Return to Hobbiton — 20 Years Later

By Ørjan Wremertravels3 hours ago

Like Bilbo and Frodo, we have been there and back again—coming full circle to Bag End and Hobbiton. It took us 20 years to return, considerably longer than Bilbo took to rob Smaug (13–14 months) and Frodo took to destroy the One Ring (six months).

Our first visit was in 2005, not long after the final film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy premiered in 2003.

How Hobbiton Was Created

In 1998, the location team for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring—directed by Peter Jackson—searched across New Zealand for the perfect place to represent the Shire, the peaceful homeland of Hobbits.

They found it on a farm near Matamata. In 1999, construction crews—including the New Zealand Army—transformed part of the Alexander family farm into Hobbiton.

For the original The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, however, most of the structures were temporary. Hobbit holes were simple façades made from plywood and polystyrene, designed to be dismantled after filming.

After filming wrapped around 2000, much of the set was removed. What remained slowly weathered on the farm.

Visiting Hobbiton in 2005

For years, fans occasionally visited the site, guided informally by the Alexander family.

When we visited in 2005, it was very low-key. A few buses arrived with guides, you could still see the plywood hobbit holes, and the only place you could slightly enter was Bag End—which made for very cool photos indeed.

The famous Party Tree was there too, and with a bit of imagination you could picture Gandalf lighting fireworks during Bilbo’s birthday party.

The Hobbit Films Changed Everything

Everything changed in 2009 when Peter Jackson returned to film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the rest of The Hobbit trilogy.

This time the filmmakers rebuilt Hobbiton permanently using durable materials. The set was designed to remain as a long-term tourist destination.

Hobbiton Today: A Major Attraction

Today, Hobbiton Movie Set is one of New Zealand’s most visited attractions.

Visitors can explore:

44 hobbit holes, Bagshot Row and the Party Tree. The Mill and bridge and the fully operational The Green Dragon Inn, where guests can drink themed ales.

From Quiet Film Set to Hobbit-Themed Tourism

It is now a full-on tourist machine, and it felt very different from our previous visit.

In 2025, it felt a bit like “Disney (Hobbit) Land” in New Zealand. Buses and tours depart every ten minutes. When you enter Hobbiton there are tours in front of you and tours behind you, with guides working hard to organize the groups as they move from spot to spot around the set.

The Magic Is in the Details

The site itself is spectacular. It feels as though all the hobbits have gone to the beach for the day and left you free to explore their village.

The gardens are meticulously maintained, with vegetable patches freshly hoed. Every tree, plant, flower, and vegetable is cared for by a large team of gardeners.

This attention to detail is perhaps the coolest thing about Hobbiton. Nothing feels fake or plastic—it’s like visiting a real village, just one with many round doors.

Movie Magic and Forced Perspective

During the tour we learned how some hobbit holes were built using forced perspective.

At one location, a normal person can appear tall like Gandalf. At another, the same person can look small like a hobbit. It’s a clever bit of movie magic used throughout The Lord of the Rings films.

Inside a Hobbit Hole

We could no longer enter Bag End, but it gave us endless smugness knowing we had been behind that famous door 20 years earlier.

A newer addition to the tour is a fully functional hobbit hole built to scale with extraordinary attention to detail.

The fireplace was roaring, the rooms beautifully furnished, and in the kitchen small jars of preserved food had tiny labels noting the contents—and even stating that they were “harvested under a full moon.” Amazing.

Ending the Tour at The Green Dragon

The tour ends at the Green Dragon Inn, where we were served ale specially brewed for Hobbiton.

The very popular “Second Breakfast” experience is also served here, though this option is usually fully booked months in advance.

It was great sitting outside the inn, looking back across the lake toward Hobbiton. It may have become very touristy, but it remains a magical place for film lovers and fans of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies.