
Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 515 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch worth booking?
Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch is a 9-hour experience in Auckland, New Zealand, from $246 per person. It scores 89 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 515 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 89 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (515)
- Duration
- 9 hours
- From
- $246 per person
Enter the magical world of ‘the Shire’ on this small-group movie set tour to Hobbiton from Auckland. See where the The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed and pose for pictures in front of hobbit holes. Visit the party tree, Green Dragon Inn and have your picture taken outside the gate to Bilbo Baggins’ house. Explore inside a Hobbit home on BagShot row! Afterward, enjoy a cider, ale or ginger beer in the Green Dragon Inn followed by sumptuous buffet lunch in the Party Marquee. This is a must-do tour for any The Lord of the Rings movie lovers! No minimum numbers required! Please note: This tour is limited to 13-15 people for the transport to and from Hobbiton but does join a larger group at Hobbiton.
What you get
About this experience
Enter the magical world of ‘the Shire’ on this small-group movie set tour to Hobbiton from Auckland. See where the The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed and pose for pictures in front of hobbit holes. Visit the party tree, Green Dragon Inn and have your picture taken outside the gate to Bilbo Baggins’ house. Explore inside a Hobbit home on BagShot row! Afterward, enjoy a cider, ale or ginger beer in the Green Dragon Inn followed by sumptuous buffet lunch in the Party Marquee. This is a must-do tour for any The Lord of the Rings movie lovers! No minimum numbers required! Please note: This tour is limited to 13-15 people for the transport to and from Hobbiton but does join a larger group at Hobbiton.
What's included
Included
- Enjoy lunch - Buffet lunch in the Green Dragon Marquee
- Hobbiton Movie Set Entry & Tour
- Knowledgeable local driver guide
- A drink inside the famous Green Dragon Inn
- Inner City Auckland Hotel Pickup + Drop-Off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- NZ$10 Shopping Voucher For Use In The Hobbiton Gift Shop
Not included
- Morning tea and additional food and drinks
What you'll see and do
Auckland Central
Your tour starts when we pick you up from your Auckland central accommodation in one of our comfortable Mercedes Sprinters.
Pass by without stopping
Waikato Region
One of our friendly, informative, and helpful guides will include a full commentary on the way to Hobbiton with insights into the beautiful farmland areas you are travelling through and background to the movie set you are visiting. On the way down to Hobbiton there is a brief stop at a local café in case you want to buy some local baking or a coffee (or as we like to call it a ‘second breakfast’).
Pass by without stopping
Hobbiton Movie Set
At Hobbiton you travel down to the movie set and have one of the specialist Hobbiton guides take you on a walking tour around the 44 Hobbit holes. You will get to stand by the gate to Bilbo’s house ‘Bag End’ overlooking the Party Tree and the whole set to the hills in the distance. A highlight of the tour is the opportunity to go inside a Hobbit hole. This interactive part of the tour gives you the chance to explore inside a Hobbit home! For example – try out a hobbit sized bed, sit at the dining table and check out the amazing detail that has gone into this creation. *The tour at Hobbiton is with a larger group for the tour on set. The tour is 2 hours followed by time in the Green Dragon Inn & then buffet lunch at the Party Marquee
180 minutes here · Admission included
At the end of your walking tour you cross the bridge by the mill to go into the Green Dragon Inn where you can enjoy a complimentary ale, cider or ginger beer before heading to lunch. Your lunch on this tour at Hobbiton is a sumptuous buffet feast in the themed Party Marquee next to the Green Dragon. Afterwards we’ll give you a $10 souvenir voucher to spend at the Hobbiton gift shop You then return to Auckland (2 hours journey with a toilet stop)
20 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Auckland
If you have not confirmed an inner city hotel pick up with us then our central meeting point is the entrance to the SkyCity Hotel at 6.40am. If you are meeting here will need to be confirmed with us. Please call to confirm the night prior - 0800 423 224
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
If you have not confirmed an inner city hotel pick up with us then our central meeting point is the entrance to the SkyCity Hotel at 6.40am. If you are meeting here will need to be confirmed with us. Please call to confirm the night prior - 0800 423 224
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 9 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Bush and Beach
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- This tour is not appropriate as a shore excursion - due to early departure times and risks of traffic on the return journey
- This tour is limited to 13-15 people for the transport to and from Hobbiton but does join a larger group at Hobbiton.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 514 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Organization
4 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
514 verified traveler reviews for Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great First Impression to New Zealand
This tour was the highlight for the start of my trip in New Zealand! The communication from the Bush & Beach staff before and during the tour was clear and organized. My first driver for my pick up was Murray. He was very polite and welcoming to me during the drive. Shortly after, he handed me off to the actual guide named Warren. Warren was the guide/driver for our tour to Hobbiton. Warren gave us plenty of history on New Zealand, very informative, polite, and a very safe driver. There was a major wreck on the highway, but Warren still got us there on time and safely. He always communicated and gave updates throughout the journey. We also never felt rushed and had plenty of time for the gift shop as well. We had the advantage of beating all of the crowds as we were the first group! We were handed off to James for the Hobbiton part of the tour. James was absolutely fun and really energized the group. He was such a fun guide and you can tell that he has a passion for what he does. I appreciate James offering to take pictures for people. This was appreciated as I was traveling solo. The included buffet lunch was very good and organized as well. This scenery and story about Hobbiton was amazing! I really enjoyed this tour! A big kudos to Warren, Murray, and James for making a great first impression upon my entry to New Zealand. You all are the best! I highly recommend doing this tour with Bush & Beach.
via Tripadvisor
A wonderful all-inclusive...
A wonderful all-inclusive tour with Hobbiton as the amazing and magical destination. Well done! We were well taken care of from start to finish!
via Viator
A fabulous day!
We had a lovely day on the Hobbiton tour with Bush and Beach. We had a lovely, knowledgeable driver/guide who made our day very enjoyable. The van was comfortable and it was nice that every seat wasn’t taken. The seats are quite slim, which is something to note. My only feedback would be that I thought that our stops on the way down and back were very random, I was anticipating a lovely little bakery or cafe/shop in a little town on the way down, however we stopped at the freeway/roadside stop. This was time efficient, I can understand, but I just would’ve really liked to have gone to a lovely little bakery, as Its own experience. On the stop back we stopped at a raceway to access the Cafe. Most of the other people in my tour enjoyed this, which I was happy for. However, it just felt a bit random to me. Overall, the day was very well managed, comfortable and enjoyable and I would definitely do a tour with this company again. Their customer service and communication is on point.
via Viator
I had so much fun on the Hobbiton tour
Had a super time on this tour of Hobbiton. Easy pickup right at my hotel in the central business district in Auckland About a 2 hour drive each way with a bathroom and coffee stop. The tour is amazing if you are a fan of the films. A drink at the actual Green Dragon pub and a huge buffet lunch was included with the tour and it was terrific. Tour guide chats during the drive with historical and cultural topics about New Zealand. A really fun day!
Response from the operator: We are so pleased you enjoyed your "fiun" day out to Hobbiton with Bush and Beach. The drink at the Green Dragon pub does make it special (as does the buffet lunch). Thank you also for appreciating your Tour Guide's informative narrative of New Zealand history and culture :)
via Tripadvisor
Thank you Bush and Beach
Ian was a safe, informative and friendly guide. He did a great job making sure we enjoyed our day with Bush and Beach.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for posting a review. We are so pleased you enjoyed your day with Ian as your Tour Guide!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $246 to $445
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 180
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Bush and Beach, who run 10 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 81.0 and 3 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Bush and Beach runsWhy this scores 89
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Auckland.
How much does Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch cost?
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Prices start at $246 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Auckland usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch take?
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Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Auckland is not rushed.
Is Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 89 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 515 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Auckland, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch?
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Around 180 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Auckland can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Auckland and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Auckland within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Auckland?
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On Outty we rank every Auckland experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour with Lunch from Auckland, Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour with Cheeky Kiwi Travel, Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Auckland?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Auckland?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch?
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Included: Enjoy lunch - Buffet lunch in the Green Dragon Marquee; Hobbiton Movie Set Entry & Tour; Knowledgeable local driver guide; A drink inside the famous Green Dragon Inn; and Inner City Auckland Hotel Pickup + Drop-Off. Not included: Morning tea and additional food and drinks. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 59 listed pickup locations in and around Auckland. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Small-Group Hobbiton Tour from Auckland with Party Marquee Lunch?
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Across 515 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
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