Daytrip Adventure to Matamata, New Zealand

Hobbiton

A must-see, not-to-be-missed adventure in New Zealand is HOBBITON

​This is the movie set in New Zealand where The Hobbit trilogy and the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed. It’s located in the small town of Matamata and is about a 3-hour drive from Auckland.

I rented a car and drove to Matamata but you can take a bus out of Auckland as well.
The ride southward to Matamata is gorgeous as you pass through the countryside of green rolling hills, at highway speeds.

Once in the small town of Matamata you have to follow the signs directly to the parking lot. It’s another 16 miles to that entrance point.
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Hobbiton was found in 1998 by Director Sir Peter Jackson when scouting for locations to shoot his Hobbit movie. The Alexander Farm was found and at an expansive 500-acres gave plenty of green area to work with including the many sheep and other wildlife that roam the hills.

​After parking the car, we set out to have lunch in the Green Dragon Inn. Lunch was good with sandwiches and coffee. With blue skies overhead and fluffy white clouds puffing by occasionally, our tour got underway in a bus that held about 60? People.
Winding down around the narrow road we could see where we were headed to the little round Hobbit houses. It already felt like we were on a movie set even though still on the bus.

Hobbit Carrot Cake! YUM!

The Shire's Rest Cafe - All Day Menu -- For Hungry Hobbits

Hobbit Food. They eat everything

​Disembarking at the actual movie set we took a 30-minute? Walking tour with a guide to explain and answer questions. It was picture-perfect weather with so many settings for photos you just had to keep taking as many as you could.

For more information on bus tours to Hobbiton click the GreatSights banner below