Hobbiton Movie Set is only accessible via a guided tour experience.

A tour of Hobbiton Movie Set comprises of:

• A short bus ride from your departure location to the movie set
• A 1.5 hour guided walking tour including time inside the interior of Bagshot Row
• A 20 minute visit to The Green Dragon Inn including a complimentary beverage
• At the end of your experience, you will walk with your guide back to the bus and take another short bus ride to your departure location

These times are approximate only and may differ slightly for your tour experience. 

Tours that include a meal (like Evening Banquet Tour and Second Breakfast Tour) include additional time on the Movie Set but all experiences with us begin with a guided tour as detailed above.

When your tour arrives at Bagshot Row, your group will be split in two, and you will be escorted through one of two interiors to explore at your own pace. There is an allotted period of time for each tour group within the Hobbit Hole and your guide will advise when it is your group’s time to move on and explore the rest of the movie set. 

All experiences except our Private Tour are a shared group service, meaning you will be joining a larger group of other visitors while on tour with us. For our Hobbiton Movie Set Tour and Tour + Lunch Combo experiences, the maximum group size is 41. For our Evening Banquet Tour the maximum group size is 48. For our Second Breakfast Tour the maximum group size is 30.

All experiences except our Private Tour are a shared group service, meaning you will be joining a larger group of other visitors while on tour with us. 

For our Hobbiton Movie Set Tour and Tour + Lunch Combo experiences, the maximum group size is 41.

For our Evening Banquet Tour the maximum group size is 48.

For our Second Breakfast Tour the maximum group size is 30.

For our Special Events such as International Hobbit Day, Mid-Winter Feast and Summer Harvest Festival, group sizes vary but the maximum in each departure will be 41. 

These maximums are based on vehicle and dining capacities. Please ensure that you book a ticket for all people in your group including children and babies. 

To ensure all our guests have the complete experience the only way to access the Hobbiton Movie Set is with a fully guided walking tour.

We strongly recommend booking in advance as our tours are known to sell out, especially over the Summer months between December - February each year as this is typically our busiest time. Our website has live availability so you can book online - You can make a reservation online by clicking here. Alternatively you can make a reservation by calling us on (07) 888-1505 or by contacting us here.

Please note, all of our tours are subject to availability at the time of booking. If you do not make a booking in advance, we cannot guarantee you will be able to join a tour.  

All our tours currently depart from The Shire's Rest™. You can drive yourself to The Shire's Rest, park your vehicles here and join one of our tours where you will be transported to the movie set via one of our Hobbiton Movie Set coaches. Click here for directions to The Shire's Rest. 

The Shire's Rest is located approximately 15 minutes from Matamata town centre, and from here it is about a 10 minute bus ride to the Movie Set which is included in our tours. All standard tours will be transported to the Movie Set via one of our vehicles unless using a non-collapsible wheelchair.

To ensure all our guests have the complete experience the only way to access the Hobbiton Movie Set is with a fully guided tour.

Amending a booking

If your travel plans change and you need to amend the date or time of your booking you can do this by contacting our Reservations team via phone on 07 888 1505 or by contacting us here. Once we receive your amendment request we will do our best to amend your booking.

Please note, all of our tours are subject to availability.

Cancelling a booking

If you wish to cancel a booking, you may do so by using the above contact details or replying directly to your booking confirmation that was emailed to you when you made your booking. Click here for our cancellation policy and COVID-19 Guarantee.

Bagshot Row is a lane with three Hobbit Holes in the hillside including Samwise Gamgee’s iconic yellow door. When you arrive at Bagshot Row your tour group will be split into two and invited to explore one of the two fully themed Hobbit Hole interiors cosy enough for a family of Hobbits. 

Please note that Sam’s home is an exterior facade only and is not be accessible. 

The Shire's Rest™ is our headquarters and location where all of our tours depart from. It is located at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata - click here for directions. 

It is located approximately 15 minutes from Matamata town centre, and from here it is about a 10 minute bus ride to the Movie Set which is included in our tours.

You do not need to book a tour to visit The Shire's Rest. On site here at The Shire's Rest is our Ticketing Centre, Retail Shop and Cafe. There is ample parking here on site, with plenty of space for large vehicles and camper vans too. 

You can find lots of information about accessibility, mobility restrictions and wheelchair use on our Accessibility page here.  

There is no difference in the tour itself once you arrive at Hobbiton Movie Set.

If you are self-driving we suggest choosing The Shires Rest^TM  (501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata) as there are no off-set transfers included. We offer free parking for the duration of the tour with spaces to suit camper vans.

The tour from Matamata i-SITE (45 Broadway, Matamata) is for those who need to transport to and from Matamata. This service is currently available once daily. 

For options from other cities such as Auckland or Tauranga click here to visit our Transfers page.