In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team of location scouts began 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 immediately noted the area’s striking similarity to The Shire™, as described by J.R.R. Tolkien, and quickly realised the Hobbits™ had found a home.
In one particular part of the farm, a magnificent pine tree towered beside a tranquil lake at the foot of a rising hill. Bag End™ now sits atop that hill, overlooking the Party Tree, as the pine would later become known. The surrounding landscape was untouched with no power lines, buildings, or roads in sight, allowing Sir Peter Jackson to leave the 20th century behind and fully immerse audiences in the fantasy world of Middle-earth™.
In March 1999, the crew began a nine-month quest to bring Hobbiton to life. Help was provided by the New Zealand Army, and soon 39 temporary Hobbit Holes™ were constructed across the 12-acre set. Secrecy was paramount, and strict security measures were maintained throughout construction and filming. Production began in December 1999, with filming in The Shire completed over approximately three months.
Following filming, an initial attempt was made to dismantle the set, leaving behind 17 bare plywood façades. These remaining structures would become the catalyst that propelled Hobbiton into the public eye, with guided tours first commencing in 2002.
In 2009, Sir Peter Jackson returned to the farm to film The Hobbit Trilogy, permanently rebuilding the set in the remarkable detail seen on screen. The Hobbiton Movie Set that visitors experience today features 44 fully reconstructed Hobbit Holes, designed to stand the test of time and now lovingly maintained by the Hobbiton team.
In 2012, The Green Dragon™ Inn opened, allowing guests to conclude their adventure with a refreshing beverage from the Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ Range.
More than a decade later, an interior Hobbit Hole experience was developed, enabling visitors to step inside the charming dwellings of Hobbits going about their daily lives. Designed and crafted by the renowned creative teams behind the original film trilogies, Bagshot Row opened in December 2023, offering an authentic and immersive new chapter in the Hobbiton experience.
Today, an abundance of movie magic remains nestled within the Alexander family’s fully operational farm.
