One of the most visited attractions in New Zealand. New Zealand is known for its green hills, mountain scenery and picturesque views. It has been the set of several movies, but the most well-known and possibly the most-loved is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. When Peter Jackson flew over to New Zealand scouting film locations for his next big project, he was impressed by the green hills and peaceful pastures surrounding the little farming town of Matamata. More than a decade on, the Hobbiton Movie Set has become a must-see tourist activity for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit Trilogy fans travelling through New Zealand.
The Shires Rest & Hobbiton Movie set on Alexander Farm has quickly risen in the ranks and now hosts more than 350,000 visitors yearly. The Hobbiton Movie Set is only available by tour, but that doesn’t limit you to what you’ll see. The best part about a guided tour is that you can learn and are told all the information about Peter Jackson, movie-making techniques — like how some Hobbit Holes are more significant than others depending on the actor's size — and exciting facts about the set. For example, did you know The Party Tree in the movie is artificial? The leaves were imported from Taiwan and wired onto the branches!
