Step into the magic of Hobbiton, a storybook destination

“In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit”. There and back again through the magic of Hobbiton.

The Hobbit has been iconic in the history of fantasy since 1937, followed by The Lord of the Rings trilogy published in 1954. As the popularity of the books increased, there was no doubt that films would be created. 

In 2001, The Fellowship of the Ring was adapted into a film by Peter Jackson in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The search for Hobbiton began in 1998, when Peter Jackson sent out a team of location scouts to find a location that best resembled The Shire, as described by J.R.R. Tolkien. They came across the Alexander Farm, a 1,250-acre farm in Matamata. An area with a large pine tree beside a lake adjoining an ascending hill caught their attention. Once a deal was made with the Alexander family, those 12 acres of land became Hobbiton. 

Construction began in March 1999 and it took 9 months to complete 39 Hobbit Holes spread across the set. After 3 months of filming, Hobbiton was demolished, and plywood Hobbit Hole displays remained. These facades were used to start public tours in 2001. 

In 2009, Peter Jackson returned to reconstruct Hobbiton for his next project, The Hobbit. To recreate the magic of Middle-Earth, 44 Hobbit Holes and a tavern were constructed. After filming had been completed, the set remained permanently and in 2012, The Green Dragon Inn was opened and used for the tours. Guests are able to enjoy a free beverage and purchase food from the tavern counter as part of their Hobbiton experience.

Lily Craig, Hobbiton Marketing Manager, says Hobbiton has gone through “quite a journey” since 2001. She says Hobbiton started tours with “a handful of locals or interested nerds” and now have “200 odd staff, branded vehicles and car park and infrastructure” to accommodate the increased number of visitors. Lily has been with Hobbiton for 5 years and says “the business has been on a really fascinating journey” which has resulted in quite a journey for herself, hinting at more to come.

For this writer, Hobbiton has “all the comforts of home”. The warmth you feel in The Green Dragon, the cool breeze of air that brushes across your face as you walk past the round doors feels exhilarating. You forget you’re on a movie set and see yourself on a trek to Bag End to enjoy a hot drink with Bilbo Baggins. Hobbiton will always have a special place in my Hobbit-sized heart. Hobbiton is more than just a movie set, it is a piece of cinematic history—a memory of the films which helped to bring Middle-Earth to life. Hobbiton is an adventure in itself and it’s waiting for you.

“You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” – Bilbo Baggins

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