Visit Hobbiton is undoubtedly one of the essential activities of a stay in New Zealand, especially for fans of Tolkien's famous trilogy: The Lord of the Rings. Visiting New Zealand is also a taste of the universe of the trilogy. Hobbiton is none other than village hobbit used for filming the two trilogies (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit).
Hobbiton is located on the North Island, not far from the town of Matamata. This village will therefore be an obligatory place of passage if you visit the North Island in New Zealand.
In this article we tell you more about the visite d’Hobbiton Movie Set.
Visit Hobbiton:
- Hobbiton Movie Set
- Book your Hobbiton Movie Set tour
- Hobbiton tour process
- History of Hobbiton, Green Dragon Inn and The Shire's rest
- Visit Hobbiton: Questions / Answers
- My opinion on the visit to Hobbiton
This link allows you to book your Hobbiton Movie Set tour directly Book your Hobbiton tour
Hobbiton Movie Set
Hobbiton Movie Set is none other than the movie set that is the hobbit village. Hobbiton was built, for the first time, in 1999 before the filming of the first trilogy.
Peter Jackson, the director of the trilogies, had found this perfect place, isolated from everything and out of sight, during one of these trips to New Zealand, his country of origin. The place is therefore ideal but completely deserted. Indeed he found this place during an overflight of the North Island. There is then no road that leads to this place.
Several months of construction were needed to create this movie set. Peter Jackson wanted at all costs that this setting be as close as possible to what Tolkien had imagined in his work. The New Zealand army was even called upon, in particular for the creation of the road which leads to Hobbiton. The small hobbit houses are then only movie sets, unlike the hills that were built and the trees that were planted. After the filming of the first trilogy, the village was dismantled, as planned. It was only after the incredible success of The Lord of the Rings, and after Peter Jackson decided to shoot the sequel, in 2011: "The Hobbit", that the Hobbit village was once again built, but this time- ci in resistant materials, stone and wood in order to ensure its solidity. It is this reconstruction that allows today to visit Hobbiton, this unique place.
These sets are therefore, in reality, those used for the “The Hobbit” trilogy and not those used for “The Lord of the Rings”.
Book your Hobbiton Movie Set tour
To visit Hobbiton, you will need to plan a few days before your visit. Even if it is possible to book your visit to Hobbiton direction from the I-Site of Matamata or from The Shire's rest, it is strongly recommended to book your entry in advance and online. Indeed Hobbiton is one of the most touristic places in New Zealand. The number of tickets sold per day is limited. Tours are guided by small groups. The number of guides being limited as well as the number of people per group, the number of tickets is limited for each day.
It is not necessary to book several weeks in advance, the day before, in low season, or two days before is more than enough. The main goal is to avoid going to the I-Site or The Shire's Rest without a ticket at the time of your visit.
Book your tickets for Hobbiton Movie Set from Matamata or The Shire's rest
It is possible to book, online, your tickets for Hobbiton from Matamata or The Shire's rest.
If you choose a departure from Matamata (departing from the I-Site), a bus will take you to the village site and bring you back to Matamata. Count 3 hours of visit from Matamata and 1h45 from The Shire's rest.
Book your Hobbiton Movie Set tickets with transport from various locations
It is possible to book your Hobbiton tickets with transport from the following locations:
- Book your Hobbiton Movie Set tickets from Rotorua
- Book your Hobbiton Movie Set tickets from Auckland
- Book your Hobbiton Movie Set tickets from Tauranga
Pair your Hobbiton Movie Set visit with other activities
It is possible, and even recommended in case you have very little time in the region, to combine your visit to Hobbiton Movie Set with other activities. It may be wise, for example, to opt for visits from Auckland to Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves, these impressive glow worm caves. This allows you, in one (long) day to visit 2 of the main places of the North Island. It is also possible to combine this visit with activities located in Rotorua.
- Book your Hobbiton Movie Set & Waitomo Glowworms Caves tickets from Auckland
- Book your tickets for Hobbiton Movie Set & Te puia, the Maori village not far from Rotorua from Auckland
Hobbiton tour process
The visit therefore begins, either from the I-Site of Matamata, or from The Shire's rest. From the I-Site of Matamata a bus will take you to the entrance of the village. Count about 30 minutes of road during which you will be explained many things about the construction of Hobbiton Movie Set, you will see in particular a video of Peter Jackson telling us the history of the construction of the places.
Once you arrive at the entrance to the village, a guide will explain the visit to you. This is necessarily guided and do not dare to get lost or move away from the group!
The guide therefore accompanies you throughout the visit with many explanations and anecdotes about its construction as well as a few little filming secrets.
You will walk through the park for about 1 hour with photo stops in front of some small houses.
The tour ends at the Green Dragon Inn where you will be offered a drink. You will have time to visit the inn then head to the essential souvenir shop. It's hard not to fall for one of the many objects bearing the image of the hobbit village.
If you have chosen a visit from the I-Site of Matamata, the bus will then bring you back to the same place.
History of Hobbiton, Green Dragon Inn and The Shire'rest
The history of the places
The story begins in 1998 when Peter Jackson, then looking for a location to film the Lord of the Rings trilogy, flew over the North Island of New Zealand, his country of origin.
He then falls on a vast expanse, virgin of any civilization in the middle of the Waikato region. This extended, without access, without electricity pylon to spoil the view belongs to Alexander. The owner of the premises owns nearly 500 hectares where he grazes his 13 sheep and 000 cattle.
After long negotiations, Peter Jackson obtained permission to use this place as a filming location for his trilogy. He then found or will be built, Hobbiton, the Hobbit village located in “The County” – “The Shire” in English.
It was in March 1999 that the development work of Hobbiton began. An impressive project that required the intervention of the New Zealand army. This had the role of building an access road of nearly a kilometer and a half to the Hobbit village.
The area was kept secret for a long time with strong security measures against onlookers. The area was also prohibited from overflight.
It was then that the 37 holes, used for the houses of Hobbits were built, planted hedges, a mill built as well as a stone bridge. One of the most impressive developments was undoubtedly the transplanting of an oak tree weighing more than 29 tons. Thousands of leaves, artificial hard placed to prevent it from yellowing or falling during the winter.
The filming of the trilogy began in 1999. It was then that the town of Matamata, the main town in the area, saw the arrival of a team of nearly 400 people.
The first trilogy was released on screens between 2001 and 2003.
At the end of filming, as planned, the villages were partly destroyed to leave only 17 holes lined with plywood facades. It was not until 2002, after the huge success of the first episodes of the trilogy, that guided tours began on the premises of the Hobbits village.
The premises were then almost abandoned until 2009, when Peter Jackson embarked on the production of a new trilogy: The Hobbit.
The trilogy will be released between 2012 and 2014.
New work was undertaken to create 44 hobbit houses. To tell the truth, these “houses” are not really houses. Only a few houses are actually built, all the interior shots took place in the Weka studios in Wellington.
The famous Green Dragon Inn was also built. It symbolizes today the end of the guided tour of Hobbiton. You can visit the inn and you will even be offered a drink. Cozy up by the fireplace, sit back in the easy chair and sip the local Hobbiton beer.
The two trilogies of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, were an unexpected opportunity for tourism in New Zealand. The country then surfs on this public enthusiasm to expose itself to the world.
The immigration services even begin to stamp travellers' passports: “Middle-earth”.
The planes of the national company, Air New Zealand, are even repainted with the image of the film.
Green Dragon Inn
The Green Dragon Inn, a place known to all fans of JRR Tolkien's trilogies. Gathering place for the hobbits of the village who come to enjoy a warm place in which to meet around a good beer.
It was in 2012 that this place was recreated within the village of Hobbits to allow visitors and fans to enjoy the unique atmosphere that reigns there.
The place was recreated identically, outside and inside. A visit to the Green Dragon Inn is included in the Hobbiton tour. In addition to the visit of the place you will have the chance to enjoy an artisanal and local drink. Discover the local beer exclusively produced for the hobbit village, an apple cider or a non-alcoholic ginger beer.
The inn cannot be visited outside of a visit to the village.
Discover "The Party Marquee" a marquee that allows you to enjoy a meal on this magical place that is Hobbiton. Take a seat and enjoy breakfast or lunch before or after your visit to the village.
The meal is in addition to the price of the visit, $36 per adult, $26 per child.
The Shire’s rest
The Shire's Rest is none other than the "home" of Hobbiton. A place where you can buy your tickets or present your reservation purchased online in exchange for entry to the Hobbits Village Guided Tour.
At The Shire's Rest you will also find something to eat with a brasserie offering quality products, dishes made with products from the Hobbiton region, quality dishes such as our craft beer or our cider from a manufacturing local.
Also take advantage of the large terrace at your disposal and the outdoor spaces.
Don't forget to go to the official Hobbiton store, you will find a lot of souvenirs of all kinds but also rare objects from the movie "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbits". Only place where you can buy the official beer of Hobbiton.
Visit Hobbiton: Questions / Answers
IS IT POSSIBLE TO VISIT HOBBITON ALONE?
No, the only way to visit Hobbiton is to book a guided tour, in a group of around XNUMX people.
HOW LONG IS THE HOBBITON GUIDED TOUR
The visit itself lasts approximately 2 hours. Count an hour more if you choose a departure from Matamata, 2 additional hours for visits from Rotorua and 5 hours for visits from Auckland.
HOW TO JOIN HOBBITON?
You can reach the Hobbit Village by going to the address: 487 Buckland Road in Matamata, The Shire's Rest or by going to the I-Site of Matamata, 45 Broadway. From these places a bus will take you to the entrance of Hobbiton. The bus from Matamata is included in the price of the visit. The fare is the same as from The Shire's Rest.
WHERE TO EAT NEAR HOBBITON?
It is possible to eat at The Shire's Rest located at the entrance to the hobbit village. It is also possible to eat in Matamata located 15 kilometers from Hobbiton. You will also find shops and accommodation near Hobbiton.
IN WHICH LANGUAGES ARE THE HOBBITON TOURS GIVEN?
Guided tours of Hobbiton are exclusively conducted in English or Chinese.
HOW DO I BOOK MY GUIDED TOUR OF HOBBITON?
Even if it is possible to buy your tickets at the entrance of the village: The Shire's Rest, or at the I-Site of Matamata, it is strongly advised to buy your tickets for Hobbiton in advance.
My opinion on Hobbiton
Visiter Hobbiton Movie Set is, for me, a must for a trip to New Zealand. This place, emblematic of New Zealand was, of course, created from scratch a few years ago but is nonetheless a symbol of New Zealand. The guided tour is ideal for understanding the creation of these decorations and their history. Too bad there is no visit in French or even an audio guide.
For those who give very little importance to Tolkien's trilogies then the price may seem a bit high.
For more information on Hobbiton and its visit, visit the official Hobbiton website.
