Hobbiton Day Tour from Rotorua with lunch at Hobbiton
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rotorua, New Zealand
- 7 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Immerse yourself in the movie magic of Hobbiton—and enjoy a hassle-free way to explore—on this full-day tour from Rotorua. Following morning pickup from select hotels, head straight to Hobbiton, passing pretty scenery along the way. Upon arrival, head right in with your included admission tickets, go for a guided tour of the highlights, and even enjoy a tasty lunch before you go.
- This Hobbiton tour is perfect for visiting "Lord of the Rings" fans
- Leave all the transit and planning to someone else
- Round-trip transit from Rotorua hotels makes getting there easy
- A delicious lunch and admission tickets are both included
What's Included
- Lunch
- Live commentary on board
- Pick up from selected hotels - please call to book
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- Restroom on board
- Admission Fee - Hobbiton Admission Ticket
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Coach pick-up is located outside the Rotorua I-site visitor center
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:15 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
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- All tours are operated by a luxury 5 star coach with on board toilet
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 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
Alex_G
What a wonderful tour with a great tour guide, including the tour bus driver. The tour is highly recommended even if you’re not a fan of LOTR or hobbits. The scenery was incredible with the rolling hills, and there were so many hobbit holes. The buffet that we had was really good considering it’s a buffet. Our bus driver was very informative and always kept us on schedule. Our tour guide through Hobbiton was really nice, informative and funny. We would do this tour again!
Reviews
4.5
based on 577 reviews
Fran_H, Mar 2026
Full day with pickup by tour bus from Rotorua. Bus driver EXCELLENT! Informative, entertaining & great with people.
Hobbiton much more than expected- the attention to detail of the village & info by great guide made me want to watch the whole LOTR all over again.
Buffet lunch terrific & trip back was seamless.
Well worth booking this experience - highly recommended.
Maria_P, Mar 2026
It’s very well run. The actual tour is about an hour from the pick up spot, but it was an enjoyable experience. The movie set was very unique.We ordered the buffet lunch and that was very good too. .
Robert_W, Mar 2026
The ride to Hobbiton takes about an hour with beautiful scenery along the way. You have a guided tour that includes lunch in the Green Dragon.
Susan_P, Mar 2026
It was great. Tourist shop is super expensive so be prepared. All guides were very informative. It is a good experience.
lillikan_f, Mar 2026
I had the pleasure of being driven by Nata who was an absolute pleasure and made the drive so enjoyable/ hilarious and welcoming
Learnt more about the history of NZ, history of his ancestors and so many wonderful things (including the length of his name)
Would recommend this tour and Nata to anyone who asks
Thank you so much
Aside from Nata - hobbiton was absolutely stunning / the views/ the shire itself and the food at the end 10/10
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia Ora lillikan_f,
Thank you for your wonderful review! It’s fantastic to hear that Ngata made such a lasting impression, and we hope you learned some interesting new facts from his extensive knowledge. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Patricia_J, Mar 2026
My main goal during our stay in the north island was to see Hobbiton, though I had no desire to stay in a big city! So I was happy that this was available from Rotorua as a day trip, and the pick up spot was convenient as well! Our driver Hana was very informative during the drive over, and communicated clearly on our meet up spots and how much time we had at each destination. I would recommend to anyone staying in Rotorua.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear that Hana made such a great impression and that you felt well-informed throughout your day with us. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Jaqueline_F, Mar 2026
This was an amazing trip whether you knew Tolkien’s books or not- very enthusiastic guides and a great two hours spent there. Go for the lunch if you can- a typical English carvery!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed the day, no matter if you’re a fan of the books and movies or not, and the buffet lunch really is a wonderful way to finish the day. Thank you for choosing to travel with us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Bret_A, Mar 2026
Better than anticipated....go hungry as the lunch is amazing....way better than we expected!!!! Bring a water bottle and dress in layers
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia Ora Bret_A,
Thank you for leaving a review! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed your day with us, and isn’t the buffet just fantastic with so many delicious options to choose from?
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Ruud_V, Feb 2026
Every 10 minute, a bus full of tourists ( 40 persons) is arriving with a guide. The guide is keeping the group strict on schedule. In front of each door, you can just take a picture and you must move on. There is one single path and the line of tourists is following the path from one door to the other. No way back, no standing and admiring. Just keep moving because the next group is behind. Very commercial and very stressy!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Kia Ora Ruud_V,
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re sorry to hear that your experience felt rushed and stressful. We really appreciate you sharing your thoughts, and if you have any more comments, you’re very welcome to pass them along to info@greatsights.co.nz.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Delyth_H, Feb 2026
The hobbiton tour guide was amazing and you have plenty of time to look around the hobbiton set. Unfortunately, we were rushed through our lunch only having 30 minutes to get food and eat. Following this we were told we only had 15 minutes in the gift shop packed with people or the coach would leave without us. The coach companies seem to buy all the hobbiton tickets well in advance so you have to pay to travel on their coaches and work to their time schedule. My partner and I just wanted to go round the tour and drive ourselves but the only available tickets included the coach and lunch. Very disappointed by the rushed nature of the coach company.
Francois_P, Feb 2026
A must to do. Even if you have not already read the books and watch the movies. We've been there with our grand daughter and enjoy every moment of the visit. The buffet was super. The guide was very interesting and jocking all the time. The driver of the coach from Rotorua (Anna?) was a pearl and was explaining the Maori and the country history: she was speaking slowly and with real conviction. A great day.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re so pleased to hear that you consider visiting Hobbiton with us a must-do experience. We’re glad you enjoyed the buffet, it’s a great way to end the day. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Lorenzo_S, Feb 2026
Definitely come with some comfortable shoes since there's a decent amount of walking even if the area isn't that big. Also you should rewatch the movies before so you can more essily identify the different scenes where they filmed different parts of the sets!
Barbara_B, Feb 2026
All the staff at Hobbiton were amazing! Happy. Friendly. Helpful. Knowledgeable. Clearly loving Hobbiton and their work there. I have limited mobility and was chauffeured in a golf cart driven by Ben. He was absolutely marvelous! Could not have been better.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that the Hobbiton staff made such a positive impact on your experience, and we hope you took away some new information from their extensive knowledge and passion. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Janice_H, Feb 2026
Amazing place! The detail and setting are wonderful. We had a beautiful day walking through the Shire, a pint at the Green Dragon and best of all getting into the Hobbit home! Our bus driver was very knowledgeable and learned a lot about the area along the way. Also our guide at Hobbiton was wonderful. Knew the trees, area and the Shire. Great day! Highly recommend!
Annette_S, Jan 2026
If leaving from Rotorua there are no parking facilities available. This was extremely inconvenient and when I asked the bus driver all I got was a snappy response, park anywhere you won’t get towed but you will get a ticket and I leave at 8.15am with or without you. If the company can’t provide parking don’t provide the service. There was a family who missed the bus because of the parking issues, the driver said just drive there yourself. I wish I had driven there and not used your company
Steve_H, Jan 2026
A fantastic experience for hobbit and non hobbit book/film lovers. The guides were superb and the new(ish) hobbit houses were something else.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Kia Ora Steve_H,
Thank you for your lovely review! How incredible is it to be able to walk through one of the Hobbit holes! Thank you for choosing to travel with us.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Ludo, Jan 2026
Great experience with wonderful insights from the guide. Especially enjoyed the tour of the insides of the cottages. Overall a very interesting tour with a beautiful set.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Kia Ora Ludo,
Thank you for your kind words! It’s great to hear that you enjoyed experiencing Middle-earth and exploring the inside of a Hobbit Hole. Thank you for choosing to travel with us!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Folu_F, Jan 2026
A great experience of the LOTR set. Kirsten and Hannah were both funny and knowledgeable guides on the drive and on the tour. The buffet lunch was great as well.
Lisa_L, Jan 2026
Great experience. Love seeing fruits and vegetables growing everywhere. The ducks were cute. Loved the experience. Your guide was great, funny and professional
Marg_H, Jan 2026
A worthwhile experience for any age. Our tour guide was awesome and the buffet lunch was delicious. Highly recommend
Erik_S, Jan 2026
When all the tickets were sold out on the official website, this trip saved us with two tickets available 4 days away.
Hobbiton was obviously fantastic, could not have been a more wholesome experience with a surprisingly top-notch lunch buffet.
The tour driver (Nata) was absolutely hilarious, and somehow managed to talk and keep the bus entertained for almost the entire trip to and from Matamata.
The ONLY thing I would suggest to change is turning up the AirCon in the bus. I and everyone around me was obviously hot. The bus driver was wearing a vest and beanie and somehow surviving....maybe this was all a back of the bus problem. Still did not detract from the experience. 5/5
sharn_K, Jan 2026
Great experience but our tour guide was extremely rude to everyone on board. When requested to wait or anything her standard response was, “I don’t care”. That’s not what you expect when you pay so much extra to have a guide. Will not recommend booking the same guide.
Lori_T, Jan 2026
Well run & a great experience. This is a don’t miss. The guides offer inside scoop on the production for super fans and newbies alike.
Stuart_M, Jan 2026
Fab experience... very well managed so you could enjoy all the sights of hobbiton... well narrated by the guide
Bernie_F, Dec 2025
Great day.
Ngata, our bus driver got us on our way and was both amateur historian, cultural guide and comedian!
Hobbitton is everything you'd hope for; The Shire, hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn and the great lunch we had in the marquee.
Plenty of opp for photos and a relaxed bus ride back to Rotorua.
Strong recommend.
Shane_S, Dec 2025
The best way to see hobbiton from Rotrua. A short hour long drive with stories from our Maori driver about history and culture in New Zealand. The hobbit holes were epecially interesting with their detail and size which made you feel like you were in the movie!
Fredric_S, Dec 2025
Had the most informed guide and perfect weather (Nov). Even if not a LOTR fan the stories and scenery was amazing. Only issue was forced to go via bus tour at extra cost because other options "sold out"?? Having said that would still do it again - loved it.
Karen_W, Dec 2025
Get ready to be amazed, you arrive by the same road as Gandalf did in the Fellowship of the Ring and as you turn the corner Hobbiton is laid out in front of you. The 2 interactive Hobbit holes defy description, the attention to detail is remarkable and a welcome drink at the Green Dragon sets you up nicely for the buffet lunch.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Kia Ora Karen,
Thank you for your lovely review! It certainly sounds like you experienced a bucket-list moment, and we’re delighted to hear you appreciated the attention to detail. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Jack_K, Dec 2025
Such a fun experience to go and see the shire/Hobbiton and all its quaint beauty.
Very informative and joyful - great to see the rolling hills with the little hobbit houses and to even go inside one.
Then ending it with the green dragon pub and a buffet lunch was perfect.
Easy journey to and from Rotorua with a great host.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Kia Ora Jack_K,
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your day at Hobbiton! Finishing with a drink in the Green Dragon Inn and the buffet lunch is the perfect way to end the experience. Wishing you safe travels ahead!
Many Thanks,
Madeline
Leila_S, Dec 2025
Amazing day out, sadly we had to postpone a day because the link sent with the email for confirmation sends a location that is not the correct area. We tried to call customer service for help but no one picked up for half an hour and by that time the bus had left. Luckily they were able to fit us in the next day! It ended up being a beautiful day full of so many amazing views and memorable movie sets! We had Dom as our guide and he was brilliant! The carriage to Hobbiton could have been a bit better and being verbally shamed Infront of everyone else for "being late" the day before was quite rude. If the person in customer service had picked up when I actually called we would have gotten to the correct Meetup spot with time to spare. The link attached in the email needs a look into too. I checked like 15 times and it always pointed to some court yard near a shopping centre.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Kia Ora Leila_S,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed Hobbiton and that Dom made your visit so memorable. That said, we’re sorry to hear about the trouble you experienced locating the meeting place and would appreciate the opportunity to look into this further if you’re happy to email us at info@greatsights.co.nz with your booking details.
Many Thanks,
Madeline
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