Tauranga

Tauranga Shore Excursion: Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
  • 6 to 7 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Swap the Tauranga cruise port for the Shire, featured in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, on a Hobbiton Movie Set shore excursion. Your tour includes movie structures such as hobbit holes, the party tree and the Mill. Sip a drink at the Green Dragon Inn, and then suit up in a favorite LOTR costume with a stop at McLaren Falls Park.
  • Visit the Hobbiton movie set on a shore excursion from Tauranga
  • Listen as your knowledgeable guide shares insider tales about the making of LOTR
  • Walk to the waterfalls, and dress up as your favorite LOTR character during a stop at McLaren Falls Park
  • Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship

What's Included

  • Driver/guide
  • Live commentary on board
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Glass of ale, cider or gingerbeer
  • Port pickup and drop-off
  • Covered by Viator's worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship
  • Gratuities
  • Lunch

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Salisbury Avenue
    Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand

    Out side port of Tauranga main pedestrian gate on the corner of Salisbury Avenue and the Mall, under the flagpole.

Start time

10:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Located about an hour from Tauranga, where you’ll be picked up at the port, the Hobbiton Movie Set is situated on rolling farmland that depicts the Shire, a region inhabited by hobbits in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Departing the Bay of Plenty over the Tauranga Harbour Bridge, you’ll journey through the Kaimai mountain range before your group arrives at your Waikato destination near the town of Matamata.

Meet a specialized guide for a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, which provides an up-close look behind the scenes of director Peter Jackson’s famous film trilogies. LOTR fans can crouch in front of hobbit holes for photo ops and see structures such as the double-arched bridge, the Mill and the party tree, where Bilbo had his farewell birthday party.

Walk to the Green Dragon Inn, sip a complimentary local ale, cider or ginger beer.

After your meal, leave Hobbiton behind and make a stop at McLaren Falls Park for a bush walk to its namesake waterfalls. Here, your guide provides cloaks, hats and swords so you can dress up as your favorite character from The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, posing for photos against this scenic backdrop.

On the way back to the Tauranga port, make a quick stop to taste New Zealand manuka honey, try local ice cream or stop at a beach, if time permits.

Worry-free Shore Excursion:We will ensure your timely return to the Tauranga port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.

Zealandier Tours

6 hours Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes
  • Please bring sun protection and a light jacket for cooler weather
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Operated by Zealandier Tours

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

See more

Traveler Tips


Don't go all the way to New Zealand and miss seeing Hobbiton.
This tour was just fantastic, great experience walking around amongst the hobbit homes and getting close up to their little world, its really beneficial to have an knowledgeable guide when going through the village.
we have used Viator on many occasions and every trip has been both informative and enjoyable We recommend them to you.

Reviews

4.5
187 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 187 reviews
Take this Hobbiton tour!
Marjorie_K, May 2023
Picked up near our cruise ship by a wonderful guide. Learned lots about New Zealand along the way to Hobbiton. As a long time LOTR fan, this was the highlight of our cruise around New Zealand. We had lots of time at the movie set and even though there were several other tours at the same time, we were never rushed and had ample time to ask questions and take photos. Highly recommend this tour and especially happy as the ship’s excursion cost twice as much and was cancelled!
Not Impressed at all
mARY_C, Apr 2023
My cruise ship, the Grand Princess, cancelled the port of Tauranga. I emailed Viator as soon as we were informed by the ships captain. I also contacted Zealandier .tours. This was now two days ago. Other passengers were notified by Viator about the port being cancelled, and told to received refunds whereas myself…..I am being asked to write a review on a trip thst never took place. Will never use Viator again, and as an Expedia travel agent, will ensure my clients know about the lack of communication. If Viator is reading this, please arrange my refund .
Response from Host, Apr 2023
HI Mary, I am totally unsure why you have been asked to write a review and post it against Zealandier Tours - you have booked your excursion with Viator/ Trip Advisor - NOT Zealandier Tours. Your contractural agreement is between Viator/ Trip Advisor and yourself. It is not between Zealandier Tours & yourself. Trip Advisor/Viator are one and the same company- and they are the only company who can refund you. Viator contract us to deliver your tour and it is a contract between them & us. We do not receive any monies for tours until well after we have delivered them. In response to trying to contact Zealandier Tours over the Easter Holidays weekend - I am sorry but all staff in NZ are entitled to be off work and most all places are closed down over the Easter period. Today is our first day back in office. I am sure you will receive your refund in due course. This all sounds a very odd scenario which is being played out here. Jan Davies
Cancelled tour
Neil_T, Apr 2023
I was unable to take the tour due to our cruise ship cancelling the call into Tauranga due to bad weather. I’m hoping the operator will give us a refund .
Great tour
Antony_L, Mar 2023
A wonderful tour with a great tour guide/driver Duncan. A very entertaining tour around hobbiton a beautiful place with amazing details. The driver Duncan made the drive there and back entertaining.
Make sure to go There and Back Again!
Mana_T, Mar 2023
Had a wonderful time travelling with Zealandier Tours! Our guide, Buddy (I think that was his name I’m sorry if not), was knowledgeable, funny, and took very good care of us! The Hobbiton itself was a wonderfully rich experience highly enhanced by the rest of the tour. The ice cream was a wonderful extra too. Buddy, come and say hello when you come to Australia next! Thank you so much Zealandier Tours!
Hobbit movies incredible experiance
Alex_B, Mar 2023
Being a big fan of the Lord of the rings movies & getting the chance to stand on the movies set was a dream come true
Stay close to your guide...
Debra_D, Mar 2023
Stay close to your guide or you may be unable to bear the commentary. Lots of standing around as tours bunch up. The terrain was uneven so using a cane or walking stick recommended if you have any balance issues.
We found hobbit on to be...
Karen_L, Mar 2023
We found hobbit on to be a delightful place. Loved the creative way it was set up and the guide did a great job. Thank you
A fun day in Hollywood's Hobbit Haven
lbcnut, Mar 2023
Excellent, memorable, and entertaining tour! Our driver and guide, Warren, was a knowledgeable local who kept us informed about the beautiful countryside we passed and the history of the region and its people. Once we arrived at Hobbiton, the process for getting us all ticketed and on our way went very smoothly. The attraction itself is delightful. We were lucky to have perfect weather. There are a million little details, colorful flower and vegetable gardens, and butterflies flying everywhere.
Great experience
Billy_P, Mar 2023
We had a great day at Hobitton. Duncan our driver/guide is very courteous and knowledgeable. This tour is highly recommended.
Beautiful short trip
Diana_M, Mar 2023
The place is amazing, we had a very god guide and driver he tooks us for bit of a trip around and then for an icecream
Hobbiton - Bucket List destination
Patti_R, Mar 2023
Bucket List destination. Amazing and wonderful experience. We loved learning all the behind the scene details of the finding and building the place. So glad we got to see it. And Duncan the driver made the trip there and back again very pleasant.
Hobbiton was great. Tour guide wasn't.
William_F, Mar 2023
The tour itself was fantastic. Our driver went off on a few politically charged rants that I could do without. She told us she thought Donald Trump was great, she said things about the former NZ prime minister and she complained about the teaching of Maori in schools. That was all wildly unnecessary.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
HI William, thankyou for feeding back this info. I totally agree with you - and I am very disapointed to read this of a tour guide. I assume your guide was Sharron - I can tell you she no longer is employed by Zealandier Tours.
Loved it!
Lori_D, Mar 2023
Loved it! There were so many real life details in the Hobbit holes and Green Dragon Inn that I expected to see Frodo, Gandalf and Aragorn! The Hobbiton tour guide was excellent! The entire trip was well worth it and one of my favorite shore excursion.
Happy Hobbiton
timheg, Mar 2023
Well put together , great driver / guide , loads of interesting information . Overall a great day out . A very big thank you to Duncan .
Our wonderful trip to Hobbiton
Mags_C, Mar 2023
The trip was so well organised. Our driver (Duncan) was friendly and informative about Tauranga and our journey to Hobbiton. The Hobbiton guide (Nicholas) was excellent. Hobbiton itself is amazing, even the pouring rain couldnt spoil our ecperience.
Wonderful Hobbiton Experience
Joanne_F, Feb 2023
Great knowledge of our driver with all the information on Tauranga and Hobbiton, loved the small group tour and the tour around Hobbiton was fantastic.
Magic place
Liuba_D, Feb 2023
Thank you so much for this experience. It was a magical place to visit!!! We had enough time, haven’t been in rush, had nice lunch after arriving to Hobbiton (bought it in the cafe of the meeting point) and local ice cream on the way back.
Nice tour to Hobbiton.
John_E, Feb 2023
We had an excellent day visiting Hobbiton. Our driver, Duncan, was ready outside the cruise port and gave us a great tour on our way to and from Hobbiton. He also explained the tour system in place on the movie set so there were no surprises. He also treated us to a great ice cream on the way home!
Excellent experience!
Phillip_W, Feb 2023
Movie set was amazing! And our driver/guide, Jan, did an excellent job of making the trip interesting and informative.
...