People come to visit our special city for many reasons: its volcanic landscape, Waiheke Island’s wineries, the views of the harbour, and obviously, the wonderful people like you and me. Another big reason to spend time on this lush, green island? Tapping into a different kind of magic – the very landscapes and vibes that helped bring one of the biggest film franchises of all time, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, to life.
The entirety of the trilogy was filmed right here, across 150 different locations. The Shire, Mordor, the rounded hills, all here. And, both in Auckland itself, and a mere two-hour drive away, the magic of The Lord of The Rings, is kept alive.
Just a two-hour drive from Auckland takes you to the real The Lord of the Rings set, where you can experience life almost exactly as Bilbo Baggins would
Hobbiton is the original movie set from the films, and it looks just as you’d picture it. Once an old sheep farm, it was transformed into the Shire and kept that way after filming. Now, guided tours take you past 44 permanently reconstructed hobbit holes, into cosy hobbit taverns for a drink, and through many of the saga’s most recognizable locations.
The set offers also more curated tour experiences for super fans like, ‘Behind The Scenes’ tours, one featuring an extra special ‘Evening Banquet’, a lunch tour, and many more. But Hobbiton is by no means just for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ nerds; it’s for anyone who loves a bit of immersive escapism and a place that feels truly whimsical in every sense of the word.
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings in Auckland
For those who wish to stay a bit more local, Auckland has its very hobbit inspired experiences going on. Hosted in the world’s oldest wooden Gothic Church, St Mary’s In Holy Trinity, Candlelight is teaming up with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences for a special concert series celebrating 25 years of The Fellowship of the Ring. Across three dates in February, March and April, fans can relive the trilogy’s iconic score with a program personally approved by composer Howard Shore, featuring favourites like “Gollum’s Song”, “Minas Tirith” and “The Ride of the Rohirrim”.