Hobbiton hosts its Beer Festival on 13 and 14 November

Hobbiton and its Beer Festival bring a special evening programme to the film location near Matamata, New Zealand, on 13 and 14 November 2026. The operator's event page lists The Shire's Rest and Matamata Information Centre as departure points for the two-day event.

Hobbiton's Beer Festival runs on 13 and 14 November

The Beer Festival is a public special event organised by the attraction for visitors aged 18 and over. The programme begins with a coach journey to the site and a guided walk through the Shire, passing Bag End, the interiors at Bagshot Row and the Stone Trolls before reaching the Green Dragon Inn.

The evening continues in the Party Marquee with a buffet meal and themed interactive entertainment. The operator says guests return by coach to their chosen departure point. Its festival programme for 13 and 14 November also specifies check-in at the selected departure location and a guided walking tour as part of the experience.

The festival connects the Green Dragon Inn with the film set

Hobbiton is a preserved film location on the Alexander family farm outside Matamata. The site was used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, and the operator describes the attraction as a 12-acre movie set within a much larger sheep and beef farm.

The Beer Festival places the Green Dragon Inn and Party Marquee at the centre of the evening rather than treating the set as a static backdrop. Visitors therefore encounter the same named locations included in standard guided visits, but within a programme that combines the walk with food, drinks and live entertainment. The national tourist board also identifies the Hobbiton beer festival experience as beginning with a movie-set tour.

Matamata departure options shape the evening visit

Travellers staying in Matamata can use the departure at the Matamata Information Centre, while visitors arriving independently can depart from The Shire's Rest at 501 Buckland Road in Hinuera. The operator states that the Matamata departure includes transport back to the town information centre after the event.

Access to the attraction is controlled because it occupies private farmland. The operator says visitors cannot enter independently and must use a fully guided tour, making the departure choice part of the practical planning for the November festival.

Visiting Hobbiton: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Beer Festival takes place on 13 and 14 November 2026 at Hobbiton, with departures from The Shire's Rest or the Matamata Information Centre.
• The event is for visitors aged 18 and over and includes a guided walk, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Marquee and themed entertainment.
• The site is at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, near Matamata in New Zealand's Waikato region; access is by guided tour rather than independent entry.
• The walking route includes Bag End, Bagshot Row, the Stone Trolls and the Green Dragon Inn, so the evening involves outdoor paths as well as buildings and marquees.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Hobbiton

When does the Beer Festival take place at Hobbiton?

The event is scheduled for 13 and 14 November 2026 at the film location near Matamata.

Where is Hobbiton and how do you get there?

The attraction is at The Shire's Rest, 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera. Festival visitors can depart from there or from the Matamata Information Centre.

What is Hobbiton?

Hobbiton is a guided film-location attraction on the Alexander family farm in New Zealand's Waikato region, used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.