Tours and Tickets to Experience Hobbiton Movie Set

Standard walking tours of the Hobbiton Movie Set take just over two hours, including transportation time. While most of the tour involves walking, you will have a chance to siti and grab a drink at the famous Green Dragon Inn. Both the Behind the Scenes Tour and the Evening Banquet Tour take four hours. And both the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Lunch Combo and the Second Breakfast Tour take 3.5 hours.

The Hobbiton Movie Set is enjoyable year-round, and the tours operate in all weather (except during extreme conditions). Summer is generally the sunniest and driest time to visit, but this is when the attraction is busiest. While Hobbiton celebrates Christmas by decorating a tree and hosting a special feast in late December, it’s closed on Christmas Day.

No, you can’t stay overnight at the Hobbiton Movie Set. However, there are accommodation options in nearby Matamata and throughout the Waikato countryside. While you won’t find major hotel chains or five-star properties in these parts, you’ll find plenty of cozy B&Bs, casual lodges, and no-frills motels. If you’re camping, the area also has a few RV parks and campgrounds.

Yes, parts of The Lord of the Rings movies and the Hobbit Trilogies were filmed at the Hobbiton Movie Set. Filming took place at more than 150 sites across the North and South Islands, and Hobbiton was one of these sites. According to Hobbiton’s website, “When location scouts found the Alexanders' spectacular 1250 acre sheep and beef farm just outside of Matamata, it was clear this would be the perfect setting for Sir Peter Jackson's adaptation of these classic works by J.R.R. Tolkien.”

Tours of Hobbiton include a 10-minute bus ride through the family farm and a 90-minute guided walking tour of the village. Here, you’ll tour the film set and visit the Green Dragon Inn for a complimentary drink. Choose from traditional ales or non-alcoholic soft drinks. You’ll also see views of the landscape, many Hobbit Holes, and the Mill. If you choose to book a tour that comes with a meal, you’ll dine in the Party Marquee or the Green Dragon Inn.

Yes, booking a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set in advance is strongly recommended as they sell out. Outside of the peak summer season, you may be able to turn up at The Shire’s Rest in Matamata and book a tour, but this can’t be guaranteed. If you want to avoid crowds, book the Evening Banquet Tour. All of the other tours will have left for the day, so you’ll feel like the only people on the property.