The 10 Tours in Matamata That Earn Their Price

1.Hobbiton Movie Set: Guided Tour Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8,167 reviews · 2h 30m · from $71Our pick

Walk through the 12-acre Hobbiton Movie Set with an English-speaking guide, see Hobbit Holes and the Mill, enter a Hobbit house, and finish with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn. The 150-minute tour includes a short bus ride from the car park and works well for film fans, families, and curious first-time visitors.

“We liked everything. Our guide was lovely and very informative. An excellent tour and highly recommended”

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2.Guided Hobbiton Experience with Bus Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 523 reviews · 3 hours · from $71

Meet at the Hobbiton-themed i-SITE in Matamata for a short bus ride through Waikato farmland. Your English-speaking guide leads you around the 12-acre movie set, showing Hobbit Holes, the Mill, gardens, filming spots, and a furnished Hobbit house. Finish with one drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Book early, since tours can sell out.

“The Hobbiton Movie Set was interesting and an enjoyable one. Maria - our bus driver was very friendly and Jacobs - our tour guide was very knowledgeable. Overall we had fun even though it was raining on the day.”

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3.Hobbiton Movie Set Trip with Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 210 reviews · 8 hours · from $197

You’ll leave Auckland early in a Mercedes van with a driver-guide such as Gabby, Chris, or Rick, then tour Hobbiton’s 12-acre film set with an official guide. Allow time for the gift shop and café, uneven walking paths, photos, and a complimentary beer, cider, or soft drink at the Green Dragon Inn.

“Our guide/driver Paul was very personable and very knowledgeable. Excellent driver. Our guide at Hobbiton was equally knowledgeable and I think her name was Leon. She was entertaining”

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4.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 179 reviews · 11 hours · from $269

Travel from Auckland in a Mercedes van to Hobbiton’s movie set and Waitomo’s glowworm caves. You’ll get a 2.5-hour guided walk, a Green Dragon Inn drink, a 50-minute cave tour with boat ride, Wi-Fi, snacks, and commentary from an English-speaking driver-guide. Guides such as Nancy, Chris, Peter, and Warren have helped make the long day entertaining.

“Our guide was AWESOME! We learned so much from him. He gave all kinds of great commentary during the trip all about New Zealand Auckland, the surrounding areas, various parts about the economy and the government and energy sources. It was really a fantastic trip even before we arrived at the Waitomo caves, and the Hobbiton. the weather was poor to awful during half of the trip, but was nicely cleared at the caves got terrible again and then cleared pretty nicely again with some rain at Hobbiton is a delightful place to go if you are a Lord of the rings fan or even if you’ve only had some…”

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5.Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Small-Group Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 113 reviews · 8 hours · from $170Top rated

Travel from central Auckland to Hobbiton in a small group, riding a comfortable Mercedes-Benz van through the Bombay Hills and Hauraki Plains. A guide such as Alex, Michael, or David provides commentary before your 2-hour Hobbiton visit, followed by a drink at The Green Dragon and time at the Shire Store.

“Our tour guy Mr. Keenan was the best! He was prompt, cheerful and full of knowledge. He was able to provide us with tips for the best possible experience. Not only did he take photos for us but he took us for some ice cream on our way back! Highly recommend! Hobbit town itself is exceptional, a magical tiny historic looking village, a must see and request my tour guy for the best experience!!! Thank you once again!!!- Diana from Toronto”

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6.Two-Day Hobbiton, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 59 reviews · 2 days · from $806

Travel from Auckland in a small Mercedes minibus with an English-speaking guide such as Phillip, Dallas, Chris, or Dirk. Visit Te Puia, a Māori arts centre, Kiwi House, Mitai, Hobbiton, and Waitomo Caves, with Rotorua accommodation, meals, and admission fees included.

“Loved the tour put together the popular activities into 2 days. The drivers/guides Phillip, Dallas and Chris were all friendly and very knowledgeable of the sights and areas around. It’s understandable there is a fixed schedule on the tour, but would have been nice to include time for the museum part of Te Puia.”

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7.Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, and Rotorua 1-Way Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 13 reviews · 13 hours · from $256

Spend 13 hours traveling south from Auckland to Rotorua in a 16-seat minibus. Walk through Hobbiton with a professional guide, cruise beneath Waitomo’s glowworms, and see Rotorua’s main sights by road. John is one guide praised for his humor and energy. Lunch and accommodation are not included.

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8.Hobbiton Movie Set – Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8 reviews · 8 hours · from $477

Travel from Auckland by private SUV or Mercedes van to Hobbiton Movie Set, where an English-speaking guide leads a 2.5-hour group tour through the Shire. See Bag End, Hobbit Holes, gardens, and the Green Dragon Inn, with a complimentary drink. Driver Deane has earned praise for his stories, snacks, and flexible service.

“We really loved our private transportation tour with Expedigo. We were very lucky that they had tickets for Hobbiton while everyone else was sold out! Our driver, Deane, was very attentive and kept us entertained with stories and facts about New Zealand. We greatly appreciated the late departure from Auckland given that we had just arrived that morning from the states. Having a late tour of Hobbiton was magical with the late afternoon light. The Mercedes van was very comfortable and spacious and Deane provided water and snacks. Overall, we had a very nice time and highly recommend this company!”

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9.Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 5 reviews · 8 hours · from $388

Travel from Auckland to Hobbiton in a small group of up to six, with hotel pickup, bottled water, and an English or Korean-speaking guide. Tour the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film sets for two hours, enjoy ginger beer at the movie-set cafe, stop for lunch in Tīrau, then return to Auckland. Lunch is extra.

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10.Hobbiton Movie Set & Te Puia Geothermal Valley Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 12 hours · from $567

Travel from Auckland in a private Mercedes-Benz van to Hobbiton and Rotorua’s Te Puia. You’ll tour the Hobbit Holes, sip a drink at the Green Dragon Inn, watch Pōhutu Geyser erupt, see kiwi birds, and visit Māori carving and weaving schools with an English-speaking guide.

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