You will see
- Bag End and a tour through an actual Hobbits home
- Great scenery - after all it inspired Peter Jackson to create Middle Earth right here in NZ!
- Hobbiton Movie Set and the surrounding working farm
- The Green Dragon Pub and Mill
From Cruise Port: Tauranga-Rotorua
Escape into the enchanting world of JRR Tolkein's imagination on a trip to the Hobbiton Movie Set and farm.
Intricately recreated after being used as a film set for both the Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, this tour will take you to another world set deep in New Zealand farming countryside.
Whether you have read the books, seen the movies, or neither at all - this is one day you won't forget.
Our expert guide will set the scene as we leave the Bay of Plenty region and climb over the Kaimai Ranges. Admire the amazing scenery of the Waikato region before arriving at 'The Shire's Rest' visitors centre where your Hobbiton experience begins.
Hobbiton Highlights:
- Explore 44 Hobbit holes set across 12 acres of lush pasture and manicured gardens. You can even get pop inside a doorway for a souvenir photo.
- Learn inside tips from your specialist guide and get wrapped up in the fascinating stories they tell.
- See the new development at Bagshot Row which allows you to experience the intricate and detailed interiors of a Hobbit Hole, a long-held dream of visitors to venture inside a Hobbits home.
- Plus visit Bag End, the Party Tree, Gandalf's Cutting, The Mill House and more. For you movie buffs there are recognisable landmarks at every turn!
- Cap off your tour with a complimentary ale, cider or ginger beer in the Green Dragon Inn where you can sit by the fire, admire the expert craftsmanship and imagine life as a hobbit!
Time permitting, part of our return route will be along a scenic back country road, passing through rolling farmland, forests, orchards of kiwifruit and avocado, both of which are a significant part of the local agriculture industry in this very productive area of New Zealand, so aptly named by Captain James Cook as the Bay of Plenty. Our final stop is at a stunning viewpoint high above the Tauranga harbour and city, with views to the ocean and your cruise ship awaiting your return.
Please note that due to changes in the booking Terms and Conditions at the Hobbiton Movie Set, the Hobbiton Tour charge portion of any tour will not be refunded should the ship cancel its port of call without giving at least 24 hours notice, OR, should the ship change its arrival or departure time meaning the scheduled tour time at Hobbiton is not possible.
The 20% discount on your tickets will be applied when you make your credit card payment.
This tour is proudly operated by us (Shore Trips and Tours) - Tauranga's best Shore Excursion team.
From Cruise Port: Tauranga-Rotorua
Included
- 2.5 hour guided tour of Hobbiton
- A tankard of Hobbit Ale at the Green Dragon (+ non-alcoholic option)
- Air-conditioned transport on 30 to 40 seat coaches, though smaller vehicles are sometimes used.
- Experienced local guide - our guides are the best in the business.
- Pick up and drop off at the port
- You can now see the interior of a Hobbit Hole with a series of themed rooms, cosey enough for a family of Hobbits.
Not Included
- No meals are included but there is time to get food at the Shire's Rest Cafe or Green Dragon Inn
Instructions
- Please be at the designated meeting point at least 15 minutes prior to departure. Details are on your voucher.
- This tour includes walking, with some steep inclines and steps on unmade paths
Restrictions
- Children/infants must have a valid ticket. Under NZ law each person is counted as part of our loading limit. For safety reasons we recommend you bring a suitable child/infant seat.
- Due to changes in the booking Terms and Conditions at the Hobbiton Movie Set, the Hobbiton Tour charge portion of any tour will not be refunded should the ship cancel its port of call without giving at least 24 hours notice, OR, should the ship change its arrival or departure time meaning the scheduled tour time at Hobbiton is not possible.
- This tour is not suitable for users of mobility scooters or wheelchairs.
- This tour operates with a minimum of 4 fare paying passengers. Should minimum numbers not be met on the day we will talk to you about alternative options.
Standard Tour Schedule Options | ||
---|---|---|
start time | end time | |
Hobbiton Express Run 1 | 10:00 | 16:00 |
Hobbiton Express Run 2 | 10:15 | 16:15 |
Hobbiton Express Run 3 | 10:30 | 16:30 |
Hobbiton Express Run 4 | 10:45 | 16:45 |
Hobbiton Express Run 5 | 11:00 | 17:00 |
Hobbiton Express Run 6 | 11:30 | 17:30 |
Note: Start and end times may be revised to suit ETA / ETD of ship in port |
Standard Tour Prices (current) | |
---|---|
Adult price | NZ $320.00 |
Child price (11 to 17 yrs) | NZ $240.00 |
Infant price (0 to 10 yrs) | NZ $160.00 |
Note: Infants and children must have a valid ticket to travel |
NOTE: Prices may vary depending on your Date of Travel.
Our Booking procedures quote the applicable prices before you commit to a Booking.
Would love to thank you for the amazing service with all the tours that we went on. We had a wonderful time and will be recommending you to all our family and friends that are going to be visiting New Zealand in the future.
Jo-Anne, Australia April 2024
Chris, Australia
Way Family, Queenland Australia
C & C Baldwin, Australia [Mar 20]
A Sun, Singapore [Mar 20]
D Clarke, Australia [Mar 20]
G & G Chubb, Canada [Feb 20]
R Kuseski, USA [Feb 20]
K Coker, USA [Feb 20]
A Taylor, Australia [Jan 20]
M Thompson, Australia [Jan 20]
J Corkin, Australia [Jan 20]
L & N Flounders, Australia [Dec 19]
C Matias, USA [Dec 19]
D Fulton, Australia [Dec 19]
G McMahen, Australia [Nov 19]
C Yen, USA [Oct 19]
W Barrick, USA [Oct 19]
G Seals, USA [Nov 19]
N Lomman, Australia [Nov 19]
D Schafer, Australia [Oct 19]
D Hickard, Canada [Mar 19]
A & M Short, Australia [Mar 19]
T & M Scully, Australia [Feb 19]
M & P Brown, UK [Feb 19]
Beth & Wayne, USA [Feb 19]
L & R Bailey, USA [Feb 19]
Aaron & Frances, Australia [Jan 19]
N Matta, Australia [Jan 19]
C Watkins, UK [Jan 19]
A Paton, Australia, [Dec 18]
R Walker, Australia, [Dec 18]
J Chan, Canada, [Dec 18]
R Knudegard, USA [Nov 18]
Packer Family, UK [Nov 18]
R Knudegard, USA [Nov 18]
P & W Davey, Australia [Oct 18]
E Smith, USA [Oct 18]
J Miller, Australia [Apr 18]
M Knott, Australia [Apr 18]
J Howard, Australia [Apr 18]
W Baron, USA [Mar 18]
J & M Byder, USA [Mar 18]
A Spencer, Australia [Mar 18]
S & J Fisher, USA [Mar 18]
E Pearson, Canada [Feb 18]
T & G Homlin, Australia [Feb 18]
L Seiffert, Australia [Feb 18]
T Head, Australia [Jan 18]
M Cameron, Australia [Jan 18]
McEwen Family, Australia [Jan 18]
Are entry fees included?
Yes this is an all inclusive price. Remember meals are at your own cost.
Is it suitable for children?
Absolutely! This is a magical and enchanting location for people of all ages.
Are meals included?
No meals are included in this tour but time is allowed to buy lunch at the Shires Rest or the Green Dragon Pub and to enjoy a glass of Hobbit Ale or Cider.
Is there much walking?
The Hobbiton Movie Set is built on hilly countryside. There are some steep inclines and unmade paths. A mobility buggy is sometimes available (not guaranteed) which can be booked in advance for no charge.
Can this tour be offered for my group?
Yes we can offer this tour program in most cases (space at Hobbiton permitting). Please contact us for a quotation.
I can not make a booking for this tour as there are no seats left.
There is limited capacity at Hobbiton and we have to pre-purchase our seats months in advance. Once these have been sold then we can not usually obtain any more. But email us and we can see if we can.
If we have to cancel is a refund available?
We offer refunds on all tours as per our Terms and Conditions which you can find under the More Info menu. However, the Hobbiton Movie Set has imposed new conditions for bookings, so if a ship cancels a port of call visit with less than 24 hours notice, the Hobbiton ticket charge is not refundable. Shore Trips and Tours will refund the remainder of the tour cost to you.
What happens if our ship arrives late or has to leave port early?
On most tours we can adjust the tour start times to suit such changes, but as we have a fixed time for the tour at Hobbiton, this is not possible as they will not switch tour times. Should this happen we will only be able to refund the cost of the tour less the amount for the Hobbiton ticket which they will not refund.