Hobbiton Movie Set

The filming location comprises 44 circular Hobbit dwellings built into green hillsides, featuring colorful round doors and small gardens. The property spans 4.9 hectares (12 acres) and contains several fully furnished structures. Visitors can explore paved pathways that wind through the Shire landscape, passing vegetable gardens, a mill pond, and the Green Dragon Inn.

Construction began in 1999 when builders created temporary structures for the original trilogy, which were dismantled after filming concluded in 2000. The Alexander family retained ownership throughout this period. For the Hobbit trilogy starting in 2009, the set was permanently rebuilt using durable materials and opened to tourists in 2012 as a year-round attraction on the working sheep farm.

This filming location allows visitors to step into the fictional world of Middle-earth, which gained worldwide recognition through J.R.R. Tolkien's novels. The set serves as a pilgrimage site for fans of the trilogy and has significantly boosted tourism in the Waikato region. The property demonstrates how literature and cinema can combine to create a lasting tourist attraction.

Guided tours run daily and require advance booking, as independent visits are not permitted. The property is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Matamata and accessible only by car or organized transport. Evening tours with dinner are available. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear, as pathways include hills and unpaved sections.

The Hobbit dwellings vary in size, with smaller versions used to make human actors appear larger, while larger versions were filmed with dwarf performers. Each structure contains specific details like handcrafted props and planted vegetable gardens that correspond to different fictional residents. Gardeners maintain over 60 trees and thousands of plants daily across the grounds.

Location: Matamata-Piako District

Website: https://hobbitontours.com

GPS coordinates: -37.85750,175.67972

Latest update: November 27, 2025 21:01