The 4 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”

Check availability →Read our full review

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

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…”

Check availability →Read our full review