Matamata - Home of Hobbiton
A couple of hours south of Auckland lies the lush farmland of the Matamata. Famous for dairying and fine thoroughbred horses, it's easy to see why these green pastures and rolling hills were chosen to portray Hobbiton and The Shire.
Although much of the set was deconstructed post filming, hobbit fans can still visit Hobbiton, wander among the hobbit holes and listen to the fascinating commentary about how it was all created.
Got a taste for bigger caverns? Check out Waikato's massive Waitomo Caves for dramatic stalactites, stalagmites and zillions of sparkling glowworms. You can glide through on a barge, take a black water rafting trip, or even abseil (rappel) down into the abyss!
For further information on the Waikato region view our Waikato regional information section.