Visiting Hobbiton was easily one of the highlights of our trip to the north island. The experience…read morebegan with a scenic bus ride across a working sheep farm, during which we learned about how the location was discovered and transformed into the iconic film set that it is today. Once we arrived, we were taken on a guided walking tour through the beautifully preserved set. Along the way, we saw some of the most memorable spots from the films, including the famous hillside where Frodo sets off on his adventure. One of my favorite parts came toward the end of the tour, when we were able to step inside a hobbit hole. The interiors were meticulously decorated, making it easy to imagine what life in the Shire might actually feel like! At the end of the tour, we stopped by Green Dragon Inn, where we enjoyed a complimentary drink (there's both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available). Overall, this was such a magical experience! Be sure to book ahead, as the popular tour times tend to get booked out pretty far in advance during peak season.

Hobbiton was such a neat experience! Mira was so welcoming and had much to share. She weaved the…read moredetails together so perfectly. Enjoying the feast with new friends was a great time and made the experience. The bulgar wheat and beef were tasty and the apple cider beer was very flavorful. We were so elated to dodge the storm and make it here on our anniversary! 13/04/2026

Emma and Jake were fantastic guides! Both are knowledgeable and funny. Being from Florida, my…read morehusband and I are pretty familiar with quick weather changes. We did not expect the heavy rain early in the morning to last the duration of this experience. Emma and Jake gracefully led the group and it was extremely impressive how effortlessly they worked in the pouring rain. Everyone had a blast and the views while on the lines were unbelievable! The lines were the longest we've been on and even the guides knew that the whole group was light. Not a single person got stuck. Emma and Jake teach cannonballs better than lifeguards and swim instructors! 15/04/2026

We recently visited as part of an organized tour through EF tours, (earlier this June), and it was…read moreamazing!!! I'm afraid of seemingly risky activities but Minka and Max did an awesome job explaining everything and making us feel safe and at ease. Their knowledge and professionalism truly shines. Thank you for an unforgettable and educational experience!

If you're a huge Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fan, you HAVE to visit this Hobbiton set! It's a little…read morecozy country hideaway and is just a quick drive from Auckland. We booked our visit with InterCity and that was very cost effective, as it included the tour and transportation roundtrip from Auckland. You'll first stop in Matamata and head into the iSITE station, as that is where your shuttle will pick you up for your adventure. If you get to Matamata with a bit of time to spare before your tour, you can dine at Redoubt - the Lord of the Rings themed pub/restaurant right by the ISITE station, that has great heart food and excellent theming. They definitely know where they are at and lean into it! We visited in April and the weather was nice and warm but there are some pretty rainy days in that season. But we got very lucky that it rained the morning of our visit (just for the bus drive to Matamata from Auckland) but right when we arrived at Hobbiton in the afternoon, the clouds parted and we had a rainbow over the Shire and the whole place to ourselves! We were driven around by a great tour guide who told lots of fun stories about the books/movies and the filming location itself. We had a bite to eat (beef and ale pie!) and Hobbit beer at the Green Dragon Inn, and we even got to go behind the bar for some pictures! We also were able to go inside a few Hobbit holes/houses and spend more time there, which would usually be full of people on the nicer/busier days of the year, which was a big plus. I didn't want to leave this place, but they wouldn't let me move in for good! The farmland around the movie set is also beautiful and made for a pleasant ride back to Auckland, even as it started to rain again. If you're a big fan of the movies or books in the Lord of the Rings series, you absolutely should make this one day of your trip to the North Island. It is worth it and enjoyable, even for a casual fan!

"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to,"…read more Visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand was like stepping straight into J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth. It's located on the Alexander Farm, and was the movie set for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Everywhere you look, you're greeted by charming hobbit houses with their bright round doors, whimsical and lush gardens, and fantastic little details. Our guide, Sal, made the experience even more special with his enthusiasm and storytelling. He shared fun tidbits about the set, such as how Peter Jackson discovered the Alexander Farm while scouting for the perfect Shire location by helicopter. The farm's rolling green hills and large pine tree (now known as the Party Tree) were perfect. One of the highlights was getting to step inside one of the hobbit houses--love! Though the interiors were filmed elsewhere, just being inside the cozy lil houses was like we were in the movie. The tour ended with a delicious buffet lunch. I could easily imagine myself living in a hobbit hole. Such an immersive experience. I very much enjoyed it!

We were there during quiet season and you could tell. The bar was barely open and I don't think…read morethere was anyone around to serve us breakfast. I'm sure it would be better outside of winter, as the facilities looked good and the rooms were great. I even saw my first wall-mounted radiator in all of New Zealand there! A short hike from town (maybe 10 mins), but aside from the pervading eggy smell that the town's famous for, it was a pleasant stroll.

So worth the money. I'd been white water rafting before but was apprehensive to venture down the…read moreworld's tallest (21ft) waterfall. The crew provided all the gear, instruction and motivation necessary to keep us safe. My daughter and I had a blast. Well worth the money. Don't miss this adventure.

Kaitiaki adventures is a must when visiting Rotorua! The team is incredible! We not only felt…read morecompletely safe but had an amazing time! Highly recommend.

Way back when in 2015 we came to NZ as one of first bucket list trips. This location is must to…read moreappreciate the nature of NZ. One gets a guided tour and see nature coming up out of the ground. Bonus points if you can pronounce the name place. And appreciate the Maori culture and lifestyle.

We went on a day tour to this village from Auckland and the experience was worth the long drive. It…read morewas freezing on the day we went but our village tour guide was still informative and entertaining. We learned a lot about the Maori culture and how some still live day to say in their old school customs. We saw and learned about the geyser and boiling pools used for cooking and bathing. We saw active geysers from a distance. We saw a native performance that was upbeat and cool to see. You were able to take pictures with the performers at the end. There are a few local vendors selling native products. The best part of my experience was the local food that was delicious. We were able to taste the local dish, hangi pe that was very tasty and hearty. Definitely a place to check out!

Well we really enjoyed the geothermal wonderland and the geysers. There is one geyser they set off…read moreat 1015 every day it was good but Yellowstone was better The grounds were amazing and Robbie our guide was terrific. Only downfall no snacks or water bring your own

(This is probably closer to 4.5 stars to me.) We went on Nature Connections' "Geothermal…read moreWonderland Tour" and thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable tour! It was very cool to learn more about New Zealand's volcanic history and to see remnants/signs of that. And the sights -- a wonderful variety -- were beautiful, especially those at the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland! You travel from place to place by van, but at each stop there's a lot of walking on paved and unpaved trails. All the paths are relatively straightforward; however, the unpaved or steep sections may not be great for those with difficulty walking though, as the park notes clearly. A wealth of information is available with (which I recommend) or without an outstanding guide.

Great location! Fantastic staff, attention to detail in every way. Great breakfast and an amazing…read moredinner experience!

Perfectly situated on a prominent point on Lake Rotorua with fantastic views of the lake. We were…read morelocated in a cozy one bedroom cottage, a very large suite. Complete with kitchen, washer/dryer and two tvs. This was totally unexpected as we arrived after dark and were not sure what Peppers would be like. It turns out to be a nice lodge house with a few cottages along the lake bank. Beautiful views, lots & lots of flies. Beware, although they are not the biting kind of flies, they seem to swarm around light. Keep your doors closed they will quickly enter. The cottage itself was equipped with a very comfortable king bed and huge bathroom. Great shower set up and a nice hot tub on the deck which you can fill with wonderfully warm water much like a huge bath tub. My only complaint is that the tub deck area was not clean. The tub was full of bugs and the window screen needed to be cleaned. We had an incredible nights sleep due to the comfy bed and great black out curtains that put us in a deep trance for the night. We woke up each morning to an incredible breakfast. Well done Peppers. This is at the main lodge although you can also order room service. I had the egg Benedict which was floated on top of a delicious potato instead of an English muffin. Loved it along with all the fresh fruit, juices and cereals. My hubby had the three egg omelet with lamb sausage and a couple of veggies--made to order. There were other choices as well. This was included in our stay and excellent. Loved this special place. A bit spendy for the cottage but oh well we had a great time. Off to Wellington