Experience Hobbiton Movie Set

In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team of location scouts were searching for the iconic rolling hills and lush green pastures of Hobbiton™. An aerial search led them to the Alexander farm, a stunning 1,250 acre sheep farm in the heart of the Waikato. They noted the area’s striking similarity to The Shire™, as described by JRR Tolkien, and quickly realised that the Hobbits™ had found a home.

In one particular part of the farm, a magnificent pine tree towered over a nearby lake, adjacent to a rising hill. Bag End now sits atop that hill, overlooking the Party Tree, as that pine would later be known. The surrounding areas were untouched; no power lines, no buildings and no roads in sight. This meant that Sir Peter Jackson could leave the 20th century behind, and fully submerge himself in the fantasy world of Middle-earth™.

Discover the popular hobbit holes

Today, Hobbiton™ Movie Set includes all 44 personalised hobbit holes that make up The Shire, including an interior Hobbit Hole Experience. Rebuilt to exactly as they did in the movies - right down to smoking chimneys and blue bell flowers - you'll feel as if you have stumbled right into a fantasy world. 

Step inside to explore the magic

Mind your head to see where Frodo and Bilbo's adventures began, as you wander and weave through the maze of rooms and hallways, all constructed with a Hobbit’s stature in mind.

Each delicate stroke of a paintbrush has left intricate hand-painted details and carvings into the walls, complimented with a plethora of colourful hand-stitched linens and decorative flourishes throughout. Hints of the inhabitants’ family lineage is seeded throughout, with heirlooms and trinkets from generations of Hobbits from yesteryear, a well-stocked pantry with all the fixings to cater for their seven daily meals, and a cracking hearth all give a peek into the lives these halflings lead.

Wander and weave through the maze of rooms and hallways

Get lost among the hobbit holes and visit the mill and the Party Tree. Listen to spell-binding tales of how Hobbiton™ came to be. You will see how this beautiful and picturesque piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle-earth and learn how fantasy is brought to life in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbiton™ films.

Finish up at The Green Dragon Inn, masterfully recreated, relax at the Inn of the Hobbits as part of your tour where you can relax and enjoy a complimentary refreshment of their exclusively crafted Southfarthing range.

Enjoy a drink at the Green Dragon Inn

Enjoy the Hobbiton™ Movie Set on a selection of New Zealand Coach Holidays.