Waikato Farm Transformed into Permanent Lord of the Rings Film Location

Hobbiton Movie Set, located near Matamata in New Zealand's Waikato region, is a permanent film location built into a working farm. The set was first constructed as a temporary location for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and later rebuilt with permanent materials when The Hobbit trilogy was commissioned.

The result is a self-contained valley featuring 44 hobbit holes scattered across the property, including Bag End and its neighbors. Visitors can walk through the hills and hobbit holes of the Shire, past the Mill, and ending at the Green Dragon Inn, with views across the surrounding farmland.

Hobbiton Movie Set is distinctive as a permanent film location built into a real working farm, where the Shire's hobbit holes stand among genuine Waikato pasture and trees. The official language is English, and the currency is the New Zealand dollar.