The Hobbiton movie set is the filming location for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which has gained unprecedented worldwide popularity after the movie’s success.
Though the movie set site only covers 12-acres, it’s surrounded by some of the most naturally beautiful landscapes that you’ll likely find anywhere.
Due to its proximity, most Hobbiton tours begin in Auckland; many of them include side excursions to the caves at Waitomo, which are famous for their amazing luminescent glowworms.
Tours are offered in half and full-day options and are a must for Lord of the Rings junkies.
Below are 15 of the best Hobbiton tours.
1. Hobbiton, Rotorua and Waitomo Caves Day-Tour from Auckland
Source: getyourguide.comThis packed day-tour includes visits to the now-famous Hobbiton movie set, Waitomo Caves, and the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute.
It’s a comprehensive tour of many of the North Island’s hotspots. Door-to-door transportation from your Auckland hotel is included, so you won’t need to bother with pesky details.
The drive between sites offers some amazing viewing opportunities, and since it’s an all-day tour, you’ll get plenty of time to explore and appreciate the unique things that you’re seeing.
At Rotorua and Waitomo, you’ll get glimpses into the culture of the local natives, amazing geography, and see lots of cool glowworms too.
2. Guided Tour of Hobbiton Movie Set
Source: aaron choi / shutterstockFor fans of Lord of the Rings, this movie set tour deserves a coveted spot on your New Zealand itinerary.
The sights on the 12-acre set will look familiar to movie bugs and will include plenty of rolling hills full of Hobbit Holes in The Shire.
Your guide will explain the history and role of each location, and you’ll learn quite a bit about how movies are made as well.
The two-hour tour is offered in English and Mandarin and includes a trip to the famous Green Dragon Inn, where you’ll enjoy that mysterious brewed beverage made popular in the movies.
3. From Tauranga, Hobbiton Movie Set Tour and Shore Excursion
Source: www.getyourguide.comThis tour to Hobbiton departs from the port in Tauranga and will lead guests through Pilot Bay and past the scenic Mount Maunganui Beach.
Bring your camera, because you’ll get unobstructed views of many of the area’s most majestic sights. Once at the movie set, your guide will lead you through The Shire and the homes of many of the movie’s main characters, after which you’ll enjoy a brewed beverage at the Green Dragon Inn.
Everything is included in the cost of the tour except lunch and gratuities for your service providers. The tour usually lasts about seven hours.
4. Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour with Buffet-Style Lunch
Source: www.getyourguide.comIf you’re an avid Lord of the Rings fan and a big eater, then this guided movie set tour with buffet lunch is great value.
You’ll meander through The Shire and stop at the hillside dwellings of some of the trilogy’s most notable characters.
This area is home to some of New Zealand’s most stunning views too. You’ll get to relax in the Green Dragon Inn and enjoy a complimentary drink before heading to the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.
The tour lasts 2 ½-hours and the meal includes traditional, western and Hobbit related dishes, so come hungry.
5. Executive-Style Hobbiton Movie Set Day-Tour from Auckland
Source: www.getyourguide.comIf you’d like to see the Hobbiton filming location in style, this day-tour option from Auckland is a must.
You’ll be whisked from your Auckland hotel to The Shire in a swanky Mercedes-Benz van. From there, you’ll embark on a tour of Hobbiton that usually lasts about 45-minutes.
You’ll hit all the area’s highlights, and before setting out again, will stop at the Shire’s Rest Café for a quick drink or bite to eat. You’ll then continue to Waikato, stopping along the way for some amazing photo-ops.
Everything is included except for lunch, drinks, and tips for your hard-working service providers.
6. Hobbiton & Rotorua Tour with Lunch from Auckland
Source: adkana / shutterstockThis small group day-tour to the Hobbiton movie set and Rotorua embarks from Auckland and includes a guided tour of Hobbiton’s key attractions that lasts about two hours.
Depending on your travel plans and accommodations, the tour can be round-trip from Auckland, or one way if you’ll be staying in Rotorua that night.
In Rotorua, you’ll get an amazing insight into the lives and customs of the local Maori people from your guide, after which you’ll have time to relax, see some Maori arts and crafts, and eat a traditional lunch prepared by some culinary-minded locals.
It’s a great mix of entertainment and culture.
7. Early-Bird Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Auckland
Source: Malgorzata Litkowska / shutterstockFor those who’d rather rise with the sun than catch a few more hours of sleep, this express early-bird tour of the Hobbiton movie set is a great way to make the most of your day and beat the crowds.
The tour departs from Auckland at 6:00 AM in a comfortable air-conditioned bus. When you arrive at the 12-acre movie set, you’ll get a guided tour of all the must-see locations and learn about the famous movie.
Since no self-respecting tour of Hobbiton would skip a stop at the Green Dragon Inn, you’ll do just that, and have a few minutes to rest and enjoy a drink before heading back to Auckland.
8. Private Hunua Falls and Hobbiton Tour from Auckland
Source: Sol Verduzco / shutterstockFor those interested in a small-group and private tour of Hobbiton but also want to enjoy some natural beauty, this tour is great value.
You’ll get VIP-style transportation to and from Auckland, and at the movie site, you’ll enjoy the wonders of Middle Earth on a personalized tour that includes all the highlights, many of which you may recognize.
Before heading back to Auckland you’ll stop at the majestic Hunua Falls and have a few moments to relax or snap a few photos.
The tour includes the guide fee and light food and drink, so be prepared to buy your own food if the grumbling in your stomach gets too loud to ignore.
9. Hobbiton and Waitomo Bus Tour and Lunch from Auckland
Source: getyourguide.comThis tour begins in Auckland. Along with your travel companions, you’ll be whisked by luxury bus through the New Zealand countryside on your way to Waitomo, which is famous for its cave-dwelling glowworms.
Your guide will tell you all about the amazing things you’re seeing, and from there, you’ll head to the tour’s other highlight – Hobbiton.
You’ll enjoy a guided tour followed by a delicious all-you-can-eat lunch buffet in the Green Dragon Inn.
Along the way, you’ll learn how movies are made and get ample opportunity to snap a few photos of the Hobbit Holes that dot the rolling hills.
10. Guided Tour of Hobbiton with Evening Banquet from Rotorua
Source: Dmitrii Sakharov / shutterstockThis afternoon and evening small group tour generally lasts about six hours and includes door-to-door transportation to and from your hotel in Rotorua.
A guided tour of the 12-acre movie site is included; along the way, you’ll visit all the key areas that were included in the movie. It’s all capped off by a banquet-style feast at the world-famous Green Dragon Inn.
Your guide will amaze you with his or her knowledge of movie making, Hobbit lore, and the history of this amazing slice of New Zealand.
After a big day and a full meal, you’ll enjoy the ample legroom in the bus on the drive back to Rotorua.
11. 2-Day Tour to Bay of Islands, Hobbiton & Waitomo from Auckland
Source: RnDmS / shutterstockDay one of this two-day tour departs from Auckland at 7:30 AM and includes a tour of the Bay of Islands and a Hole in the Rock dolphin cruise as well.
It’s amazingly beautiful country, and you’ll have plenty of chances to stop for photographs.
Day two includes guided a tour of the Hobbiton movie set, that includes all the hotspots made famous in the movies and a trip to plenty of Hobbit Holes and the Green Dragon Inn.
You’ll also get a guided, underground boat tour of the Waitomo Caves, famous for the luminescent glowworms that reside inside.
You’ll return to Auckland at about 8:00 PM, exhausted but fulfilled.
12. Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour from Rotorua
Source: www.getyourguide.comHalf a day is the perfect amount of time to see the Hobbiton movie set.
This tour includes the sheep farm that the film’s director transformed into The Shire; you’ll see plenty of Hobbit Holes and make a stop at the Green Dragon Inn as well.
The tour will lead through some of New Zealand’s most amazing scenic areas, and you’ll know why it was chosen as the filming site for such a fanciful movie.
You’ll have unrestricted access to the 12-acre site, and after your tour, you’ll still have nearly half a day to dedicate to other adventures or sightseeing excursions.
13. Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Auckland
Source: getyourguide.comThis Hobbiton movie set tour from Auckland includes door-to-door transportation and departs at 9:30 AM.
The trip takes about 2 ½ hours and the bus has free Wi-Fi. Along the way, you’ll see many of New Zealand’s most scenic vistas.
Before setting off on your guided tour, you’ll enjoy lunch at a nearby café before embarking on your tour of Hobbit Holes, The Shire, and the Green Dragon Inn.
Don’t forget to take a selfie or two at Bilbo Baggins’ hole, or enjoy a beer or cider at the Green Dragon Inn before getting back on the bus and heading to Auckland.
14. Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Full-Day Tour from Rotorua
Source: getyourguide.comThis full-day tour to Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves starts with pickup at your hotel in Rotorua. From there, you’ll be taken to the tour’s highlights, traveling through some of the most amazing natural landscapes that you’re ever likely to see.
The Waitomo Caves are famous for their unique glowworms, and you’ll take a guided boat tour through the gloomy caves before packing up and heading to Hobbiton.
Once in Hobbiton, you’ll get an officially guided tour from your knowledgeable tour leader, who’ll tell about how the movie was made and take you to the most famous filming locations.
You’ll visit plenty of Hobbit holes, including those belonging to Bilbo and Frodo.
15. Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Small-Group Day Tour from Auckland
Source: getyourguide.comThis full-day adventure tour departs from Auckland and includes two of the most notable attractions in New Zealand.
It’s a must for value-minded travelers; the first stop will be the Hobbiton movie set that has become a worldwide tourist destination in recent years.
The tour includes all the 12-acre site’s hotspots, after which you’ll head to the wild caves of Waitomo that are famous for the unique luminescent glowworms that reside inside.
You’ll glide beneath them on a boat before packing up and heading home.
The tour is a full day but is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.