Hobbiton is a must-see for every fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. This beautiful film set is located in Matamata, New Zealand, and served as the backdrop for many famous scenes from the films. The name “Hobbiton” is a combination of the words “hobbit” and “town” and has been open to the public since 2012.
Different tours are offered at Hobbiton, but a morning tour is a great way to experience the film set before the crowds arrive. During a morning tour, you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the beautiful nature.
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Why a Hobbiton Morning Tour (Second Breakfast Movie Set Tour)?
There are several reasons why a Hobbiton morning tour is a good idea:
- It is less crowded than an afternoon tour or evening tour.
- You can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the beautiful nature.
- You have more time to take photos and explore the film set.
- You can end the morning with a delicious second breakfast, as the tour is also called.
Keep in mind that from 09.00 a group of potentially 40 tourists enters the village every 10 minutes. The later you come during the day, the busier the park becomes.
What can you expect from a Hobbiton morning tour?
A typical Hobbiton morning tour starts with a bus ride from Matamata to the film set. Once at the film set, you are welcomed by a guide who tells you everything about the history of Hobbiton and the production of the films.
During the tour, you visit the main locations on the film set, such as the Hobbit holes, the Mill, the Party Tree, and the Green Dragon. You also get the chance to take photos with the beautiful landscapes and the Hobbit houses.
Most morning tours last about 3 hours. After the tour, you enjoy a delicious second breakfast!
The entire program looks like this:
- A fully guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set
- A visit to the Green Dragon Inn with your first Hobbit Southfarthing drink upon arrival
- A second breakfast spread in The Millhouse with continental and hot dishes
- Coffee and tea served in The Millhouse during the second breakfast
Tips for booking a Hobbiton (morning) tour
Here are some tips for booking a Hobbiton morning tour:
- Book your tour in advance, especially if you are traveling in high season. The tour can fill up quickly.
- Book via the official Hobbiton website. There you will find the best price.
- Don’t want to do the Second Breakfast tour, but still want to choose a quiet moment in the park? Then book at 09.00 or as early as possible. For this you do need to book well in advance, because these fill up quickly. The tour is then a bit more compact and cheaper.
- Is it raining? Don’t worry! They have lots of umbrellas available that you can use for free. At the end of the tour, you return them. Do make sure to wear shoes that can get dirty. The path is sandy and therefore your shoes get quite dirty in wet weather.
A few fun facts about Hobbiton:
Our guide was quite enthusiastic. She told several fun facts about Hobbiton:
- The route that is taken in the films is not at all in line with reality. They filmed at different places in the park, but when you put these scenes together, nothing matches!
- The interior scenes were filmed a few hundred kilometers further near Wellington. So you have to make do with the exterior, although since December 1, 2023 you can also see inside a hobbit house (read more about it further down).
- All the vegetables, plants etc. that you see are real. We thought not, but it is true! A full-time team works to keep this neat.
- One hobbit house is at ‘human’ height and the other at ‘hobbit’ height. This way they could make Gandalf look very tall at a hobbit house and a hobbit small!
- The big linden tree in the middle of Hobbiton is a real tree that is over 100 years old. Yet it looks different than in the film. Simply because it is also 20 years older. The tree is known from the birthday party scene in Lord of the Rings.
- The 44 hobbit houses are all unique and have their own name.
Yes, it really gets busier
You have probably seen very beautiful photos on the internet. It really is gorgeous! But on the photos you never see another person (besides your own family). Approximately 1 million tourists visit this place annually!
How much do you want to see the Hobbiton Movie Set without dozens of people in your photos? If you are already thinking… shit, there go my nice photos. Then definitely choose the morning tour! The photo above we could take right upon entry. Below you find photos where you see multiple tours at once. But don’t worry: if you stand in front of one of the houses, you won’t see the other tourists.
Now also view a hobbit house from the inside (December 1, 2023)
Since December 1, 2023, it is also possible to view a hobbit house from the inside. All interior scenes were filmed near Wellington (a few 100 km further), so the houses were only visible from the outside. After a renovation of several months, that has changed. We were there a week before the new attraction opened, so unfortunately you have to make do with the video below in my blog.
Less nice detail: the prices have also been increased from December 1, 2023. We paid NZD 149.00 for a ticket (2023) and from December 1 it became NZD 180.00. That amounts to just over € 100,- (depending on the current exchange rate).
Feel welcome on the land of the Alexander family
What you probably didn’t know is that Hobbiton is on private land. The Alexander family has owned the estate since the 1800s. In 1999 the estate was bought by the film company WingNut Films, until then you only saw sheep roaming in this area. By the way, you still see them around Hobbiton. The area was discovered because the makers of Lord of the Rings flew over the landscape in a helicopter. Years later it has become one of the most famous places in New Zealand!
After the film shootings, the estate was converted into a tourist attraction, now known as Hobbiton Movie Set. The Alexander family is closely involved in the operation. They live on the estate and are responsible for the management.
Book your tour in time and enjoy yourself!
A Hobbiton morning tour is a great way to experience the film set. If you are a fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, then this is a must-do activity. Haven’t seen the films? Even then the hobbit houses are fun to see. Especially if you end with a nice breakfast 😉
Other tour options in Hobbiton
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