The Shire, a place straight out of Middle-earth! Now, I’ll be honest, I hadn’t seen The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit before coming to New Zealand, but I binge-watched them before my visit, and let me tell you, even as a fake fan, this place was incredible!

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour is $120 for an adult and runs for 2.5 hours, and in my opinion, it’s 100% worth the splurge. A guide takes you through the insanely detailed movie set, sharing cool behind-the-scenes facts and stories. Even if you’re not deep into the LOTR world, it’s still such a fun and fascinating experience. The gardens and hobbit holes are perfectly maintained, making it feel like you’ve actually stepped into the movies.

If you’re keen for more, they also offer special experiences like behind-the-scenes tours, the Summer Harvest Festival, and the Mid-Winter Feast, where you can fully immerse yourself in the magic of Hobbiton. Honestly, such a unique and memorable spot!