Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Tauranga: 6-Hour Shore Excursion
Walk the film sets where Middle-earth was built, then drink ale where the hobbits did.
A 6-hour guided tour from Tauranga to the Hobbiton Movie Set, used for both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, includes professional guide, admission, transport and a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Pub. The tour departs and returns on a schedule matched to your cruise ship's arrival and departure times, so you don't coordinate the timing yourself. Comfortable walking shoes and layers are recommended. The tour involves moderate walking across the outdoor set.
Step-by-step itinerary
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Tauranga
- Travel past Mount Maunganui beaches
- Cross harbor bridge and Kaimai ranges
- Arrive at Hobbiton Movie Set
- Visit Shires Rest Cafe and souvenir shop
- Join 2.5 hour guided Hobbiton tour
- Explore Hobbit homes
- Finish at The Green Dragon Pub with ale
- Return to ship in Tauranga
What’s included
- Professional English-speaking guide and admission to the Hobbiton Movie Set.
- round-trip air-conditioned transport from Tauranga with live commentary.
- one complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Pub (your choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic).
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Cruise Tours Tauranga
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
Your ship docks in Tauranga and the tour time is set to fit your arrival and departure. You'll know the exact start time once your booking is confirmed. From the port, the drive takes you past Mount Maunganui's beaches, across the harbor bridge and inland through the Kaimai ranges into the Waikato farming district, where the Hobbiton set sits on a working farm. The route itself is part of the journey: you're traveling through the landscape that became Middle-earth on screen.
At Hobbiton, you have time to browse the souvenir shop or settle into the Shires Rest Cafe before the 2.5-hour guided tour begins. Your guide leads you through the extensive set, pointing out the Hobbit holes and the details built for the films. You'll walk inside one of the homes to see how the interiors were constructed, then finish at the Green Dragon Pub, where you receive a complimentary mug of ale, alcoholic or non-alcoholic. The pub is where the hobbits gathered on screen. It's a real structure on the set where you can sit and take in the views of the farm and the surrounding countryside.
The whole experience is built around cruise schedules: transport is air-conditioned, your guide provides live commentary on the drive, and the tour operator confirms your return time to the ship well before departure. You'll need to provide your ship's name, docking time and departure time when you book so the timing can be locked in. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring layers or a rain jacket. You're outdoors on a working farm in the Waikato, and weather changes quickly.
Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks in Tauranga: the tour departs and returns timed to your vessel's schedule, and a guide leads you through the set rather than self-exploring.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (under 11).
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 24 h before the start.
What exactly do you see and do at the Hobbiton Movie Set?
The Hobbiton Movie Set is the actual location used for filming both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. On the guided tour, you walk through the set to see the Hobbit holes, explore inside one of the homes, and finish at the Green Dragon Pub, where you receive a complimentary drink and can sit among the film locations.
How long is the tour itself once you arrive at Hobbiton?
The guided tour at Hobbiton lasts 2.5 hours. Before the tour starts, you have time to visit the Shires Rest Cafe or the souvenir shop, so the total time on the set is longer, but the structured walking tour with your guide is 2.5 hours.
Will the tour time work with my ship's schedule?
Yes, the tour operator adjusts both the start and end times to match your cruise ship's arrival and departure times in Tauranga. You'll confirm your ship's name, docking time and departure time when you book, and the operator will confirm your exact tour start time once your booking is accepted, always arranging your return well before the ship leaves port.
What's included in the price?
The tour includes round-trip air-conditioned transport from Tauranga, admission to the Hobbiton Movie Set, a professional English-speaking guide, live commentary during the drive, and one complimentary drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) at the Green Dragon Pub.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as the tour involves moderate walking across the outdoor set on a working farm. Layers and a rain jacket are recommended. The Waikato weather can change, and you'll be outside for most of the day.
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Tauranga: 6-Hour Shore Excursion
6h · EN
from NZ$ 350 per person
≈ US$ 201 in your currency
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