Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with lunch from Auckland
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Auckland, New Zealand
+9
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
See the marvels of the Hobbiton movie set in one day with this guided luxury coach tour. Travel from central Auckland CBD across the Waikato plains to explore filming locations from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. This adventure includes a drink at the Green Dragon Inn and a buffet-style lunch in a party marquee.
- Convenience: round-trip service from Auckland CBD
- Travel in comfort with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi onboard
- Inclusive: transport to Matamata, Hobbit set, and entry fees included
- Keep energy levels high with buffet-style lunch and a drink included;
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Top off your day with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- LunchBuffet-Style Lunch in the Party Marquee
- Restroom on board
- WiFi on board
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 102 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Sky City Coach Terminal
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.7:15 am
Itinerary
1
Hobbiton Movie Set
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 48 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Great experience! The bus was comfortable, our driver Tako shared lots of interesting information about NZ on the way down, and the provided water and cookie were a nice touch. Hobbiton is an extremely well-run operation. Despite many other tour groups on site, we were spaced well and didn’t cross paths much if at all. The buffet lunch was tasty (I had low expectations) and had options for all dietary restrictions. Our tour guide Hannah was also lovely! Would recommend this for both LOTR fans and non-fans. A highlight of our trip so far!
Reviews
4.8
based on 228 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Take lots of photos!! So much to see and so much detail in everything. Offer to take photos for others! It makes the experience so much better! Do t eat too much ate the lunch!!🥹
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Hi Theresa,
Thank you for the fantastic review.
We love your enthusiasm and couldn't agree more that Hobbiton is a photographer's dream. There are so many incredible details throughout the movie set, and it's wonderful to hear you enjoyed exploring them all.
Your suggestion about helping fellow travellers with photos is a lovely one and reflects the friendly atmosphere we strive to create on our tours.
Thanks again for travelling with us, and we're delighted you had such a fun day at Hobbiton.
Kind regards,
The GreatSights Team
Fun info packed full day tour, excellently arranged. Kenny was our driver full of character and tales to tell on the trip. Hobbiton experience well worth it with our guide Esme very knowledgable and funny, included drink and banquet delicious
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your wonderful review. We're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your day and found the tour both fun and informative. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Wonderful, well-organized and relaxing tour. The meeting place is easy to locate with many signs. Mobile voucher is fine for check-in and they provide a sticker as an identifier. The bus is comfortable and not full. The driver, Dean, tells us many interesting tidbits about New Zealand in the 2hrs on the way then drops us off at Shire's Rest. Once done, we line up for the 10am tour, get picked up by a different bus and the real hobbiton tour begins. It's a slow pace so everyone can take as many photos as they want. There are many doors, so no crowding happens. We then get a free drink then head off to the tent next door for the all you can eat. Delicious food with many options. I really enjoyed the deserts as well. We then drove back and back in the city by 3pm. Thank you, I really enjoyed this tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Kia Ora Pia,
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review. We're delighted to hear you had such a wonderful and relaxing day with us. We're also pleased you had plenty of time to take photos, enjoyed your complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Wife and I did this as a day trip. 7 am meetup, 2 hr bus ride to Hobbiton, 3 hr tour, 1 hr lunch, 2 hrs return trip. The Gotcha is rush hour traffic coming back into Aukland. But we were back at the bus terminal before 4 pm. It was a great experience. Every picture looks like it was taken from the Hobbit movie.
Overall, a great experience that was worth every penny! The pick-up and drop-off locations were very convenient, and our guides were both informative and entertaining. The rides to and from Hobbiton were comfortable, and the buffet lunch was a great addition, along with complimentary drinks. Everything was well organized from start to finish. We’d happily recommend this experience to our friends and would definitely book it again in the future!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a fantastic review. We're delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable day from start to finish. Thank you for your recommendation!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
A great trip! Excellent communication and friendly guide. We were able to drive to the location on our own and meet the group on site. A beautiful set and our kids loved being in a hobbit home.
Amazing. Worth it. Have to do the tour with lunch. Buffet food and selection was so good. Won’t be disappointed.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Kia Ora Anna,
Thank you for your review! It's fantastic to know you enjoyed the lunch and we're especially pleased that the buffet selection exceeded your expectations. Thank you for joining us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Fantastic, especially if you are a Lord of the Rings fan! The day was wonderful and the staff were fantastic. Great day out!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Kia Ora Harry,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re so pleased to hear you had a fantastic day, especially as a Lord of the Rings fan. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
This was a easy and smooth experience from Auckland. Our driver spoke about the local land and NZ culture on the drive down, as a Kiwi it gave me time to relax and read. The weather was kind to us and the people I meet were fab. Everyone in my group was punctual and on time and we all respected each others space. The actual tour was and beautiful. The lunch was great too.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your wonderful review! It’s great to hear that you enjoyed learning more about the New Zealand culture from your driver, as well as meeting such a lovely group of people along the way. Thank you for choosing to travel with us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
An absolutely amazing and magical experience. Our driver (Mickey) kicked it off with a 2+ hour narration along the way, packed with information.
Our guide for the Hobbiton tour (Sam) made the tour so much fun and an amazing experience with his LoTR & Hobbit-themed puns and "bad jokes" (according to him).
It was truly magical to experience Hobbiton and see all the filming locations in the Shire, along with the backstories of each and every important location.
We were also blessed with great weather & blue skies, which made it even better.
The buffet lunch was also really good.
All in all, it was worth every penny.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Kia Ora Asitha,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear that you had such a memorable day exploring Hobbiton and that it was a real highlight of your time in New Zealand. Thank you for your recommendation and for sharing such lovely feedback about Mickey and Sam!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Great experience with the family and the tour guides were super knowledgeable and entertaining. Certainly worth it with the lunch experience and the free drink included. The pub and the lunch tent certainly give you the real hobbit experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Kia Ora Martin,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We're so pleased to hear that your driver and guide helped make your experience with us such a memorable one. Isn't the delicious buffet lunch the perfect way to wrap up the day?! We really appreciate you choosing to travel with us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Walking through the movie set and learning about they filmed the movie from different perspectives was wonderful. Buffet lunch was good too.
You have to have the lunch with the guided tour, it was fantastic and a great way to end the tour
This was a surprise tour with a 5 day trip to NZ for my wife and our anniversary
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Kia Ora Adam,
Thank you for your kind words! What a wonderful surprise that must have been. We hope you both had a lovely anniversary and created some special memories together.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Absolutely awesome experience!
Perfect day trip from Auckland- bus trip to and from is relaxing and informative.
Hobbiton is amazing, beyond all expectations!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Kia Ora Shane,
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a perfect day with us and that Hobbiton exceeded your expectations.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Amazing experience, extremely organized. The bus driver was great and gave us a lot of good and helpful information. All the staff at Hobbiton made the tour really enjoyable. The lunch was fantastic. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone, whether they are a Lord of the Rings fan or not.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Kia Ora Joel,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you found the day well organised and hope you picked up some interesting new facts from your driver along the way. We really appreciate your recommendation!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Great tour, Our tour guide Rob was amazing, super funny, gave a lot of insight on the Hobbiton set and the making of the movies. Would highly recommend this tour. Lunch at the green dragon was really good.
skillful driver, amazing guide tour, comfy big bus, clear instruction in the email re. meeting point, day and time, punctual. Overall it was a fantastic experience, we had a good time today.
Very good tour with interesting activity. Highly appreciated. Everything was perfect. Tour guide were awesome!
Response from Host, May 2026
Kia Ora Mike,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your day with us and that everything met your expectations. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Can do Hobbiton from Auckland then onto Rotarua, train to Wellington , catch transfer to Wellington Airport
Lord of the Rings was too long ago, can't really remember the storyline. But our tour with you to the movie set won't be forgotten anytime soon. Thank you for a good time Dave, who is super informative and genuinely knowledgeable in what he is sharing. You made the difference! We are lucky to be guided by a fan of The Hobbit when it's time to tour the ground of Hobbiton; Rob who lead us along 'the Middle Earth' and let us oohh enjoying "a morning to be good on".
Response from Host, May 2026
Kia Ora,
Wow, thank you for such kind words! We’re delighted to hear that David made such a lasting impression and that you enjoyed your time at Hobbiton with Rob. We really appreciate you choosing to travel with us.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
We had a wonderful trip to Hobbiton. Finding the bus was simple, the ride was easy and entertaining, and the tour was a great experience! We had a great time and would highly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2026
Kia Ora Pamela,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you had such a wonderful trip to Hobbiton with us. It’s great to know the meeting point was easy to find, and we really appreciate your recommendation.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Such a beautiful place. Gorgeously landscaped. We got to walk through an adorable hobbit hole. The detail was phenomenal. I want to live there. A MUST SEE for every Tolkien fan.
Response from Host, May 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your kind words! It’s incredible to walk through one of the Hobbit Holes and isn't the attention to detail is truly amazing?! We really appreciate you choosing to travel with us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Wonderful experience… coach driver gave interesting commentary on way there. Very nice buffet lunch provided.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Kia Ora Bruce,
Thank you for your 5-star review! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the buffet lunch and hope you picked up some new facts during your day with us. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Go whit at least 1 friend to talk during the trip and obviously read or watch the movie. To have a good experience.
I contacted the local tour operator last night to confirm this event was still operation due to weather. I was told last. Ight it was still on. This morning, we checked out of our hotel, took a $40 Uber ride, walked a mile in the rain only to be told the tour was cancelled. We received no notification prior to our scheduled arrival time. While walking another mile in the rain to our new hotel, an alert came in telling us the tour was cancelled…20 minutes after the meeting time.
We have used Viator for years and have never had a negative experience. I fully understand weather can change things but the lack of communication is a problem
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Kia Ora Dallas_R,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that your day didn’t go to plan, and we completely understand how disappointing it is when arrangements change unexpectedly. If you had contacted our team the evening prior to confirm whether your tour was operating, you would have been provided with the most up-to-date information available at that time, as the tour was still scheduled to proceed.
We were only notified of the cancellation of Hobbiton on Sunday morning, and our team immediately worked to contact all affected passengers as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, due to the early departure time of your tour, we were unable to reach you sooner. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to info@greatsights.co.nz with your booking details. We do hope to have the opportunity to welcome you onboard in the future and wish you safe travels ahead.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
This excursion was so much better than we even expected. The bus driver and tour guide were both informative. The detail of the movie set is incredible!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Kia Ora Sara_M,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that your day visiting Hobbiton with us exceeded expectations. The level of detail in the movie set is truly incredible, and we hope you enjoyed experiencing it up close inside a Hobbit hole! Wishing you safe travels ahead.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Great place if you’re a hobbit fan. Nice being able to actually go into the hobbit house and see were they filmed
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Kia Ora Lionel_G,
Thank you for your kind words! Isn’t it a fantastic experience getting to walk through a Hobbit hole and see all the incredible detail up close? We really appreciate you choosing to travel with us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Excellent tour. Fantastic service with the bus charter. Very knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend!!
Hobbiton is a must for any LOTR or film fan and this trip was a really way of doing it without a car. The pick up was easy from the bus station and there was an announcement to the platform which was really helpful!
The reason I mark it down a bit is because there was absolutely no info about LOTR / The Hobbit on the drive over. I won’t name the guide, he was very lovely but he talked down the microphone for the entire two hour drive about things like fuel tax and golf course prices…. Maybe other people found it interesting but personally I would have preferred to just enjoy the countryside with the odd historical or geographical fact here and there OR some more detail about Hobbiton itself if there had to be commentary most of the way.
Hobbiton is great but you can’t wander around on your own and you’re essentially just being guided around the various hobbit holes. I found the tour geared towards people who have never seen the films or read the books which was a bit of a shame as I have wanted to visit here for years. But it was still a really easy way to visit without a car and worth spending the day out.
A long drive from Auckland to venue but worth it and lovely to take in the scenery. A very early start. Our driver Lenny was great on every way and Mackenzie our Hobbiton guide was super too. The lunch was great.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Kia Ora Carol_S,
Thank you for your kind words! It’s wonderful to hear that both your driver and your Hobbiton guide made such a great impression and isn’t the buffet lunch delicious! We really appreciate you choosing to travel with us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Member Pricing
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$178.85
per personWas $188.26(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with lunch from Auckland
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