Holidays to New Zealand Hobbiton

Holidays to New Zealand Hobbiton are rewarding for all travelers. Consequently, Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fans traveling to New Zealand should not miss a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set.

This exquisitely built miniature village appears exactly as it did in the films. Fans often ask whether they can visit the actual sets used in filming the Lord of the Rings movies, and this is one instance where you absolutely can.

Hobbiton Hamilton Background — Hobbiton Film Set

Planning holidays to New Zealand Hobbiton

Read on for information on what to expect on your visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Can you visit the Lord of the Rings set?

Filming of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies took place all across New Zealand.

From helicopter footage used for iconic scenes such as “The Lighting of the Beacons” to a miniature city constructed for aerial filming of Minas Tirith, the film crew working on the Lord of the Rings used countless techniques to bring Middle-earth to life.

Particularly in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the film crew used very little CGI in building scenes. Fans might be surprised to learn that the mountains and forests and rivers are almost always true to life.

To add an extra layer of authenticity, several full-size sets were constructed on location. The on-set locations included:

Edoras–built on top of Mt Sunday
Hobbiton–contructed on rolling farmland near Matamata

Edoras was built on conservation land, so it was deconstructed once filming finished so as not to damage the natural environment.

However, the Hobbiton movie set is situated on private farmland.

The original hobbit village was made from temporary materials and taken down after the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy finished. However, the popularity of these films and the need to recreate Hobbiton for the Hobbit trilogy gave director Peter Jackson an idea. This time, the film crew built the movie set to last, and when filming wrapped, tourism staff welcomed visitors into this very special location.

Can I visit Hobbiton without a tour?

No. You will need to book a guided tour to see the Hobbiton Movie Set, because it sits on private farmland.

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Now, when you visit Hobbiton, you have a chance to explore the exterior of the most famous hobbit homes, including Bag End, on a guided tour. The hobbit village is extensive, wrapping around several hillsides and incorporating a pond, a bridge, and the towering “party tree.”

The Hobbiton tour also includes a hobbit-themed drink at The Green Dragon.

How much does it cost to visit Hobbiton?

Adults ages 17+: NZD$84
Children ages 9-16: NZD$42
Children ages 0-8: FREE

hobbit village — Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Tips for visiting the Hobbiton movie set

Holidays to New Zealand Hobbiton are easy to plan if you follow the right itinerary. These are a few tips to make sure your visit goes smoothly.

Be sure to book your movie set tour in advance. Though the tours depart frequently, they tend to book up well in advance, especially over peak periods such as the Christmas holidays. (Hobbiton is closed on Christmas Day.)

Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set on the way between nearby destinations (Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Hamilton, etc.). There aren’t many accommodation options near the hobbit village, and the visit only takes two hours. You can get an idea for timing by looking at some of our most popular Lord of the Rings holiday packages.

If you want to book the evening banquet tour, plan your holiday around this. The evening banquet tour is an iconic Hobbiton experience that gives you exclusive access to the movie set in the evening, when the hobbit holes and paths are lit by lanterns. The tour also includes a hobbit-sized feast in the Green Dragon. This tour only takes place on select days each week and books out far in advance.

Booking Holidays to New Zealand Hobbiton

Most of our North Island holiday packages include a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set. In other words, we can easily fit the tour into most New Zealand holiday packages.

Planning a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set is simple.

Firstly, contact our team to begin planning our custom itinerary. Secondly, let us know you want to include a visit to Hobbiton. And finally, we will work with you to design a custom itinerary that matches exactly what you are looking for.