a garden with a tunnel

In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team of location scouts were searching for the iconic rolling hills and lush green pastures of Hobbiton. An aerial search led them to the Alexander farm, a stunning 1,250 acre sheep farm in the heart of the Waikato. They noted the area’s striking similarity to The Shire, as described by JRR Tolkien, and quickly realised that the Hobbits had found a home. In the heart of the Mighty Waikato region, you can explore the lush pastures of the Shire, with a guided walking tour of Hobbiton. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.