Hobbiton Movie Set Banquet Experience Private Tour From Auckland
Description
Drive through the scenic roads of Waikato on a chauffeur driven premium luxury vehicle to experience life as a Hobbit like never before! Join the Hobbiton Film Set at dusk with a guided tour of the Shire and a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit served inside the world-famous Green Dragon Inn. Eat like a King (Hobbit) before a gentle lantern-lit walk through the Shire with Hobbiton lit up. Immerse yourself in the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the Shire as featured in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Trilogies. Feast on a Hobbit-inspired dinner banquet and end the evening with an unforgettable lantern-lit walk through the village wandering paths of the Shire.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We pickup travellers from most locations in the Auckland CBD location. If your pickup location is not available on the list, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our very best to accommodate your request.
The Bombay Hills are a range of hills to the south of Auckland, New Zealand. Though only a small and seemingly insignificant range of hills, they lie at the southern boundary of the Auckland region, and serve as a divide between Auckland and the Waikato region. directly named after the ship Bombay, The ship itself was named after the Indian city of Bombay (now Mumbai). Bombay Means: a breed of black short-haired medium-sized cat.
We stop to get some great coffee at your own expense and a comfort break before we continue our journey into the Waikato region.
Experience the Hobbiton Movie Set at dusk with a guided tour across the twelve acres of the Shire. As you tour Hobbit Holes, The Green Dragon Inn, The Mill, the double arched bridge and other structures and gardens built for the films, your guide will recount with you fascinating details of how the movie set was created. The last stop on the tour is The Green Dragon Inn where you have ample time to relax in front of the open fires enjoying a complimentary beverage from the exclusive Hobbit Southfarthing range. Then, move through to the Green Dragon dining room and be treated to banquet feast fit for a Hobbit. As is the tradition in the Shire, second helpings are more definitely encouraged. After dinner, take your authentic handheld lantern to light the way back along the pathways of the Shire. This stunning journey under moonlight will take you through the village as it is breathtakingly lit up with Hobbit hole chimney's smoking and lanterns glowing against the darkness.
After an exhilarating fun-filled adventure experience at Hobbiton, it is now time to head back to Auckland to conclude your evening and drop-off at your hotel in Auckland. We can also drop you at your accommodation in Hamilton / Matamata locations if you are staying locally in the region.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The departure time from Auckland for the evening banquet experience will change throughout the year due to sunset timings. Indicative departure time from Auckland is [03:00 pm in January]; [02:30 pm in February]; [02:00 pm in March]; [12:30 pm in April]; [12:00 pm in May]; [12:00 pm in June]. Indicative departure time from Auckland is [12:00 pm in July]; [12:15 pm in August]; [12:45 pm in September]; [01:45 pm in October]; [02:30 pm in November]; [03:00 pm in December].
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children below 8 years old are required to travel in a child safety car seat. Children between 5-7 years old are also recommended to be in a booster seat for their safety.
- Tours operate in all weather conditions; umbrellas are provided in the event of rain.
- There is uneven terrain on the set; approximately 75% is wheelchair accessible.
- We are able to accommodate a stroller or a pram, provided it is fully collapsible and can fit in the luggage compartment of our buses.
- The only way to access the Hobbiton Movie Set is with a guided tour.
- Please note this experience is extremely popular and may require you to book 4-6 weeks in advance during peak season.
- Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for the conditions, Sun protection, jacket/warm layer, & any essential personal items
- Easy and good fitness level required
- This is a guided walking tour and sensible walking footwear is recommended
- Bring a camera or a phone with camera capability as Hobbiton is the perfect place to get some great travel photos.
- The departure time from Auckland for the evening banquet experience will change throughout the year due to sunset timings.
- Indicative departure time from Auckland is [03:00 pm in January]; [02:30 pm in February]; [02:00 pm in March]; [12:30 pm in April]; [12:00 pm in May]; [12:00 pm in June].
- Indicative departure time from Auckland is [12:00 pm in July]; [12:15 pm in August]; [12:45 pm in September]; [01:45 pm in October]; [02:30 pm in November]; [03:00 pm in December].
- You must be at least 18 years of age and present a valid photo ID in order to consume alcohol.
- Special dietary requirements catered for upon request, please advise at the time of booking. Preferences and requests cannot be guaranteed. Special requests are subject to availability
Reviews(8)
None us are diehard Lord of the Rings fans, but our visit to Hobbiton was fantastic. The attention to details in the shire is amazing; the guided tour is well paced and narrated; and the included hobbit banquet was delicious. We were transported to this fantasy land by Ama from Experience Kart. She made the long drive to/from Auckland go quickly as she was willing to tell us about her Māori culture.
Kia Ora SproutTrout, Thank you for your lovely 5-star review. We’re delighted to hear that your visit to Hobbiton was such a fantastic experience, even without being die-hard fans of the films. The incredible attention to detail in the Shire and the banquet at the Green Dragon certainly make it a memorable visit. We’re also pleased to know that Ama helped make the journey enjoyable by sharing stories about her Māori culture and insights along the way. Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you back again for another memorable experience in Aotearoa. Ngā mihi nui, The ExperienceKart Team
We had special needs on our tour. Our driver Peter adjusted instantly to our needs and made the trip very enjoyable. This was a high quality tour. I highly recommend giving this company your trust to create an amazing experience.
Kia Ora William, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that Peter made your tour comfortable, enjoyable, and perfectly tailored to your needs. His ability to adapt with care and professionalism is something we’re incredibly proud of, and it’s fantastic to know it helped create such a positive experience for you. Hearing that you found the tour high quality and worthy of your trust truly means the world to us. We’re honored to have been part of your journey and would love to welcome you back for more amazing adventures across Aotearoa! Ngā mihi nui, The ExperienceKart Team
Driver went above and beyond! We were late… he waited… and waited… and waited. We had the times confused. He was so patient. Made the tour with. One ta to spare. Excellent guide for the ride there and back again. Took us to our accommodation afterwards. Truly special treatment. 10/10
Kia Ora Fred, Thank you so much for this amazing review! We're absolutely thrilled you had such a magical Hobbiton experience—and so glad our driver could turn a stressful moment into a smooth and memorable journey! His patience, calm nature, and commitment to giving you the royal treatment are exactly what we strive for at ExperienceKart. From start to finish (and even “there and back again”), it’s all about creating unforgettable moments with heart. We’re so grateful you chose us—and we’d love to welcome you back anytime for more epic adventures! Ngā mihi nui, The ExperienceKart Team
Fantastic. Hobbiton did not disappoint! Evening banquet was spectacular. Guides were fun and informative. Our driver Krantv (sp?) went above and beyond for us. Waited ( we were late misunderstanding the timing) and panicked. He was calm patient and wonderful. Afterwards he dropped us at our accommodations. Superb customer service ! 10/10
Kia Ora Fred, Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We’re over the moon to hear you had such a magical time at Hobbiton—especially the Evening Banquet, which truly is something special! A huge shoutout to Karthik for going the extra mile with grace and kindness—he’ll be thrilled to know his calm and care made such a difference during a stressful moment. Your kind words about the service mean the world to us. We're so glad the experience was 10/10 for you, and we’d love to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure across Aotearoa! Ngā mihi nui, The ExperienceKart Team
A great experience! Highly recommend for LOTR fanatics! We had a wonderful ride over to Hobbiton filled with many stories and facts about New Zealand. We also received many recommendations on places to visit. Our driver was extremely kind and professional. If you’re looking for a stress-free transfer to Hobbiton from Auckland it’s definitely worth it! The
Kia Ora Gerardo, Thank you so much for the amazing review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience traveling to Hobbiton with us! For true LOTR fans, it's a dream destination—and we're so glad we could make the journey just as memorable as the destination itself. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the stories and fun facts shared along the way, and that our recommendations added even more value to your time in New Zealand. Our team takes great pride in delivering not just a transfer, but a personalized and enriching experience from start to finish. A big thank you as well for your kind words about our driver guide —professionalism, warmth, and genuine care are at the heart of what we do, and it’s great to know you felt that throughout the journey. We're so happy we could provide you with a smooth, stress-free, and enjoyable ride to Middle-earth. We’d love to welcome you back anytime for more adventures across Aotearoa! Ngā mihi nui, The ExperienceKart Team
We booked a last minute trip to New Zealand and when we went to book tickets for Hobbiton, we couldnt find anything! I emailed this company, they replied immediately, helped me navigate the purchase and were able to secure spots for my family. From there everything was super smooth. Pick up on time to the minute, knowledgeable guide and amazing transport bus. Highly recommend!
Kia Ora Suhail, Thank you very much for choosing to book with ExperienceKart and we are very thrilled to hear that we were able to get you and your family to Hobbiton despite your last minute trip to New Zealand and we are stoked to hear that our guide made your trip a lot more memorable and we hope you enjoyed travelling in our brand new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 5 Star Luxury Coach! We look forward to hosting you again in the future and wishing you a lovely 2025 ahead!
This was a great experience! Got to meet lots of fun people with similar passions for LOTR and the Hobbit. Our driver, Karthick, was great, and gave great information on the drive.
Kia Ora Stephanie, Thank you very much for this lovely review and recommending our services and we are very pleased that you had a wonderful experience and enjoyed the Banquet Experience at Hobbiton, a truly exceptional experience for every LOTR fan. Thank you so much sincerely for choosing ExperienceKart and we look forward to hosting you again!
If you're going to do any tour at Hobbiton, be sure to do the Evening Banquet Tour! Our tour had around 40 people, but we were the only group on the entire set. We were able to take pictures without random people walking in the background, and it was so quiet. Our guides were amazing, and the banquet at the Green Dragon was delicious! Whatever you do, don't skip a visit to Hobbiton because you think it's "touristy"...it truly is a magical and surreal experience that will bring a tear to the eye of any fan of the movies.
Kia Ora, Thank you very much for your lovely review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your day and look forward to hosting you again!
