Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

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A Remarkable Journey

When director, Sir Peter Jackson was looking for a site to create Middle Earth, he took a helicopter ride over the North Island looking for the perfect countryside in the Waikato region. He fell in love with the Alexander family sheep farm, which is nestled on green pastures with the Kaimal Ranges in the distance.



On a recent trip to New Zealand, my girlfriends and I visited the Hobbiton Movie Set, where the three series of The Hobbit were filmed. Although there were different tours to choose from, we decided to take the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, which consisted of a two-and-a-half-hour guided walking experience.



Our guide was highly informative and gave a comprehensive overview of what life would have been like living in the fantasy world of Hobbiton, as well as detailing the background of the series and its effectiveness on the big screen. Over the twelve-acre set, we stopped for photographs at the doors of Hobbit Holes, including Bag End, which was home to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Hobbit Holes are homes that are built into the sides of hills or underground, many of these have trees and gardens flourishing above.



At one stop, we were asked to pick the fake tree and surprise to us all, it was the biggest, perched on top of the hill, which had a Hobbit Hole built under. I was not close enough to touch its leaves but was perfectly satisfied by the guides’ oration that this was indeed the one. It is quite amazing what movie set designers can create for movie enthusiasts!



We also stopped at Bagshot Row where we were allowed to discover what was inside a Hobbit’s home. As with all Hobbit homes, one may need to duck to enter, but surprisingly, my girlfriends and I did not have to, so the vision outside can be deceptive to the actual size once closer.



A world of wonder awaited us as we entered what seemed like a small hole in the hill, which turned out to be rooms going in all directions centred around a family room complete with a fireplace and comfortable settees. I lay on the bed to get a feel for the surroundings as everything was smaller in size.



Hobbiton has a well-maintained vegetable garden in the centre of the village which is looked after by a gardener and volunteers. The produce grown is used in their restaurant and for events. The gardens around the whole village are beautiful and grown just like you would expect to find in nature, amongst the Hobbit Village in the countryside.

Our tour included a free drink at the Green Dragon Inn, and it was a refreshing end to a fabulous, guided tour. From there, we ventured to the gift shop and a walk around the main facilities, which included a restaurant and amenities. A larger-than-life-size Gandalf the Grey Wizard stands at one entrance of the gift shop and is a great photo shot for your memories.



Apart from the tours available, Hobbiton is available for private functions such as birthdays and weddings, along with their own festive events throughout the year. These include Christmas Lunch, International Hobbit Day, Summer Harvest Festival, and Mid-Winter Feast. So, I am guessing if you happen to be around Hobbiton at any of these times, the events would be something worth booking.

Hobbiton opens from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm seven days a week and is located at 501 Buckland Road 2, Matamata, which is an easy drive from Auckland.

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