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Recommended Reviews - Hobbiton
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Hobbiton was AMAZING!!! We visited New Zealand and this place was the #1 priority and it did not disappoint! The whole experience was very efficient with dedicated tour guides. Definitely book your tour in advance. I went with a tour company through Viator that picked us up from our hotel in Auckland and drove us to Hobbiton and the Worm Caves. The tour included one drink from the Green Dragon and a buffet style lunch. We did not feel rush at all for lunch and the staff took great care of our food allergies. Highly recommend this place!!!
This was absolutely one of the highlights of my time in New Zealand! I booked a tour for the Hobbiton Movie Set months in advance, so didn't have to worry about driving to Matamata (over 2 hours away). When we arrived to the location, I was overcome with excitement! We had a bit of time to peruse the gift shop and cafe, where I grabbed a mocha, which was rich, chocolate-y and tasty. From the store, I picked up Lord of the Rings colored pencils with 2 coloring posters included. Soon enough, we were ready to line up and board the Hobbiton bus to the movie set. The rolling green pastures with trees, flowers, vegetation, streams of water, bridges, doors to Hobbit homes, were simply stunning. Every little detail was kept the same as it was in the movies. Our guide shared many interesting, funny stories and facts about Hobbiton. One thing that stood out was that there's actually a fake tree on top of one of the hills, but it's so realistic looking that you would never know if it wasn't mentioned. Toward the end of the tour, we got to enter one of the Hobbit homes, and the set up was beautiful. There was a living room with fireplace, chairs with games out; kitchen, bedroom, writing corner, and much more. I loved that it was interactive and we got to sit on the bed, chairs, as well as touch the props. The final stop was the Green Dragon Inn, where we were able to get our free drink. The only non alcoholic option was ginger beer, which was refreshing and sweet. There was plenty of seating and a cozy fireplace. I also bought an Afghan cookie and muffin, which was quite yummy. Overall, this was a fantastic experience and well worth it. I truly enjoyed my time in The Shire!
The minute I knew I was going to New Zealand I knew I needed to watch the hobbiton and lord of the rings series. We booked the hobbiton tour maybe 4-6 months in advance online. We drove from Auckland which took some time but we got to the hobbiton area maybe 10 minutes before the check before our tour. They had a great parking lot and then we checked in, the staff were very friendly. They had restrooms which was needed after a long drive! We then lined up for the tour and entered the bus- where we watched a small welcome video from the director of the series. We then were dropped off at the beginning of the set. The tour itself maybe lasted 1-2 hours and ended with one included drink giving one non alcoholic ginger beer and other alcoholic beverages options. It was super hot! In December during the tour and I was not prepared for it - also should have brought my water bottle. They do offer umbrellas which is nice and helps with the heat. They have many photo opts. The only AC areas were inside one of the hobbit homes and and the very end where they have other restrooms a mini cafe. We then hopped on the bus back to the main area- the main area had another cafe upstairs and it was super busy but was around 12pm and we were rushing a little because we had a 2pm tour at the waitamo caves for the glow worms so didn't get to try the cafe. Overall- if you are a hobbiton fan, you have to come here!
A dream come true. A magical experience. A memory I will hold forever. This place is everything and more than I was hoping for. My dad got me into Lord of the Rings as a kid, and we always talked about going to check it out. Unfortunately he's passed away, so it was extra special that I got to go and experience it all for both of us. I could go on and on about how amazing it is, but there's not enough words to describe it. Even if you aren't a huge Lord of the Rings fan, it's still a beautiful and interesting experience for people to see and explore. On top of that, I was genuinely surprised by how God the food was! It's not a BS average money-grubbing buffet, it's actual good food that I would absolutely eat again. If you go to New Zealand, this is the absolute number one stop you need to make, no matter what.
Where do you want to go when visiting New Zealand? HOBBITON! Where else? HOBBITON!! I want to see the Hobbitses! I was probably expecting more, but I had a wonderful experience. If you flew into Auckland, it's about a two hour trip to Hobbiton. I booked a tour to make things easier, and probably a better deal. We arrived at The Shire's Rest where you wait for the shuttle bus. There's a gift shop and cafe, but you'll return here, so you can purchase your gifts afterwards! Hobbiton is actually located within a HUGE Sheep farm called the Alexander Family Farm. Per our tour guide, Peter Jackson was scouting filming locations via helicopter, and instantly fell in love with this farm. You will see sheep everywhere during your shuttle bus ride into this gigantic compound, and Hobbiton is just a small area. Our tour guide was great! Clear, upbeat, kind, and friendly, and always keeping everyone engaged. She also takes awesome photos! She can be a professional photographer! During the tour, you can download an app to read about each specific stops. After the main hobbiton area, you get to your inside one of the houses--all hobbit sized! A cool experience! The last stop is the Green Dragon Inn where receive your complimentary beer. English Ale, Amber Ale, or Ginger beer (non-alcoholic). Water, coffee, and tea are also available. You can take your drink inside and outside this area next to a beautiful, picturesque lake. Back to The Shire's Rest! Overall, I had a wonderful experience. It was definitely interesting and unique. Our tour guide was great and an excellent photographer! The whole area was very well maintained, clean, and easy to walk around. It was nice! Almost like walking around a botanical garden. I honestly thought Hobbiton would be a little bigger, more interactive, and include some other areas besides Hobbiton itself. Basically, Sam's house looks like Bilbo's house, which also looks like Merry and Pippin's house. Even so, I'd still recommend coming here for all Hobbit and Lord of the Ring fans visiting New Zealand.
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to," 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!
Highly recommend as a stop on your New Zealand trip! How could one miss the magic of the rolling hills and beautiful landscape of the hobbits' homes from Lord of the Rings? I had to reserve tickets more than 2 months in advance for a 2.5 hour set tour. As the website proclaims, "bookings essential!" There are over 20 tours a day, and some times fill up more quickly because of the package together with various meals. The check in area for tours were near the Shire's Rest Cafe. The food and coffee at the cafe were pretty good, at reasonable prices. I appreciated that they asked what time my tour was, so that they could ensure delivery before the tour started. The experience itself was great. We boarded a bus with our tour group to Hobbiton, which drove about 10 min through the rolling hills of Alexander Farm. After we arrived at Hobbiton, the tour guide took us through the Hobbiton set, a hobbit's home, and the Green Dragon Inn, where we received a complimentary drink. The guide seemed to love his job. He was informative, funny, and very open minded to all sorts of our group's questions and cheeky responses to his questions. It really helped that he was a LOTR fan, and was actually able to answer quite a bit in detail. After sending a question to their email regarding the Shire's Rest Cafe, I received a reply in less than 24 hours. All around great service! A bit pricey, but worth it!
While there are a few small things you could nitpick on, Hobbiton is an unbelievable experience for any fan of Middle Earth. Everything is so well done, from the introduction video by Peter Jackson to the small details inside of the Hobbit homes you get to visit. The tour guide gives great information about the filming, techniques used, stories, and more. The place itself is beautiful and really does feel like you're at The Shire. I did the included lunch and while the food could have been better it was good and the price wasn't bad. Good variety too. Visiting The Green Dragon was fun as well and a free drink is included with your tour. You do have to stay with your tour group and it moves at a modest pace. We had a particular group within the tour group that were pretty annoying, always loudly talking over the guide, wandering off the paths into restricted areas, hoarding space and time for pictures like Smaug hordes gold while the rest of us quickly took our photos to accommodate others, but even they couldn't put a damper on this visit.
We did the tour with the dinner banquet. It was amazing. I'm not a big lotr fan but I totally appreciate all the hard work put into this and the fun facts learned during this tour. The food was also also super amazing and I had a little bit of everything. I think about the mash herb sweet potatoe, veggie pot pie, the herb chicken, and the lamb shank. The cider drink was really good. Staff are super sweet. For parking, make sure you follow their direction. For alcohol, make sure you have your passport or New Zealand id. If you can, go for the evening banquet tour. You get to see everything in the day and night!
I think this is worth seeing especially first thing in the morning when there are not too many people in your photos. It was mostly enjoyable for a toddler but not stroller friendly (recommend a baby carrier). Note- it is quite touristy and quite an operation but beautiful setting. There is a cafe to get coffee in the morning.
I have zero interest in Lord of the Rings franchise (both the books and the movies), but Hobbiton was on the top of my sister and husband's list of things to see in New Zealand. However, Hobbiton is a pretty cool place that even non-fans will enjoy it! Located on a sheep farm a couple of hours from Auckland, Hobbiton is the movie set from the LOTR and Hobbit movies. Originally it was a temporary movie set, but it became such a popular attraction that it was then rebuilt permanently. You can purchase tickets for just a tour of Hobbiton, or a tour and meal combo (either second breakfast, lunch, or an evening banquet). We purchased the tour and lunch combo, and the lunch was fantastic! It was a buffet of a wide variety of food -- salad, vegetable dishes, meat, fish, pasta, desserts, etc, and they also offered gluten free items, as well as dairy free and vegan items. In addition to the meal, you were also served one complimentary beverage (beer, cider, or ginger beer), and you could purchase additional drinks (including wine!) for a very reasonable price (I think a glass of wine was $8). As I don't know much about the movies (I found them very boring), I didn't recognize the iconic Shire locations, but the scenery was beautiful and the Hobbit houses were very photo-worthy. Overall, it was a great tour, although there was this annoying middle aged couple who, despite there being the lightest sprinkle of rain, had large umbrellas and kept nearly poking me in the face with them. There was plenty of room for everyone in the tour to stand and hear the tour guide, yet they had to stand right beside me and shove their umbrella in my face. I told them to be careful and when they made no effort to move their umbrella away from my face, I moved far away from them, but they followed me and stood right beside me again, nearly poking my eyes out again! The tour guide saw what they were doing and firmly told them to behave. (They didn't, but I made damn sure not to stand anywhere near them. I don't even know why they were in the tour -- they seemed to be hating it.) [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023]
Visiting Hobbiton was easily one of the highlights of our trip to the north island. The experience began 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. read more
Hobbiton is exactly what you think it will be. If you're a fan of the movies and most importantly a fan of Hobbiton, you are stepping into a real life fantasy. I was there for a wedding and we received our own private tour, so I can't say whether it was like the standard tour. You start off from essentially their home base. You get on a bus and drive across to an active live sheep and cattle farm. The sets are built on the farm. The hobbit homes are all exterior and gorgeous. The details are immaculate. They even have real smoke coming from chimneys! There is a built out interior for tourists to traverse and the details are amazing. I found an accordion in one and it worked! There are alcoholic beverages at the Pony, but alcohol content is low. Probably to keep us from acting out scenes from the movies. The tour guides were also awesome, funny, and knowledgeable. Magical place. 10/10 read more
3 months ago
When in Auckland this is a must see !!! Booked thru TripAdvisor this tour and experienced the beauty of the Shire. Our guide and driver Edson was exceptional. Explained some history of the country as well important sites to know. The trip was excellent. Arrived in the Shire, did shopping souvenirs so packed. The price kinda pricey but hey it's the Hobbiton. Ate buffet lunch at Shite and tour after. So lush with real trees , fruits flowers butterflies surrounding the area. The house of Bilbo Baggins was on top of the hill with a fake tree that is not noticeable. There was hobbit house furnished and toured inside. Beautiful decor with essence of Frodo and the Hobbits. I loved it Buffet was great . Hobbiton bus takes you in and out of the place unless you are on a private tour. Till next time Gandalf read more
Hobbiton was AMAZING!!! We visited New Zealand and this place was the #1 priority and it did not disappoint! The whole experience was very efficient with dedicated tour guides. Definitely book your tour in advance. I went with a tour company through Viator that picked us up from our hotel in Auckland and drove us to Hobbiton and the Worm Caves. The tour included one drink from the Green Dragon and a buffet style lunch. We did not feel rush at all for lunch and the staff took great care of our food allergies. Highly recommend this place!!! read more
This has been on my bucket list for years. My husband made reservations for us when we were on vacation here a few weeks ago. Everything was great--our tour guide, the bus driver, Hobbiton, the food and drinks at Green Dragon, and the gift shop. It was a magical few hours. read more
This was absolutely one of the highlights of my time in New Zealand! I booked a tour for the Hobbiton Movie Set months in advance, so didn't have to worry about driving to Matamata (over 2 hours away). When we arrived to the location, I was overcome with excitement! We had a bit of time to peruse the gift shop and cafe, where I grabbed a mocha, which was rich, chocolate-y and tasty. From the store, I picked up Lord of the Rings colored pencils with 2 coloring posters included. Soon enough, we were ready to line up and board the Hobbiton bus to the movie set. The rolling green pastures with trees, flowers, vegetation, streams of water, bridges, doors to Hobbit homes, were simply stunning. Every little detail was kept the same as it was in the movies. Our guide shared many interesting, funny stories and facts about Hobbiton. One thing that stood out was that there's actually a fake tree on top of one of the hills, but it's so realistic looking that you would never know if it wasn't mentioned. Toward the end of the tour, we got to enter one of the Hobbit homes, and the set up was beautiful. There was a living room with fireplace, chairs with games out; kitchen, bedroom, writing corner, and much more. I loved that it was interactive and we got to sit on the bed, chairs, as well as touch the props. The final stop was the Green Dragon Inn, where we were able to get our free drink. The only non alcoholic option was ginger beer, which was refreshing and sweet. There was plenty of seating and a cozy fireplace. I also bought an Afghan cookie and muffin, which was quite yummy. Overall, this was a fantastic experience and well worth it. I truly enjoyed my time in The Shire! read more
The minute I knew I was going to New Zealand I knew I needed to watch the hobbiton and lord of the rings series. We booked the hobbiton tour maybe 4-6 months in advance online. We drove from Auckland which took some time but we got to the hobbiton area maybe 10 minutes before the check before our tour. They had a great parking lot and then we checked in, the staff were very friendly. They had restrooms which was needed after a long drive! We then lined up for the tour and entered the bus- where we watched a small welcome video from the director of the series. We then were dropped off at the beginning of the set. The tour itself maybe lasted 1-2 hours and ended with one included drink giving one non alcoholic ginger beer and other alcoholic beverages options. It was super hot! In December during the tour and I was not prepared for it - also should have brought my water bottle. They do offer umbrellas which is nice and helps with the heat. They have many photo opts. The only AC areas were inside one of the hobbit homes and and the very end where they have other restrooms a mini cafe. We then hopped on the bus back to the main area- the main area had another cafe upstairs and it was super busy but was around 12pm and we were rushing a little because we had a 2pm tour at the waitamo caves for the glow worms so didn't get to try the cafe. Overall- if you are a hobbiton fan, you have to come here! read more
5 months ago
Great tour of the set of the lord of the rights and hobbit movies. The place is really magical and we thoroughly loved the tour. Definitely stop by if you're a fan of middle earth read more
A dream come true. A magical experience. A memory I will hold forever. This place is everything and more than I was hoping for. My dad got me into Lord of the Rings as a kid, and we always talked about going to check it out. Unfortunately he's passed away, so it was extra special that I got to go and experience it all for both of us. I could go on and on about how amazing it is, but there's not enough words to describe it. Even if you aren't a huge Lord of the Rings fan, it's still a beautiful and interesting experience for people to see and explore. On top of that, I was genuinely surprised by how God the food was! It's not a BS average money-grubbing buffet, it's actual good food that I would absolutely eat again. If you go to New Zealand, this is the absolute number one stop you need to make, no matter what. read more
Where do you want to go when visiting New Zealand? HOBBITON! Where else? HOBBITON!! I want to see the Hobbitses! I was probably expecting more, but I had a wonderful experience. If you flew into Auckland, it's about a two hour trip to Hobbiton. I booked a tour to make things easier, and probably a better deal. We arrived at The Shire's Rest where you wait for the shuttle bus. There's a gift shop and cafe, but you'll return here, so you can purchase your gifts afterwards! Hobbiton is actually located within a HUGE Sheep farm called the Alexander Family Farm. Per our tour guide, Peter Jackson was scouting filming locations via helicopter, and instantly fell in love with this farm. You will see sheep everywhere during your shuttle bus ride into this gigantic compound, and Hobbiton is just a small area. Our tour guide was great! Clear, upbeat, kind, and friendly, and always keeping everyone engaged. She also takes awesome photos! She can be a professional photographer! During the tour, you can download an app to read about each specific stops. After the main hobbiton area, you get to your inside one of the houses--all hobbit sized! A cool experience! The last stop is the Green Dragon Inn where receive your complimentary beer. English Ale, Amber Ale, or Ginger beer (non-alcoholic). Water, coffee, and tea are also available. You can take your drink inside and outside this area next to a beautiful, picturesque lake. Back to The Shire's Rest! Overall, I had a wonderful experience. It was definitely interesting and unique. Our tour guide was great and an excellent photographer! The whole area was very well maintained, clean, and easy to walk around. It was nice! Almost like walking around a botanical garden. I honestly thought Hobbiton would be a little bigger, more interactive, and include some other areas besides Hobbiton itself. Basically, Sam's house looks like Bilbo's house, which also looks like Merry and Pippin's house. Even so, I'd still recommend coming here for all Hobbit and Lord of the Ring fans visiting New Zealand. read more
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to," 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! read more
Highly recommend as a stop on your New Zealand trip! How could one miss the magic of the rolling hills and beautiful landscape of the hobbits' homes from Lord of the Rings? I had to reserve tickets more than 2 months in advance for a 2.5 hour set tour. As the website proclaims, "bookings essential!" There are over 20 tours a day, and some times fill up more quickly because of the package together with various meals. The check in area for tours were near the Shire's Rest Cafe. The food and coffee at the cafe were pretty good, at reasonable prices. I appreciated that they asked what time my tour was, so that they could ensure delivery before the tour started. The experience itself was great. We boarded a bus with our tour group to Hobbiton, which drove about 10 min through the rolling hills of Alexander Farm. After we arrived at Hobbiton, the tour guide took us through the Hobbiton set, a hobbit's home, and the Green Dragon Inn, where we received a complimentary drink. The guide seemed to love his job. He was informative, funny, and very open minded to all sorts of our group's questions and cheeky responses to his questions. It really helped that he was a LOTR fan, and was actually able to answer quite a bit in detail. After sending a question to their email regarding the Shire's Rest Cafe, I received a reply in less than 24 hours. All around great service! A bit pricey, but worth it! read more
While there are a few small things you could nitpick on, Hobbiton is an unbelievable experience for any fan of Middle Earth. Everything is so well done, from the introduction video by Peter Jackson to the small details inside of the Hobbit homes you get to visit. The tour guide gives great information about the filming, techniques used, stories, and more. The place itself is beautiful and really does feel like you're at The Shire. I did the included lunch and while the food could have been better it was good and the price wasn't bad. Good variety too. Visiting The Green Dragon was fun as well and a free drink is included with your tour. You do have to stay with your tour group and it moves at a modest pace. We had a particular group within the tour group that were pretty annoying, always loudly talking over the guide, wandering off the paths into restricted areas, hoarding space and time for pictures like Smaug hordes gold while the rest of us quickly took our photos to accommodate others, but even they couldn't put a damper on this visit. read more
2 years ago
We did the tour with the dinner banquet. It was amazing. I'm not a big lotr fan but I totally appreciate all the hard work put into this and the fun facts learned during this tour. The food was also also super amazing and I had a little bit of everything. I think about the mash herb sweet potatoe, veggie pot pie, the herb chicken, and the lamb shank. The cider drink was really good. Staff are super sweet. For parking, make sure you follow their direction. For alcohol, make sure you have your passport or New Zealand id. If you can, go for the evening banquet tour. You get to see everything in the day and night! read more
I think this is worth seeing especially first thing in the morning when there are not too many people in your photos. It was mostly enjoyable for a toddler but not stroller friendly (recommend a baby carrier). Note- it is quite touristy and quite an operation but beautiful setting. There is a cafe to get coffee in the morning. read more
2 years ago
I have zero interest in Lord of the Rings franchise (both the books and the movies), but Hobbiton was on the top of my sister and husband's list of things to see in New Zealand. However, Hobbiton is a pretty cool place that even non-fans will enjoy it! Located on a sheep farm a couple of hours from Auckland, Hobbiton is the movie set from the LOTR and Hobbit movies. Originally it was a temporary movie set, but it became such a popular attraction that it was then rebuilt permanently. You can purchase tickets for just a tour of Hobbiton, or a tour and meal combo (either second breakfast, lunch, or an evening banquet). We purchased the tour and lunch combo, and the lunch was fantastic! It was a buffet of a wide variety of food -- salad, vegetable dishes, meat, fish, pasta, desserts, etc, and they also offered gluten free items, as well as dairy free and vegan items. In addition to the meal, you were also served one complimentary beverage (beer, cider, or ginger beer), and you could purchase additional drinks (including wine!) for a very reasonable price (I think a glass of wine was $8). As I don't know much about the movies (I found them very boring), I didn't recognize the iconic Shire locations, but the scenery was beautiful and the Hobbit houses were very photo-worthy. Overall, it was a great tour, although there was this annoying middle aged couple who, despite there being the lightest sprinkle of rain, had large umbrellas and kept nearly poking me in the face with them. There was plenty of room for everyone in the tour to stand and hear the tour guide, yet they had to stand right beside me and shove their umbrella in my face. I told them to be careful and when they made no effort to move their umbrella away from my face, I moved far away from them, but they followed me and stood right beside me again, nearly poking my eyes out again! The tour guide saw what they were doing and firmly told them to behave. (They didn't, but I made damn sure not to stand anywhere near them. I don't even know why they were in the tour -- they seemed to be hating it.) [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023] read more
I'll start by saying my parents who were with me knew nothing about LOTR but still highly enjoyed this experience because of how pretty the area is and the highly detailed props all over. There's something for everyone and you'll never get bored because this tour is soooo interactive and entertaining. Well worth it! You get a complementary drink at the Green Dragon Inn too, with choices including nonalcoholic ginger beer and a few different beer options. read more
My wife and I were on vacation in Auckland, New Zealand and I signed up for the Hobbiton/Glowworms cave tour. I am so glad I did. We hung out at the gift shop/bus stop for about 45 minutes and I bought a magnet of The Shire. We boarded a bus that takes you through the family farm and they play a little video from Peter Jackson for the five minute ride. Lots of sheep and very serene. We got off the bus and they have 44 hobbit houses along a hill and there is a mill and a bridge and The Green Dragon inn. It was really cool. Our guide was from Australia and I liked her a lot. She said she moved to New Zealand just for this job. I would recommend this cool day trip, we only had five days and New Zealand, and I am glad I spent one of the days doing this. read more
3 years ago
We took part in the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour on July 6, 2003 (winter in New Zealand). Cost was $89/adult, $44/youth (ages 9-16), children free (ages 0-8). They also offer a Family Pass (2x adults + 2x youth) for $225 (savings of $41). I recommend purchasing your tickets and booking your tour time prior to going to Hobbiton to ensure a shorter wait and availability, particularly in the summer travel months. We were here during the winter, but is during New Zealand schools' winter break, so it was still pretty busy, however there were many foreign tourists here. You wait for the bus to Hobbiton at the designated waiting area according to your your time. If you are there early have a snack at The Shire Cafe and/or check out the gift shop and have a picture with Gandalf. There is a tour guide that is assigned to your your group who goes on the bus with you and starts giving the history of Hobbiton on the short 10 minute bus ride through the Alexander Farm where Hobbiton is located on. Once you get to Hobbiton, you will go from section to section in Hobbiton. Your tour guide will talk about the designated Hobbit Hole or area. Towards the end of the tour, you will be led to the Green Dragon where each person in your group will get a complementary drink (either alcoholic or non-alcoholic). On the way back to the tour bus, we were given a Green Dragon mug as a souvenir. For The Lord of the Rings fan, you will geek out here. The detail of the the huts and the surrounding decor is awesome! Even if you are not a Lord of the Rings fan and have no clue what the movies are about, you will appreciate the tour. This a must do when in New Zealand! read more
Hobbiton was what I was most looking forward to on my trip. When I went to New Zealand, I watched all the Hobbit movies on the plane (long flight). I previously watched all the LOTR movies before. The tour guide led us around and explained some of the scenes from the movie as well as some of the details that went into making Hobbiton. Everything was idyllic and cute! Only one of the hobbit-hole doors we went to was open, but there is nothing inside the home. That's going to change soon. Three existing hobbit-holes are being transformed into a series of themed rooms. Afterwards, we were led to The Green Dragon Inn for a drink. Our package also came with a buffet lunch at the Party Marquee. The spread was quite good. While we were eating, we were given mugs as an apology due to the construction. It was a nice surprise. Hobbiton did not disappoint! Even if you didn't watch the movies or read the books, you can still enjoy your experience here. The only negative thing I would say is that I would've liked more time to take pictures. read more
Awesomely but sadly, Hobbiton, a fake movie set, is like the best thing to do in north island New Zealand. It was a cool visit and I am very happy to have visited this place as it had put my family in a fantasy world where everything just seems fun and cute. The attention to detail is extreme and the tour guides are great at explaining everything. The rolling hills here, dotted with lush trees, is what makes this setting so beautiful. Before LOTR was filmed, the producers flew a helicopter around this New Zealand and found this farm--they definitely chose right and the farm owner's life changed forever. If you're ever in New Zealand, you must absolutely check out Hobbiton! read more
Hobbiton is a required visit for fans of Lord of the Rings Everything is a replica, but very realistic including the green beer Expensive - not for us Film fans will greatly enjoy; others will be encouraged to see movies read more
This was the best thing I did in New Zealand and I almost didn't get a ticket. So after booking a flight to Auckland, I began researching some key points I wanted to see and this Hobbiton Tour was #1 on my list. I found various prices on different tours on several different sites. About a week before my flight I started looking at the tours again and found them all sold out for the time I would be there! All 8 days that I would be there were all sold out! How can this be? I waited too long to book. I didn't think it would sell out for whatever reason and now I was checking all websites to see if any ticket was available. Well, lo and behold I ended finding a ticket on a site I have never used before and the tour included r/t transport to and from Hobbiton and they only had a couple tix left that included the buffet and free drink at Green Garden Inn. I got very lucky to find any ticket. The bus ride takes about 2 hours each way and the tour itself was about 3-4 hours as we had lunch provided. The tour was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The place is so lush and green and the weather was a perfect day at about 25-26C (78F). The Hobbit houses are so cute and adorable and at the end we got to go inside one of them and it's bigger than you think. You will take a lot of pics inside. The lunch buffet was actually pretty decent and had a several choices. There were some desserts as well. We also had a few mins at the end to buy any souvenirs or drink/snack for the ride back to Auckland. Overall, I def would recommend the tour but buy your tix early. read more
A Lord of the Rings lover but not an expert I had no high expectations. Was this going to be cheesy? Our entire group agreed NO. It was a gorgeous farm with sheep and cattle. We all loved the quaintness of it - the walking tour (which you have to do, you can't get in without it) is informative and done at a leisurely pace - You do need reservations as it does sell out and there were some disappointed people read more
2 years ago
"Okay, I don't usually write reviews, but I just got back to Hobbiton, and honestly, the experience was unreal and crazy. After, a year of nonstop walking (my feet still hurt) and barely surviving Mordor, coming back to this place felt amazing. Seriously, being back home in Hobbiton is wonderful and peaceful. There's green grass everywhere, little round doors, and everyone is just super chill and happy, like I never even left. My best friend Sam Gamgee? The best best friend EVERRR. He's been through everything with me ( even when i was going crazy) and coming back here with him felt like the perfect ending. 10/10 hobbits recommend him as a travel buddy. And can we talk about the food? I forgot how amazing it was to have actual good meals that don't come in lembas bread form. The Shire might not have fancy fireworks or elves, but it's honestly better than anywhere else I've been (and I've seen A LOT). Only downside? I'm still getting weird looks from some hobbits who probably heard all the Sauron rumors. But who cares! I'm doing well, my feet are up, and it feels like a second chance in life. If you ever get the chance, definitely visit Hobbiton. You won't regret it. You might see me there." read more
Highlight of the day! Visiting Hobbiton was phenomenal! My daughter and her paternal family had a blast during her visit with them when they took the entire family to Hobbiton. A thrilling experience to be at and realizing you're actually stepping foot where the film was made. Everything here is amazing. It is like a village where legendary people actually lives We did wish we lived in Hobbiton. The village is amazing! If you live in New Zealand visit and enjoy this amazing place you have here. Tourists do stop by and enjoy the place. Take loads of photos! Sharing with you sime photos of family read more
I'm not a big fan of the movies, and I admit I have not read the books, and I typically prefer to avoid most tourist-heavy sites in places I visit. Still, I felt Hobbiton was a necessary stop during a recent trip to the north island of New Zealand. And I'm so glad I did it! Two hours south of Auckland, or one hour north of Rotorua, Hobbiton is set in some of the most spectacular rolling countryside imaginable. It is in this place, this calming, relaxed, and exceptionally verdant setting, that Peter Jackson's location team discovered its Hobbiton. The experience begins at The Shire's Rest, a restaurant, gift shop, and check-in center for your tour. We arrived early and had lunch in the restaurant. It was fine. I had fish and chips, served with a nicely-balanced tartar sauce. They have a full range of coffee offerings and soft drinks, and also a few alcoholic choices if interested. I enjoyed a nice hazy IPA from a nearby brewery. All canned, though; no taps. There is a lot of indoor and outdoor seating, though on the beautiful spring day we visited the outside tables were all understandably taken. There's also a good amount of green space for energetic children to run around before and/or after the tour. Bathroom stop is also a good idea before the tour, as the next bathroom access is at The Green Dragon Pub at the end of the tour. A wander through the gift shop, which I found unremarkable (though I'd remind you again, I'm not a fan of the series), and then we queued up for the tour. From the moment you set off on the big green Hobbiton bus, the experience in engrossing. Beginning with a short film on the bus explaining how Hobbiton became Hobbiton, set to the amazing soundtrack from the film. It's a perfect start to the journey. 10 minutes later, you arrive. The bulk of the tour is a one-hour relaxed stroll through the 44 hobbit house exteriors, (almost) exactly as they appear in the films. The tour guide explains key moments from both film series, pointing out both locations and providing some interesting behind-the-scenes facts about actors and locations. It's interesting! There are also many opportunities for photos, and the tour guide is more than happy to take group photos. The tour ends with a stop in the Green Dragon Pub. A spectacular building masterfully reproducing the feel of a thatch-roofed pub in England. I know, I lived in a former 16th-century pub in England for a few years. It made me a bit homesick for those days, so a very convincing mock-up. The pub serves beers that are only served there, I tried them all -- the stout was the winner for me. If you're a fan or not a fan, come here. It is a wonderful place to spend a few hours. read more
It's fine enough, but it's a long tour. I wish we'd drove instead of taking a tour from Auckland. The farm is beautiful, but I'd prefer a shorter option than the 2 hr+ one. Our guide, Kiernan, was great, but other guides were certainly gruff and snappy. If I did it again (which I can't imagine doing), I'd make sure to ask for Kiernan. I wouldn't want one of those other guides. read more
2 years ago
The weather is like usual weather make sure to wear closed toes shoes and rain wear. Food is great. read more
The place is absolutely magical if you're a hobbit nerd, or lotr nerd, or just love things magical - I recommend coming to Hobbiton on your next visit to NZ! It was SO worth our time and money to come on this tour. You first arrive at the main center where you are then transported via a bus to the set of hobbiton. Then your personal tour guide walks you through all of hobbitsville and gives you small pockets of knowledge on the movies and how certain scenes were filmed. One of our fave things to do was that you actually get to GO INSIDE one of the hobbit holes! Take pictures in a tiny soaking tub, or at the hobbit dining table! The little trinkets were endless. At the end, you get your choice of a beverage - beers, ciders, and some nonalcoholic options. It's a definite must see!!! I wish I could have just moved here the staff is so friendly and helpful - ask them any question you may have! read more
Look, If you're a Lord of the rings fan then this is your freaking Mecca. from the second you get off the tour bus there's a nice coffee shop that you can go in and order stuff that are Hobbit themed along with the cool little store. after about a 15-minute ride on the bus with the sweet little video showing Peter Jackson you end up in the main entrance of the Shire. Not only is the ride there beautiful filled with sheep and green grasses on these nice little hills but the music on the bus is from The Hobbit music of Lord of the rings which makes you feel more excited to get there. The set itself is very well maintained and they have Wi-Fi since it's kind of in the middle of nowhere and signal isnt available. At the end of the tour you end up at the Green dragon inn for a quick lunch and a beer or cider. there's also a store there that you could buy your last minute gifts before leaving back on the tour bus. overall I teared up probably a dozen times because I was so excited to be there in Auckland while also being in one of the coolest places in the world that I had always wanted to go to. In the perfect world I would go back here someday, but we'll see. read more
7 years ago
To truly enjoy New Zealand you must rent a car and hit the road. While making the itinerary for our New Zealand vacation, Hobbiton movie set was actually on top of my list. As soon as we arrived and had our vouchers exchanged to entrance tickets, we sensed we were up for a treat. Our tour package came with a lunch buffet which I personally recommend for ultimate experience and note (they don't skimp on dishes) One can only get to the movie set via their own coaches that leave "The Shire's Rest" every 10 minutes. Our tour started with a banquet buffet lunch at the Hobbiton Marquee. The dining system is so organized that we were started eating in less than 5 minutes, there are wide varieties of dishes for many different visitors to enjoy. After our sumptuous lunch we were then lead by our tour guide to the Shire. It was a dream come true for me since I was a big fan of The Lord Of The Rings movie and it was so amazing how man can make a fake town that is yet so believable; everything I saw was relatable. It's a must visit for fanatics but I was told that 60 percent of the visitors have not even seen the The Lord Of The Rings! read more
VISIT: end of February 2020 COMPANY: Auckland Scenic Tours COMMUNCIATION WITH COMPANY: 5 stars TOUR GUIDE/DRIVER: 5 stars WORTHY OF VISITING: more than 5 stars Hobbiton is heavily advertised and when I kept seeing it come up during my research, I thought, sure that looks pretty sweet. But, I was not prepared for how absolutely impressive this would be! From the pain-staking detail of each home, nook and cranny and the world-renowned gardens, this was another unforgettable tour that we did in New Zealand that I highly recommend people see. Words just can never do this place justice, please see my photos of this incredible place! LORD OF THE RINGS: a high percentage of people that visit here are actually not even lord of the rings fans or never saw the movies and it still has that much awe and beauty FOOD/SNACKS: our tour included a drink and there is a coffee shop and gift shop at the beginning of the tour PHOTOS: be prepared to take photos the entire time and be ready for video and photos as you have to keep moving with your group read more
7 years ago
THIS was the reason why my wife and I choose New Zealand for our honeymoon. It was surreal walking through "The Shire". Honestly, I know it is just a movie set but it was so beautiful and serene that I felt like I could have lived here. Make sure to book the evening banquet tour. I tried booking it one year in advance but it was sold out since we were going between Christmas and New Years. I called Hobbiton 30+ times but they said that they were potentially saving those spots for tour groups. I finally got hold of a manager and she asked, "Is this James? I think you have spoken to every single person who works here. We just booked you and your wife a spot." Sometimes persistence pays off. Thank you so much for making it happen! The evening banquet tour is definitely the way to go because there are less people and you get to walk through "The Shire" twice! Once during sunset and then once again at night with a lantern. You also get to eat at the Green Dragon (pub from the movie). Sometimes at these touristy things the food isn't that good but this was the best dinner that we add on the entire trip! Chicken, steak, mashed po-ta-toes... you name it...everything was delicious! Plus they have costumes to dress up in and you can even step behind the bar to do some dancing with the ale. At the end of the night you get to stand in the grass lawn where Biblo had his birthday party...we closed our eyes and pictured our favorite spot/moment during the tour. The full moon was out, it was so peaceful and quiet...I will always remember that. If you can't make it to the Evening Banquet tour, then go for the 1st tour of the day because there are less people and you will feel like you have The Shire to yourself. The rest of the tours during the day are more crowded. I would love to come back for International Hobbit Day...they said there might be a special surprise. Thank you for making our honeymoon! This is an unforgettable experience that I still dream about now that I am back at home. It is great for anyone, even people who haven't watched the movies would enjoy it. read more
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