Hobbiton Movie Set Shore Excursion from Tauranga (6 Hours)
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a magical 6-6.5 hour tour to the Hobbiton Movie set, used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series, which has made NZ famous.
Leaving the port, we first travel past the stunning beaches of Mount Maunganui, a top NZ holiday destination, across the harbor bridge and into the country, over the Kaimai mountain ranges, into the lush farming district of the Waikato, the location of Hobbiton.
At Hobbiton you can visit the Shires Rest Cafe, browse the souvenir shop or just take in the stunning views before joining the 2.5 hour guided tour, explore inside a Hobbit home and finish at The Green Dragon Pub with a complimentary Ale.
As Cruise ship arrival times varies so much, we adjust the start time to suit, which we confirm to you when your booking is accepted, always having you back at the ship in good time for its departure.
Please see the Additional Info section for details of our cancellation policy should the ship cancel its port of call within 24 hours of arrival.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
If you have not already specified, you MUST advise supplier as soon as possible your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and departure time so that appropriate arrangements can be made
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
A rain jacket and layers are recommended
We adjust the tour start and end time to suit the ships time in port, which varies greatley
These tour operate only for cruise ships passengers visiting Tauranga
If the ship cancels its port of call within the 24 hour notice period, we will offer you a partial refund of the tour cost, adult refund is $160 NZ, youth refund is $150 NZ and a child refund is $140. We cannot offer a 100% refund as the Hobbiton Movie set does not offer any refund in such circumstances.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Hobbiton Movie Set
We visit the World famous Movie set as used in both the Lord Of The Rings and the Hobbit movie trilogies. Your guide will lead you round the extensive movie set, showing you many of the Hobbit Holes before ending at the Green Dragon pub where you will receive a complimentary mug of ale.
What‘s Included
Professional English-speaking guide
Admission to Hobbiton Movie Set
One drink at the Green Dragon Inn (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Air-conditioned transport from Tauranga
Live commentary on board
Lunch
Souvenirs & personal expenses
Options
Hobbiton Movie Set Shore Excursion from Tauranga (6 Hours)
Reviews
254 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Must do!
Marcus W,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00If you like the Hobbit movies you’ll love Hobbiton! It’s like you’re on the movie set, with all the little homes and surroundings of the Hobbit village. And the interiors feel as if you’re really in one of their houses! Very cool, and a must do if you’re visiting New Zealand.
A great experience whether or not you have seen the films!
J486ILtimr,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I am one of those who has never seen any of the LOTR films, this was mainly for my husband. But I must say after seeing the Shire and hearing the story of how the set came together along with the level of detail involved, I am likely to watch the films. Our guide, Oriwa, was a fantastic tour leader and made for an enjoyable experience for all. The driver and guide from town to the Hobbiton set were excellent as well. Tons of beautiful scenery to see on the way there and back, and the Hobbiton experience exceeded our expectations.
From Cruise Ship to Middle Earth
Ryan K,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This half-day experience began right after we disembarked from the cruise ship. We were then taken on a coach ride through Turanga and to Hobbiton. Our tour guide was informative and provided us with interesting facts about the city as we traveled to Hobbiton. The journey from the cruise ship to Hobbiton took approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once in Hobbiton we had an amazing time and it’s truly amazing. It was a highlight of my trip. My wife who is not a LOTR or Hobbit fan enjoyed it a lot as well. The set is just beautiful. The tour within Hobbiton was hosted by the people that run the set. Overall it was an amazing time! Would do it again.
Incredible experience in...
Meagan Q,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Incredible experience in the hills of Matamata for all fantasy enthusiasts. The stunning vistas on the one hour drive up from Tauranga are enough to keep you occupied until the real experience unfolds. Set in the rolling green hills, with sheep aplenty, the hobbiton experience has something for everyone. Plenty of great food and drink options (gluten free too) , souvenirs and photo opportunities before the tour unfolds. You'll walk through hobbiton, surrounded by wildflowers and iconic movie scenes of the tiny houses. Inside the hobbit house, the attention to detail will astound you. It is a fully functioning house under the Hill with real fire, kitchen, bathrooms and rooms for all halflings. The refreshing ale or ginger beer at the end in the green dragon is superb!
Great time
Amanda B,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Hobbiton was amazing!! Exceeded expectations. Our driver was great and has us a wonderful tour on the way.
The tour was very well...
Dominik K,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was very well organized and ran like clockwork. Hobbiton was absolutely amazing and definitely worth the trip. Even my 7-year-old, who hasn’t seen the movies, had a great time. Our driver provided narration at the beginning and then remained quiet for the rest of the tour, which was appreciated. The only minor drawback was the minibus, which wasn’t very comfortable. Legroom was tight even for an average-sized adult (180 cm / 5’10”), and the driver drove quite fast on the winding mountain roads, which at times felt more like a roller coaster than a scenic drive.
Hobbiton experience
Shane W,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was the highlight of our cruise. Viator took care of everything. Coach driver was friendly and we had nothing to be concerned about extremely professional. We have told multiple people already about not only our experience at Hobbiton but how we saved so much by going through Viator. We will 100% be using them again
Stress free your and Hobbiton amazing
AnnMarie M,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We booked a Hobbiton tour independent of our cruise ship and couldn’t have been happier with the experience. From the beginning, the instructions were clear, simple, and easy to follow, which made getting to and from the tour completely stress-free. Our guide was excellent — informative, organised, and very clear about how the tour would run at every step along the way. We always knew exactly what was happening, which was especially reassuring when coordinating around cruise timings. Hobbiton itself was a true bucket-list experience for me, and it absolutely lived up to expectations. We were lucky to have beautiful weather, which made the setting even more magical. A special highlight was our lovely Māori guide at Hobbiton, whose stories, warmth, and striking tribal tattoos added an extra layer of authenticity and meaning to the visit. Everything ran smoothly, felt well paced, and was thoroughly enjoyable. I would not hesitate to use this tour company again and would highly recommend them to anyone looking to visit Hobbiton without booking through their cruise ship.
Exquisite visit to Hobbiton
Brian T,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The bus trip was comfortable and our host was very good. What could have been a very boring bus trip was actually fun, interesting and informative. Hobbiton was magical, like being transported to another world. Free roaming here would be amazing, but I understand why that's not possible. Definitely a must do, regardless of whether or not your a Hobbit or LOTR fan
Wonderful excursion!
Robin M,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Going to Hobbiton was a highlight of our cruise. We would highly recommend this tour for anyone, especially those on cruises as they made certain we were back to the port in plenty of time.
From NZ$320.00
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Operated by Cruise Tours Tauranga