Some Hobbits don't like to stray too far from home, but occasionally they embark on a grand adventure.
Explore New Zealand - the real Middle‑earth™ - and follow in the footsteps of Bilbo, Frodo and Sam from Tongariro National Park in the north, to Treble Cone and the Misty Mountains pathway in the south.
Journey through dramatic scenes of golden plains, enchanting valleys and towering mountains as you experience many of the film locations for yourself.
Journey from the exciting urban hub of Auckland to Matamata - the home of the Hobbiton™ Movie Set. Enjoy a guided tour around The Shire, where your knowledgeable guide will enlighten you about the history and the on-location filming processes. Stop for a pint of The Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beer at the Green Dragon Inn or grab a light lunch at the Shire’s Rest Café.
Experience Hobbiton™ in 360 degrees(opens in new window).
Find things to do in Waikato.
Experience wilderness in Tongariro National Park - an area known for its mountainous, desolate beauty. This region was used as the location for some of the filming of Mordor in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It is also famous for the Tongariro Crossing - an iconic kiwi day hike. Spend a night in Ohakune under the shadow of rugged Mt Ruapehu and enjoy this small town that acted as a location base for The Hobbit film crew.
Learn more about the Ruapehu Region.
Dewy scenery and natural spectacles are New Zealand's biggest draw-cards and a sure reason why the country was chosen as the home of Middle‑earth™. Explore this magical world of tall trees, clear rivers and melodious birdlife on a short walk or famous multi-day hike. From Cape Reinga all the way down to Bluff there are national parks covering the country.
McClean Falls surrounded by lush rainforest in the Catlins
The land of rugged coastlines, nature walks, and wildlife.
Wētā is the Academy Award-winning company behind the special effects of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies, and the Wētā Cave(opens in new window) in Wellington is a mini-museum that showcases the props and characters that create the movie magic. Get a behind-the-scenes look before checking out nearby filming locations. Indulge in the Wellington(opens in new window) city’s buzzing food and wine scene, and enjoy a cable-car ride to the Kelburn lookout for expansive harbour views.
See special effect and set designers at work in a Wētā Cave Workshop Tour. Learn their secrets about what it takes to create the movie masterpieces.
The 'Coolest little capital'
One of the most magical locations in The Hobbit Trilogy is Earnslaw Burn. Here you will find sheer walls of granite rising 800 meters from the basin floor, and a monumental glacier creating a number of cascading waterfalls from its meltwater that spill down from the cliff-tops. It was here that Bilbo and the Company of Dwarves continued their quest on foot after departing Rivendell.
Earnslaw Burn is perhaps the most spectacular of all the locations in The Hobbit Trilogy.
Paradise for walking and hiking lovers.
Paradise - a real place in New Zealand's Southern Lakes region is a picture of glorious isolation and natural grandeur. It's no wonder Peter Jackson chose this as the location for Beorn's House in The Hobbit Trilogy, as well as Isengard, Lothlorien and Amon Hen in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Come here to experience the magic of silence, and be in awe of the REAL Middle‑earth™.
Just 45 minutes from Queenstown, Glenorchy is nestled on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu & is the gateway to hiking trails and Middle‑earth™ magic
