I recently cruised around New Zealand aboard Celebrity Edge, with one of our port stops bringing us to Auckland, the country’s largest city.
My husband is a huge Lord of the Rings fan, and it wasn’t until a few weeks before sailing that he realized the films were actually shot in New Zealand, with parts of the set still preserved today.
During our visit, we booked a Hobbiton excursion through Shore Excursion Group, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our cruise!
Visiting Hobbiton from Auckland is a common day-trip, although the cruise line did not offer any excursions. For this reason, Shore Excursions Group was a fantastic choice to book our tour.
Auckland was our only full free day on the itinerary, so finding a tour that worked with our busy itinerary was essential. I was thrilled to find an excursion through Shore Excursion Group with availability at the last minute.
After reserving our spots on the Hobbiton tour, we were pleased with clear communication from the tour company. Easy-to-follow directions were provided for meeting with our guide after the ship’s arrival in Auckland.
Here’s what our experience with Shore Excursions Group was like visiting Hobbiton from Auckland, and why I think it’s absolutely worth the visit!
The drive from Auckland to Hobbiton
Hobbiton Movie Set is located on a working farm near Matamata, which is found in New Zealand’s Waikato region on the North Island.
The journey from Auckland to the Hobbiton Movie Set takes about two hours each way, but Shore Excursion Group made the ride comfortable and stress-free. We traveled in a luxurious Mercedes van, which made a long drive feel easy rather than exhausting. My husband and I had the entire back row to ourselves with plenty of room!
Along the way, we passed through classic New Zealand countryside with rolling green hills, open farmland, and plenty of horses, cows, and sheep.
Our driver, arranged through Shore Excursion Group, found the perfect balance with his commentary throughout the ride. He was engaging and informative, offering insight during the drive and explaining what to expect once we arrived at Hobbiton.
For cruise passengers, having a professional driver who understands port timing adds peace of mind throughout the day. I was comforted knowing that Shore Excursions Group has a Worry Free Travel policy, which ensures you’ll return to the ship on time before departure.
If you happen to miss your ship, which is very unlikely, Shore Excursions Group will arrange all transportation and accommodations to reunite you with the ship. They will even pay $1,000 USD to each person!
Arrival and on-site experience at Hobbiton
Hobbiton is set up with a central welcome area where visitors check in before the tour begins. This area includes a cafe and dining space, along with a large gift shop stocked primarily with Lord of the Rings–themed merchandise.
When it’s time for your tour to begin, you’ll board coach buses from the welcome center for the short ride across the working farm to the Shire itself.
Once we arrived, there was time to enjoy lunch on-site before the official tour began. We grabbed pizza and tried Hokey Pokey ice cream, a New Zealand favorite. The menu was expansive for snacks, and we opted for the meatlovers pizza, which was surprisingly delicious!
The cafe area is well designed for relaxing with a drink or snack, with seating on the patio and scenic views. The gift shop is upstairs, and it’s a fantastic place to shop for fans. The gift shop is almost entirely movie-related, so this isn’t the place for general souvenir shopping.
At the designated time, our tour group boarded a coach bus for the guided portion of the visit. Our Shore Excursions Group guide provided tickets and instructions for where to meet at the conclusion of the tour.
Once we were on the coach bus, there was a short film from the director that played. This definitely set the tone for what’s ahead once we arrived to The Shire!
Even before stepping off the bus, you catch glimpses of the iconic scenery and hundreds of sheep grazing across the farmland. The scenery is absolutely stunning and looks like like you’ve seen in the movies. Even if you’re not a big fan of The Lord of the Rings, you’ll appreciate the beautiful scenery.
Exploring the Hobbiton Movie Set
Once you arrive at Hobbiton Movie Set, you’re welcomed with the familiar sign and offered umbrellas.
During our visit, the umbrellas were more useful for shade than rain, as it was hot and sunny. You’ll be walking outdoors for about two hours, so comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are a must. You should also plan to walk uphill if you want to see all of the Hobbit holes.
There are around 40 hobbit holes scattered throughout the property, built at different scales, along with several other recognizable filming locations.
While I’m not a superfan myself, I still enjoyed the entire experience visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set. The set feels thoughtfully preserved rather than overly commercial, and it never felt like a theme park (which I was worried about).
If you are a fan of Lord of the Rings, there’s a lot to appreciate, from the craftsmanship to the fact that this is where the films were actually shot.
Although I hadn’t seen any of the movies, I did watch the first 45 minutes of The Fellowship of the Ring. You can see most of the Hobbiton scenes during the beginning of the first film, which helped me identify the main sights during our visit.
Why Shore Excursion Group works well for this tour
For cruise passengers, this excursion is a long day, but Shore Excursion Group clearly builds it with port logistics in mind.
Traffic in and out of Auckland can be heavy, and our guide explained that there’s essentially one main road serving the area. Even still, I never felt worried about getting back to the ship on time. The schedule allowed plenty of buffer time, and we even had extra time at the end of the tour to shop and relax.
If you’re cruising to New Zealand and want to see Hobbiton, booking through Shore Excursion Group is a smart option. They handle transportation, timing, and coordination in a way that makes a complex day trip feel easy, which is especially important when you’re far from port.
If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, this excursion is absolutely worth it. Even if you’re not a huge fan, the countryside alone makes it a worthwhile experience. Shore Excursion Group’s small-group format and cruise-friendly planning made our day trip from Auckland easy and enjoyable.
For anyone sailing a New Zealand itinerary or spending a single day in Auckland, I highly recommend this Hobbiton tour through Shore Excursion Group. It’s a long day, but a memorable one done right.
Where else can you visit Hobbiton?
If you’re wondering whether there are other places in the world where you can visit Hobbiton, the short answer is no. The Hobbiton Movie Set is the only permanent Hobbiton set open to visitors.
While The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies were filmed across dozens of locations throughout New Zealand, most of those sites were natural landscapes used temporarily for filming, with sets removed once production wrapped.
Hobbiton is unique because it was rebuilt and preserved as a permanent attraction, allowing visitors to walk through the Shire exactly as it appears on screen.
You can visit other filming locations across New Zealand, including many of the mountains, valleys, forests, and coastlines that stood in for Middle-earth, but none offer the fully constructed village experience that Hobbiton does. If seeing the famous Hobbit holes is your goal, this is the only place where that’s possible.
Is there a better location to visit Hobbiton?
This is a common question, especially for travelers trying to plan efficiently: is there a better place to visit Hobbiton from than Auckland?
The short answer is no, at least not for most travelers.
Hobbiton is located in a rural farming region of New Zealand, which means there’s no major city right next door. No matter where you start, visiting the movie set requires a drive through the countryside.
Auckland is one of the most practical starting points, particularly for cruise passengers. While the drive takes about two hours each way, it’s a direct route with reliable roads and frequent tours operating daily.
For travelers arriving by ship, Auckland also offers the biggest advantage: experienced tour operators who understand port schedules and traffic patterns.
Rotorua is closer to Hobbiton, and it can be a good option if you’re visiting this port on your cruise. Celebrity Cruises offered excursions through the cruise line to Hobbiton during our port of call in Tauranga.
Can you visit Hobbiton without a tour?
No, you can’t visit Hobbiton on your own.
All visits to the site are guided and must be booked in advance through an official tour. Independent access isn’t allowed because Hobbiton is located on a privately owned working farm, and the set is carefully preserved.
Tours include transportation around the property, historical and filming context, and access to the main areas of the set. Even if you drive yourself to the area, you won’t be able to enter Hobbiton without a confirmed tour reservation.
Can you actually visit the Shire?
Yes, Hobbiton is the real-life filming location used to represent the Shire in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
While the Shire itself is fictional, the movie set is very real and located on a working farm in New Zealand. Visitors can walk through Hobbit holes, gardens, and familiar filming locations during a guided tour.
How much does the Hobbiton tour cost?
If you’re visiting Hobbiton from Auckland on a cruise day, keep in mind that tours including transportation will cost more than entry-only tickets. Our tour with Shore Excursions Group was priced at $329 per person for 8 hours.
Hobbiton ticket prices vary depending on the type of experience you choose. The standard daytime tour is the most affordable option, while premium experiences cost significantly more and often sell out well in advance.
For the standard Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, pricing is roughly:
- Adults (18+): around $120 NZD
- Youth (ages 11–17): around $60 NZD
- Children (ages 0–10): free, though a ticket is still required
Hobbiton also offers premium tour options for visitors looking for a more immersive experience. These typically range from about $230 to $280 NZD per adult and may include experiences such as an evening banquet or behind-the-scenes access.
Prices can change seasonally, so it’s always best to budget with some flexibility and book as early as possible if Hobbiton is a priority.
How far in advance should I book Hobbiton tickets?
It’s best to book as far in advance as possible, especially during peak travel seasons or if you’re visiting on a cruise stop with limited flexibility.
When booking excursions for our New Zealand cruise, the Hobbiton excursion was the first of the entire itinerary to sell out.
Tours often sell out days or even weeks ahead of time. If Hobbiton is a must-do experience, securing tickets early helps ensure you get your preferred date and time.
How long is the Hobbiton Movie Set tour?
The guided walking tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set lasts about two hours. This includes walking through the village, viewing the hobbit holes, and learning about the filming process and set design.
Most visitors should plan to spend around three to four hours total at Hobbiton. This allows time for the guided tour plus additional time before or after to visit the café, gift shop, or take photos.
If your tour includes transportation from another city, expect the full experience to take most of the day.
History of the Hobbiton Movie Set
Hobbiton was originally built for The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the late 1990s. After filming wrapped, the set was dismantled, only to be rebuilt years later for The Hobbit films using more permanent materials.
Today, the site features around 40 hobbit holes, complete with gardens, fences, and carefully placed details designed to make the village feel lived-in.
While you can’t go inside most of the homes, the exterior craftsmanship and scale differences between hobbit holes are impressive and intentional, helping the set maintain its cinematic illusion.
Because Hobbiton is still part of a working farm, you’ll also see sheep grazing throughout the property, reinforcing that this is very much a real place, not a recreated backdrop.
Hobbiton is such a unique experience because of its film history and natural landscape, and why it continues to draw visitors from around the world.
Disclosure: Shore Excursion Group provided this tour; however, all opinions expressed in this article are my own.
