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New Zealand is famous for its beautiful scenery and adrenaline-pumping activities. It is one of the few countries where you can swim with dolphins one day and hike snowy mountains the next. Nestled in New Zealand’s north island, Hobbiton is on the bucket list of every Lord of the Rings fan. It may be beautiful, but there are so many gorgeous places in New Zealand, which begs the question: Is Hobbiton Worth It? Read on to find out!
What is Hobbiton?
Before diving into whether Hobbiton is worth it or not, let’s discuss what it is! The Hobbiton Movie Set is one of the primary locations used in filming the Lord of the Rings and Hobbiton trilogies. It showcases the town of Hobbiton in The Shire, filled with hobbit holes, greenery, flowers, The Green Dragon Inn, and more! The set encompasses approximately 5 miles on a family-owned farm. After filming the Hobbiton franchise, the owners decided to keep the set up so visitors could enjoy a slice of the fantasy world depicted in the books and movies.
When should I go?
Though Hobbiton is always gorgeous, the best time to go is Spring or Summer when the weather is nice. I went on a sunny Spring day, which made the experience more enjoyable because the flowers were blooming, the day was warm and pleasant, and I could enjoy the scenery without wind or rain. This also allowed me to take great pictures and could enjoy a drink from The Green Tavern outside. I am not sure that Hobbiton would be worth it in bad weather since the entire tour is outdoors.
How do I get there?
The best way to get to Hobbiton is to fly into Auckland and drive or take a tour bus. The closest town is Matamata, a 15-minute drive from the set. It is also where every tour starts! If you rent a car, it is approximately a 2-hour drive to get to Matamata from Auckland without any stops. A tour bus would take the same time on the road but may have stops for food or other activities.
You can also take an intercity bus, but they do not run daily, so plan in advance if you choose this option. It may be cheaper, but I recommend booking a day tour instead to avoid the hassle.
Types of Tours
Standard Hobbiton Movie Set Tour: This is the standard 2-hour movie set tour at 120 NZD per adult. The tour’s maximum group size is 41 people and includes a 20-minute experience at The Green Dragon with a complimentary beverage.
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour + Lunch Combo: The lunch combo tour includes everything in the standard tour plus a buffet-style lunch at The Party Marquee, located next to The Green Dragon. It costs 158 NZD per adult.
Evening Banquet Tour: The evening banquet tour takes place at dusk and includes everything in the standard tour, plus a two-course banquet dinner in The Green Dragon dining room. Once the sun sets, guests will receive handheld lanterns to experience the Shire under the moonlight. This Hobbiton tour costs 230 NZD per adult and is worth it for huge fans!
Second Breakfast Tour: The second breakfast tour includes everything in the standard tour plus a breakfast selection at The Millhouse, including fruits, bread, pastries, eggs, bacon, coffee, tea, and more. This tour costs 180 NZD per adult.
Bundled Tours
For those who opt to take a Hobbiton tour bundled with another activity, here are a few options I recommend:
- Hobbiton and Waitamo Glow Worm Caves: I booked this tour and loved it! The lunch provided was lovely, and it simultaneously knocked out two of my most anticipated activities on the North Island. This tour takes up the whole day and costs approximately $230 per person, but it was worth it to see Hobbiton and the glow worm caves in one day.
- Hobbiton, Rotorua, and Wai-O-Tapu Day Tour: This tour bundles Hobbiton with Rotorua and Wai-O-Tapu, another famous attraction on the North Island. In Rotorua, you will enjoy a guided tour of the city’s historical sites, such as the lake, thermal springs, and more. The real highlight of the tour (other than Hobbiton) is Wai-O-Tapu, a geothermal park full of wonders. This tour costs $250 per person.
- Hobbiton and Hamilton Gardens: The final tour I recommend is Hobbiton with Hamilton Gardens. This tour is perfect for those who want to see more idyllic landscapes or are planning to see Wai-O-Tapu and the glow worm caves another day. It costs $160 per person.
What to expect
The Hobbiton tour is very structured and informative. Visitors walk in groups with a tour guide and cannot roam around the Shire freely. This is to preserve the set as well as possible so tourists can continue to enjoy its beauty.
The tour starts at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata, known as The Shire’s Rest. Once there, visitors can browse the gift shop, use the restroom, or grab a bite at the cafe.
The gift shop was underwhelming. I was trying to find a gift for a LOTR superfan, but I didn’t love the options. This could have been because I didn’t know what was good to get since I was never a huge fan! There were a lot of expensive memorabilia, such as figurines and maps. Still, I hoped for more postcards, magnets, puzzles, mugs, etc. They had minimal options!
When it is time for the tour, visitors line up in a marked area and get on a big bus to the movie set. I recommend sitting on the right side of the bus because it has the best farmland views! You will see hundreds of sheep roaming the pastures.
My tour had approximately 30 people on it, and we followed a tour guide as we made our way through the Shire, visiting and learning about critical spots. The first look at the hobbit holes was magical. There are over 40 in the Shire, and they are laid out beautifully, surrounded by flowers, and varying in size. There were different set-ups and props in front of each hobbit hole, and I loved the attention to detail.
We could see the inside of one hobbit hole, but the ones with more elaborate interiors were under construction for two more weeks. However, all of us got cool Green Dragon mugs as a compensation gift. Eventually, we went to Bag End: Bilbo and Frodo’s home in the movies. It is also at the highest point in the Shire, giving visitors a bird’s eye view of the entire set!
After Bag End, we made our way back down and ended up at the Green Dragon. There, we could hang out and get a complimentary drink from three beers and one non-alcoholic cider. There were also snacks to purchase, and it was the perfect time for photo ops and to explore since we stayed there for almost 30 minutes! Then, we loaded back on the bus to our starting point and concluded the tour.
What if I am not a Lord of the Rings fan?
Seeing Bag End and getting a drink at the Green Dragon might be a dream come true for Lord of the Rings fans, but what if you aren’t one? Is it still worth it?
I have a confession: I am not a Lord of the Rings fan. I haven’t even seen any of the Hobbiton movies. However, this tour was one of the highlights of my New Zealand trip. Though I may not have been able to appreciate all of the movie references or the significance of specific landmarks, Hobbiton was still enchanting, and I loved the feeling of being transported to a different world. It felt like I was in a fantasy film. As someone who appreciates beautiful landscapes and scenery, I have never seen anything like Hobbiton. If you are a fan of stunning scenery and landscapes, you will appreciate the attention to detail put into the set and enjoy the experience.
Pros and Cons
In summary, here are the pros and cons of Hobbiton:
Pros:
- The landscape is gorgeous
- Plenty of time to take pictures and enjoy food/drinks
- Once in a lifetime experience (especially if you’re visiting from the other side of the world like I was)
- Can bundle with other tourist attractions in the region
- Easily accessible by car
- Very informative and great attention to detail
Cons:
- The gift shop is underwhelming
- Large tour group sizes
- Not as fun in poor weather
- Maybe too informative for those who are not LOTR fans
- Cannot walk around on your own and must go at the tour’s pace
Final Verdict
The final verdict: Hobbiton is absolutely worth it! If you love beautiful landscapes and want to feel like you’re in another world, it is a fantastic experience. For big LOTR fans, I recommend splurging on the evening banquet tour. If you have limited time in New Zealand, book a combo tour that includes Hobbiton and one of the other major attractions in the area!
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