They helped me take all the photos I wanted and provided fun facts and support. I already want to go back. Every wall, stone, plant, and door was perfect. I saw a monarch butterfly and so many bumble bees loving all the flowers. There were many details I've never seen despite seeing the films plenty of times. Nothing except a palm tree felt out of place. I loved Every second and cried many times out of joy, but the staff made sure people who werent fans could enjoy the place for the beauty and scenery. I fell in love with Middle-Earth when I saw the Shire on a screen, and I fell in love all over again when seeing it in person. I want to get home to watch them again and annoy my family by pointing out everything I saw and touched!
G.
Great guided tour. Our guide was so friendly and funny! The paths and facilities are in perfect conditions. There’s one free beer at the end of the tour and a bar to buy some more or food too. There’s a restaurant and a gift shop at the entrance. A lot of spaces to park your car. Totally recommend if you saw Lord of the Rings.
A.
YES!!! The tour was overall amazing but definitely go wearing your best walking shoes as there is a lot of uneven surface! The tour guid we had was very friendly and took really good care of us all, the hobbit holes were stunning to look at and the level of detail was insane. If your a fan of the hobbit movies this is a must see! The free drink at the green dragon was a very nice touch I overall loved this experience and would recommend it to anyone and everyone!
E.
Even if you’re not a fan of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, you should still visit this place because it is very beautiful and magical. This area is a private property and you can only visit this by booking tours through them. We spent the entire afternoon in this magical place.
T.
I cannot even begin to describe how much I love this place! It’s magical!! Everything are so middle-earth like, and it brings you back to shire immediately. I travel a lot and I almost never take pictures of myself, but this is the first place that you feel like you have to!!! The tour is not cheap I have to say, but totally worth it if you’re a huge fan of the franchise. The tour guide will tell you stories of the movie and the farm, and you’ll start to see the movie from a different angle.
S.
Twas a cold day visiting this splendid attractive movie set. We were given a guided tour which lasted a few hours (recommend booking early in the morning to miss the crowds) Do not book the evening tour if you want to visit the whole site some of the hills are out of bounds due to safety reasons. An absolute must for lord of the rings/Hobbit fans.
I.
Had an amazing time here! Really took me back to the films and my early childhood reading the books. A completely immersive experience with beautiful scenery. Highly recommend topping off your tour with the buffet lunch and a drink at the inn!
N.
It was amazing to see how well they maintained the movie set in order to show it to LOTR fans around the world. It was kind of surreal to look around the farm-to-Hobbit-Land. Very popular and busy with tourists. I was lucky to be there first in the morning at 9. My guide from NY was so kind enough to take pictures for each and every one in front of a popular hobbit house, and also patient enough to wait for everyone behind.
N.
The village is so adorable. Especially if you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will love it. The beer was nice too.
J.
If you are a fan of the movies, this places will amazed you!. Just with the simple fact, of being in the location where the film took place, and experience the location of the hobbits. Will just transport you to the different guidelines from the movie and you will feel like if you where there!. Inside in the restaurant, try their amazing beer, coffee and their "Scunt", that is a cookie that is very common here in New Zeland.
P.
A must visit if you are in New Zealand... place is kept in pristine condition after the movie... place is magical... guides are awesome and keeps you engaged through the tour with stories related to movie and park. Although all the hobbit holes are only facades... they are amazing to look at and the detailing is too good. Green Dragon.. Party place are very good. Free alcoholic or non alcoholic choice of drink is available to soak in the rustic charm of green dragon pub.
Visitors are encouraged to be in one single group. Private party hall is also available although for normal peoples bus service is recommended... it has few short videos related to hobbiton .. played during your short trip from entrance to the actual place.
Entrance has ticket counter... a small coffee shop and a souvenir shop as well..
place is open 365 days from morning to evening 5. Including rainy days...
the whole tour takes almost 2-3 hours to complete.
M.
Bucket list item checked off. Everything that I expected and more. Our guide was super knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining. Walking Hobbiton was epic and the attention to detail was much appreciated. I also really enjoyed drinking at The Green Dragon at the end of the tour. If you are a fan, then this is a must. From start to finish, you are transported to the Shire and into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien.
A.
Very nice guided tour by Lucas got to know the insights of making of this great movie series. You get to see plenty sheep's on the set. Very picturesque place. Would love to go back again
R.
Delightful, whimsical place. Well maintained. Tour guides required. While the ads try to get you to take a bus from Matamata, you can easily drive to the site and park in their large lot. The surrounding area is gorgeous, with massive green hills and grazing sheep as far as one can see. Interesting even for those who have not seen the movies. A bus drives you in/out from the parking lot with your guide, who walks you through the 12 acre site.
A.
Very Beautiful!
We had so much fun except for the weather that didn’t cooperate. Our tour guide is knowledgeable. He made sure he wont miss any single detail about how is it build and of course the exact locations of the scene was taken.
I guess my only complain is, they should do a thorough maintenance on the area. We noticed that some grass are starting to block the walk way. Some doors are need to be painted. Some bushes needs to be removed so that they can preserve the magic of the are!
The free drink is a thumbs up but they should let us experience the 3 free drink not just one! Hehe and thats is also a good marketing so that tourist can buy the drink that they want at the bar.
Highly recommended for kind and adults.
S.
This place is magical. If you've watched any of the Hobbit or Lord of the rings movies, this is a must see .. if you haven't, watch at least one or two before you go to new Zealand.
The tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. The tour is on time and super organized .. cafe is great for grabbing a bite.
A.
Beautiful place! Our tour guide Owi was amazing. The tour were really worth. Although we went at noon time and it was too hot to stay under the sun. Fortunately I brought an umbrella to survive 2 hours tour.
S.
Pretty cool place to visit especially if you are a LOTR fanatic. I wouldnt say this place blew me away, but it was still pretty good. The tour is about 80 min, led by a humorous and informative tour guide. The place is not as a big as I thought it would be. You get a free drink at the end of your tour. Make sure you book in advance as tickets sell quickly.
L.
You do need to go early at late when there are not so many people if you want some really good shots but it’s not a reason to lose any stars. The guide we had was great. She was knowledgeable about the set/site and very friendly. Gift shop is crowded due to size but there is a lot on offer. Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fans will love it.
p.
How much of a LOTR or Hobbit fan are you?
This place is the literal mecca of any fans of the movie or book series and it is amazing. The tour guide (Sunny) was knowledgeable beyond belief and was friendly and welcoming at all times.
Bit of a cold day when raining, as you can see from the photos above, but worth it. We were provided umbrellas on site which were sufficient to keep us dry.
A lovely alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink awaits you at the Green Dragon Inn - there is a night feast which will be worth going to in future!
S.
This was taken last year when I did the evening banquet.
I HIGHLY recommend when you plan your trip to New Zealand to see when the evening banquet is available and plan your trip around it if you are a Lord of the Rings fan.
I have been in Hobbiton during the day and its very quick and there are groups in front and back all the time.
When you sign up for the banquet, you receive the same tour but you are the last group so can take your time, the guide also does a few extra stops and activities that only the banquet people do.
After you are done, you have the meal in the pub and after they give you lanterns and you do a night tour of the set! It’s a completely different view.
P.
Very cool. Small group and all kiwis so was nice and a unique chance to see a bit of NZ film history
R.
After getting on the bus, our guide River welcomed us. After about 10min of watching a video and hearing more infos from River we got of the bus. We all grabbed an umbrella and off we went for an adventure. This is a most for all families. The village felt like the hobbits had just left the village for an adventure or where in their houses. The amount of detail is unbelievable.
G.
As a kiwi, I have always wanted to go here but never had the time. Since COVID 19 has meant tourism is down in NZ I decided to go and check it out and I'm so glad I did. Everything is very well done in terms of the service, the bus ride, the tour guide and of course the set was everything I was hoping to see and more. We had an awesome guide called Sunny who was very knowledgeable and funny. The tour shows you all the hobbit holes (over 40 of them), getting your photo in one, and a trip to the green dragon pub at the end for a complimentary drink of your choice. The whole thing is beautifully done. One thing that was mentioned was the number of staff that had to be laid off because of the pandemic (around 200). Therefore I feel all New Zealanders should take up this opportunity and support this wonderful tourist operation in a tough time.
Great for people of all ages all levels of understanding of the movie. Would happily do it again.
V.
What an amazing place,amasing landscape and amazing country!!!This was the highlight of our trip to new Zealand!!!The day was beautiful, thousands of butterflies flying around,we felt literally like being in the movie!!!Our guide had a very theatrical voice,which made this excursion even more fun,throwing in a joke or two every once on a while!!!The whole organisation,from arriving to the gathering place to getting in to the bus,and getting to the mobie set location was flawless!!! Would highly recommend!!!!Brought some amasing memories back home!!! ❤️
W.
It was just awesome, could have been there all day and night! Will go again next time im back for sure :) and the day was just perfect, great weather and not to much people either, easy to get some nice pictures!
C.
For LOTRs and Hobbit fans, it is a definite must visit! Unfortunately, it was raining pretty torrentially when we went, but to see the set live in person and have a guided tour explaining fun facts about the films was so much fun, and a complementary drink at the Green Dragon topped the cake. Don't worry if it's raining because they do provide umbrellas!
What I didn't plan on: the amount of walking, especially on steep inclines and areas with steep stairs. I am super short with arthritic knees, which the rain aggravated anyway, and that was hard for me. Just something to consider. We went in winter, so it was quite cold, especially with the rain. It is important to dress appropriately.
Overall a beautiful and priceless experience. The gift shop could use more work personally to include less expensive but equally special items depicting the films. Those items were way too pricey, and it was disappointing to not come away with a keepsake other than pictures and our memories.
A.
Five stars for the Hobbiton. The place is amazing, the tour is pleasant and the tour guide also informative and funny at times. You have to visit the place even if you haven't seen the movies, is like a real Hobbits village, expecting at every house that some Hobbit will open the door and welcome you, also the vegetables garden is being taken care of, by the Hobbits????? The kids will love it, the movie funs will love it, the grown ups will love it, is like stepping away from reality for a bit and mentally travel to a different place in times when the Hobbits, the Orks, the elves and the humans where fighting for middle earth. Worth the visit.
D.
A cracking tour. The bus was totally packed and it was the hottest day ever. However, my son and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was a lil difficult to take pics at times with the amount of people out in the scorching temps, but the ice cold drink at the Inn made up for it. The operation itself is a very polished one from the moment you book, the drivers, the guides, the grounds keepers and those at the Green Dragon Inn. The background knowledge from the Guide and the attention to detail throughout the Shire was fantastic. I'm not usually into guided tours tbh but would recommend this one
F.
Just a big WOW. This place is amazing and a must visit for everyone that loved the movies and/or books. You will get a lovely tour through hobbiton and at the end one free drink at the green dragon. But this place gets super crowd during the day so you should definitely one of the first 2 tours to get a clear view of hobbiton otherwise you see only people walking around...
E.
It was a short tour, and bit pricey too, if you think that you don't even spend there 45 minutes, but totally worth it! Great experience if you're a LOTR fan and came from Europe to see the beauty of NZ. The tour guides are so nice and informative. Go visit if you can!
P.
A must see attraction. Our little family thoroughly enjoyed this. So worth it. Its abit of a walk so do wear comfortable shoes. You get a free drink in the end and actually feel like your in the movie. The scenery is absolutely AMAZING. Tour guides are great also and know alot. If your a great fan of the hobbits then you will love this place. Highly recommend. 😍
A.
Absolutely amazing and one of the highlights of my time in NZ. Would 100% recommend. We done the New Year Bash which was worth every penny and more. If you're near this place you must visit, even if you've never seen LOTR or The Hobbit.
G.
Great place.....wish I could stay in the pub
C.
The Hobbiton movie set is an experience that everyone needs to do, i don’t think it matters if you’ve even seen the films (although it does help!) as the guides are well versed in trivia and explaining how the set was put together.
The set is a live location full of plants, trees and vegetables which are used in the banquets on site.
It was one of the top experiences that I’ve ever been on and would recommend to anyone and everyone!
Great for groups but also couples and even singles.
A.
This really is a very special place especially for those who are a fan of Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings.
The whole set has be meticulously maintained, it looks absolutely gorgeous. The surrounding area too is very beautiful. Thoroughly recommended, our tour guide was called Jessica, she was brilliant, very happy and passionate, couldn't of asked for a better guide.
P.
"Good to visit at least once if you the Lord of the Rings" The place was nice and great to have a walk around and take photos. The downside of the tour was that it was too short and too fast-paced. Other than that, it was nice, specially for kids.. 😉
H.
We had a fantastic time visiting Hobbiton. I highly recommend the Evening Banquet Tour, as it seems you get a bit more time to take all the photos you want and you get to enjoy an absolutely delicious hobbit feast. Seriously, the food was really, really good. I expected the food to just be OK, but it was great. After dinner they provided hobbit costumes for some fun pictures and we got to walk back through hobbiton at night with some cool lanterns. This tour is great for fans, as the guides had tons of stories to share about the production, and great for non fans alike, as the landscape is beautiful even without context and the food was top notch. They really put a lot of time and care into maintaining this piece of movie history.
R.
If you're a Tolkien fan this is a must. Even if you're not totally into middle earth it's still a good visit. The natural scenery is stunning and the addition of hobbit holes very quaint. Finishing with a drink at the Green Dragon is fun, though I would have happily stayed longer than the allotted 20 mins. That said the tour is conducted at a leisurely pace and the guide had plenty of interesting anecdotes.
C.
The authentic movie set location with its permanent hobbit homes, bridges, paths, blacksmith shop and gardens is certainly worth a visit for any fans of the Lord of the rings trilogy or the hobbit. Each group of visitors is transported through an emmense rolling hills working sheep farm to the green magically transformed shire of the hobbits. Groups are kept sufficiently separated to allow for no interference in photography or guided tales. Our guide provided details of locations related to scenes in the various movies as well as insider tales from the movie shoots. At the end of the tour you'll visit the inside of the dragon inn and be served your choice of hobbit drink and perhaps pose in some of hobbit clothes available for your memory creating photos.
T.
Great knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. Beautiful place. Looks just like the movies. A must see for fans of LoTR or the Hobbit films. You get a drink in the pub included in your ticket fee. You get to wander around the hobbit houses with some limitations. I recommend brock's place to camp at the night before and choose a morning ticket to get the sunlight shining on the shire/hobbiton allowing for nice pictures.
J.
Very well maintained and managed for the many tourists. Bus and walking tours with well informed staff. We were able to purchase tickets at the entrance and parking is free. Umbrellas offered for rainy days.
R.
It was a fairly good 1 and a half hour tour, especially if you are a fan of LOTR or the Hobbit (like everyone was saying). My daughter surely enjoyed it, as she plays around the hobbits houses. There’s only 1 house available for you to go in and take a photo on and you have to quick. Ending your tour with a beer was a good touch, though it would have been better if you have more time to relax.
A great experience indeed and like what the guides kept saying, you are there to enjoy the place and take lots of photos. It’s not a place that you can go visit all the time as it is fairly expensive, though going to this place once is enough. Definitely a kid friendly place!
Btw, we bought the Hobbiton wall clock and it ended up to be not working when we opened it at home. We left it now as a display and kinda no use at all and a waste of $25. Other than that, we enjoyed the experience!
A.
I have been on several tours here with my wife, including a locals day tour and an evening banquet tour. The guides are generally knowledgeable, although if you're a nerd of the books or the films, you may find yourself correcting your guide on occasion. The views are stunning and the devotion that goes into maintaining the set is admirable. The food on the evening banquet tour is devine. I just wanted to keep eating all that was on the table, but I had no more room! If you're visiting from overseas, i recommend doing the EBT and getting the most of your only visit to Hobbiton!
U.
Great experience with the tour guides here good location for the photoshop and beautiful science views around. it takes around a couple hours to visit throughout the hobbiton movie set!!! Guests also receives ginger beer or a house brewed beer at the end of the movie set in an old fashioned decorated bar.definitely worth’s visit.
C.
A dream come true! We got to visit many Hobbit holes, walk through gardens, and grabbed a cider at the Green Dragon. I thought I knew everything about Lord of the Rings, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn some fun trivia facts. Come visit! I could have spent all day here, reading under a tree :-)
L.
Sunny was a fantastic tour guide, super knowledgeable and charismatic. He made the experience very enjoyable.
A.
What a wonderful experience! I would definitely recommend to stop here if you are visiting New Zealand. No matter how much of a Lord of the Rings fan you are, this place is genuinely beautiful and magical. The staff is great and takes great care of the set while you visit it. It was for me a great experience.
A.
Amazing experience. Wish I could live here. I went on Bilbo's birthday and that was amazing as well! All the pictures are from the Bilbos birthday party event.
S.
A must see for the fan of the Lord of the Rings movies and the Hobbit. Also if you are not a fan as the movie set is very picturesque and set on an amazingly beautiful and scenic farm. It's with the visit. Also on site is a good cafe and a gift shop.
R.
Great experience however to the high price (84 NZD) i think. It,s undoubtedly a huge business. All the days were fully sold. And therefore whoever likes Tolkien, Bilbo, Gandalf, or Jackson, has to pay. Amazing place, even though some attractions were neglected. Excellent organized. An enthusiastic, convincing guide, who enjoyed it at least as much as us.
S.
Just WOW, WOW on so many grounds. Of course, I am a LOTR fan, my partner R is not, and she grudgingly came along. She came away somewhat impressed. The tour is run with precision, from booking in, catching the bus to the site, being shown around and having a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Book in with plenty of time, otherwise you will be bumped onto a later trip.
So, you arrive and park in a busy carpark, check-in and then you look at the gift shop while waiting for your bus to take you to the site. Its not a long trip, and the driver and guide will entertain you on the way with that strange New Zealand humour. Once out, your group (about 30) is shown around the site. I think we had plenty of time, but I didn’t always hear what the guide said. I was often dragging on behind waiting for people to disperse so I could get some good photographs.
Still the explanations of the planting, the stories about the American Eagle and the different Hobbit door sizes was so intriguing. The expense of setting up a two second shot was mind blowing.
The end of the trip is in the Green Dragon Inn for a beer.
My big regret was not to take the meal option. They had sold out when I checked in, so could not add it to my ticket. Ah well an excuse to go back to New Zealand!
D.
What’s not to love about Hobbiton! They do a fabulous job with the tours. Book in advance. We thought we could just pop in, but found out a few days before that they sell out all the time. Such a fun day!
K.
I did the The Evening Banquet Tour. It was a bit pricey but it is a once in a lifetime experience! The place was so beautiful that words isn’t enough to describe. You have to see it for yourself, especially at nighttime. I had a great time! Good food and drinks!
S.
Stunning place. Well worth the entry fee even if you are not a die hard fan of the Hobbit. Glad they rebuilt the set for visitors. Afterall this is what NZ is best known for - Land of the Rings.
N.
Worth every penny, even for just casual fans. Sonny was a great guide and even though the weather was poor on our tour, the experience was awesome. Plus, it made the beer at the Green dragon all the more cosy. (featuring pickles the cat)
l.
It is mesmerising to visit it in person,mo matter how many pictures you would seen online. Rekindled the child in me imagining Gandalf and Frodo in those lanes. A must do .
A.
Absolutely stunning! It's worth every dollar. We did the 10.45 tour. Our guide was perfect: funny & knowledgeable. Loved every second of being there and walking past the many hobbit holes, bridges and having a beer at the green Dragon (which was included in the price). It was very well organised, we didnt see any other groups so not many people in the way on our pictures. :) if you're a fan of the books or movie's, it's a must visit. Highly recommend doing the tour!
G.
5 stars, everytime. I did the evening tour with the feast and it was amazing! Got to tour the place as the sun went down then get a free pint at the green dragon, followed by a massive feast! Well done, Team! As a HUGE Tolkien nerd, this was everything I could ever dream of. Still looks just like the films and the staff really make you feel like a hobbit. Love it.
L.
Really great place to visit even if you are not the fan of movies. I didn't have high expectations, but I was impressed how well gardeners and farmers have kept the place and paid attention to the detail. Idilyc Shire feeling, where you are surrounded by butterflies and lovely hobbit houses. Bonus point - you get free beer or cider.
R.
Perfect, even on a cloudy day. Love our time at Hobbiton. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable and experienced. Also was given a beautiful apple cider at the end of the trip.
Would recommend any Kiwi or Traveler to visit this amazing work of art.
C.
As a fan of the Tolkien Lord of the rings books and the Hobbit, plus the films. I was interested to see where it was filmed. We booked in advance before travelling to New Zealand.
You can see a lit if work had gone into the building of the set and maintaing it. Definitely a good money spinner for the local economy.
The venue is open nearly every day of the year except Christmas day. They also cater for parties.
I is a very slik operation, we had a guide on the two hour tour who looked after us all, she was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and gave us plenty of time to take photos and took some for us.
Well worth the visit.
C.
This is a must-see if you're in New Zealand. Even if you're not into Lord Of The Rings, the location is gorgeous and feels surreal. We did the daytime tour last time around and the evening banquet tour this time.
Our tour of Hobbiton was detailed and thorough with an enthusiastic guide, followed by an amazing Hobbit-style dinner in the Green Dragon Inn during a thunderstorm. The food was incredible, the drinks delicious, and we finished up feeling very full.
The tour then took us back outside to tour Hobbiton under lamp-light in the dark while it was still raining. We loved every minute and will definitely return!
G.
We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the "Hobbiton", movie set. As you can see in the movie's, they did an amazing job and the crew that maintains it's presence today do an exceptional job keeping it well preserved. Well worth a visit, would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
M.
WE LOVED IT!
Me and my best friend did the evening banquet tour and it was one of the highlights of our New Zealand trip.
Mike and Sonny were great guides. Sonny is very enthusiastic and positive and Mike is a funny guy with an incredible voice (if you do evening banquet tour, you have to ask him to sing "I see fire" from Ed Sheeran).
The banquet was also not from this world. Heaps of tasty food and delicious treats. Just like a real hobbit dinner. Stephanie was responsible for the drinks and the dining experience and she was also so kind and attentive!
Thank you Sonny, Mike and Stephanie and the whole team for this experience!! I will definitely do the Evening Banquet again!
Kind regards from "Team Germany", we were the guys that tried to eat everything! :D :D
N.
2 hours guided tour through the hobbtion film set. Our very entertaining guide Dan delivered a lot of background information about the film, the actors, the set etc. There is complementary beer included in the green dragon at the end of the tour. Sadly the park is very crowded, eventhough the guides try their best to keep the groups separated.
J.
Went on the tour that lasts for two hours. Nice tour guide and bus driver, not too great when the weather is bad though. Nice place to chill out, the environment is quite cute; get to know abit about the movies that were casted here and how the movie set was made, things like what is fake and what is real. I find the making of the movie more interesting since I'm in that industry before. Nothing too exciting as a lot of it is just see and awe and move on.. I guess it would mean a lot more to those that are huge fans of LOTR and the related movies. The shire cafe doesn't have a lot of food to choose from, a lil boring.. nothing fascinating.
M.
By far my favourite part of NZ trip. Unmatched beauty, Josh was a great tour guide. Strongly encourage the lunch tour combo, the food was amazing and plentiful.
T.
A lot of little tidbits of information on the level of detail that Peter Jackson went to whilst filming both trilogies. The tour took two hours and was very well managed. Be there for your time slot, they go on time. The scenery is so complete and accurate it will take your breath away if you are a fan. The only slight letdown is that you cannot go into any of the hobbit houses. If they could just get one of them setup, my vote is Bagend, it would be five stars.
M.
Well worth the trip, especially of you are a fan on the trilogy. It was child friendly. We even took a stroller. Try the ginger beer. We had quote the day. We actually booled a tour for Peterpan and did the glow worms as well. I mean if it's your first time in New Zealand these are great spots to knock off the bucket list.
L.
Just go there. It's incredible and you won't regret a second of it. Be sure to book ahead, you must have a walking tour - can't just wander around. Be prepared for about an hour and a half on your feet, not pram or wheelchair accessible. But I managed with a walking stick.
M.
If there is one thing you do when visiting New Zealand, make sure it's the Hobbiton Movie Set!! This was beyond amazing and so much fun.
We did the last tour of the day and were able to take things a little slower. Keep in mind, during the peak seasons, tours run every 10 minutes so it can get crowded.
There are over 40 Hobbit Holes and a few you can go inside or sit on the doorstep for pictures. Your guide will let you know which ones are ok to do this.
The tour leads you to the Green Dragon pub where you can sip on a cold beverage while enjoying the view of Hobbiton.
This isn't the set used for LOTRs as that was built using temporary materials. When they decided to film the Hobbit the entire set was rebuilt using more permanent materials. Thus Hobbiton was reborn.
They do also offer a lunch buffet tour option as well as an evening feast at the Green Dragon, which we desperately wanted to do but it books well in advance (like months in advance during the busy seasons) so plan ahead if you're able!
This was the one of the major highlights of our trip... but then again, we are pretty big Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fans. I would 100% do this again and again.
D.
It's a really good visit if you've seen the movies, and also a very pleasant ramble. Enjoyed the ginger beer and cheese scones at the Green Dragon too.
D.
It was a wonderful experience. We did the night banquet. We had two lovely guides who toured us through hobbington and shred a lot of interesting new insight about the movie set with us.
We ended up in the green dragon, for a very nice beer and a feast worth a hobbit. The food was amazing and it was a great experience.
After that we did a night walk through the lighted up shire and ended our time with a hobbit dance.
Worth every penny! Do it. :)
K.
Very interesting tour. There are golf carts that you can reserve if you need wheelchair access but you need to book at least a couple of weeks in advance to ensure a seat.
Would have been better if it was kept as tidy as it was in the movie
T.
Love love love it what a great idea best experience ever. Our very lovely tour guide Luke is right you really have 2 go more than once to really take it all in, so much to see, enjoy & experience thanx to Mr Peter Jackson & his creative ideas for his movies big thank you to all @ hobbiton you made our time very enjoyable & plenty of happy memories big air hugs to all stay safe thank u
D.
Visited for the Mid-Winter's Feast and was extremely satisfied. The tour around the movie set was a good pace to see everything and our guide, Alice, was very friendly and knowledgeable. Taking the tour at dusk was, in my opinion, the best time of day.
The rest of the evening was spent enjoying drinks at the Green Dragon Inn and the feast. The drinks were absolutely wonderful and I wish I could find them at home. The dinner was very well prepared, but the seating was too close together.
O.
AWSOME! I am not a huge Lord of The Ring fan, but I loved this place. It is a place that is very well taken care of, and it is really cool to walk around amongst the hobbit holes. We had a great guide, and I bet most of 5he guides are good. You should definitely try to be here when it is less people. Then you can get those magic photos you'll see on Instagram. It's a lot of money, yes! But it is for sure worth every single cent.
B.
Not a bad place overall, though it is hyper expensive for what it is. Our tour guide Michael was good, though you are rushed around the area and by the time you wait for everybody blocking the path in front of you to take photos at the previous stop the guide is already 3/4 the way through describing the next thing along the path. If you're an anorak it's probably worth it, but if you're just looking for something to do and think this might be worthwhile it isn't good value. Not even close. The gift shop is also mostly highly priced rubbish. $30 is basically the starting price on the smallest tack (calendars, caps, etc), right up to $780 on a Gandalf staff for level 11 nerds. The gardeners should be commended though - they manage to make it look semi-wild without looking forced while a million tourists a year trample their hard work.
P.
Thjs place is definitely worth visiting, it's hard to describe without being too positive about it. Magical place for me. My wife had no idea what to expect and she was blown away by it. Well maintained place. Both thumbs up for us.
P.
The tour was fun and informative. The grounds themselves kept the magic of Middle Earth with rolling vistas, quant hobbit holes, and enjoyable gardens. A lot of smaller details that could be skipped were still on site. Many photos were taken, and a few things bought from the friendly giftshop. Plenty of bathrooms were present and they were all reasonably clean. There is also a Cafe with a themed menu but I didn't eat there.
D.
The Evening Banquet is a MUST. I went to the day tour and it was great, but a group leaving every 10 minutes made it crowded--all your photos will have other people in it. For the Evening Banquet, you've got all of Hobbiton to yourself (and those in your small group). The food was also great, but there's something special about Hobbiton at night. Take a look at my photos and hopefully you like them!
C.
This place has become a victim of it's own success- the serenity is ruined by throngs of tourists. The tour consists of a few behind the scenes trivia- most of it is spent waiting for others to finish taking photographs of every single thing. By the time you get to the Green Dragon Inn you've barely got 15 minutes before you're ushered out to make room for the next group.
J.
This is such an amazing attraction that epitomises the brilliance of the filming of Lord of the rings. You get a true appreciation of how much thought and imagination is put into this lovely little Shire. Definitely worth the visit ... And you will not be disappointed.
K.
Great! A little expensive for what it was. It was very busy when I went so the tour felt rushed. I usually prefer to do these things at my own pace, not as part of a group but this was not an option. More time at the tavern would have been nice too (20 mins) but they were so busy, so maybe that was the reason. The gift shop was disappointing and expensive, it would have been good to see more locally made items.
T.
It's such an amazing experience. Beautiful place with knowable staff. We have made the booking on line, arrived at the ticket area to get the tickets. Hop on to the Hobbiton Bus and start the two hours tour.
R.
If you are a fan of the books or movies a must visit. If not would still recommend as a beautiful setting for a wander, beer and feast. Our best experience of New Zealand 👍👍
F.
As a huge Tolkien nerd I can say this was quite a wonderful experience although I can't give it 5 stars just because of how insanely busy it is. There is a group of 20-40 people every 5-10 meters around the strict guided path you have to follow.
Of course to see Hobbiton in the flesh and to be able to walk around it is brilliant in concept for anyone who loves the films or books, but in reality it's a bit drab. As I mentioned earlier it's a train of tour groups. It's insanely overpopulated which removes the feel of Hobbiton completely. The tours are very simple and you likely won't learn anything that isn't in the behind the scenes of the films. The banquet I'd say also isn't worth it, the food is fine but not worth the price.
If you're a diehard fan you probably want to go regardless, I am still glad I went. If you're anyone else you might want to save the money, unless you're happy being in such a touristy environment.
To conclude I'd just say that the experience is very overrated but still probably a must do for lord of the rings fans travelling in new Zealand.
K.
Coming from a fan.. Hobbiton is AWE-friggin-SOME!! The drive to Matamata is long but the scenery is worth it. Lots of hills and eye-refreshing green.
You go as a group, its very organised and if you get Patrick as your guide, you are in for a good time! Plenty of picture opportunities so have some manners and be considerate towards others. The set is wonderful. You will feel like you're in the Shire. Sight, smell, touch and tastes of Hobbiton come alive!
They have other language tours available..toilets are clean, cafe is stocked with delicious food.
At end of the tour, we all go into The Green Dragon pub for a complimentary 1st drink(non alcoholic also available)! I strongly recommend you try their scone and Afgan biscuit, it is delicious!
Although we went in the morning it was cold and we had a bit of rain, still we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. If another opportunity arises, we will not hestitate to come back, maybe for the whole works with dinner next time!! ^_^
L.
What a magical experience! Absolutely loved our time here! This is a MUST for any LOTR lore fan! Jessica did a brilliant job as our tour guide; she was super informative, answered all our questions and helped create the perfect visit for us!
B.
What you would expect minus any actors Posing with you ;)
Definitely book in advance
A lot of Asians taking pictures all the time. We even had some in our tour, that had their own Private guide translating everything to their language. A bit annoying but bearable.
Plan roughly 3 hours
G.
We were the only two people there and were treated wonderfully. Mike our guide was truly excellent. Really impressed with his ability to recite all the dwarves both forwards and backwards at high speed. My third time and will be back, this place is truly special
A.
This place is out of the world. So pure all the memories of Lord of the rings and Hobbit came back. The lush green landscape and Hobbit holes were spectacular. The Paid guided tour is worth every cent of It..
P.
The whole experience is chilled & cheerful but in equal measure informative and entertaining. Check in was easy and everything was smoothly organised. We did the evening banquet tour which was really enchanting, food was great and the tour guides were very charming and really got across the adventure and attention to detail required for the films themselves.
G.
It's a magical place, a beautiful walk from start to finish! It is one of the best attractions on the North Island, especially for those who are a fan of the movie! I went on a rainy day, but the staff is prepared and has umbrella for all the guests!
R.
Such a cool place, kind of a must see if your travelling to new zealand. At first we thought the price was high, but by the end of the tour we all agreed it was well worth it. The beer at the end was a nice treat and the guide was super informative and interesting. Maybe try going earlier in the day if you dont want the crowds to be as thick.
K.
Booked a tour from Auckland sky city bus terminal to Hobbiton movie set and was well worth the journey. A beautiful and amazing place and our guide had deep knowledge in both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series.
K.
Our tour guide Dan was a colourful Irish guy that just added to the experience.
A lot of effort and attention to detail makes this world class.
Not simply a bunch of doors on a hill as suggested by others.
T.
The attention to detail is amazing! Tour guides are knowledgeable and explain some cool trivia about the set as you walk through. The included beer and lunch buffet was also good.
D.
One of the best experiences of our NZ trip! Our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgable and approachable. He explained described a lot of scenes well and let us know which parts of the town were used in which parts of the movies. Absolutely magical and very surreal experience for all LOTR fans. The Green Dragon inn serves 1 complimentary drink - the cider is highly recommended! We picked up 2 more bottles of Green Dragon cider at the gift shop. Our biggest regret was that we didn't buy more! Wonderful experience that won't be forgotten anytime soon. If you're a fan of LOTR then put this place on your bucket list and make sure you go!
B.
Beautiful place for movie lovers
R.
Loved it, our awesome tour guide Daniel refreshed our memories of the scenes in LOTR and places we saw at Hobbiton.
A.
Gorgeous...my 5th visit, been for 3 summer visits one of them in the morning and 2 the last tours of the day 530pm as summer days in nz are long and bright til 9pm and later.
Then April 930am for autumn colours in morning light and beginning of June also for aitumn colour look but 1230 tour...this latest one was the best as the colours were still good and the light was lovely...and no group following us to breathe down our necks to force us to keep rushing so we had more time and less rush
k.
Absolutely spectacular! Even if you havent read or seen any of the lord of the rings/hobbit series you wont be disappointed. The place is picturesque, the staff are so wonderful and knowledgable our tour guide gave us great insight into the building and making of the sets, cool little facts and was so helpful as in taking everyone's pictures for them. We had bought a meal combo and the food was delicious, and so was the cider. I would definately do this again but probably a night tour I think it would a totally different atmosphere. Totally worth the price absolutely Magical!
F.
Very beautiful set
Tour guide was very nice n love the ginger beer and u get a free drink
N.
Really enjoyed the tour. Great attention to detail as you’d expect. A bit pricey and hard to get to, but definitely worth it.
M.
Absolutely Amazing!! My husband and I did the banquet tour and it was phenomenal. Our guides Dan & Hayden were extremely knowledgeable and kept the whole group in fits of laughter...Thanks so much guys you were awesome!
C.
Nice place, good for kids, energetic and enthusiastic tour guide. Quite fun to sit and rewatch the hobbiton scenes in the movies with the kids and see the places from the tour
N.
Really amazing all the little attention to details. Great guides. There is The Shires Rest Cafe at the start of the tour (and you return there at the end of the tour) with coffee and food. Plus at the end you get a free, light beer, dark beer, apple cider or non alcoholic Ginger beer at The Green Dragon pub. It takes about 2 hours. It's best to go early to avoid the crowds.
A.
Great experience, we went with someone who hadn't even seen the movies and still enjoyed the tour. It does help to know the movies but doesn't take away as they offer great insights to the way Hobbiton was built and filmed and that is something you can appreciate. The tour includes a drink, they have non alcoholic options and if you are drinking make sure you have your passport just in case.
D.
Excellent fun for Lord of the Rings fans (Books OR Films). Surprisingly green for an NZ drought but they do employ a star team of gardeners. I was absolutely impressed by the biodiversity of all of the crops (strawberries, pumpkins and rhubarb are insane!) and different tree types all thriving. Famous movie sights to see such as Bilbo's house, Sam's house, party tree and Green Dragon. The secret fake tree is also very impressive. Cost is the only downfall of the place but heck you're only going to see this set here so probably worth it. Good stuff in gift shop.
B.
This is a must see. I have been in NZ for 14 years and finally went to see it with some friends who arrived from overseas. It seemed a little pricey at around $80 pre person. But it was absolutely worth it. If you are a Lord of the Rings Fan this is a must see.
J.
I wish I could rate this 10/5 as it was beyond my wildest imagination. Peter Jackson I am in absolute awe and so so SO extremely grateful I was able to see Hobbiton! The most magical thing to do of all hobbit things to do.
Guides were lovely and a bus takes you to the actual Hobbiton village!
Parents please limit your kids on how much time they spend at each “hole” as there are a lot of people wanting to take photos and not a whole lot of time. My husband and I unfortunately were in a group with parents who didn’t seem to care that EVERYONE ELSE was waiting for their kids to stop running around each set so we could take photos ourselves!
A.
$84 per person for the standard tour. Make sure you are there 15 minutes before your tour starts otherwise they may release your seats.
Make sure you bring your camera so you can take 1000s of photos!
I.
This was great, I am a big fan but others with me were not, but all went home inspired and wanting to watch the movies again.....The guide was fantastic, friendly and fun and although the weather was horrible it didn't detract from the experience at all. Would definitely do it again.
R.
A genuine slice if heaven. For all Tolkien followers, it is a must. Also a very beautiful spot for "non-believers". A drink or a meal at the Green Dragon pub finishes off a great couple if hours. A brilliantly done site. Worthy if a visit by anyone with an eye for the serene.
L.
The Hobbiton Movie Set location is 10 km southwest of Matamata. We boarded a bus run by Hobbiton Tours at the Matamata Information Centre..An excellent tour was given by one of the very knowledgeable guides. We had a walking tour over the entire area that was used in the movies. We saw the Hobbit houses, the mill, and finished at the little Hobbiton pub which supplied us all with ginger beer The atmosphere over the entire tour was very friendly, and questions were answered about how the filming was done.All said, we had a very enjoyable morning at Hobbiton!
C.
A truely amazing experience for both fans of the hobbit and the lord of the rings or an a new experience for anyone new to the franchise. The set is well kept and maintained with amazing tour guides that know alot of detail about the set and how it was originally filmed.
d.
I loved this tour. Even if you are not a lord of the ring or hobbit fans you will love it. It is amazing to visit and learn about the set, the shooting and other facts. You have a drink included and amazing spots to take photos.
W.
Hobbiton is a unique place. Apon entering the village, you are transported to the world of Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit. Our guide, Josh, was very knowledgable and was happy to take photos for us, answer any questions, and was very paitent. The tour took place over about 1 hour and 30 minutes. At the end of the tour we visited the Green Dragon pub. Complimentary beer/ginger beer was served and it is specially brewed and unique to Hobbiton. There was a small Marquee outside the pub with food for Cruise Ship passengers. Thank you very much to all the team at Hobbiton, keep up the awesome work!
S.
It was amazing. It is really impressive to be at the movie set and actually see the area you have seen in a movie. Alone with the guide's explanation of what has been made and how it was done, I really enjoyed the tour. It is worth the money!
F.
Simply amazing. It really puts you inside The Shire. I really recommend the Feast option, the meal is delicious. All the staff was super cordial and welcoming. Really, really great experience!
M.
The Hobbiton Movie Set[2] was a significant location used for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film series. It is situated on a family run farm about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of Hinuera and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of Matamata, in Waikato, New Zealand, and is now a Tolkien tourism destination, offering a guided tour of the set.
S.
Wow! Right out of Tolkien’s book. Rolling hills.. the Shire right in front if eyes.
A 2 hour walkjng tour with interesting guides. Ours was Christine.. i think. Been here 2 times now. Will go third time few years later perhaps.
Expensive ticket though. $84 per adult. Must bring own food ; can enjoy in outdoors at the REST. Very organised tour. If you have read the books, you’d obviously enjoy more.
G.
A thoroughly immersive experience for any Tolkien fan, or those who enjoyed the movies. Groups AR ekept quite small, and staggered apart so that you can get gorgeous people 's photos without worrying about crowds. It's really everything you imagine and more, with each group accompanied with a helpful guide. I give it a 7/5.
J.
Whether you're a fan of the movies or not this is still a great tour. The guides give you tons of interesting facts and the amount of detail is unreal. It's a beautiful place. The pub at the end is very cute and if I had one suggestion it would be to allow a little more time there to enjoy it!
L.
I knew we wouldn't be able to explore much, but I really wish we could go through a little slower. I'd wanted to visit for years, but it was slightly harder to enjoy with such a big group and getting rushed through. Mostly because it was hard to geek out AND listen to the guide at the same time. Loved it though.
D.
Place it’s lovely, gardens are really looked after
But you are really rushed during the tour so you can’t get many pictures or you will miss what the guide is saying...
The drink at the end was nice but again you are rushed because there are always another group right behind you
J.
Just incredible. Even the movies do not do justice to the beauty of the landscape.
The tour guides are fantastic, and the entire trip is full of fun moments and memories to be made.
B.
Very touristy but a lot of fun if you are a fan of the movies and the books. Definitely worth the money and given the tour guide and the free ale you get at the end I would rate is a 5/5.
J.
If you are a big fan of Lord of the ring and the hobbits you have to go there ! Otherwise it's something very uncommon and beautiful but a little bit expensive... (100$ for a plastic sword)
The landscape is beautiful and the houses are awesome !
Normal you can drink a free beer at the end of the visit but you don't have lot of time.
To conclude, if you really don't like LOTR don't go there otherwise you have to go !
R.
What an amazing experience! I wish the stay on site was twice longer! But still, a most wonderful time! And our guide Pete was just amazing!
G.
Beautiful country and delightful retention of the flavour of the Hobbit film set. Genuinely lovely images and visages - talented gardeners and builders have maintained superb details and extended the sense of the hobbiton village.
J.
Good place to travel here by bus tour for a daytrip. The rebuild movie set has many different sized hobbit houses. There is the hobbit pub by the lake. Three you can drink great apple cider. There is also a souvenir shop at this place. Must see for Lord of the Rings fans.
D.
I first read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings in 1972 so my expectations were high, to finally see the Hobbiton Movie Set. I was blown away happy to have it far exceed my expectations! It's a magical, delightful and engaging experience and a highlight of our first trip to New Zealand!
A.
5/5 - AMAZING. A location that every true (and pseudo) LOTR fans must go to. The hobbit holes are as they are straight out of the movie. You can't really 'go into' them though, as these hobbit holes are only displaying the front of the door (since the insides were filmed on set).
The tour takes you travelling in small groups (~40 people, a bus load). We arrived earlier than the time we booked, and we managed to get a slot in for an earlier time (allowing us to reshuffle the rest of the day's activities). As you walk through, they allow you to roam in little sections at a time to take photos - although you do have to be quick, as the tour moves pretty quickly. However, there are so many hobbit holes to take photos with, by the end of it, you would be pretty over taking photos - so don't worry if you miss out on any in the beginning.
We went on a super rainy day, and we were fortunate enough to walk by an umbrella pit stop midway when it started pouring down really hard (they provide large, green umbrellas).
The tour also included one free drink at the end of the tour at the Green Dragon Inn. A very nice end to the tour.
We were a little disappointed at the merchandise selection at the store at the end of the tour, however. There really isn't a lot of merchandise to buy there :(
W.
A private tour of the hobbiton, I went twice. the view is better in the evening compared to the afternoon, but it's colder and The guide tends to be lazy explaining in the evening. If you go in a big group, get top10 membership, you can get 10% discount ( as of today, so double check with top10 site). The souvenir is all enticing, but heavily overpriced, so if you are a fan, just be prepared to spend a lot.
A.
What a great experience. We used this as a short stop on our trip to the north. We had booked lunch. The lunch is rich and delicious. The tour is completly guided, there is enough time for plenty of photos. Some things are told about the shooting days. At the end there is a beer in the Green Dragon. Could be bigger, the mug...
J.
Awesome place. Feels free to imagine ourself as a hobbits when you arrive at the movie set. The best time to visit is at the morning, when the sky is clear with sunshine. We could see the reflection on the water perfectly. Very very beautiful place to visit.
S.
Worth every penny. It was like in a fairytale. I was smiling all the time. Everything is so cute. The tour is well organized, you go in a group, but it doesn't feel like a crowd. Guide told us many interesting facts.
The only thing that could be improved is souvenirs. I didn't find anything interesting or cute. Nothing good enough to buy.
J.
Overall GREAT EXPERIENCE and HIGHLY RECOMMEND, however that's to see it and do it. We absolutely loved our tour guide! Julie I beleieve, she was fantastic!
Leaving the bridge till last was very DISSAPOINTING, after the tour, we were given 30 minutes, to get photos on the wagon, bridge, house, Dragon inn, get our free drink and use the toilet. It was a little overwhelming and therefore missed out on photos...
Very disappointing after such a good day. It would be great if you could take the tour groups to the bridge first and let that group do photos first, otherwise at the end there is so many people all crowding, tour groups everywhere and it's a mess! We didn't even have enough time to Finnish our drink at the dragon inn. GIVE PEOPLE A BIT MORE TIME AT THE END! LIKE AN HOUR TO ENJOY IT, ORDER FOOD, TAKE PICTURES.
BUFFETT LUNCH 1.30PM TOUR, you eat first and then do the tour! ** (please put this in your website)
J.
Tours are well organized and guides lively and informative. Evening banquet tour was very fun and so much food!
It would be cool to have more indoor lounge options to extend my visit.
B.
A must see attraction when you visit Auckland. This simple an assuming place, will wow you. A lot easier to drive to Matamata I-centre ang get your Hobbiton tickets from there and check out the dainty town. Take the ride, I Enjoyed Much!
D.
This place was amazing! Being in The Shire is a Tolkein fan's dream and this place delivered! Hobbit holes in a picturesque farm setting. Bag End and Samwise Gamgee's home plus other notable locations such as the party tree and the Green Dragon. We ended the tour with a drink at the Green Dragon and an absolute feast! As a side note please don't be rude here. There are hundreds of other tourists around you and they want to see everything too.
S.
The 20th Anniversary event was incredible! Every single detail was thoughtful and magical. We so badly didn't want to return to the real world, we came back the next day to visit the shop and café. Thanks Hobbiton!
K.
This ia a private own property and maximise in commercialisation. The ticket is expensive and the tour is very rush. The tour bus will take you from ticket station, then enter a farm, and then the Hobbiton is inside the large farm. The scenery worth everything. Every photos taken like a desktop wallpaper!
J.
This is like dream come true. Being a massive fan of the movies, this was a treat. Very nice tour with knowledgeable guide. Well maintained property takes you back to the movie. Even kids loved it. Highly recommended.
M.
A must-do when in North Island! We stayed at Cambridge suburb which was 25 mins drive away, so that we could make it for the early 10am slot. It gets really crowded from noon onwards, which means your photo spots and carpark lots would be very limited. Come early and be sure to make a reservation online as tickets sell out days in advance. The 2 hour fully guided tour concludes with a free beer (milo or tea for the little ones) at The Dragon Inn.
V.
Being on set transports one to a different world that is almost magical and every prop on set was so well thought out. The hobbit holes were colourful and inviting which makes one wishes to be a hobbit for the day and try and live life as a hobbit.
Many wonderful spots for pictures but you dont really have a lot of time to hang around and snap away in the 2hour guided tour.
The souvenir shop was not as exciting as one would think though but if you are a die-hard fan, get a Tshirts or even Gollum's gold ring. There are other accessories as well.
J.
Pretty good few hours spent. We went on one of the local residents days, Was good fun for all the family. The bar at the end is awesome with a wood burning fire. Has to be seen if you are in the area
A.
Really walking into the movies scene when I visit here, thanks for keeping it so naturally and making it for many people's dream come true.
E.
Great experience. Very beautiful area. Our guide was entertaining and knowledgeable. The beer at the end was actually really good. All the facilities are very new and in great condition.
J.
This is an absolute must see attraction if you have watched any of the film's. Well organised tour with a great enthusiastic guide who really did know her stuff.
What a spectacular day. 2 hour tour doesn't feel like long enough.
D.
Okay, seriously this is the biggest reason why I came to New Zealand! It could be a little expensive, I know, but it's totally worth it! I went on tour with two dozens of people who came from various countries and they were all satisfied. One lady even had never watched the series, but she seemed so charmed and enchanted by this beautiful movie set. The guide was very informative and had a boundful information and knowledge about the set. At the end of the tour we went to the Green Dragon to grab a cup of beer. Why are you hesitating? This place has everything for fans of ROTR! Don't forget to take a million of pictures!
J.
What an amazing experience, getting to walk around the Hobbiton Movie Set. The tour guides were first class, I cant thank them enough for there help in surprising my now fiancee.
D.
I was the only person in my tour group who'd ever read the books! However, you can't blame that on the venue or the films. In fact, several members of my group had never seen the films either. The attraction for many people may boil down to a lack of things to do and see in the area.
However, Hobbiton itself was fantastic to see and experience. They've tried to keep it uncontaminated from the kind of commercial bombast seen at any other similar attraction. You meet at a café/ store before bussing into the Hobbiton area. The quality of the tour depends largely on the comedic skills of your guide. Ours lacked any sense of timing or delivery, but she was still likeable and informative especially about the availability of a certain weed in the area.
All the drinks at the Green Dragon are brewed for them specifically, but I never found out who does it. Again, they'd avoided undue commercialism for the sake of the experience. So, it might be expensive, but it's well worth it especially if you can get a big group of fans to help you avoid the awkwardness of being the only fan.
C.
Definitely would recommend, it's a beautiful place, we got the tour and food package and we were not disappointed, the food was delicious, and the tour is so cool! Our guide, Dom, was excellent, took all the photos we wanted and was very fun and knowledgeable , the set is looked after and I fully enjoyed myself, even got a free grog!
*Dinner had vegan and allergy options, just ask staff!
H.
One of my most memorable NZ experiences! We did the dinner banquet tour and was not dissapointed! The staff really made our trip what it was, they really do choose excellent personalities to work here! Hobbiton is magical but if you are a fan of the films it's even more magical! Getting to walk down to the green dragon inn at dusk ready for dinner was special, the banquet laid out for us was fit for any hobbit! And boy did we eat like hobbits!! We were travelling in our van and they gave us a 'do not disturb we are sleeping off our banquet' sign to put in the window which was real cute and told us we could stay there for the night which was an awesome bonus!
t.
A life time experience. We made our booking through New Zealand inter city bus service. Ole was our tour guide in the hobbiton movie set. He made the whole experience really captivating and interesting by telling us back stage stories and how the director made the whole set more real and visually awesome for the movie audience.
T.
Amazing! Took family with two young kids. Was a hot day so take lots of cold water, but there are two water fountains along the tour. Loved the lake with the Mill and Green Dragon. Highly recommended.
W.
What a special place! Just like fairy tale land!!! Photos just won't do it, you really have to go there to feel what the Shire is like. Really put it into perspectives of - why it's so difficult for Bilbo Bagging to leave his home for a little adventure, because nobody would want to leave this home in paradise! Beautiful flowers and butterflies everywhere. It was so surreal! Also, we learned how, because of this one very special tree, this location was chosen to be the movie set of The Hobbit. And because of The Hobbit series, more people of the world learned about the beautiful landscape of New Zealand which boosted tourism... so everything all started with this very magical tree.
N.
Visited October 2015. Not a huge fan of the the LOTR series but had to go to this just to rub it in my friends faces... lol... But surprised myself massively. This place is amazing!! And well worth checking out!! Our guide was very friendly and showed a lot of enthusiasm. Knew everything about the place, was full of knowledge and there wasn't a question he couldn't answer. Sets are interesting, Lot of effort has been put into it and they were still building pieces when I was there. And there free beer at the Hobbiton pub, sitting next to the fire, really topped it off
K.
The hobbiton experience itself is like any tourist attraction, lots of people being taken through but still a very cool thing to see. We chose to do the lunch buffet tour option and we were very rushed - we weren't allowed enough time to enjoy our drink in the Green Dragon Inn and were then rushed into the lunch venue with half an hour for our lunch before being rushed back to the bus. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it but not enough time to actually enjoy it.
O.
A simply beautiful tour. The tour guides knew so many facts and had a great sense of humor. Topped off the tour with a couple of delicious stouts.
D.
It was awesome!! Driving through the country side and out of nowhere BOOM you're in Hobbiton baby!
We booked months in advance and it's a good thing, as they were turning people away the day we did our tour. We opted for the lunch option which was catered under a big canvas tent, great food and a lovely experience. They also offer a night-time dinner option on select nights but the reservations go quickly so don't be shy.
The fully hosted tour was full of behind the scene tidbits and movie magic facts. A cup of ale at the green dragon ends the tour. Such a beautiful little location!
A.
The groups are big but not rushed. There is plenty of room on the tours to spread out and take uncrowded photos or linger at a set piece that you particularly enjoy. You're really touring more than a movie set here: you're touring what feels like a living, breathing town from one of the best fantasy novels ever.
R.
Awesome movie set! Even if you are not a fan of LOTR/Hobbit, you will enjoy walking around this fantasy land. It makes you feel like you are transported to a fantasy period. Really good attention to details!
J.
Dreams do come true. Honestly such a LOTR movie nerd and this was executed amazing. They have kept the shire in such great detail and you can definitely see the passion the staff have for the place. Well worth the money and completed with a nice cold beverage in the green dragon 🐲🐉
P.
Original atmosphere from back in the movies with great photos to do along your walk. I just with I could have totally skip the guided tour. Still fun to do even if you don't know about the movies.
S.
If you watched hobbit movie before. You must go to Hobbiton movie set tour. You can see the actual place that when the film made. There is a tourist guy to tell you everything. They have English and Chinese tour to choose from.
C.
Wonderful experience 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
You can enjoy to take photos with the hobbition movie set.
The tour is awesome and you can have a free drink at the last of the tour.
You need to come if you visit Auckland
M.
It was amazing. I took a lot of photos for my laptop background during my visit. It is highly recommended to book your tickets online because it does tend to be sold out in the same day.
T.
This place is just as magical as any Disneyland theme park if not more. With that said however, when we spent that much money on a ticket to visit a "theme" park, we expected that the tour guides and workers in the Shire would be dressed up in Hobbits costumes instead of 21st century contemporary uniforms and jackets. The staff uniforms simply took the magic away from us. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
L.
Such a magical place. A must for all LOTR's & The Hobbit fans. Many different tour options, movie set tour, dinner tour and lunch tour. Available for private functions. Our tour guide named Paul was super nice & knowledgable. Showing us where the camera was positioned at certain places along the set. He also kindly took photos of us.
Its pricy (especially for a family) but I highly recommend this tour. These are just the outside sets for the movie. They don't have inside structures that you can enter. There is one human sized door that's a jar for you to have photos of yourself in.
You can see why they need to charge what they do when you are there. Be sure to book online prior to going, the day before if you can. If driving from Rotorua or Hamilton, allow an hour driving.
The Shires Rest Cafe at the main complex is great & moderately priced, with cabinet foods & menu backboard options. There was one vegan option when I went, which was a soup. Non dairy milks - Soy & almond available for hot drinks. Staff through the whole place are friendly & helpful. It did not appear that there was anything vegan at the Green Dragons Inn. So if you are vegan & hungry, I suggest you eat at the Shires Rest Cafe or take your own food.
C.
The movie set is worth exploring just for the setting itself and even more when you know the movies. The asking price of 80$ is high though, but it does not hold back around 600k of visitors each year. While the guided tour was quite humourous I would have liked a less crowded set overall with a bit more time/space between the tour groups. In the end you will end up with other people in all of your landscape pics.:-)
t.
It was good but could have been so much better. Tour guide was friendly and funny but the set could have included since more movie props for die hard hobbit fans.
m.
Amazing, simply amazing!! Had a wonderful time touring Hobbiton and seeing the amazing set. Would recommend everyone to visit if you even like the movies a little bit.
B.
There are a lot of tourists here, but that did not ruin the experience one bit. The company does very well at spacing out the tours, so it wasn't too crowded when you wanted to take pictures. This is a must see for all of the LOTR fans out there... Even my girlfriend who has never seen the series LOVED it here!
M.
Even if your not a fan or haven’t seen the Lord of the rings or hobbit movies this is a must see when visiting New Zealand.
The tour guides are terrific with a short bus ride down to the shire which includes a short video explaining what your passing by.
The shire takes about an hour and half to walk around on your tour and is purely wimiscal and beautiful especially in the rain.
The movie set has been preserved well and using your imagination you could just picture little hobbits running around.
There is a great pub on site and gift shop too.
Highly recommend for a great few hours and worth the drive
V.
Do note that in order to have a better understanding of this place you need to watch the Hobbiton and the lord of the rings series. Probably then you'll find the place even more interesting. If not, don't worry they have some very well trained guides who will provide information on the history. This place has several different mini houses. There were some parts of the Hobbiton series which was shot here. The most unique and best think about this place is one tree whose branches are spread in a peculiar way and that is what prompted the makers of the movie to shoot it here. Must visit place for all Hobbiton fans!!
J.
A must do if you are a fan of the movies, if you are not a fan it is still interesting to see and enjoy.
The staff is awesome, friendly and positive!
Our tour included a lunch which was delicious, all you can eat and vegetarian friendly :)
Our guide was awesome and fun! Thanks for the memories sunny! We sure did go on an adventure.
FYI
They have buses if you book at the I... (stop) info shop downtown Matamata. Looks like a hobbit house.
L.
It's very much a "touristy" place to visit, but well worth it if you've watched on of the movies or read the books. It's a beautifully preserved movie set that almost captures the magic of the movie.
M.
A must see. The setting is incredible. If you like Lord of the rings and the hobbit and you are in NZ, you must visit the Hobbiton. It is 2,5h from Auckland. It took 2 years to build the place before they stated shooting three movies. It has one fake tree which is difficult to spot but they had to make it so it represents everything mentioned in the book. That's how much detail oriented the producers were. The staff is friendly and they even help gardening. The Hobbiton drives 40% of the whole tourist count to NZ.
S.
Very beautiful place and a must see for lord of rings fans and even if you are not! The hobbit homes were very cute and it was a pleasant walk. We ended our tour at the green dragon where you can have a drink and purchase a snack.
G.
Definitely it’s a MustDo, specially if you saw the movies. BUT you have to remember that it’s a 2h tour, which means that you CANNOT stay longer in the Green Dragons 🐉 Inn, which is sad cuz you want to try all beverages and food there, but your guide keeps pushing you to the shop and after the bus. It would be great if it was 2,5h....
P.
One of the best experience in North Island. Books your tickets in advance as they run out very quickly . The bus start from the cafe and with a scenic view will drop at the site. One guide is there for 1 bus carrying maximum 41 people. The guides will explain everything about the story of Hobbits and their houses and if you have seen the movie at read the book then it’s amazing to see as you can feel everything. In the end you get a complimentary drink in Hobbit style. And also remember to find the artificial tree.
V.
We had such a great time at International Hobbit Day. Loved the movie set tour. Food was great. Entertainment was excellent. It was really cold once the sun went down so glad we took coats!
J.
Awesome place if you are are fan. Great place if you're not. Its interesting to see the work that goes into keeping Hobbits land looking so good. Wasn't keen about being herded on & off the bus and around the tour.
S.
Hobbiton provides a nice tour of the setups used for the movies, the hobbit village and the natural surroundings. Unfortunately most of the hobbit houses are not real houses and no hobbits can be seen around. Still was a nice experience and we also enjoyed the nature arourd.
B.
The place is pure magic. Definitely a must go to any Lord of the Rings fan. You get instantly transported to the books and movies. It is very busy so be sure to make a reservation in advance. And as it is an open field it is warm and sunny so be sure to get sunscreen to avoid and discomfort later on. Enjoy the place and try to get as many pictures as possible (without getting anyone else from the group). Towards the end you get to drink a quite tasty beer. That was simply one of the best days in NZ, I just wish the place could be expanded and that Bilbo’s house could be accessible, that was the only disappointment.
M.
Visiting Hobbiton Movie Set was the highlight of our visit to the North Island. Both the day and Evening Banquet Dinner Tour were priceless WOW what a fantastic time we had, we were lucky to have had great tour guides for both tours, they made shore we had time to take many photos.
A.
Absolutely love this place!
The attention to details, the rolling hills, the set, everything exceeded my expectations.
It gets a little chilly towards the evening, so bring an extra layer as you will be outside with the guide.
D.
This something any one must do when visiting New Zealand. You get to take a adventure through film history and see where all the magic of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Franchise was made. A must see location
L.
$84 NZD for 2-hour tour is quite steep, but one that is expected for a touristy place like hobbiton. The grounds are beautiful and serene. We enjoyed seeing little details to the set build.
G.
Awesome!!! It's a beautiful place. The tour start with a small trip by bus toward The Village, a guide talked us about the movie and how was build it. After almost 2 hours walking around everyone can drink a ginger beer in a amazing place. The cost is $84 per person, but worth it!
S.
A memorable and must place to visit in North Island. You will love the place and be amazed of the Garden Shire as they are. Don't miss it whatever you do. It's all worth it and you won't regret it a cent.
E.
Amazing experience, the tour guides know everything you might ask and let you take your time to have a look around. Group sizes are small so you can easily get photos without other people in the background. There is a free cider or ginger beer in the green dragon pub at the end of the tour which is a nice touch. The cafe serves really nice food and drinks as well if you are planning to go around lunch time
E.
If you're a fan of the movies and/or the books, this is a must stop! NZ is currently experiencing a drought in Feb 2020 so it wasn't exactly rolling green hills as one would picture the shire, but it was still incredibly magical. Go with the meal option on the tour! The buffet was delicious and pro-tip, revisit the dessert table because they keep bringing out different things! Meal fit for a hobbit.😊
L.
Be sure to come ahead of your booked slot. We arrived right on the dot but that was late and only managed to join a tour 1.5hours later.
Great place for sightseeing and photo taking even if you're not a huge hobbiton fan. For accessibility concerns, you can even email in ahead to reserve a golf cart tour for people who can't do the walking tour.
A.
The place is so beautiful, the details that Peter Jackson built here are amazing, even the smallest things make everything look very real and you can feel that you are actually visiting Bilbo Baggings's home. I visited in February and it was rainy but the day before was sunny. You can't visit it by your own, to go into the place it has to be in a guided tour. Every hobbit hole has its own characteristics you can find farmers, bakers, carpenters and so many others, everythins is in the details. It's very crowded so the visit is quick but make sure when you are going that you book the Hobbit banquet because is a buffet very delicious. This is a must visit if you are a fan of the Hobbit or TLOTR but if not you will also enjoy it because the place is incredible.
n.
The place is absolutely stunning and beautiful.
It is very easy to located where the signboard is out there, you just follow and good to go.
The ticket. I feel the price is reasonable. The guide is good and friendly. And you can know a lot of inside story.
Recommended!!!
J.
Hobbiton was an amazing experience. This may be partly because my wife and I are big LOTR fans. You start on a bus over where they give you the back story of finding the place to film and then once you're there, take you around the set and point out key places and important movie scene spots. Even if you aren't a fan of the movies or books I would still recommend going. Just being on the set of famous movies is cool and on top of that the views are awesome. Being the fall here, everything was still green and the flowers were still bloomed. The trees were changing colors which gave it a cool combination vibe.
M.
Lovely bucolic setting of The Shire for the Hobbit movie. Amazing efforts for 12 minutes of footage that eventually made it into the movie, including a life size fake tree. A bit disappointing that there isn't a single hobbit hole with an actual interior. It's a bit remote to get to with nothing else around to do. However, Tolkien fans will gladly make the trek. Some smart hotelier will perhaps one day make a real hotel here with ability to stay in fully furnished hobbit holes and staff dressed as characters from the movies plus offerings of second breakfast. I am sure people would line up!
T.
The place is nice and well organized, but there's no more than walls and doors to see. They don't have even 1 real hobbit house for you to enter and check.
The only real building you get to know is the green dragon, where you get a "free" beer too.
In my opinion It doesn't worth 84 NZD.
R.
Dream come true. We did the evening banquet and it was an amazing experience. Highly recommended to do the banquet. Really a must do if you're a LOTR or The Hobbit fan.
G.
Amazing atmosphere there with this valley look like heaven... I am not a big fun of the Lord of the Rings but I totally enjoyed my time there... peaceful place with stunning views and the work they did there in this theme park is absolutely unbelievable... also the dragon Inn was wonderful place and you can have a drink and something to eat... I stayed there for 3 hours with the pack I booked but I wish to stay longer and soak everything of this place... they do some days of the weekend a supper late at night at the dragon inn so definitely I will return back soon to experience this event... also they guide tours doing a wonderful job and all of them are so kind...
P.S. another thing I liked is that from Matamata village you can take the bus to the Movie set park and the driver puts small videos of the background of the movies to the screen and you get a taste of them, so you can have an idea what’s it’s like even if you never saw the Trilogies... excellent park and work they did there...
R.
Perfectly maintained set of Hobbit. Peter Jackson went out of the way to create this place with amazing details. If you are a fan you will absolutely love it. If not just watch the first 40 mins of Fellowship of the ring before visiting to have a little connection with this place. No 5th star because the tour lacked any activity (we had expected some hobbit related activity in the tour) and the vegetarian food that was served on buffet had very few options.
L.
The tour guide was funny and tried very hard to get us moving along. There was a crazy amount of butterflies which was neat. Lots of great pictures but be prepared to take turns. My grievance was that it was a bit short and rushed and the we could hardly spend much time at the pub at the end to reflect and eat food. Maybe if it was just a half hour longer
B.
Absolutely amazing place for fans of the movies and books.
Our tour guide was lovely, and made it a great and one of a kind experience.
T.
A great experience. You will feel like a Hobbit. The tours are well organised so you don't bump into thousands of visitors.