I had the opportunity to visit the movie set of Hobbtion from "The Lord Of The Rings" and "The Hobbit" during wonderful weather. This guide will cover how to get there, accommodations, tour details, and my personal experience.
Table of Contents
How to get to Hobbiton
The location of Hobbtion is the Alexander Farm near Hamilton. All tours depart from „The Shire’s Rest” (501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata, 3472).
If you're driving by yourself, follow the directions to Matamata. Exit at the petrol station in Karapiro, if you're coming from Hamilton, then take the Karapiro Road. Take a right onto Buckland Road and continue until you reach the parking area for the movie set. From Matamata, take State Highway 27 to Okoroire and then turn onto Puketutu Road, followed by a turn onto Buckland Road.
You can choose between plenty of shuttle services, they even depart from Auckland.
An overview of the movie set
Accomodations
The versatility of your options depends on your choice of transport. „De Barn Campersite“ and „Brock’s Place – Matamata“ are perfect for Campervans/RVs, because you only drive approximately 3 minutes to the set. I stayed at "Brock's Place - Matamata" and they only accept cash (10 NZD). You could stay in nearby towns like Hamilton, Cambridge, Matamata, Auckland, etc. since shuttle services depart from there.
Tour details through Hobbiton
Booking in advance under this site is crucial; without it, there won't be a tour. Besides the simple tour through Hobbiton, you can also choose “Second Breakfast” and “Evening Banquet”. After these tours, you can indulge in a rich breakfast or a hearty dinner in the party tent.
Inside the party tent
Every 10 minutes, a tour departs and tickets must be collected under "The Shire's Rest" café 20 minutes before the start time. Once you have the tickets, you board the bus and arrive in HobbitonTM after a 14-minute drive and a welcome video.
You will receive information about the rules and then your 1.5 hour tour will start. The amount of visitors changes depending on the date and time, but if you're patient enough, you can capture pictures without anyone else around.
After you’ve visited various “Hobbit Holes” the tour ends at the legendary „The Green Dragon Inn“. Here, you'll get one drink for free and have the option to choose between Oatbarton Brew 5%; Sackville Cider 4,5%; Gridley Fine Grain 3,7% or Frogmorton Ginger Beer 0%. Additional beverage and desserts can be purchased.
The scenery around the inn
Afterward, drive back and get ready to watch a goodbye video.
Personal experience
As mentioned in my blog "Work & Travel New Zealand" , I immersed myself in the movies and books. Therefore, I was extremely excited about my visit to Hobbiton, and it's safe to say it was the highlight of my journey thus far. I got lucky with the weather as well.
You'll learn unknown facts about the 12 ha land during the informative tours, like how it used to be a swamp. The first version was deliberately burned down for the movie scene, while the set for "The Hobbit" is now permanently rebuilt.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and snapped over 100 pictures, but you'll only see the final selection. The final destination at the inn enhances the experience with its tranquil atmosphere. You can also opt for the delicious alcohol-free ginger beer. Additionally, I was surprised by the farewell present, as it is a clay mug from "The Green Dragon Inn”. I hope it will survive the journey through New Zealand and the flight back.
Bag End
Finally, I highly recommend this tour to everyone for a unique experience, and I might even visit Hobbiton again for another tour with a meal afterwards.
As always, you can view more pictures in the Gallery .
