In case you haven’t pieced it together based on the rest of my New Zealand posts, let me take this moment to publicly state that I am a BIG TIME Lord of the Rings fan.
Truly, I can’t even begin to imagine the number of times I’ve watched those films. At least twice each in the last year alone (Derek and I did a rewatch in late 2019, and then I watched them all again during the flight to Auckland in February).
I have a lot of love for all three of the films, but there’s just something extra magical and heartwarming about that first film…and I think the opening scenes in the Shire have everything to do with it.
Gandalf arriving in his little horse and buggy, setting off fireworks to the delight of the children (and one seemingly grouchy old man); Bilbo’s over-the-top birthday party, with its dancing, feasting, and drinking; the cozy hobbit hole at the top of the hill that Bilbo and Frodo call home.
Who wouldn’t be enchanted by that?!
So yes, when we began mapping out our New Zealand itinerary, Derek and I agreed that a visit to Hobbiton Movie Set was a nonnegotiable. And while it’s definitely a tourist hotspot, it was also every bit as magical as I had hoped.
Seeing the iconic hobbit holes belonging to Sam and Bilbo, sipping cider at the Green Dragon Inn, and walking along the same footpaths as Frodo and Gandalf made my geeky little heart so happy. I hope these 25 photos capture at least a little bit of the magic of Hobbiton Movie Set.
Tips for Visiting Hobbiton Movie Set
- Book the first tour of the day if you’re able to. We booked the 8:30am tour (I believe the earliest time is 9:00am in the low season) and it was SO worth it for the chance to walk into Hobbiton and see it completely empty.
- Book your Hobbiton tour in advance, as spots fill up weeks (or sometimes months) ahead of time during the high season.
- Wear sunscreen or cover up, and don’t forget sunglasses! You’ll be walking in the sun with limited shade for roughly two hours.
- Be patient. You will be in a tour group with other people, and the start of the tour felt like a mad rush of everyone trying to take photos of every single hobbit hole. There are PLENTY of photo opportunities, so be patient and don’t forget to slow down and just enjoy the scenery.
- Order your drink right when you get to the Green Dragon. This was one of my favorite parts of the tour, though unfortunately time is fairly limited. Get your drink right away so you can sip as you walk around and look at all the little details.
- Arrive on time. The tours ran like clockwork, and you if you miss the start of the tour you won’t be allowed to join late. The next available tour may not be the same day!
Are you a Lord of the Rings fan too? Is Hobbiton Movie Set on your New Zealand bucket list?
This looks absolutely amazing. I’m so jealous! 🙂
I’ve always been curious about Hobbiton but I have never seen this many photos. It now inspires me to visit as soon as we can!