Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set (and Go Inside a Hobbit Hole!)

Getting to visit the Hobbiton movie set was such a dream come true. This post is mainly an excuse to share all my amazing Hobbiton photos with you. Lord of the Rings and Hobbiton fans will definitely feel like this is a very special day. I visited with a huge group of my family, and we had an absolute blast.

Say hi to my mom, siblings, aunt, uncle, and cousins!

The Hobbiton movie set really feels like a real place. There is such an attention to detail throughout the set, from real fruits and veggies to fake leaves and honey.

Overall, I felt like the tour was pretty short, especially considering how much our group loved to take photos. Tours leave every 15 minutes, so you can’t linger in any one spot for too long. That said, we did manage to take all the photos we wanted… though of course, we could’ve spent more time just pretending to be Hobbits. And who doesn’t want to do that?

The Basics About Visiting Hobbiton

If you’re planning to visit the Hobbiton movie set, here are a few things to know ahead of time:

• Book tickets in advance, especially if you’re short on time. Tickets cost 120 New Zealand dollars.
• The tour takes about 2.5 hours, and you’ll need to arrive 30 minutes before your time slot as well. Overall, I spent 4 hours here.
• Be sure to bring your passport if you’re a woman who looks under 40 — the staff are strict about your ID being a passport only, and you won’t get your free beer without it.
• If it’s recently rained (or is raining), expect a muddy path. The tour runs rain or shine, and umbrellas are provided.
• Since the tour moves quickly, I recommend just bringing your phone rather than a bulky camera.

Also, I recommend a 12pm timeslot if this is your main activity for the day. You can wake in Auckland, head out by 9:30am, and then come back by 3pm. Order in pizza and watch The Hobbit at your accommodation (like we did).

Should I Dress Up?

I say yes! I did my best hobbit impression with a long skirt, peasant top, and corset (that I bought just for the occasion). Many staff members told me they liked my outfit, and I enjoyed being dressed for the visit to Hobbiton. My cousins, mom, sister, and I planned on frilly outfits like fun tops and skirts.

Most people were wearing regular clothing, but that’s no fun. When our group returned from the tour, I saw two people in proper hobbit gear, complete with capes. I thought that was amazing.

I tried looking up costume rental shops, but didn’t have any luck finding something easy. Please let me know in the comments if you find anything.

My fit was slightly ruined by my hiking shoes, but yolo. They were the only “walking” type shoes I brought with me.

Starting off the Tour

The whole experience of visiting the Hobbiton movie set is well organized from start to finish. We arrived at 11:30 for our 12:00 PM tour slot, checked in, and took some photos with the Hobbiton sign.

At 11:45, we got in line for the tour bus and boarded shortly after. The tour starts with a short introduction video, and then we were assigned a dedicated guide.

It was already so beautiful — sheep grazing on the rolling hills as we drove in. During the tour, you’ll get insider info about how the films were made and some of the unique, detailed elements of the set.

Stopping at Hobbit Holes

The set was originally meant to be temporary, but when The Hobbit movies were filmed, the farm owner requested that it be made permanent, which is why we can visit it today.

We made several stops at adorable little Hobbit houses while learning secrets about how the set was designed.

It also happened to be the sunniest day of our trip to New Zealand — we were lucky! It was winter, so the days before and after had been cold, rainy, and windy.

At one point, the tour guide will take a group picture for you.

Start planning your poses now!

Of course, one of the highlights is visiting Bilbo Baggins’ house. I loved the little “No admittance — party business only” sign.

Inside a Hobbit Hole!

At the end of the tour, you get to go inside one of two Hobbit houses.

There were so many fun details — a writing station, a kitchen, even a bathroom, and little Hobbit-sized beds. We had a good laugh pretending we were having a food fight like in The Hobbit.

Everything is Hobbit-sized, which just makes it even cuter. Some elements work, like the sink!

The Green Dragon Bar

At the end of the tour, you get a free cider or beer at the Green Dragon Bar. The ticket says to bring your passport, but I assumed that,  being well over the drinking age of 18, it wouldn’t be necessary. That was a mistake.

All the men (aka Wilhelm, my cousins, and brother) in our group — most even younger than me but with mustaches — got drinks without a problem. Meanwhile, most of the women in our group were denied drinks unless we showed our passports, which we didn’t bring. So basically, if you’re a woman, either grow a mustache or bring your passport! Unless you have a New Zealand ID, a passport is the ONLY accepted form of ID. Nothing else will work.

Small pastries and pies are available for sale as well. The vegan pie was delicious.

We hung out at the bar for about 40 minutes before heading back to the tour bus to end our visit.

The Gift Shop in Hobbiton

The gift shop has a variety of souvenir items, but honestly, I didn’t think they were that great. You could probably find cheaper, better-quality, and more unique souvenirs online, like on Etsy or Amazon.

I was hoping to buy a cute Fellowship leaf pin, but those were all out of stock, except for the expensive ones.

The Cafe

There’s a café above the gift shop with delicious-looking pastries, lunch items, and good coffee. It’s a nice spot to sit for a bit before getting back on the road to Auckland.

Overall Thoughts

Visiting the Hobbiton movie set was amazing — it truly brings the world of Middle-earth to life. If you’re a really big fan, you might even consider booking back-to-back tours. I do feel like the experience is a little rushed, but that may just be because our group was so obsessed with taking photos at every little Hobbit hole.

There was some maintenance going on during our visit. We were warned about this when we booked our tickets, and while we did see some of the maintenance activity, it didn’t take away from our experience at all.

Here I am writing the blog, hehe