Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Tauranga: 2.5-hour guided set walk

The Hobbiton set sits on working farmland, and you walk it with an onsite guide for two and a half hours.

A seven-hour tour from Tauranga visiting the Lord of the Rings Hobbiton movie set with a 2.5-hour guided walk through the actual location, plus stops at McClaren's Fall park for a native forest walk, a kiwifruit orchard, and elevated views of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato farmland. The tour includes driver, guide, entrance fees and bottled water. Cruise ship passengers are guaranteed return to the port on time. Minimum group size is five people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Hobbiton and NZ scenic spots

• Drive through seaside town
• View Bay of Plenty beach
• Stop at Minden Rd. lookout
• Capture views from Minden Road
• Drive through farmland and kiwifruit orchards
• Stop at natural springs and Waikato lookout
• Tour Hobbiton Movie Set
• Walk through McClaren's Fall park forest
• See large cascade and smaller waterfall

The experience

The tour departs from Tauranga port and opens with a drive along the coastline, stopping at one of New Zealand's best beaches where the history of the Bay of Plenty unfolds. This is the area James Cook named for its abundance. You'll climb Minden Road to an elevation of 300 metres for a 270-degree view of the Pacific, the Western Bay of Plenty coastline, Mt Maunganui, and your ship in the distance. The route then passes through typical New Zealand farmland, including sheep farms and kiwifruit orchards where you stop to see how the fruit actually grows.

Before reaching Hobbiton, the tour stops at a natural springs fed from inside the mountain range where you can drink fresh water, and at a lookout over the vast Waikato region where dairy farming dominates the landscape. Once at the Hobbiton movie set (the most visited single attraction on the North Island), an onsite guide takes over and walks you through the 2.5-hour experience on the actual Lord of the Rings filming location set on farmland. After Hobbiton, you drive through McClaren's Fall park and walk an easy 20 minutes through native New Zealand forest to a smaller waterfall.

The full tour runs seven hours from port to return. Your driver and guide are included, as are all entrance fees and bottled water. Cruise ship passengers must provide ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at booking. The operator guarantees you'll be back to your ship on time or you'll be transported to the next port. Specialized infant seats are available, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Driver and guide in English.
• entrance fees to Hobbiton and McClaren's Fall.
• bottled water.
• pickup from Tauranga port.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:30, 10:00 and 11:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 to 95 years) · Youth (8 to 15 years) · Child (under 8)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.Operator's directions: “Just past security gate we will be waiting for you , your name will be displayed”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Arrow Tours

Is this one for you?Pickup from Tauranga port means cruise ship passengers and travelers without a car can book a single tour that handles all transport and timing: the operator guarantees return to the ship on time or covers transport to the next port.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 15 years); Child (under 8).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long do I actually spend walking around the Hobbiton movie set?

The onsite guide leads a 2.5-hour walk through the set itself. This is the core of the tour. The rest of the seven hours covers the drive from Tauranga, the coastal and farmland stops, and the walk at McClaren's Fall.

What happens at the kiwifruit orchard stop?

You stop at a working kiwifruit orchard to see how the fruit is grown. The orchards are scattered through the farmland on the route to Hobbiton, and this stop shows the scale and method of cultivation for the region's economically important crop.

Will I have time to see the Bay of Plenty views from Minden Road?

Yes. The tour stops at the top of Minden Road at 300 metres elevation for a 270-degree view of the Pacific, the Western Bay of Plenty coastline, Mt Maunganui, and your ship. Afternoons are best for photos.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The walk through McClaren's Fall native forest is described as short and easy at 20 minutes, but the overall day involves several stops and walking at each one.

I'm arriving on a cruise ship, will I get back in time?

Yes. The operator guarantees all cruise ship passengers will be back to their ship on time. You must provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at booking, and if the tour runs late, you'll be transported to the next port at no extra cost.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the driver and guide, all entrance fees to Hobbiton and McClaren's Fall, and bottled water. Lunch is not included. Personal expenses and gratuities are optional.