Hobbiton On a Rainy Day | Insights + Tips to Still Have a Great Time

Fans of The Lord of the Ring and The Hobbit movies will definitely want to experience a day touring Hobbiton. 

I sure did, and as my time in New Zealand dwindled, I decided to book a tour instead of trying to visit independently. I chose a Gray Line tour to pick me up and drop me back off at my hostel. It came at a cost but was worth the time it saved.

The forecast called for rain, but it didn’t deter me. Neither was Hobbiton. They run tours in all weather conditions with very few exceptions.

I share all the things I learned while visiting Hobbiton on a rainy day in this post.

Where is Hobbiton? 

The Hobbiton filming location is about a 2-hour drive from Auckland, 1-hour from Rotorua, and 1.5-hours from Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand. It lives on 12 acres of the Alexander Farm, a sprawling (and still functioning) sheep farm in Matamata.

Since the movie set is on a working farm, no one can roam around independently. Accessing the area with a tour guide is required. Don’t worry; you can book many different types of tours!

Learn more below about how this farm became a movie set, the particular tour I went on, and what it includes.

How a Sheep Farm Became The Shire

You’ll hear the full story from your tour leader, but I have to share it here, too! In short, according to the location scout who discovered this farm twenty years ago, the farm had everything needed to create a real-world version of The Shire as described in JRR Tolkien’s books.

In search of a large tree next to a lake, the scout spotted what would later become the Party Tree while flying over the farm. He landed his helicopter in a field of rolling green hills untouched by any modern construction – a perfectly picturesque backdrop.

Then he just knocked on the door and asked.

On my visit to Hobbiton, I learned that it was built twice before becoming the permanent fixture and tourist attraction it is today. They used temporary materials to create the set the first time around, and they mostly deconstructed it after filming. 

That didn’t stop people from visiting the farm to see the Shire. So, when they needed the farm for more filming, the owner requested that the construction be made permanent. The rest is history. 

Should You Visit Hobbiton on a Rainy Day?

Of course! Don’t skip Hobbiton because of a little rain.

Filming locations are cool! I’ve seen a few but none as dedicated and detailed as Hobbiton. 

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies are cultural phenomena, and New Zealand is the center of that universe. New Zealand IS Middle Earth, with over 150 filming locations across the country, and Hobbiton is the only remaining intact set.

It’s a breathtaking sight. Don’t let a little weather prevent you from seeing it for yourself!

My Tips for Spending a Rainy Day in Hobbiton

I hope these tips for visiting Hobbiton on a rainy day are helpful!

1. Bring an umbrella or wear a raincoat

The tour guide provided big green umbrellas, but most didn’t stay open. It looked like guests using them ended up getting pretty wet and looked rather miserable. 

I wore my raincoat that day, so my hands would be free to take all the pictures.

2. Wear waterproof shoes

Preferably ones with great traction. You’ll run into lots of puddles and mud along the Hobbit paths. 

I wish I had packed some waterproof shoes, especially on this day. My sneakers were fine, but my feet were very wet by the end of the tour. I’m just thankful it wasn’t a cold rainy day, and I’m glad I thought ahead to tip #3.

>>> Check out my New Zealand Packing List to see what I DID pack.

3. Bring a change of clothes

Even thinking about spending a day in wet clothes makes me shiver. 

Do yourself a favor and, at the least, pack an extra pair of socks in your daypack. If the rain is coming down hard, pack an extra pair of pants and a shirt.

The great thing about going to Hobbiton with a group tour is your daypack is safe to leave on the bus, so your extra clothes will be nice and dry when you need them.

4. Expect crowds

There will probably always be a crowd at Hobbiton, no matter what the weather.

Crowds just seem bigger in the rain, though. Especially with all that extra space everyone’s umbrellas take up.

5. Leave your good camera gear behind

Instead of bringing my DSLR out into the rain, I used my phone and a small point-and-shoot camera.

I could still get some great photos and not risk damaging my expensive camera gear.

6. Bring a positive outlook

You can’t control the weather, so you might as well make the best of it. 

Laugh at the crowds and the puddles; appreciate the scenery. Enjoy the time you get to spend in such a beautiful place.

My Hobbiton Favorites

These are my favorite things about my visit to Hobbiton.

Drinking a beer at the Green Dragon Inn

Once you reach the Green Dragon Inn, a complimentary pint of the brew of your choice is awaiting you. Choose from four brews by Good George Brewing that are sold exclusively at Hobbiton. There’s Girdley Fine Grain (an amber ale), Sackville Cider (hard cider), Oatbarton Brew (traditional English ale), and Frogmorton Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic).

My favorite part of the Green Dragon Inn was the blazing fireplace. The inn was packed since it was raining, so sadly, I didn’t get to sit by it while I drank my beer. Maybe next time.

Alcoholic drinks are only offered to guests of the legal drinking age (18 in New Zealand) with proper identification. Bring your current passport, New Zealand driver’s license, or hospitality New Zealand 18+ card.

Noticing all the details

The staff at Hobbiton painstakingly tend to every detail in the Shire. No gourd or flower was haphazardly placed. Everything is done with intention, and it’s downright mind-blowing. 

Have a full battery, a backup battery/charger, and plenty of memory. There are so many adorable details you’ll want to capture them all. 

Standing inside a Hobbit door

At one point, while winding your way along the path, your guide will stop and offer to take your photo in front of one of the famous round Hobbit doors. Don’t miss out!

Eating a feast fit for a Hobbit

Select Hobbiton tours include a big hobbit-style breakfast, lunch, or dinner held at the Green Dragon Inn or the Party Marquee.

Having a warm meal in your belly feels especially nice on a rainy day. It’s kind of a steep add-on and must be booked ahead of time. It’s worth the cost if you’re considering it.

On my tour, I feasted like a Hobbit at the lunch buffet. It included hearty foods such as roasted potatoes, salads, pesto chicken pasta, vegetable curry, beef roast with gravy, etc. A perfect menu to help warm me up after a couple of hours in the rain.

I chose a few pastries, slices, and other sweets from a large selection offered for dessert. I filled up on all the delicious lunch foods, so I took my treats to eat on the bus ride.

Book a Tour of Hobbiton!

I chose the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour, which included pick up and drop off at my hostel in Auckland and the lunch buffet.

There are lots of other Hobbiton tour options to choose from. Have fun!

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