Frequently Asked Questions

We work with a number of transfer partners who offer transport packages from different locations such as Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga. These partners hold pre-arranged inventory, which allows them to confirm itineraries directly on their respective websites. We recommend checking booking terms and conditions with these third parties prior to making a booking as they may differ from Hobbiton Movie Set policies.

Our website shows live availability for all tour experiences and we are very heavily booked over the Summer period. Our team process cancellations as we receive them and these tickets are released back onto the website as they become available. For our 2.5 hour Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, our cancellation policy allows cancellations up to 24 hours prior to the booked tour time and date.

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. The movie set is located on private farm land and is not publicly accessible outside of our guided tour experiences. 

When you are searching for a tour on our website, there are four status options that may appear - No Departure, Fully Booked, Book Now - Limited Places and Book Now. 

No Departure - the tour experience you are searching for is not available on that date. 

Fully Booked - all tickets for that tour experience on that date are sold out. 

Book Now - Limited Places will appear with a gold button and red writing below. This means that there are only a small amount of tickets left (9 or less) for that tour experience on that date. We recommend booking as soon as possible if you are hoping to join one of these tours as when tickets are fully booked, we cannot increase capacity. 

Book Now will appear with a gold button with white writing on it. This means that there are greater than 10 seats available for that tour experience on that date. We still recommend pre-booking as far in advance as you can to avoid missing the tour day and time that best suits your itinerary. 

Once you have booked your tickets online, you should receive a booking confirmation through to your email address. Please read the information in this confirmation email carefully and ensure you arrive to your departure location at least 20 minutes before your scheduled tour time.

On arrival to The Shire's Rest, please visit our team at the Ticketing desk and present your confirmation. You can show this on your phone, or simply quote your reference number, tour time and party name. Our team will print off your tour tickets and give you further instructions. 

When you make a booking with us online, our system will automatically send you a booking confirmation to the email address you entered. If you haven't received it, we recommend firstly checking your Junk Mail as they can sometimes default there (especially for Hotmail accounts). If you still cannot find the confirmation, please get in touch with our team and be sure to include your full name, email address, tour date and time and the booking reference if you have it. 

Amending a booking

Our reservations team have a 72 hour response time over the Summer months. If your travel plans change last minute, and you see availability on the website for your preferred date and time, we recommend that you book it as soon as possible and request a refund for your original booking. This can be the fastest way to ensure you get the tour, day and time that suits your itinerary and travel plans.   If you're booking far in advance and you need to amend your booking, please contact us here and quote your reference number. 

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

Cancelling a booking

If you wish to cancel a booking, please reply directly to your booking confirmation that was emailed to you when you made your booking or contact us  and clearly state your booking reference number.

Click here for our cancellation policy.

A Family Pass includes 2x Adults (18+ years) and 2x Youth (11-17 years) tickets for just $332. You can book this special rate for our 2.5 hour Hobbiton Movie Set Tour departing The Shire's Rest or 3.5 hour Hobbiton Movie Set Tour departing Matamata Information Centre by selecting the Fare Type when checking availability for your preferred date. Any additional people travelling with your group can be booked at the same time. Children aged 10 and under are FREE but must have a ticket booked at time of purchase. Please note the Family Pass is exclusively available for bookings at hobbitontours.com and is only valid for the combination of fare types and age ranges indicated above.

Gift Vouchers that begin with the code 'HTB' can only be redeemed by contacting our Reservations team. Gift Vouchers with a voucher number made up entirely of numbers can be redeemed online at checkout. For more information on Gift Vouchers visit our Gift voucher page here.

We do not hold a waitlist for specific dates and times due to the number of different products that we operate and the number of enquiries that we receive. We recommend frequently checking on our website to view the most up to date availability.

Our departure dates are available a minimum of 10 months in advance to book. We recommend frequently checking on our website to view the most up to date availability.

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 or Tour + Lunch Combo) 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 and Behind The Scenes Tour the maximum group size is 28.

We have some detailed information on what to expect from the walking tour and pathways on our Accessibility page here. 

Visitors are not able to venture past the gate at Bag End. Your tour will include a dedicated pause right outside the gate for photos and plenty of time to take in the iconic views over The Shire from the top of the hill.

Bag End is facade with just the first couple of metres inside the Hobbit Hole themed, which can be seen from the path. 

Once you have finished your time outside Bag End, you will carry on down the path towards Bagshot Row where you will be able to explore the fully themed interiors of a Hobbit Hole. 

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. The movie set is located on private farm land and is not publicly accessible outside of our guided tour experiences. 

We recommend you arrive at The Shire's Rest at least 20 minutes before your tour time in order to check in. You may also like to spend some time at our cafe and souvenir store at The Shire's Rest. Most of our visitors spend around 3-3.5 hours in total with us. 

Hobbiton Movie Set is an outdoor walking tour through meandering paths. For this reason, we recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for our tour, and checking the weather forecast ahead of your visit. You can find 10 Day weather forecast information for the Matamata area on Metservice. 

In the Summer months, we recommend sunscreen and a hat as the sun can become quite hot, as well as making sure you are well hydrated. In Autumn, Winter and Spring, it's best to be prepared with a rainproof outer layer and enclosed shoes as the paths can become muddy. In the event of rain, we have wide umbrellas available that you can use for the duration of your tour. 

In order to be served alcohol, Hobbiton Movie Set require all customers to produce a form of valid ID. The following forms of ID are accepted; current passport, New Zealand Drivers License and Hospitality New Zealand 18+ Card.

We also recommend our guests bring a camera or a phone with camera capability as our Movie Set is the perfect place to get some great travel photos! Drones and tripods are not permitted.

Please be aware that anything you take with you on our bus must be carried by you for the duration of your tour experience. 

Yes, we operate in all weather conditions. Umbrellas are provided in the event of rain and we highly recommend you dress appropriately for the weather, with enclosed footwear.

In the event of extreme weather conditions we reserve the right to make alternative tour arrangements for you.

We ask that guests wear clothing appropriate for a family friendly environment and highly recommend you also dress appropriately for the weather, with enclosed, suitable footwear. Clothing with objectionable or offensive writing or images are not permitted. Hobbiton Movie Set reserves the right to refuse entry to guests wearing items of clothing or costumes that may be considered offensive or have a negative impact on other Hobbiton Movie set guest's experiences.

Costumes are allowed and welcomed at Hobbiton Movie Set, although due to safety we only allow soft props on the premises. No weapons or accessories that have the potential to harm are permitted. Tours begin with a bus ride to the set so please ensure that your costume is appropriate and functional for this portion of your journey. 

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

You can bring a stroller or a pram on tour with you provided it is fully collapsible and can fit in the luggage compartment of our buses. It is important to note that the Movie Set paths are made of cobblestones and dirt tracks so it is bumpy and uneven in places. The paths are also quite narrow in places and there are some low level stairs to climb so you may need an extra adult to assist you with the stroller/pram in some locations.

Twin strollers are not recommended due to the narrowness of the paths.

Of course! We want you to take photos and capture memories while on tour with us. Please use handheld equipment only as drone use is not permitted. 

Please be aware though that any photos and video recordings taken on set are for personal use only and not to be sold or distributed for commercial gain due to our licensing agreements with the film companies. 

Public drone use is not permitted on the Movie Set, at The Shire's Rest or surrounding farmland.

You are welcome to film and/or photograph your experience using handheld equipment if the content is for personal use only. Any commercial use is not permitted under our license with the film companies. 

The music played inside The Green Dragon Inn was created exclusively for The Shire and is isn’t available to purchase or stream elsewhere. The only place to hear these magical pieces is during your visit to The Green Dragon Inn, here in The Shire. 

Unfortunately we are not able to permit any pets onto the Movie Set. The only exception to this is for registered service dogs. Please contact our team in advance if you require a service dog to join you on tour. 

Yes, you can propose while on tour however it is important to remember that you are part of a fully guided experience when you visit Hobbiton and as such need to move around the set with your guide and group.
That being said there are a couple of ways to find a few quiet moments for yourself.

Top tips for creating your special moment:

• Our top tip would be exploring a Private Tour experience, this way you will have an entire tour slot to yourselves with your tour guide and take any moment along the tour to ask your special question, a truly unforgettable experience.
• If you are on a shared Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, when you arrive at The Green Dragon Inn you have 15 – 20 minutes to enjoy your complimentary beverage and explore the area. This offers the opportunity to find some space to pop your question with time to take a couple of photos.
• If you are joining a special event or an experience that includes a meal at Hobbiton Movie Set there will be further opportunities for you to create this moment.

It is always a great idea to let the Hobbiton team know you are planning to do this when you book as it helps your guide to be able to assist if possible.

Our Evening Banquet Tour and Second Breakfast Tour experiences both include a guided tour of the Movie Set at the beginning of the experience. This is the same tour experience guests get on our daily tour experience. If you wish to do a tour at a different time of day as well, then you are welcome to book multiple experiences. 

Yes, with ample notice, we can cater to most dietary requirements and allergies. Please note, while we offer gluten free menu options, we are not a gluten free kitchen and cross contamination can occur. We are a ‘halal-friendly’ kitchen, and follow a strict allergen management plan, however our kitchen handles many allergens and we cannot guarantee that any menu item be complete free of allergens. To help us prepare safely, please inform us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking or at least 48 hours in advance by emailing [email protected]

Our tours begin with a scenic 10-minute bus ride through the beautiful Alexander family farm. Our buses are designed without seat belts as they are not required by law on buses in New Zealand. As such, you will not be able to install an infant capsule, booster or car seat on the bus as there is no secure way to fasten them. 

The maximum speed limit on this private road is 30kph (18.5 mph), and all vehicles travelling to the movie set are authorised and aware of the speed limit and road conditions. We ask that infants and small children sit on your lap or in a front pack carrier/sling during the bus ride. Please ensure that a child ticket is added to the booking, even if the child will be seated on your lap for the entire bus ride.

If you plan to bring a stroller and/or infant capsule for the tour itself, it must fit within the bus’s luggage compartment. The paths of Hobbiton are comprised of cobblestone, hard-packed earth, and gravel and there are some low level steps along the way. The paths can be narrow and uneven in places, so some strollers may be better suited to the terrain than others. Many parents choose to use front/backpack child carriers for small children and infants while on tour for this reason.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our reservations team here.

The Shire's Rest™ is our headquarters and location where most 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. All tour experiences include a bus ride from our location to the movie set.

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. Overnight parking is not permitted. 

Visit our Getting Here page to view a map with driving routes from Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupo and Tauranga. You can also view a list here with transfer options from Auckland, Tauranga, and Hamilton. 

There is no accommodation available at Hobbiton Movie Set. 

For hotel, motel and other accommodation options in the Waikato region, visit www.waikatonz.com/accommodation  or contact a local isite or visitor information centre. 

The recent Airbnb promotion was for 3 exclusive stays only to celebrate 10 years since the first Hobbit movie was released and is now fully booked. We will not be offering any accommodation or overnight stays in the future.

As the Movie Set is located on private farmland, and to ensure all our guests have the complete experience, the only way to access Hobbiton Movie Set is with a fully guided tour. Our tours tend to book out so we recommend booking as far in advance as possible. We are often unable to accommodate walk-ins. 

Most of our tours depart from The Shire's Rest™ which is the closest departure point to the Movie Set. 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 20 minutes from the Matamata town centre. We offer a daily service from the Matamata Information Centre where your experience includes return transfers from Matamata town centre. There is free parking near the Information Centre. 

Our Reservations and Ticketing team on site have access to the same availability that is shown on our website. We recommend only arriving to The Shires Rest or your preferred departure location if you have a confirmed booking in place. 

If you are going to be late for your tour, we recommend you call us as soon as you are able to so we can discuss options with you. If you are unable to call us and arrive late, we will do our best to put you on the next available tour departure. Please note that if we are extremely busy, the next available tour may be several hours later, a different tour experience than initially booked and in rare occurrences may not be on the same day.

Yes, we have ample free parking at The Shire’s Rest available for customers, including limited spaces large vehicles including large camper vans, coaches and vehicles carrying trailers. Overnight parking is not permitted on site. 

There are two EV charging stations available in The Shire's Rest carpark. Both Type 1 and Type 2 charge ports are available. Learn more about how to use the charging stations here. 

Yes, there is free parking in the Matamata town centre both street side and in parking areas around the Information Centre.

There is also a designated parking area called Railside By The Green, which is suitable for campervans and buses. As this area can be busy, we recommend allowing extra time to find a park. 

Visit the Matamata Information Centre website for more information about the township of Matamata.

The special event ticket price includes a fully guided walking tour through the 12-acre Movie Set, all catering, beverages and themed entertainment for the evening. Please refer to the specific event page for more information on what is included at each event.

Our special events typically go on sale approximately 1 year in advance of the event date. We recommend following our social media accounts for special event announcements. 

Facebook  |  Instagram

If you have friends or family booked on a separate tour departure from your own, you will be able to meet up with them at the conclusion of the guided tour. If the special event you have booked has a seated dinner, we can arrange for you to be seated with your friends or family from a separate tour.

For groups of 20 guests or more booking onto one of our special events, we ask that you Contact the team directly to make your booking. We have a 30-day cancellation period for groups of this size. If cancelled outside of 30 days, a full refund will be provided. If cancelled within 30 days, no refund will be given.

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 here.

If you wish to cancel your special event booking, a full refund can be provided if cancelled at least 7 days prior to the event date. Special event bookings cancelled less than 7 days prior to the event date will not receive a refund.

If you require to leave the event early, please notify our team upon check-in and we can arrange a shuttle to return guests to The Shires Rest (main car park). If you have booked a Matamata Information Centre departure, you will not be able to leave the event early, unless you make your own travel arrangements from The Shires Rest.

No discounts apply if leaving the event early.

Special event tours and activities will operate in all weather conditions. In the event of rain, umbrellas are provided at the entrance to the Movie Set. In the event of extreme weather conditions, Hobbiton Movie Set reserves the right to make alternative arrangements.

If you are self-driving or making your own transport arrangements to Hobbiton Movie Set, you should book a tour departure from The Shires Rest. If you require transport to and from Hobbiton to attend a special event, complimentary transfers are available from the Matamata Information Centre only, please book a Matamata Information Centre departure for this option.

If you have booked a Matamata Information Centre departure, you will not be able to visit our on-site gift shop during the special event.

You can choose In-Person Pick Up at checkout when placing your order on our online shop. After completing your purchase, reply to your order confirmation email to let us know you’d like to collect your items at your booked special event. Orders must be placed at least 4 days before the event. Collection will take place at the Movie Set venues, and we’ll provide further details once your order is confirmed.

You are welcome to take photos and videos during our special events. Please use handheld equipment only. The use of tripods and drones is not permitted. Please be aware that any photos or videos taken during the event are for personal use only and are not to be sold or distributed for commercial gain due to our licensing agreements.

Absolutely!! We love it when guests dress up for our special events.

Please note, prop replicas or costume items that are deemed to pose a risk to the Health and Safety of our visitors or staff are not permitted on our tour experiences or special events. This includes but is not limited to large swords, knives, staffs, and bows unless constructed of soft materials.

View our full terms of entry here

All guest dietary requirements and food allergies will be catered for. You can add your dietary needs in the additional comments section at the checkout when placing a booking. During the event, feel free to speak to a member of our food and beverage team if you have any concerns around the menu.

We will be serving our exclusive Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ range at all special events. You can view our range of brews here. A selection of New Zealand wines will also be available, alongside a selection of soft drinks.

A special mulled beverage will be available at our Mid-Winter Feast and Hobbiton Christmas events only.

For our Hobbiton™ Beer Festival events we will be pouring some special surprise guest ales.

For guests who require mobility assistance, we have the option of a Mobility Restriction Golf Cart. The golf cart is driven by a Hobbiton staff member. Please note, our Mobility Restriction Golf Carts can seat two passengers only, with a combined maximum weight of 200kgs. In order to use one of our golf carts, guests must be able to transfer independently on to the golf cart and sit un-supported. Use of the golf cart will depend on availability and must be pre-booked. There is no additional charge to use the golf cart. View our accessibility information here.

An evening lantern walk around the Movie Set is included in all special events except for our Hobbiton™ Beer Festival events.

Children and youth are welcome to attend all of our Special Events, with the exception of the Hobbiton™ Beer Festival. To book, simply select the appropriate fare type when checking availability for your preferred date.  

If you have already purchased tickets for one of our Special Events and have paid an Adult fare for a Child or Youth, please feel free to contact our Reservations Team here, who will be happy to assist with amending your booking to reflect the correct fare type and updated price.