Lord of the Rings & Hobbiton New Zealand | Film Locations & Tours

Welcome to Middle-earth

When director Sir Peter Jackson searched for locations to film J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, he found Middle-earth in New Zealand. The country's dramatic landscapes—snow-capped mountains, pristine rivers, ancient forests, rolling hills, and volcanic terrain—provided the perfect backdrop for bringing Tolkien's fantasy world to life. Over 150 filming locations across both the North and South Islands transformed New Zealand into Middle-earth, and today, fans can visit these iconic sites and step into the world of hobbits, wizards, elves, and epic adventures.

The crown jewel of New Zealand's Lord of the Rings experiences is the Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata in the Waikato region. When location scouts spotted the Alexander family's 1,250-acre sheep and beef farm in 1998, they knew they'd found The Shire. Rolling green hills, a small lake perfect for doubling as a river, and the picturesque New Zealand countryside created exactly the bucolic English setting Tolkien described. The farm has been transformed into a permanent attraction featuring 44 hobbit holes, the famous Party Tree, the Green Dragon Inn, Bag End (Bilbo's home), vegetable gardens, and all the details that make Hobbiton feel like a living, breathing village.

What makes Hobbiton special is its authenticity. After filming The Lord of the Rings, most of the set was dismantled and returned to farmland. However, when Peter Jackson returned to film The Hobbit trilogy, he worked with the Alexander family to rebuild Hobbiton as a permanent attraction with meticulous attention to detail. Every hobbit hole door was crafted to last, gardens were planted a year before filming to establish mature growth, and the entire set was built to be preserved. The result is an extraordinarily detailed recreation where you can genuinely feel like you've stepped into Tolkien's Shire.

Beyond Hobbiton, New Zealand offers countless other filming locations including Queenstown's dramatic landscapes (used for multiple locations including Lothlorien and Isengard), Wellington's nearby forests and hills (Rivendell, Helms Deep studio work), Tongariro National Park's volcanic terrain (Mordor and Mount Doom), and Fiordland's majestic mountains (numerous sweeping landscape shots). Dedicated Lord of the Rings tours take fans to these locations, while self-drive itineraries allow independent exploration of Middle-earth across both islands. The films' success has also created a thriving Tolkien tourism industry with specialized tours, guidebooks, and even a Weta Workshop tour in Wellington where you can see props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes film magic.

The Hobbiton Movie Set Experience

The Hobbiton Movie Set is only accessible via guided tours departing from The Shire's Rest café and visitor center. Tours operate daily with multiple departures throughout the day.

Essential Experience · Matamata

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

The standard Hobbiton tour is a 2-hour experience beginning with a short bus ride from The Shire's Rest through the Alexander family farm to the movie set. Your knowledgeable guide leads you through the 12-acre set, sharing fascinating stories about the filming process, pointing out details you might miss, and explaining how movie magic brought The Shire to life on screen.

Duration: 2 hours total (including bus transfers)
44 Hobbit Holes: Various sizes creating forced perspective illusion
Bag End: Bilbo and Frodo's iconic home overlooking The Shire
Party Tree: Where Bilbo's 111th birthday was celebrated
Green Dragon Inn: Complimentary drink included (beer, cider, ginger beer)
Furnished Interiors: Recently opened, peek inside actual hobbit homes

As you walk through Hobbiton, you'll see intricate details everywhere—vegetable gardens carefully tended by the farm's gardeners, laundry hanging on clotheslines, bread and cheese displayed in windows, and colored doors marking different hobbit families' homes (the Tooks, Baggins, Gamgees, and others). The forced perspective technique used in filming is evident—hobbit holes come in different sizes so that when actors of different heights stood by them, the size difference made some characters appear larger or smaller.

The highlight for many is visiting Bag End, Bilbo's iconic green door home perched on top of a hill with sweeping views across The Shire. Standing where Gandalf knocked and Bilbo answered creates powerful moments for fans. Recently, some hobbit holes have been opened with fully furnished interiors (as of December 2024), allowing glimpses inside these homes complete with tiny furniture, kitchens, and cozy hobbit-sized details.

The tour culminates at the Green Dragon Inn, a fully functional pub built as a replica of the inn featured in both trilogies. Here, your tour includes a complimentary drink—choose from Southfarthing ale, cider, ginger beer, or non-alcoholic options—while relaxing in the authentic Middle-earth atmosphere. The attention to detail is extraordinary; you genuinely feel like you've stepped into Tolkien's world.

Premium · Evening Experience

Evening Banquet Tour

For the ultimate Hobbiton experience, the Evening Banquet Tour offers exclusive after-hours access to the set as the sun sets and lights twinkle on in the hobbit holes. This premium experience includes a guided tour followed by a sumptuous feast in the Party Marquee with multiple courses, unlimited drinks, and the magical experience of watching Hobbiton come alive with lights as dusk falls.

Duration: 4 hours (evening departure)
Exclusive Access: Smaller groups, after regular tours finish
Guided Tour: Same comprehensive tour as daytime
Banquet Feast: Multi-course meal in Party Marquee
Unlimited Drinks: Beer, wine, cider, soft drinks throughout
Twinkling Lights: See Hobbiton illuminated at dusk

The Evening Banquet begins with the standard guided tour, but as evening approaches and other visitors depart, your smaller group experiences Hobbiton transforming. Lights begin twinkling in the hobbit hole windows and doorways, the Party Tree is illuminated, and smoke rises from chimneys as the set takes on an even more magical quality in the twilight. The atmosphere is peaceful and intimate without crowds.

The banquet itself is a highlight—a lavish spread served buffet-style featuring roasted meats, fresh salads, seasonal vegetables, artisan breads, desserts, and more. Drinks flow freely including beer, wine, cider, and soft drinks. The Party Marquee, beautifully decorated, creates a festive atmosphere where fellow fans share their love of Middle-earth. This is the experience for true enthusiasts who want maximum time in The Shire and a thoroughly memorable evening.

Special Experiences · Limited

Second Breakfast & Special Tours

Hobbiton offers additional specialized experiences throughout the year including the popular Second Breakfast Tour (morning tour with full breakfast afterward), Behind the Scenes Tour (deeper dive into filmmaking with exclusive areas), and seasonal events like the Summer Harvest Festival, Beer Festival, and International Hobbit Day celebrations on September 22nd.

Second Breakfast: Morning tour + full cooked breakfast
Behind the Scenes: Extended 3-hour tour, exclusive access
Mandarin Tours: Available for Chinese-speaking visitors
Private Tours: Arranged for special occasions and groups
Seasonal Events: Festivals, special celebrations, themed experiences
Book Early: Popular experiences sell out weeks in advance

The Second Breakfast Tour combines a standard Hobbiton tour with a hearty full breakfast served after at The Shire's Rest café. This includes eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes, hash browns, toast, and more—perfect for fueling your Middle-earth adventure and embracing the hobbits' love of multiple meals!

Behind the Scenes tours offer extended access to areas not visited on standard tours, deeper insights into the construction and filming process, and plenty of time for photography without the pressure of keeping pace with a larger group. These specialized experiences are perfect for die-hard fans who want to immerse themselves completely in the filmmaking magic.

South Island · Queenstown Area

Other Major Filming Locations

Beyond Hobbiton, New Zealand's South Island offers the majority of dramatic filming locations. Queenstown and surrounds featured in dozens of scenes, while Wellington (North Island) served as the production base with nearby locations doubling for Rivendell, Helms Deep sets, and forests. Specialized tours visit these locations with expert guides sharing behind-the-scenes stories.

Queenstown: Paradise (Lothlorien), Glenorchy (multiple locations)
Tongariro National Park: Mount Ngauruhoe as Mount Doom
Mount Sunday (near Methven): Edoras, Rohan's capital
Pelorus River: Barrel-riding scene (The Hobbit)
Lake Pukaki: Laketown backdrop with Mount Cook
Wellington: Weta Workshop tours, studio locations nearby

Mount Sunday near Methven transformed into Edoras, capital of Rohan, for The Lord of the Rings. The iconic hilltop setting where Théoden's Golden Hall once stood is now returned to farmland, but the dramatic landscape remains. 4WD tours take visitors to this remote location for stunning views and the chance to stand where the movies brought Rohan to life.

Tongariro National Park's volcanic landscape, particularly Mount Ngauruhoe, doubled as Mount Doom and the surrounding Mordor wastelands. The famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing hiking track passes through this otherworldly terrain, offering incredible views of the landscapes featured in the films.

Weta Workshop in Wellington's Miramar suburb offers fascinating tours showcasing props, costumes, and special effects from The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and numerous other films. See the original One Ring, intricate armor, weapons, and learn how the incredible visual effects were achieved. This is a must for fans wanting to understand the filmmaking magic behind Middle-earth.

Planning Your Hobbiton Visit

Location & Getting There

Location: Near Matamata, Waikato region (North Island)
From Auckland: 2.5 hours drive (175km south)
From Rotorua: 1 hour drive (75km west)
From Waitomo: 1.5 hours drive
Organized Tours: Available from Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga
Self-Drive: Parking available at The Shire's Rest

Costs & Booking

Standard Tour: NZD $120 adult, $60 youth (11-17), free under 10
Family Pass: NZD $306 (2 adults + 2 youth)
Evening Banquet: From NZD $230-250 per person
Second Breakfast: From NZD $140-160 per person
Book Ahead: ESSENTIAL—tours sell out weeks in advance
Peak Season: Dec-Feb books out fastest, reserve months ahead

Tour Details

Guided Only: No self-guided access, must join official tour
Duration: 2 hours standard, 4 hours banquet tour
Walking: Moderate, 1.5 hours on uneven terrain
Weather: Tours run rain or shine, dress appropriately
Photography: Encouraged! Bring cameras and phones
Accessibility: Limited wheelchair access, contact for details

What to Know

Working Farm: Hobbiton is on an active sheep/beef farm
No Facilities on Set: Use restrooms at Shire's Rest before tour
Footwear: Closed-toe shoes required (farm environment)
Children: Free entry under 10, must have ticket allocated
Groups: Tours accommodate 40+ people, book private for smaller
Merchandise: Excellent shop at Shire's Rest with LOTR souvenirs

Combining Middle-earth with Other Experiences

North Island Middle-earth Circuit

Combine Hobbiton with other North Island highlights for a comprehensive experience. From Auckland, drive south to Hobbiton (2.5 hours), then continue to Rotorua (1 hour from Hobbiton) for geothermal wonders and Māori cultural experiences. Visit nearby Waitomo Glowworm Caves (1.5 hours from Hobbiton) where thousands of glowworms light up underground caves—the Waitomo area also featured as Trollshaw Forest in The Hobbit.

South Island Lord of the Rings Trail

The South Island offers the majority of dramatic filming locations. Base in Queenstown to access Paradise and Glenorchy locations, then drive to Mount Sunday (3 hours) to stand where Edoras once stood. Visit Tongariro National Park to hike through Mordor landscapes, explore the Milford Sound fiords used for sweeping landscape shots, and tour Weta Workshop in Wellington to see how the movie magic was created.

Specialized Lord of the Rings Tours

Several companies offer comprehensive multi-day Lord of the Rings tours covering major filming locations across both islands. Red Carpet Tours has specialized in LOTR experiences since 2002, offering 14-day tours with access to exclusive locations, connections to cast and crew, and deep knowledge from passionate guides. These tours combine film locations with New Zealand's natural beauty, creating unforgettable Middle-earth journeys for dedicated fans.

Self-Drive Itineraries

For independent travelers, self-drive Lord of the Rings itineraries allow flexible exploration. Purchase guidebooks like Ian Brodie's official location guides (with GPS coordinates and detailed directions), plan routes connecting major locations, and combine filming sites with other New Zealand attractions like Great Walks, wine regions, and adventure activities in Queenstown.

HOBBITON