Why the Hobbiton Evening Banquet is the Best Way to See the Shire (Review)

Hobbiton was a location high on our "must-see-whilst-in-New-Zealand" list. We were on the Oceania leg of our 3-month round-the-world trip and spent two weeks exploring the North Island. The Hobbiton Evening Banquet Tour sounded like a lot of fun, so we worked it into our New Zealand itinerary.

We wanted to have a more exclusive look around The Shire, and the evening banquet guided tour seemed the perfect option. We had heard that during the day, Hobbiton could get extremely busy, which we didn't fancy. At night, the Hobbiton tour groups are smaller, so it is easier to see everything. Also, the chance to experience a hobbit banquet inside the Green Dragon was very appealing.

Read on to discover what we thought of our Evening Banquet and why it can prove to be better than visiting Hobbiton on a day tour.

Don't adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story. J.R.R.Tolkien

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hobbiton

Is Hobbiton a real place?

"Does everyone know where they are?" our Hobbiton guide called out as my son and I stood eagerly awaiting our tour to begin. We all looked at one another with puzzled expressions and nodded our heads in unison. Why was she asking such an obvious question?

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies are not as popular in some countries as in others. The result of this is that visitors book onto tours without realising that Hobbiton is a film set.

Our guide continued to inform us that some visitors arrive expecting Hobbiton to be an authentic New Zealand village. Thankfully, my tour group were all avid Lord Of The Ring fans, so we all knew where we were!

I'm going on an adventure, J.R.R.Tolkien.

Where in the North Island is Hobbiton?

Hobbiton is close to the town of Matamata in the centre of New Zealand's North Island. This area was originally a working farm owned by the Alexander family, but all that changed in 1998.

Film director Peter Jackson flew across in his helicopter and chose its green rolling pastures as the site of The Shire, the village in which the hobbits lived in their unique hobbit holes.

Construction began in March 1999. By the end of the year, filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy had commenced. In 2002, demolition of the site was all but complete, as filming had finished, but Peter Jackson decided to return in 2009 to film The Hobbit trilogy and rebuild the set as you see it today.

The rest is history, and the 12-acre site became the focal point not only for the blockbusters derived from JRR Tolkien's books but also for the 650,000 die-hard fans who visit every year.

In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort! J.R.R.Tolkien

Hobbiton Day Tour vs. Evening Banquet: Which Should You Choose?

When planning a trip to Middle-earth, the biggest question is often: "Is the Hobbiton Evening Banquet worth the extra cost, or should I just do the standard day tour?" While the daytime tour is iconic, the evening experience is an entirely different world. If you are a photography enthusiast or a foodie, the choice becomes even more important. Here is a quick breakdown to help you decide:

Feature	Standard Day Tour	Evening Banquet Tour
Duration	Approx 2 Hours	Approx 4 Hours
Crowds	Can feel busy; tours run back-to-back	Much smaller, exclusive group feel. More immersive.
Atmosphere	Bright, bustling, and vibrant	Whimsical, quiet, and romantic
Photography	Harsh midday sun or changing clouds	"Golden Hour" lighting & glowing lanterns
Dining	A drink at the Green Dragon Inn	A full-blown, multi-course Hobbit feast (see photos!)
Unique Highlight	Seeing the Shire in full detail	The magical lantern-lit walk through the dark

Why the Evening Tour Wins (In My Opinion)

While the day tour is perfect for those on a tight schedule or budget, the Hobbiton Evening Banquet Tour offers three things you simply can't get during the day:

1. The Lighting: As the sun sets, the Shire is bathed in a golden glow. It is the absolute best time for photography.
2. The "Feast" Factor: Sitting inside the Green Dragon Inn with tables full of traditional Hobbit fare is the closest you will ever get to actually living in Tolkien’s world. It’s not just a meal; it’s a performance, and the food is pretty tasty.
3. The Quiet: Once the daytime crowds have departed, a silence falls over the 12-acre site. Walking back to the bus by the light of a handheld lantern, seeing the chimneys of the Hobbit Holes actually "smoking," is a core memory you won't get on the standard tour. In fact, you almost expect to see Bilbo Baggins or Frodo waving you goodbye.

Are you planning a New Zealand road trip? Don't miss my perfect 3-week road trip itinerary.

What can you expect on the Hobbiton Evening Tour? 

The evening tour starts with a guided walk around The Shire at dusk. Small groups of visitors, each with a personal guide, are led along the lanes and told interesting behind-the-scenes stories and funny anecdotes from the set.

We found out that in one shot, Sir Ian McKellan, who played Gandalf the Wizard, hit his head quite badly on the rafters of the Green Dragon Inn. In true thespian style, he continued acting, and it stayed in the film. Whenever I see that scene, it reminds me of my fabulous experience at Hobbiton.

Regular photo stops are incorporated as you wander around the 12-acre site, passing orchards, veggie patches, and of course, the 44 colourful hobbit holes. The tour guides suggest good places to take photographs for optimum effect. After all, not many people get to visit the hobbit holes of Sam, Bilbo, and Frodo Baggins, do they?

Can you go inside the Hobbit holes?

Most of the 44 Hobbit holes are just fake exteriors; however, two Hobbit holes on Bagshot Row are fully furnished, and you can go into them and walk around. Inside you'll find a complete Hobbit home scaled to size for a Hobbit, with tables, chairs, a bed, cutlery, plates and a pantry filled with (pretend) food.

Remember, though, that filming inside the hobbit holes took place at Weta Workshop in Wellington, not here!

It did take us by surprise to learn that the vegetables growing in the plots were real and that a group of full-time gardeners was caring for them and the flowers.

Another surprising insight was that the giant oak tree above Bilbo's house has artificial leaves, and every one had been hand-painted. The tree is only featured in the film for a few seconds, which goes to show the level of realism required.

Hobbiton is so realistic that it is hard to tell the difference between real and fake!

Not all that glitters is gold and not all those who wander are lost.
J.R.R. Tolkien

As you cross the bridge over the lake, as the night starts to creep in, the warm glow of the Green Dragon is a welcoming sight.

We were enchanted by the setting and the noticeable minute details all around The Shire. Notice boards, quirky signs, and props that made you think a hobbit may be hiding somewhere. I'm sure I saw a pair of hairy hobbit feet sticking out from under a bush.

What is on the menu at the Hobbiton Evening Banquet

When you are settled inside and ready for your Green Dragon Inn food, you will be seated at one of the banqueting tables. The traditional Hobbit meal of chicken drumsticks, roast potatoes, and salmon is served on thick wooden platters.

Alcoholic beverages are an extra cost, but no respectful Hobbit fan would leave the Green Dragon without a flagon of beer, would they?

The concept is for guests to share the banquet, serving one another from the same selections. The Hobbiton dinner menu includes mouth-watering desserts that are laid out in the centre of the table in the same manner as the main course. Pavlova, fresh fruit salad, chocolate puddings, trifle, cake, and biscuits are all in plentiful supply.

It may be hard to decide which one to choose, so if you are like us (and the Hobbit folk) and have a sweet tooth, why not try a little of everything? The food is plentiful, the selections are varied, and it is all delicious.

Dinner at Hobbiton is a great time to interact with fellow travellers and learn more about their journey.

And now leave me in peace for a bit! I don't want to answer a string of questions while I am eating. I want to think! J.R.R.Tolkien

Night Falls Upon The Shire

Sadly, your evening banquet will eventually end, and you must say your farewells.

A lantern is given to you to guide you back through a moonlit Hobbiton. The Shire glows from lanterns and fairy lights, and smoking hobbit-hole chimneys make you question whether this is just a film set or whether there may be a hobbit or even a wizard lurking inside them.

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. J.R.R.Tolkien

Is the Hobbiton Evening Banquet Worth the Price?

For us, the experience of the Shire at night with fewer crowds was priceless. If you are after a more intimate experience, the extra cost of visiting in the evening will pale into insignificance. You are paying for a treasured memory, and for LOTR fans, that's all that counts.

Useful Information to help you plan your trip to Hobbiton

How to get to Hobbiton

501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera, Matamata

Hobbiton is about a 2-hour drive from the city and is the perfect day-trip destination from Auckland. Hobbiton is a 1-hour drive from Rotorua, and is packed with great activities for all the family to enjoy.

You can drive yourself or book a guided tour that includes Hobbiton.

If you are only coming for the evening banquet and making your way back home, then you need to factor in the driving distances to get back to Auckland or the surrounding areas. The tour and feast end at 10 pm, so be prepared for a long drive back at night.

Where to stay near Hobbiton

We chose to stay in Matamata because we didn't want the long drive back to Auckland. Find the ideal place to stay using this interactive map.

How to get tickets for Hobbiton

Book your tickets online. Hobbiton's Evening Banquet Tour is extremely popular, and I had to book mine three months in advance to get the exact dates I wanted.

The Evening Banquet Tour lasts for 4 hours.

Pricing and timings for the Hobbiton Evening Banquet Tour. £105 per adult, valid for tour departures from 1 April 2026.