With the so-called “set-jetting” trend (a.k.a. traveling to visit popular filming locations) set to strengthen in 2024, Tolkien fans worldwide will be jumping for joy at the latest news from the official Hobbiton Movie Set on New Zealand’s North Island.
The Alexander Sheep Farm—transformed more than two decades ago by Peter Jackson and his crew to serve as the pastoral paradise of Hobbiton in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” film trilogies—has now opened the doors of its iconic hobbit holes to visitors.
Hobbiton Movie Set Tours has been guiding guests through this beloved village, which is part of a broader region called The Shire in Tolkien’s fictional world called Middle-earth, for many years now. But, until recently, tourists could only view the 44 hobbit holes (subterranean dwellings) carved into rolling, verdant pastures from the outside.
Now, you can delve even deeper into this real-world version of Middle-earth, as guests are allowed to enter the circular portals of the pair of hobbit holes on Bagshot Row: the Proudfoot and Twofoot family residences, which were once occupied by none other than protagonists Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.
The official Hobbiton Movie Set in Hinuera, Matamata, New Zealand. (Photo Credit: (photo via Hobbiton))
A Hobbit Hole Means Comfort
Upon entry, you’ll find the characteristically cozy interiors one would expect, warm and inviting, complete with a crackling fire in the hearth and meticulously appointed on a hobbit-sized scale throughout. The degree of accuracy and attention to detail are as astonishing as they appeared onscreen, from the low ceilings, halfling-sized furnishings and overflowing larders to the diminutive clothing items, books, portraits, heirlooms and other trinkets that adorn the rounded walls. You’ll even find handwritten excerpts from “The Fellowship of the Ring” as penned by Bilbo on his desk.
To ensure an intimate and immersive experience, each tour departure is limited to forty guests and split into two groups, which is only prudent when the spaces being explored were designed for Shire-folk. After all, these habitations could hardly fit a party of dwarves comfortably. Of course, guests of all sizes are welcome, as befits a hobbit’s sense of hospitality.
How Hobbit Holes Were Brought To Life
As it turns out, the tours were expanded to incorporate the interior rooms, halls and passageways of these stately Hobbit homes in order to bolster tourism to the area. While the 12-acre filming location has long been a major draw for tourists from far and wide, the experience was previously limited to the outer facades constructed for the film series.
According to Travel Noire, construction on these interior elements began back in March 2023 at warehouses in the nearby town of Matamata and they were installed on site after completion. The result is a cinematic experience that will continue to attract Tolkien devotees from around the world to New Zealand’s picturesque North Island locales.
And, the adventure doesn’t end when you step out the door. The tour also takes guests past The Millhouse, over the iconic double-arch stone bridge and into the Green Dragon Inn, a well-established pub and lodging house that features prominently in both of Tolkien’s aforementioned narratives. There, amid the rustic setting, guests are treated to an authentic beverage from the famed Southfarthing range, concluding their hours-long sojourn into the realm of Middle-earth.
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