New Zealand North Island Hobbit Journey

Start and finish in Auckland, stay at Matamata, home of Hobbiton, then onward to Tongariro National Park, where four filming locations await. Continue to the Aorangi Forest Park, realm of Rivendell, and the Putangirua Pinnacles, known as the Dimholt Road.

Stay in Wellington to explore filming sites and Weta Workshop. Then make your way north via the west coast, relaxing on stunning beaches and seeing the Waitarere Forest, the setting for Osgiliath Wood and the Trollshaw Forest.

Visit the dramatic cliffs near Piopio, which shaped the eerie troll scenes. Finally, continue to Port Waikato to view Weathertop before returning to Auckland with your treasure chest full of invaluable memories.

Rotorua hot pools - a geothermal soak - after a day exploring, soak away warg worries in Rotorua’s naturally heated geothermal waters. A wonderfully relaxing way to experience the volcanic heart of the North Island.

Huka Falls - Lake Taupo - Take in the vast beauty of the lake, then stop at spectacular Huka Falls, where the Waikato River surges through a narrow gorge in a thundering rush of blue water. No barrel rides here!

Waitomo Glowworm Caves - journey underground at Waitomo and discover a remarkable world of limestone caverns illuminated by thousands of tiny glowworms. No lisping, riddling, slinking, dangerous ring-bearers. Quiet, otherworldly and quintessentially Kiwi.

New Zealand North Island Hobbit Journey - Start in Auckland

I loved staying in a heritage cottage in Ponsonby, a vibrant inner-city suburb, located just two kilometers west of the city. Known for its eclectic mix of heritage charm and modern sophistication, Ponsonby has evolved from its working-class roots into one of Auckland's most fashionable neighborhoods. This is a cottage lover's heaven. An ideal base to stay before and after your adventure there and back again. 

Villa Ponsonby - Ponsonby - Auckland

With 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms this cottage welcomes 6 guests. An original heritage villa, rich in history and style, and beautifully redesigned for modern living. Located in the heart of vibrant Ponsonby, this elegant home is the perfect blend of timeless architecture and contemporary luxury. 

Anglesea Cottage - Ponsonby - Auckland

With 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms this cottage welcomes 6 guests. A beautifully restored heritage cottage. Located just metres from the cafés of Ponsonby Road and a short walk into the city. A welcome stop before and after your pony ride. 

Underhill Valley - Waikato

This special family has created a masterpiece of which any hobbit could be proud. You can really stay here. It is a cosy, comfortable and hobbitty haven for two. This self-catering home has a wood fire stove and an outdoor BBQ. Only five minutes from the market but a world away from stress and modern life. Sit and relax next to the pond in complete privacy. Located just a little west of Hamilton in Waikato, a leisurely 45 minute drive to Hobbiton Movie Set. 

The Wash House - Historic Cottage - Matamata - Waikato

Located in the countryside just outside of Matamata, this historic cottage Bed and Breakfast is a charming place to explore the Hobbit village and the lovely scenery of 'The Shire' of Waikato. This is a 1 bedroom home for 2 people with 1 bathroom, kitchenette and patio. Close to cafes and restaurants, and only 16 km or 10 miles to Hobbiton village.

This cottage is an charming above ground home, it meets the essential hobbit desire for comfort. An historic and unique retreat from which to explore Waikato and to visit the Hobbit Village. Visit Bag End, Bagshot Row and see the charming village gardens, take a disappearing photo under the 'Party Tree'.

Ruapehu's Old Post Office - Owhango - Manawatu-Whanganui

Set in a quiet village, this characterful former post office offers a peaceful Central Plateau base close to the foothills of Mount Ruapehu. With space for 6 guests in 3 bedrooms, it carries that crisp, high‑country calm where the forest edges feel close at hand. It is chosen for its closeness to Tongariro National Park and four key Lord of the Rings filming locations, where volcanic landscapes, tussock plains and dramatic ridgelines shaped some of the trilogy’s most memorable scenes. After exploring the walking tracks, the filming sites or the back‑road scenery return to this restful historic cottage.

Tongariro National Park 33 km or 21 miles.

Kosby's Cottage - Rangataua - Manawatu-Whanganui

Set in a quiet alpine settlement, this cosy Central Plateau cottage offers space for 4 guests in 2 bedrooms, a peaceful base tucked close to the foothills of Mount Ruapehu. Chosen for its closeness to Tongariro National Park and four key Lord of the Rings filming locations, this is where volcanic landscapes, forest edges and high‑country scenery shaped some of the trilogy’s most dramatic moments. The air here is crisp and clear, evenings settle early and mornings arrive bright and cold. After exploring the walking tracks, the filming sites or the back‑road scenery that winds through forest and farmland, return to this restful cottage and let the stillness gather around you.

Tongariro National Park - 56 km or 35 miles.

Picture Perfect Cottage - Greytown -  Wairarapa

This charming cottage offers a peaceful base close to the village’s boutiques, cafés and heritage buildings. With space for 6 guests in 3 bedrooms, it has a gentle Wairarapa calm. The cottage has good access to two key Lord of the Rings filming locations: Rivendell, and the dramatic Putangirua Pinnacles, known as the Dimholt Road. After exploring these iconic Middle Earth settings, relax in the cosy cottage.

Rivendell - 35 km or 22 miles.
Putangirua Pinnacles - 60 km or 37 miles.

Bumblebee Cottage - Greytown -  Wairarapa

Set in the leafy, heritage‑rich village of Greytown, this gentle Wairarapa retreat offers space for 5 guests in 2 comfortable bedrooms, a welcoming base with soft light, mature trees and a familiar rural calm. It is chosen for its access to two key Lord of the Rings filming locations: the Putangirua Pinnacles, the eerie, wind‑carved landscape used for the Dimholt Road, and Rivendell in the tranquil forest of Kaitoke Regional Park. After exploring these iconic Middle Earth settings, return to the quiet comfort of the cottage.

Putangirua Pinnacles - 57 km or 35 miles.

Te Kopura Lodge - Featherston - Martinborough

Set along Pahautea Road in the rural folds near Featherston and Martinborough, this peaceful country lodge offers space for 6 guests in 3 bedrooms, with long views and a sense of being tucked into the Wairarapa landscape. The warm living areas open onto generous outdoor space, making this a lovely base for exploring the vineyards, lake, back roads and the eerie Dimholt Road. Afterwards, return to the comfort of your private cottage.

Putangirua Pinnacles - 41 km or 25 miles.

Brooklyn Cottage - Brooklyn - Wellington - New Zealand

Set in the quiet, leafy hills of Brooklyn, this characterful cottage offers space for 6 guests in 3 bedrooms, its 1907 bones giving it a gentle sense of history and the feeling of a home that has settled into the hillside over generations. The living areas are bright and welcoming, opening to treetop views and that familiar Wellington hush moving through the valley. After exploring the harbour, galleries or nearby walking tracks, come home to your own little hillside hideaway.

3 km or 1.8 miles from the city centre. 

Native Bush Retreat - Onaero - Taranaki

Beside the rolling countryside of Taranaki, this characterful cottage offers space to slow down after a day exploring the coast. Bright living spaces catch the afternoon light, while the deck invites a lingering cup of tea before evening settles over the hills. Choose from a 2 or 3 bedroom cottage. With Onaero Beach just 6.3 km away, it’s an easy little escape to the sea.

Onaero Beach is 6.3 km or 3.9 miles.

Ripples Retreat - Piopio - Waitomo

Beside a bend in the river, a beautiful final country pause on the journey. Wide glass doors frame reflections of willows and sky, while the deck is made for watching the changing light over the water. Choose from a 1 or 2 bedroom cottage, sleeping up to 4 or 6 guests. After exploring the surrounding Middle Earth landscapes, come home, put your feet up and let the river do the talking.

62 km or 39 miles from Piopio and only 1 km or 0.6 miles from Hairy Feet tours. 

Ocean View Bach - Port Waikato - Waikato

This West Coast hideaway sleeps 6 guests in 2 bedrooms, with wide windows looking across a sweep of ocean that changes colour with the light. Set high above the shoreline, it’s made for unwinding after a day exploring Middle Earth, with the Tasman Sea stretching away beyond the dunes. This is a place made for unwinding after a day of exploring Middle Earth, a calm perch where you can watch the light change over the water and let the rhythm of the coast settle around you.

Only 10 km or 6 miles from the Weathertop Lookout. 

The drive to the Weathertop Lookout is a short and dramatic inland detour, with hills rolling out in every direction and a vantage point that feels mythic even though you cannot climb the actual hill. You pause and take in the sweep of land and remember to respect it, with no walking onto private farmland, no climbing, and absolutely no cooking sausages, a most sensible Hobbit warning. Then you return to your own bach, back to the ocean wind, the deck, the dunes, and the soft roar of the Tasman Sea, a quiet and perfect ending to the journey.

Fauna

Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae

Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncatus

New Zealand Fur Seal - Arctocephalus forsteri

Birds

Tui - Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

New Zealand Pigeon or Kereru - Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae

Pukeko - Porphyrio melanotus

Flora

New Zealand has an unusually high number of fern species for a temperate country. There exist about 200 species, about 40% of these species occur nowhere else in the world.

Black Tree Fern - Sphaeropteris medullaris

Kauri Tree - Agathis australis

Pohutukawa - Metrosideros excelsa

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour - Shire's Rest - 501 Buckland Road - Hinuera - Waikato

Meet at the Shire's Rest and be taken to the village with a knowledgeable guide. Wander the rambling paths of The Shire and see the Hobbit dwellings in the rolling hillsides. Follow your guide around the set as they show you the most famous locations and explain how the movie magic was made. Walk around the 12-acre set, see Hobbit houses and the Millhouse. 2.5 hours.

Hobbiton Second Breakfast Tour - Shire's Rest - 501 Buckland Road - Hinuera - Waikato

Walk through the 12-acre village with a welcoming guide full of Hobbit knowledge and know how. Be amongst the first to visit for the day. Visit the interior of a Hobbit house to build up your appetite. Visit the Green Dragon Inn, try a Southfarthing ale, then head over to the Millhouse for a sumptuous 'Second Breakfast'. No filthy wargs or orcs to kill to earn your breakfast, either. 3.5 hours.

Wellington - Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour with Weta Workshop and Lunch

This tour leads you to well‑known locations from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, giving you the chance to step into memorable scenes, hear behind‑the‑scenes stories, enjoy a relaxed café lunch, explore Weta Workshop on a special insider tour, and spend the day with expert guides, many of whom bring direct film‑industry experience to each moment. 8 hours. 

Or you might choose the Half Day Tour, which is 4 hours. 

Wellington: Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour

For Tolkien fans, no Wellington Hobbit journey would be complete without a visit to Weta Workshop. An easy journey from central Wellington and a fascinating glimpse behind the movie magic, from the props and costumes to the creatures that helped bring Middle Earth to life. 3 hours. 

Hairy Feet Waitomo - 1411 Mangaotaki Road - Piopio - Waitomo

This is a personally guided walk through the spectacular Denize Bluffs, a family farm that became Trollshaw Forest for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. You wander among towering limestone cliffs and quiet pockets of native bush while hearing stories from the people who welcomed the film crew onto their land. It is an easy, scenic experience with small groups and thoughtful guiding, offering many moments where you can stand in the very places seen on screen. An encounter with Middle Earth that feels both intimate and unforgettable. Keep a sharp eye out for Radagast the Brown and his Rhosgobel Rabbit sleigh. 2 hours.

In the North Island of New Zealand...

• Arrive at Auckland Airport AKL
• Drive Auckland Airport to Ponsonby - 26 km or 16 miles
• Ponsonby to Matamata (via Mangatarata) - 165 km or 103 miles
• The Shire's Rest is 16 km or 10 miles from Matamata
• Matamata to Tongariro - 100 km or 62 miles
• Tongariro to Greytown - 240 km or 149 miles
• Greytown to the Putangirua Pinnacles - 55 km or 34 miles
• Putangirua Pinnacles to Rivendell - 96 km or 60 miles
• Rivendell to Wellington CBD - 43 km or 27 miles
• Wellington to Waitarere Forest - 95 km or 59 miles
• Waitarere Forest to Onaero - 215 km or 134 miles
• Onaero to Piopio is 138 km or 86 miles
• Piopio to Port Waikato - 145 km or 90 miles
• Port Waikato to Auckland is 89 km or 55 miles

Arrange your hire car for your journey, choose from petrol, electric or hybrid vehicles.

By Katia Luz, sharing my fairytale bush cottage, discovering enchanting, charming, whimsical cottages, cabins and cosy little places to inspire your dreams. Contact Me. About Me.

I trust you have enjoyed the magic of My Fairytale Cottage. Bon Voyage!