Lord of the Rings and the Shire in real life. If you’re traveling to the North Island of New Zealand, you have to head to the small town of Matamata. This post describes my experience and pictures from a trip to the Shire in the beautiful rolling green hills of New Zealand.
You will likely be flying into Auckland International Airport (AKL) and will need a rental car. A car gives you the most flexibility to explore other sites of the North Island.
If you are heading from the Coromandel Peninsula (which I highly recommend visiting), you will see a road sign for the Hobbiton Movie Set and Tourist Farm. Do not worry, I was told that no tourists are farmed. The sign certainly made me laugh.
Key Information
- Location: near Matamata, New Zealand (North Island)
- Season: Year-round. January to April for better chance of sunny weather
- Trip Date (for this post): April
- Difficulty: Easy. Some hill walking and steps/cobblestones to navigate around
- Reservations: Book your tickets well-in-advance to get the tour time you want – there are limited spots each day. Have your tickets ready and printed or screenshots on your mobile device.
The retro bus will take you to the Shire for a day of bucket list glory. The driver was very friendly and fond of American buffets – our portion sizes are well known to be huge in the U.S.
Each element of Hobbiton is beautiful and fits in with the natural environment.
The lush greenery typical of the North Island of New Zealand. You really feel like you’re living a day in the Shire. Take some time to smell the marigolds and daisies, they’re lovely. As well as the turquoise blue door of the tiny home below.
I could almost picture hobbit children running with baskets along the narrow sidewalks and rolling green countryside. Maybe some are playing with kites too. The singular trees on hilltops made for interesting compositions.
These doorways are indeed short, maybe 1 meter tall (hey we are using the metric system for NZ). The pottery and workshops out front of each home are beautiful. Especially enjoyed the plants growing on the rooftops.
The Green Dragon Pub was the final stop on the Hobbiton tour. With its narrow doorways, festival lights, and oversized pints, I could almost hear the hobbits celebrating in the background.
One of the most scenic and iconic pubs I’ve been to. With beef and pork pies, muffins, and scones on the menu, I was in heaven.
The fireplace and oversized leather chairs are comfortable to unwind after a day of walking.
Be sure to spend some time admiring the wooden ceiling and intricate wood table and chairs.
As they say in New Zealand, cheers! Looking forward to visiting again in the next few years. Gather your friends and cheer for a bucket list experience that will stay with you forever.
Please check the Tourism NZ website for latest entry requirements under changing COVID-19 regulations.
