Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand: A Journey into the World of Hobbits
The gateway to another world lies within a pasture fence, right in the middle of a green meadow on New Zealand’s North Island. Welcome to the Shire!
Anyone stepping through the simple gate in Matamata enters the only remaining authentic relic from Tolkien’s Middle-earth-not a theme park, but a landscape that Peter Jackson discovered by chance in 1998 and which still looks exactly as it did back then.
- The last real film set: Of all the sets from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Hobbiton is the only one that still exists today. All others have vanished or were merely computer simulations.
- 5.5 hectares and 44 hobbit holes: The area was originally built with the help of the New Zealand Army. The production designers created a world that looks aged and was crafted through painstaking manual labor.
- A detail that says it all: The oak tree at Bag End is real-but its leaves are made of plastic, each one hand-painted. So much effort for a plant that appears only in the background.
New Zealand has its own Shire – and it’s not Disney
Six films triggered the tourism boom in New Zealand over the last 20 years: the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies by director and producer Peter Jackson. He saw in his New Zealand homeland the landscapes J.R.R. Tolkien described in his books-and those who know the texts understand why. Behind every green hill, in every enchanted rainforest, a hobbit could live.
Most film sets no longer exist today. Many of the major cities from the films were computer simulations or built in Wellington’s film capital studios. One place remains-a destination for all who want to truly enter Middle-earth: the home of the hobbits.
Walking through the gently rolling hills of Middle-earth, you feel not just the magic of cinema-the landscape itself breathes the charm of hobbits, as if Frodo Baggins had just disappeared around the next corner.
From sheep pasture to film set
In 1998, Peter Jackson discovered the Alexander family farm during a helicopter flight. The Alexanders are established farmers in northern New Zealand’s North Island. He recognized it as the perfect setting for Hobbiton, Bag End, and more. With the New Zealand Army’s help, work began shortly after: sheep pastures, swamps, and untouched hills were transformed into a film set with infrastructure for over 400 actors, crew members, and staff. A 1.5-kilometer road, water supply, and accommodations had to be built.
The heart of the 5.5-hectare site is the 44 hobbit holes. Set designers worked so meticulously that the world looks lived-in rather than newly built: every fence, door, and stone crafted by hand. One example explains everything: the mighty oak at Bag End, home to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, is real-it was moved here from Matamata, 15 kilometers away. Its leaves are plastic, each painted by hand. Interior scenes were shot in Wellington studios.
What awaits you there
Hobbiton isn’t a quick stop. Tours lead through Bag End and surrounding set areas, past original props and filming locations. The site is now operated by the Alexander family and open to the public. Those unfamiliar with Tolkien come for the scenery; fans visit to understand why this specific patch of land works as the Shire-nowhere else does.
Good to Know
▸What is the Hobbiton Movie Set?
The only remaining authentic film set from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, located in Matamata on New Zealand’s North Island. The 5.5-hectare site features 44 hobbit holes and is publicly accessible.
▸How did the set end up in Matamata?
Peter Jackson discovered the Alexander family’s land during a helicopter flight in 1998. With support from the New Zealand Army, the sheep pasture was converted into a film set, including a 1.5-kilometer road, water supply, and accommodations for over 400 people.
▸What makes the oak tree at Bag End special?
The tree is real and was relocated from Matamata, 15 kilometers away. Its leaves are plastic-each individually hand-painted. This effort illustrates the meticulous detail throughout the entire set.
