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Hobbiton Movie Set: Why the Last Tour of the Day Is the One to Book

A blue hobbit-hole door in the hillside at Hobbiton

None of us are die-hard Lord of the Rings fans, and Hobbiton was still one of the best-looking places we visited in New Zealand. The detail is amazing and everything looks real. Our one strong tip: book the last entry of the day.

Quick facts

  • Where: Hobbiton Movie Set, near Matamata, Waikato
  • Book ahead: yes. Tours are guided and timed
  • When: we took the last entry of the day, just before the dinner tours
  • Bring: your passport or ID for the drink at the Green Dragon
  • Good for: fans, obviously, but also anyone who likes a beautiful garden and a good story
  • Our rating: 9/10

Before you go: tours sell out, so check availability and book on the official Hobbiton Movie Set Tours site, and read their FAQ for what to bring.

Why the last tour is the one to book

We never felt rushed, much of the set was quiet, and the late-afternoon light is perfect for photos. The groups ahead of us had already moved through, so we could stop at the famous doors without a queue behind us.

The lake and jetty at Hobbiton in the late-afternoon light

The tour

It’s guided, and the guides are good: they point out details and behind-the-scenes stories you’d walk straight past on your own. You can now go inside some of the hobbit holes, which shows how much work went into making them look lived in.

Inside a hobbit hole at Hobbiton, with a round fireplace and plates on the wall
A hobbit garden with jars and tools by a picket fence at Hobbiton
A hobbit hole with a blue door and a flowering garden at Hobbiton
A yellow hobbit-hole door behind a wooden picket fence at Hobbiton
Steps up to a hobbit hole with a "No admittance except on party business" sign

The Green Dragon

The tour ends at the Green Dragon Inn with a free drink: ale, cider or ginger beer. Bring your passport or other ID, because they check.

What we’d do differently

  • Arrive early. We got there with time to kill after Waitomo and ate before our tour.
  • Don’t plan anything after it except the drive. We drove back to Auckland that night and dropped the rental car straight away.

Verdict

9/10. Worth it even if you’re not a fan. Book the last slot of the day.

Hobbiton Movie Set FAQ

Do you need to book Hobbiton in advance?

Yes. All visits are guided, timed tours and they sell out, so book on the official Hobbiton Movie Set Tours site.

What is the best time to visit Hobbiton?

The last tour of the day. We never felt rushed, the set was quiet and the late-afternoon light was perfect for photos.

Do you need ID at Hobbiton?

Bring your passport or other ID for the free drink at the Green Dragon Inn at the end of the tour. They check.

Is Hobbiton worth it if you are not a Lord of the Rings fan?

We think so. None of us are die-hard fans and we still gave it 9/10.

This was day 8 of our 10-day North Island itinerary, after the Waitomo Abyss tour that morning.

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