Even though I've never watched 'The Hobbit', yet I still LOVED this place! It's a very strange, dreamy like place...I literally felt like I was in a Tim Burton animation! The architecture, landscape, everything about this place is absolutely stunning. Highly recommended! read more

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HOLY MOLY. The Hobbiton Movie Set tour surpassed any and all expectations that I had for this place. I was expecting MAYBE a hobbit hole set or two. Or a lot of tour-guide comments like, "...and this is the hill where Samwise Gamgee's house used to be." I could not have been more wrong. I got off of the tour bus and stepped INTO HOBBITON. The gardens have real vegetables growing. Every hobbit hole looks like people actually live there. And there's even an exact replica of The Green Dragon - beers and all! If you're a fan of LOTR and/or The Hobbit, you NEED to come here. Hell, even if you're not a fan you should check it out. Definitely a must-see if you're visiting New Zealand. read more

Hobbiton - Bag End - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

Hobbiton was everything we expected. A bit of a tourist trap, but with the popularity of the movies, what can you expect. You can get here several ways: get on a tour from Auckland, or catch a bus from Matamata. Hubby and I, however, were in a rental/hire car, so we simply entered 501 Buckland Road into our GPS and got there on our own. Hobbiton looks exactly like what you see in the films. Our tour guide, who happened to be named Sam (really!), was friendly and informative, and made sure we had maximum photo opportunities. It was incredible how much care and detail was put into building and maintaining Hobbiton. There were over 40 hobbit holes, including, of course, Bag End and the house where Samwise Gamgee and Rosie lived. They even still grow fresh vegetables and flowers on the set to help maintain the original Hobbiton feel. Finishing the tour with the party tree/field, Sam led us around to the rebuilt Green Dragon, where we were offered a choice of several beverages, including ale and cider. Alas, it did not come in pints... read more

One of the most beautiful sights I ever seen....................... no doubt! if there is one place that I will bother reviewing on the .com not the .nz site is Hobbiton. It was just wonderful. The tour guides were funny and friendly. The set looks exactly as you would imagine it to be. The tour groups are small enough to take your time taking pictures without anyone photo bombing or holding up the tour. The way the set it up and did the tour was just simply amazing! I went on the evening tour which was about $75 more per person but it comes with a full blown meal and alcohol. Best thing I ever experienced. The grass is actually greener on the other side.. read more

I went with some friends recently. You would think that a former movie set might not warrant a two hour visit, but the guides are so friendly and filled with stories and anecdotes that the time really does fly. There was a friend with me that had never read the books or seen the movies and she still really enjoyed it, so it tells you a bit about how wonderful the experience can be. read more

One of those once in a lifetime spots... a must visit attraction if you're in New Zealand and a fan of the Lord of the Rings or Hobbit movies! Make sure to check the weather forecast before you buy your ticket, pictures and the overall tour experience is 100% better if it's bright and sunny. Show up about 30 mins before your tour and walk to the main building, you'll see several lines with tour times to board a bus. Once you're on the bus, it's a short 5 minute scenic drive through a sheep farm to the movie set. Once you're at the start of the tour it's like you're transported to 'The Shire' itself. Our tour guide was fantastic and it was awesome to experience the movie in person. The tour is about an hour, walking from hobbit hole to hobbit hole. The last "main" hole you'll go to is the Baggin's hole (must stop for pics) and then it's off to the Green Dragon for a free drink! They also sell other small tasty items. Overall, an excellent experience and a must stop spot! read more

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This is amazing as billed. Plenty of folk have talked about it, and there are numerous pictures out there, so I don't have much to add on that score. This is not just a fun, creative, detailed (surprisingly so!), and memory-inducing (for those who've loved Tolkein's stories for years) spot to visit, but it's a beautiful setting as well, with rolling green hills stretching away on all sides, the small lake, and a creek or two. Warm, friendly, patient, knowledgeable staff members give the ins and outs of the history of the Hobbiton movie set, which is fascinating. Short videos on the shuttle buses bookend the tour. Having a drink at the Green Dragon Pub was the highlight for me though. For some reason, that's been high on my list for years, so being able to experience it -- having just walked through the Shire and with a view of the Shire through the windows -- was incredible. read more

Hobbiton is magical. When I visited back in August 2017, I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did because it was raining that day. After purchasing a ticket, we were put into a bus and given a history about its location, use and upkeep. The bus drove through a hilly landscape until finally we arrived at the Hobbiton set. Needless to say, it's a beautifully crafted location that they upkeep regularly for visitors. The pathways weave in and out of the green landscape with cute Hobbit doors. Looks just like what they had in the movies! Even while it was raining, it was cool to see it in person and boy was it worth every penny. I also got a nice little workout that day since we were hiking all around the landscape. When the tour ended at that Green Dragon Inn (awesome little place with a tasty meat pie!), the clouds in the sky parted and the sun shone brilliantly over the lake and Hobbiton landscape. Seriously. Things SPARKLED. It was almost a little ridiculous how fantasy-esque it all ended. Amazing end to the tour! This is probably one of my most memorable visits in New Zealand. I'd love to go again for their dinner tour next time I'm there! read more

Visiting Hobbitown had been one of my bucket list for a long time since i am a huge fan of both of LOTR and The Hobbit. And yeah, this place was just as i dreamed !! Such a breath-taking view !!!! Even it wasnt a perfect weather , who cares!! you are in Hobbitown!! There should be several ways to get here, i singed up for the tour from Auckland greatsights, so caught a bus from Auckland - Matamata - Hobbitown. I believe joining the tour is the only way to see around Hobbitown, if you don't like being in a group, don't worry. The tour guides are quite informative and helpful. Also they respect our picture time haha I didn't feel to be rushed even though a tour usually tend to be on a tight schedule. In the end of tour, you will stop by the Green Dragon, allow to have one drink for free. I took a ginger beer which was so delicious !! They serve some food as well. Overall, no need to mention but do not miss this place if you are in NZ. This would be a highlight of your NZ trip !! read more

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Amazing set and well worth the trip even if you're not a huge LOTR fan. It is actually a living set with gardens and paths that are carefully manicured and maintained. Lots of opportunities for photos and will make all your friends back home jealous. There's not much else to do in Matamata but you can visit on your way to Rotorua and Taupo. It is roughly a 2-hour drive from Auckland. I would recommend booking tickets in advance as I saw some people being turned away at the ticket office cause tours were sold out. It is $79 which seems pricey but when else are you going to get the chance to experience this? Also, comes with a beer at the end. read more

We greatly enjoyed our tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set! Directions were clear to meet our tour bus and our guide and drivers were great! They were very energetic and knowledgeable. Absolutely loved the experience! read more

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This is a must do! I was expecting something much more touristy and cheesy but the place is simply breath-taking and magical. The set is immerse in a farm with beautiful green hills, amazing trees and sheeps and cows all around. The movie set is in perfect conditions and "real" for the most part (all veggies and plants are real!). You can take many pictures and some even inside the little hobbit houses. It's a little on the expensive side ($79 adult) and the tour lasts 2hr, but you will hear amazing stories about the movie and do get a free beer at the end in the green dragon pub. The bus driver and the guide were both super funny! You will first take a 10 mins bus ride from the start of the tour to the movie set and the you walk around for about 1.5 hrs and theb bus ride back. I would strongly recommend going! read more

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This place is an art piece of a "growing" movie set than just an attraction. Even though I wasn't a Lord of the Ring fans, I enjoyed every minute in this beautiful set. We drove our campervan to the parking lot of the admissions and cafe, then we went in to purchase our tickets. We didn't pre-purchase it ahead of time in October, which isn't really the high season for traveling yet. We were able to get on the next tour, however, since my mom got her ankle injured the day before at a different attraction, we have requested an golf cart for her. And that push us out 2 hour for our tour. It was perfectly fine for us, since we haven't had lunch yet. And the golf cart seat 4 people including the tour staff. It was like a private tour all to ourselves. It was such a treat. Bee was our golf cart tour guide after we took the big tour big to finally enter the land of the movie set, though the lush green landscape after landscape of breathtaking greens and sheeps and cows. She start explaining about how the movie was not built but grow in. Almost everything on the set was alive. All the flowers and plants and tree were hand grown to the desirable size and transported into the set. The hobbit holes are organically placed accoring to the landscape and were built with each personality to the character lived in. She also explained to us how they have actually built 2 size of the hobbit hole - 65% and a 95 % to human size ( not exactly remember if my numbers are right), to give the contrast of the height of the hobbits and the wizard in the film. Not only that I learnt so much more about the movie film making decisions, but also the pre planning of the set and crafting itself was just so intricate. It's much more than just a movie set. With the golf cart, we get to go off some off tour path because of the cart size. It gives us some extra space and time to see the place without the crowd. This place could get very packed and gets difficult to get a good picture of it and it takes you out of the moment from soaking in this magical place. This is probably the only downside of this place. It could get crowded and there is a time limit, they move you fairly quickly around through the whole village, so that you don't interfere the next tour. There is only one hobbit home that you can get inside, even though all of the doors can be opened. And it is your only changed for a photo opt if you wish to get inside. Then we end the tour passing the 110 years old party tree to the lakeside where the opening scene was shot. And finally proceed to the green dragon inn for a drink of your choice. During our visit, the options are English ale, Amber ale and apple cider for alcoholic drinks. And ginger ale for non-alcoholic. I definetly enjoyed the non alcoholic drink since I am not a big beer fan. Even between the apple cider, the ginger ale taste a lot nicer in my opinion. After our drink and about 15 to 20 minute break, we are back to their tour bus and heading back to the reception area. It truly is amazing tour. The only thing I wished I could get is to have more time to spend in the scenery . But then I might never want to ever leave. Tips: reserve a golf cart ahead of time if you have disable in your party. And dress up, if you like!! It would make a great picture, especially when the attraction allows it. read more

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Not a huge LOTR fan here but still immensely enjoyed my time at Hobbiton. Our NZ itinerary was pretty jam packed and this was almost left off our trip. But we were in the area and it was on our way back to Auckland, so when in Rome, right? We had a fabulous tour guide that kept us engaged in this walking tour and the scenery was breathtaking. I also loved the complimentary drink at the end of the tour at the Green Dragon Inn. A must do in New Zealand because once you return back home, every single person will ask - did you go to Hobbiton?!?! read more

As much as it costs to visit this little slice of New Zealand farmland, and as little tangible, measurable value as there is to doing so, I can't help but feel that it was the best two hours of vacation I've had, on my Southern Hemisphere tour or possibly ever. I was mildly surprised to learn that they'd essentially destroyed the set after the Lord of the Rings movies, and only permanently rebuilt it as part of the Hobbit movies (meaning at least something good came out of the latter trilogy). You can see why. Its presence is a testament to the brilliance of the people who realized that movies don't have to be shot in L.A., and that this obscure provincial country could serve as the living embodiment of the pinnacle of human literature. The tour runs two hours. A brief bus ride takes you through the surrounding sheep farm, and you'll walk into a dream. Hobbit holes of varying scales are all around, and various production details and scenes from the movie will be narrated by your tour guide. Only the exterior is present; there are no actual houses behind the doors, but it's still easy to imagine them there. You might also see some actual work going on, from dredging the pond to repairing the giant fake tree over Bag End, which didn't detract from the experience much in my eyes. The tour is mostly walking up and down hills. Check weather forecasts, and be prepared for a hike. You do pass Bag End itself, and the town looks like its set up for a party, which is of course the only way to have it. Towards the end, there's a brief (~20 min) stop at the Green Dragon Inn, which has been recreated in detail, and you'll get a drink (included) and the option to buy some pastries and such. The landscape looks exactly as you'd hope it would, and even though there was some rain during my trip, the sun peeking through lent a spectacular aesthetic once the rain passed. I suspect it would be difficult for anyone on the younger side who had not read the books before there was any serious talk of a live action film to understand what it's like to see something that once existed only in our collective imagination but is now real. The place by all appearances is being run well. The town is being kept in good shape, the tour guides seem to genuinely want to be there and know what they're doing, the parking area at the entrance has free wifi, along with a restaurant and souvenir shop. That being said, the set isn't really set apart from the landscape around it. The whole surrounding farmland looks preternaturally green, and plants grow large and fast; purportedly the island's volcanic history has left fertile soil and a dynamic landscape. I imagine all the neighboring farmers are mad that their land wasn't chosen to become a cash cow of a tourist attraction. The one thing I was really missing was the music. I imagine licensing the original movie score for this would have been complex, but whatever the issue, the trademark themes from the movie are absent from the tour. I suggest getting a rental car with a good sound system and cranking the harpsichord up to maximum volume as you drive up. read more

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Great place to go for fans and non-fans of the movies. Had lovely guides that made sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying their time there. Enjoyed my time there and loved the drinks at The Green dragon. Definitely a must, but make sure to have reservations, as it is super popular. Was a bit disappointed with the gift shop but oh well. They can not have it all. read more

Came here after my tour of Hobbiton. I tasted the Ginger Beer ( non alcholic) and the Hard Apple Cider. I have to say, the Ginger Beer was FANTASTIC and nothing I've had or ever will have can compare. I expected it taste a bit like ginger ale, but the Ginger beer taste was a bit stronger as if they had just put whole bunches of ginger in it. That may sound unappealing to some, but I certainly enjoyed it and the other guests around me seemed to have liked it as well. My only issue is that because my tour was kind of rushed we didn't have alot of time to spend at the Green Dragon. I saw that you could order food and sit down at their tables and relive your favorite hobbit moments. I also like that the Green Dragon is still well maintained and has not fallen to that normal tourist wear and tear. I definitely want to come back when in New Zealand again. read more

Hobbiton - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

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We drove to the Shire's Rest from Auckland and it was easy to get to with clear signs. There is a lot of construction on the highway so allocate extra time to get there then what Google maps says. We didn't book tickets in advance but was able to easily buy 2 tickets for the next tour. If you come here between October to March then definitely buy tickets online in advance and book a time slot. Tickets were $79 each for adults which is expensive but worth it when you see how well maintained, organized and detailed the tour is. Hot tip: buy some hobbit ears at the gift shop and wear them on the tour for some cute photo opportunities in front of the hobbit holes. I don't even like Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit and I thought this tour was amazing! It is so pretty with the rolling green hills with sheep grazing and all the hobbit holes. You get a free drink at the Green Dragon as part of the tour. You get a choice between four drinks: non-alcoholic ginger beer, hard cider and two different beers. We had the ginger beer and hard cider and it tasted really good! The drinks are only available to buy here so if you want to take an expensive souvenir that you can drink then buy some after your tour in the gift shop. Candace, our tour guide, was funny and informative and made our tour really fun. If you are ever in Auckland or Rotorua, then definitely make the trek and do this tour. read more

This place is amazing. You feel like you're in another world. It's definitely a must visit read more

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Definitely worth the ~2 hour scenic drive through the green New Zealand countryside from Auckland for any fan of Lord of the Rings. This is the actual outdoor movie set for the Hobbit village from the movie series complete with many Hobbit Hole dwellings. You can enter the doorways of some of them but others are not open. They have guided tours at least hourly all day long and there is a cafe at the visitor's center as well as the Green Dragon Inn pub and restaurant in Hobbiton. Its a walking tour through the village and is a mile to walk including some small hills. read more

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We really enjoyed our time on Hobbiton!!! At first, it sounded a bit too touristy, but it's well worth it. We opted for the simple tour package ($70/person) which was quite pricey already, but they have other packages that include dinner feast. The set is amazing, they carved out 40+ hobbiton caves replete with gardens, playgrounds, paths ... it truly is a real Hobbiton come to life and incredibly immersive. I could totally imagine living there in that quaint little village... At the end of the tour - you get to visit the Green Dragon Inn where you are treated to "free" beer - get the stout!!! It's dark, deep, delicious and MOST OF ALL YOU CANNOT GET IT ANYWHERE ELSE!!! Not even at its store... you can also order scones and meatpies at the inn and sit back at the fireplace, put on some hobbit clothes and go for a short walk with their walking sticks. :) Highly recommended!! If anyone wants to go to Mordor after... it's 3 hour drive + 6 hr hike (FYI). :) read more

MahB and I are huge LOTR fans. We've read the books and own the extended version DVDs! We always knew we would visit Hobbiton one day and when the opportunity to travel to NZ finally came, we were excited beyond measure. We purchased our tour tickets from Viator. We were staying at the nearby town of Rotorua (1.5 hr drive or so), and reserved a 10:30 AM slot. The tour departs every 15 minutes, and even though that sounds like a lot of chances to see it any given day, the tours fill up fast, so booking ahead of time is a must. The check-in place is at the Shire's Rest. Just thinking of that name makes me smile. It immediately conjures images of the Shire in my mind. It's in the middle of several farmlands, the most famous one of course is the Alexander's farm, where Hobbiton is located. It's not on the main drag of the highway, so most if not all the traffic you see are people who are visiting the Shire. Otherwise, you have no business being there. I felt like I was among friends. There were plenty of parking. Check-in was a breeze and there's plenty of areas to hang out while waiting for our tour to depart. I thought everything was super organized and they shuffle the people along very efficiently. Hobbiton is actually a short ride from the Rest. The bus driver gives a little bit of introduction about the area, and plays a short video of Mr. Alexander and Peter Jackson himself, welcoming the guests to the set. The bus ride, though short is already very scenic. I do believe all of NZ is very scenic, but that's just me. I just kept thinking, 'I can't believe it's going to get any better than this'. But it does! Once we arrived at Hobbiton, we were met by our guide ~ who looked uncannily like one of the characters in LOTR. Or maybe it's just my eyes playing tricks on me. I'm on LOTR high at this point. She gave us a brief introduction as well as a rundown on what to expect once we're inside the premises. Basically, the idea is we will be guided through the property. In other words, no wandering off on our own. Sure, we have time to explore a few minutes here and there, but we basically had to stick together as a group. This way, they keep the visitors moving and there's no oversaturation of people in the site. I thought that was clever. Soon, we were inside. I swear I shed a little tear. Aside from what this place means to me as an LOTR fan, it is, by its own merit is breathtakingly beautiful! The hobbit holes are built under smooth rolling hills, everything is so green and clean and peaceful and simply magical. It was like a dream. We had ample time for pictures and exploring the 'open' hobbit holes. We hung out by the party tree. Saw Sam and Rosie's garden, and of course, stopped by Bag's End. It was a clear and sunny day and the weather couldn't be more perfect. As we went through the route inside, the guide shared tidbits about the scenes shot there, about the cast, about Peter Jackson, the locals, the owners, the general area. I find it it very fascinating. The final stop was the Dragon's Inn, where we had complimentary ale and/or beer. Snacks were also available. MahB and I had shared a scone and it was delicious. I believe we also grabbed a cookie. We are in Hobbiton after all, therefore we had to eat like the hobbits do! Soon it was time to go back to the Rest. There's a cafe there for more hearty meal options. We skipped this part because we were already full from our snack at the Shire. We checked out the Gift Shop and got ourselves a couple of souvenir items, as one must. All in all, we had an awesome time. I highly recommend to all the LOTR fans out there, if ever you're in NZ. If you're not an LOTR fan, perhaps you will appreciate the place just by its own beauty, but it probably wouldn't create the same excitement as it does for us fans. We really LOVED our visit to Hobbiton. We roamed around NZ for 12 days, but when we're asked which one's our favorite part ~ this visit to the Shire is most definitely it. Hands down, no question. read more

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We had so much fun! Our Tour Guide Calem was Awesome, he did a great job and was very entertaining!!

My family has watched all the Lord of the Rings movies over and over again. The kids were so excited when we booked our New Zealand trip over Christmas and we were going to tour the actual sets of the Hobbit movies. The most amazing part was the scenery from the movies were actually New Zealand with no CGI. We saw loads of SHEEP and just beautiful picturesque landscaping throughout our wonderful vacation. The Hobbiton set was amazing. We walked so much but it was so much fun hearing all the stories and listening to the wonderful New Zealand accent of the tour guides the kids didn't complain once about the hiking or the heat. We pretty much took a picture in front of every single Hobbit house and even got to enter two of them. One for just a quick photo op, the one in all the Hobbiton photos everyone else who visited has of the inside looking out the round Hobbit hole. And another one where it was a full restaurant or pub. We were able to eat delicious meat pies and drink ginger beer in cute metal mugs. It was crazy that every where we looked it was straight out of a scene from Lord of the Rings. I would highly recommend anyone who loves the movies and have the opportunity to visit New Zealand please do. The people are so nice and it's just breath taking how beautiful the whole country is. This has been our most memorable vacation. read more

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Whether you have read the books or not, seen the movies or not, this is a place not to be missed. I can't say it any other way but it was like walking into the most peaceful place on the planet. Everything was beautiful, green, and well maintained. Everyone working was smiling like it didn't even seem like work to them, even the gardening crew. The whole place is surrounded by a farm of rolling green hills, winding streams, and lambs frolicking. So picturesque I wanted to take a million pictures just so I could take some piece of it with me. This is a little piece of heaven on earth and totally worth the visit. read more

Being a kiwi Hobbiton hadn't been one of my to do's until friends from overseas visited and I am so glad we went. The amount of detail is incredible and so worth every penny. It also makes the shite scenes in the movies that much cooler to be able to say you've been there. Great tour, not rushed and you really feel like you are stepping in to another world. read more

Hobbiton - The shire map - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

Even if you're a newbie to the LotR series you'd feel like you stepped into Middle Earth. It was much larger than I expected - about 40 Hobbit houses and the Green dragon inn. The scenery is beautiful of course and it's amazing seeing the little details that went into the set. read more

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We did the evening banquet tour. I'm not sure how the other tours are, but it doesn't matter, DO THIS ONE! It was so beautiful to see Hobbiton as the sun set and the sky lit up. We then. Are our way to the Green Dragon Tavern where we ate like royalty. Our guide Glyn was absolutely fabulous! If you have any say in who your guide is pick him! He really made the trip worth it. Thank you Glyn!! read more

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From Auckland to the movie set was around around a 3 hours drive. The country side is amazing....well worth the drive just to see it. Paid for our tickets and waited about 20 min to get on the bus that takes you to the set. The tour guide was wonderful and funny. She took us to the different sites and even took photos of your group. You will do some walking around so take very comfy shoes. Depending on the time of season you visit, wear layers. Walking around in this vast area was out of this world and did i mention peaceful, butterflies were everywhere. Very knowledgeable staff and at the last stop you get to choose a cider or an Ale and i believe there was an option for nonalcoholic drink. If your fan of the Trilogy or seeing amazing views of New Zealand Go for it. read more

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Enjoyed some hard apple cider after our hobbiton tour! Great ambience and friendly staff! read more

Hobbiton - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

WOW! Absolutely, breath taking!! I have been a Lord of the Ring fan since I was a kid with the books. The hobbit holes were amazing in detail, flowers and I literally could have spend days here taking it all in. If I were to do it again, I would definitely stay closer, maybe do lunch or dinner at the Green Dragon. Our tour guide was entertaining, not to mention easy on the eyes, which didn't hurt. If it's possible to get a smaller tour group, that might be better, but overall, it was amazing and I would recommend it to a friend!! If I return to New Zealand, I will definitely make another stop by Hobbiton. The tour I took, there was only a little gift shop at the end of the Hobbiton movie set; however, I think there is another area where we picked up the tour guide that has more food and a bigger gift shop. If you have a car, I'd suggest going there to start your tour if possible. Definitely a must see must do if you're in New Zealand! read more

Finally, after all these years, we finally got to experience Hobbiton. It is everything you ever hoped for and dreamed of. Seeing the Shire come to life is such a special experience, and highly highly recommended for all LOTR fans. The set is so well maintained, and they actually spruced it up for the tour attraction. You'll learn a lot about the filming process, how they found the this location, and so much more. Our guide was friendly, quirky, and helped the tour flow along wonderfully. Great job! We went on the last tour of the day. It was nice because we got to see the transition from daylight to sunset. For the photographers out there, magic hour was so dreamy here. I loved photographing the lush green pastures with fluffy sheep. LOVE! Driving from Rotorua will take about an hour; coming from Auckland will take about 2 hours. NZ$79 per adult. A few tips to make your experience as enjoyable as possible: - Make reservations. Tours get booked up pretty fast. On the bright side, they offer plenty of tours a day. - Arrive early! The tour takes place on a private farm, so if you get there late or if your bus has departed, chances are you will not be able to catch up. - Wear comfortable shoes. There's lots of walking through the Shire and you end the tour with a drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic available) at the Green Dragon Inn - Charge your battery and maybe even have extra batteries on hand. You will definitely take tons of pictures! read more

It's not everyday that you see nature's beauty in the movies and it's really how it looks in person in the movie AND in real life!! (Except the hobbit holes are bare or facades. But you know what I mean.) SOOOO SURREAL!! It's real but it's not real-mind blown. I admit I am not a die- hard LOTR's fan but I do appreciate the movies. I can honestly say I have never got goose bumps and have been filled with so much excitement and anticipation, but now I can. I'm not sure what overcame me but I felt like a little kid again and I was so hyped to be at Hobbiton!! Sounds stupid and crazy but I nearly had tears in my eyes. No idea what came over me and I'm not even a LOTR's fanatic!! For all the non believers or non fans alike, even YOU will enjoy this tour. It is located on Alexanders' beef and sheep farm and honestly it sounds like the owner was pretty laid back and chill to have random people check out his farm after the first filming was done. I won't ruin the story for you.. I actually did this tour through a tour company called Great Sights so our tickets were already acquired and our tour bus was able to drive through. The tour isn't very long -an hour to two. It goes fast! Many photo opportunities so go nuts!! Hobbiton is in good shape and the land is in good condition. They take great care of maintaining the grounds. Rain was threatening but they offer use of their green golf umbrellas free of charge. The tour includes an alcoholic or non- alcoholic beverage at the Green Dragon Inn. The tour I did through GReat SIghts included a buffet lunch which was delicious!! Highly recommend this tour!! You won't be disappointed!!( I did the tour February 8,2017) read more

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"You can drink your fancy ales, you can drink them by the flagon, but the only brew for the brave and trueeeeeeeee, comes from the GREEN DRAGON!" What can I say, its awesome. I wish they had this when I got married cause we totally would have had a Hobbity wedding in the shire. Cute and gorgeous spot in one of the most famous locales in Middle Earth, tried a cider that was as tasty as legends say and sat and enjoyed it by the roaring fire! read more

Super Cute! You don't have to be a fan of the LOTR movies to enjoy a tour of Hobbiton. Our guide was friendly and very knowledgable. There are about 40 or so hobbit holes scattered around a real garden and at the top is the ever famous Bag End. So much attention to detail was paid in the creation of Hobbiton that you'll really appreciate the environment you're walking through. The tour ended after we took a break at the Green Dragon where you have the option of purchasing food and drinks. It's a must for LOTR fans. read more

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This place was awesome! We booked a tour that took us here and to the glow worm caves. Our tour included lunch buffet and a beer at the Green Dragon. I haven't seen the movies but I still had a great time. The area is so beautiful and they do their very best on keeping the set just how it looked like in the movie. You will see ground keepers wandering around adding fresh flowers or cleaning parts of the set. There was a chance of rain while we were on tour and they provided us with umbrellas which was nice. If you are staying in Auckland I suggest finding a tour that will take you here and to other nearby attractions as it is 2.5hr away from CBD. read more

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Well it might seems obvious but go only if you really like the movies and are a fan of it. Yes it is in a nice surrounding, but seing hobbit holes one after the other if you don't care about the movie, will just be dreadful. On top 75 nzd for this wow, that's really expensive and so even, if at the end you have a free drink. You re a big fan go, but if you hesitate you will probably regret it. Way better things to do for that price read more

Hobbiton - Tours Near Me - Matamata, WKO

When I realize it was a good two(2) hours drive from my hotel (Scotia Place), I thought it would be a better idea to get a tour guide. Especially when I have no GPS to take me there. It might've taken me longer than two(2) hours. LOCATION: Located in the middle of fields and fields of farming area. If you didn't know exactly where it is located, you won't be able to located it. It is literally located around a hill. Which made it so much better in my opinion. Surrounding Hobbiton was hills and hills of green grass and beautiful trees. I wouldn't mind driving at all as the route was very scenic. Upon your arrival, you walk up to the registration/receptionist building. There, you check-in or purchase tickets to the tour. Tours runs at a certain time so if you missed the 12P show, you will have to wait for the 1P bus. Makes sense. Since it is such a small area with restricted guidelines, it is best to have certain number of people that can be toured through Hobbiton. You must take the tour bus to get to Hobbiton, but you can drive to Matamata and park your car there if you choose to drive out there. TOUR: Once on the bus, you are greeted what seems to be a very charismatic bus driver. He provided a humorous commentary which made the short bus ride too short (i wouldn't mind staying on the bus a little longer to hear him talk; it was quite entertaining). Once we get to the gate, our tour began with our guide. We walked and provided some behind the scenes information through a section at a time and was given opportunity to take photographs of hobbit doors. That seems to take 25-30 minutes. After that, we were guided to the Green Dragon in which we received complimentary 3 selected ales and one non-alcoholic. Muffins and another pastries were provided at our own expense. I had the dark stout which was surprisingly delicious. We were given about 10-15 minutes to finish. I ended up chugging down half of my pint glass. Once we finished this area, it was time to take our last walk through the Hobbiton garden and out the gates. VERDICT: I loved it. The landscape was beautiful, the commentary was great, the guide was wonderful and cute, and experience over all was just perfect. I couldn't possibly imagine it to be any better. You should go! read more

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I was a bit worried. Me being a big LOTR fan and my wife and friends we were staying with .... not so much. I was worried I was dragging them out in the middle of nowhere for something they hated, or something that ended up not being that great. Well, those worries were for nothing, this place was amazing, even to the ones that were not as big as fans as I am. After purchasing your tickets at the main hub, you hop on a guided bus tour that takes you through rolling hills of sheep covered farm land as far as the eye can see. After about a 15 minute ride full of info, you park and get out. You walk down a familiar path and when the clearing opens up... there you are... in Middle Earth. Like I said, fan of the films or not, Hobbiton/The Shire is stunning. Lush green rolling hills that give you access to walk right up the the Hobbit Holes (their little houses) . Plenty of photo ops as your guide fills your head with every detail and answers to all your questions. One section I really liked is where they show you the different homes built for size perception. For instance, the same house front built twice. One for when a standard size human is standing in front of it to make it seem smaller, then the same house front built larger for when a Hobbit is standing in front of it to make it look larger. At the end of the tour your encouraged to get a free non alcoholic drink or beer at the famous Green Dragon pub that is also featured in the movies. Overall, its such a great day trip out to the amazing country side, or Middle Earth, whichever you choose to believe. read more

The food at the Shire's Rest was pretty darn good & saved me because I didn't eat at my hotel because everything was closed when I left. So I was thankful for the yummy eggs Benedict. Tickets for the tour were easy to purchase online and it's worth going to see! You do have to drive a ways to get out there but it's not too terrible. The Alexander farm is GORGEOUS! Cannot say enough good things about this experience read more

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