Magical Hobbiton in The Shire – Auckland, New Zealand

Every Lord of the Rings fan wants to visit The Hobbiton Movie Set to see the lush pastures of The Shire. Even if you are not a fan, this should be on your list of things to do in Auckland if you are there. Also, if you haven’t seen the trilogy, watch it on your way over. If you don’t, you’ve been warned.

There are numerous locations in New Zealand where the Lord of the Rings films were shot, but none of them transport you to Middle Earth like Hobbiton does.

The lush rolling hills of The Shire can be found on the Hobbiton Movie Set, where you can wander past Hobbit Holes and have a drink at the Green Dragon Inn.

The enchanting hobbit village and the incredible attention to detail won me over.

You can only visit Hobbiton on a guided walking tour, but it’s a lot of fun and interesting, and you learn a lot about how the movies were made.

The Hobbiton Movie Set’s History

I won’t tell you the whole story because you’ll hear it on tour. Sir Peter Jackson, the Lord of the Rings trilogy’s New Zealand film director, screenwriter, and producer, dispatched a team to find the ideal location for Hobbiton. They did an aerial search and discovered what a farm was. The set was intended to be temporary at first, but fate had other plans. That’s all I’m going to say. You must go if you want to hear the entire story.

Getting to the Set of The Hobbit Movie

The distance between Auckland and Hobbiton is 111 miles. Almost everyone who comes to New Zealand rents a car or a motor home to explore the country. Given this, unless you require transportation to The Hobbiton Movie Set, you do not need to organize your tour with a third-party service. Simply purchase tickets from The Hobbiton Movie Set and drive to the location. When you arrive, it is private property, and you must take a tour. You cannot visit The Hobbiton Movie Set, nor can you see it from afar. You must use the bus that is included in your ticket.

The Journey

The tour is only a couple of hours long. It’s amazing! Even non-fans will enjoy it. The shire’s attention to detail, authenticity, and sheer magic will captivate anyone’s imagination. The colors are so vibrant that you can almost see how this set came to life on the big screen. It’s thrilling to hear everyone in the group oh and ah, giggle, laugh, and marvel at the sights.

A guide will lead you through the shire, pointing out various points of interest. On this walking tour, they will tell you which scenes were filmed and who lived where. The tour ends with a stroll through the shire to The Green Dragon Inn.

The Green Dragon Inn

The Green Dragon Inn is included in your ticket price. A complimentary beverage from the Hobbit Southfarthing Range is included in the tour. You may select one of the following options:

Girdley Fine Grain, Amber Ale
Sackville Cider, Apple Cider
Oatbarton Brew, Traditional English Ale
Frogmorton Ginger Beer (alcohol-free)

These handcrafted beverages are only available at The Green Dragon Inn! Now, the beer is delicious, and The Green Dragon Inn’s interior is reminiscent of a traditional cozy pub. My only criticism of the entire tour was that I assumed we’d end the tour here and then stay as long as we wanted. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and it is clear why. Another tour is right behind you! Nobody would leave The Green Dragon Inn if they allowed everyone to stay. At least not for a couple of hours. Naturally, the evening banquet is a good way to spend more time. Light snacks are available for purchase. Unfortunately, you only have about twenty minutes to spend at The Green Dragon Inn.

Conclusion

This tour is a must-do for anyone visiting New Zealand’s Northern Island. Some people travel to New Zealand for the sole purpose of visiting The Hobbiton Movie Set. You’ll understand why once you’ve experienced it for yourself. The magic of The Hobbiton Movie Set will transport you back to your childhood.