Our Top 8 Matamata Film Location Tours

1.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 179 reviews · 11 hours · from $269Our pick

Travel from Auckland in a Mercedes van to Hobbiton for a 2.5-hour guided tour, then visit Waitomo Glowworm Caves for a 50-minute boat ride. You get hotel pickup, Wi-Fi, snacks, water, and a Green Dragon Inn drink. Guides such as Nancy, Warren, and John are known for lively commentary along the way.

“Enjoyed the tours Hobbiton just added a couple of homes you can go inside and those were so worth the visit. The details were amazing! The glow worm cave felt short but enjoyable, our driver was great!”

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2.Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Small-Group Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 113 reviews · 8 hours · from $170Best value

Travel from central Auckland to Hobbiton in a small group with an English-speaking guide such as Alex, Michael, David, or Matt. Arrive early for a quieter 2.5-hour visit to the 44 Hobbit Holes, Mill, Green Dragon, and a fully themed Hobbit Hole interior. Transport, entry, and one drink are included.

“Absolutely outstanding! This was my 5th visit to Hobbiton but it was made extraordinarily special by this experience. ‘Off the main road’ travel to and from the movie set added SO much to the day. David’s knowledge and cheeky nature set us all at ease. I don’t have enough of the right words to say more - just book this tour!!! Thank you!!”

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3.Two-Day Hobbiton, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 59 reviews · 2 days · from $806

Travel in a small Mercedes minibus from Auckland to Hobbiton, Rotorua, Te Puia, Mitai, and Waitomo. You get guided visits, a Green Dragon drink, thermal sights, Māori arts, a cultural dinner and concert, glowworms, breakfast, and one night in Rotorua. Guides may include Hermes, Pete, Winnie, Phillip, Dallas, or Chris.

“Everything was good-the guides, the transport, the accommodation and the activities”

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4.Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, and Rotorua 1-Way Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 13 reviews · 13 hours · from $256

Spend 13 hours traveling south from Auckland to Rotorua in a 16-seat minibus, stopping at Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Hobbiton Movie Set. You get a cave boat ride, a 2.5-hour Hobbiton tour, snacks, water, and a Green Dragon Inn drink. John is one guide praised for his humor and local knowledge.

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5.Hobbiton Movie Set – Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8 reviews · 8 hours · from $477

Travel from Auckland in a private Jeep or SUV with hotel pickup, then join a 2.5-hour guided Hobbiton tour. Walk among Hobbit Holes, visit Bag End, and enjoy a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Driver Deane has been praised for New Zealand stories, comfortable transport, snacks, and flexible departure times.

“We really loved our private transportation tour with Expedigo. We were very lucky that they had tickets for Hobbiton while everyone else was sold out! Our driver, Deane, was very attentive and kept us entertained with stories and facts about New Zealand. We greatly appreciated the late departure from Auckland given that we had just arrived that morning from the states. Having a late tour of Hobbiton was magical with the late afternoon light. The Mercedes van was very comfortable and spacious and Deane provided water and snacks. Overall, we had a very nice time and highly recommend this company!”

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6.Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 5 reviews · 8 hours · from $388

Travel from Auckland to Hobbiton in a group limited to six. Your English- or Korean-speaking guide handles hotel pickup, bottled water, and the scenic drive, while Hobbiton staff lead the two-hour set tour. Explore The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit exteriors, sip ginger beer, and stop in Tīrau for lunch at your own cost.

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7.Hobbiton Movie Set & Te Puia Geothermal Valley Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 12 hours · from $567

Travel privately from Auckland to Hobbiton and Te Puia in a Mercedes-Benz van. Walk among Hobbit Holes, enjoy a drink at the Green Dragon Inn, then see Pohutu Geyser, mud pools, kiwi birds, Māori carving, and weaving. Lunch, Wi-Fi, refreshments, and hotel, airport, or cruise-port pickup are included.

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8.Private Hobbiton & Waitomo glowworm cave Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 12 hours · from $585

Leave Auckland early for a private, English-guided day at Hobbiton and Waitomo. You’ll tour the Shire for 3.5 hours, then take a one-hour guided cave visit beneath the glowworms. Han and Roger have guided past trips, and a flexible schedule may allow an extra stop such as Otorohanga Kiwi House. Lunch is not included.

“Our driver/guide Han made the day perfect. We were scheduled to visit Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton, so it was a full day. My wife mentioned that she wished there was an opportunity to see a kiwi. Han then suggested a quick visit to the Otorohanga Kiwi House. We stopped there on the way to Hobbiton. It was great. We saw two Kiwis in the nocturnal building. Han got us to Hobbiton on time and we had a fantastic visit. Han was friendly and professional throughout. It was like a local friend was taking us around. Bottom line, the Glow Worm caves and Hobbiton were both amazing. Due to Hans knowledge…”

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