Hobbiton is on a working sheep farm near Matamata, about 40 km east of Hamilton, and it is the only permanent movie set from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies open to the public. The visit is guided and takes about two hours — you walk among the forty-four Hobbit Holes, inspect the mill and the party tree, and end with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.
The setting is genuinely impressive: the Alexander family's rolling green hills look exactly as they did on screen, and the attention to detail in the construction is meticulous. Bookings are essential, especially in summer (December–February) and school holidays. Shuttle buses run from Matamata and from Hamilton; driving from Hamilton takes about 40 minutes.