Experience the real Middle-earth with a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, the bucolic setting for The Shire that featured in the Peter Jackson directed films, The Lord of the Rings.

Your tour starts with a drive through the picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will escort you through the ten acre site recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton set was created.

The Hobbit holes, Green Dragon Inn, Mill and other structures created for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films can be viewed and you will see how this beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle-earth.

Upon completion of your tour of the set you will return to The Shires Rest to enjoy the Sheep Farm Experience and then be transferred back to the Matamata i-SITE.

Total tour duration from the Matamata Information Centre is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Note if you wish to take the tour from The Shires Rest Cafe please select Tour from The Shires Rest Cafe from the tour menu.

Departures from Matamata Information Centre,
45 Broadway, Matamata.
(Tour Duration approximately 2 hours 30 minutes)

9.30am
10:45am
12 noon
1:15pm
2:30pm
7 days a week (excluding 25 December).

Extended Summer tours:

3:45pm (20 August until 20 May)
5:00pm (27 Dec to 29 Feb)

Extra tours to Hobbiton Movie Set
From now until 31 January 2012 we are operating additional daily tours. All our departure times are listed below but please note that only the times listed on our reservations page can be booked in advance via the internet. If you wish to take one of the other tour times please just arrive at the Matamata i-SITE at least 15 minutes before departure time. We guarantee seats.
9.30am
10:45am
12 noon
1:15pm
2:30pm
7 days a week (excluding 25 December).

Extended Summer tours:

3:45pm (20 August until 20 May)
5:00pm (27 Dec to 31 Jan)