Hobbiton Movie Set hosts beer festival on 13 and 14 November
Published on 10/18/2026 at 00:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Hobbiton Movie Set hosts the Hobbiton Beer Festival in Matamata, New Zealand, on 13 and 14 November 2026. The operator has listed departures from The Shire's Rest and Matamata Information Centre for the two-day special event.
Hobbiton Beer Festival brings a two-day programme to Matamata
The festival begins with a guided walking tour through the 12-acre set, taking visitors past Bag End, the interiors of a Hobbit Hole on Bagshot Row and the Stone Trolls. The route then leads to the Green Dragon Inn, where the evening programme continues.
The operator's programme includes beverages, an exclusive stein, a buffet dinner in the Party Marquee and a themed interactive band. The event is restricted to visitors aged 18 and over. The operator's festival programme for 13 and 14 November gives the date, venue, departures and itinerary.
The 12-acre set frames Hobbiton's November festival
The attraction stands on the Alexander family's 1,250-acre sheep and beef farm near Matamata in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. The film set occupies 12 acres of that property and is reached through a guided tour rather than independent access.
This setting links the festival's evening programme with the parts visitors normally encounter on the walking route. The Green Dragon Inn, Bagshot Row and the Party Marquee are not just event labels: they are named locations within the visitor experience, giving the November dates a direct connection to the layout of the set.
The event also arrives as international travel demand strengthens. RNZ reported on 16 October 2026 that Hobbiton's general tourism manager said international visitation at the attraction had reached pre-pandemic levels two years earlier, while New Zealand's August 2026 international arrivals reached 99 percent of the August 2019 figure. The report places the attraction's current visitor trend in the wider recovery of Waikato tourism.
Visiting Hobbiton Movie Set: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Hobbiton Beer Festival takes place on 13 and 14 November 2026 at Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata.
- Festival visitors join a guided walk before continuing to the Green Dragon Inn and Party Marquee; the event is for people aged 18 and over.
- Departures are available from The Shire's Rest at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, or Matamata Information Centre at 45 Broadway, Matamata.
- The attraction is on private farmland, so access is through a guided tour. The route covers the 12-acre set and includes Bag End, Bagshot Row and the Stone Trolls.
- New Zealand's official language is English, and the national currency is the New Zealand dollar.
- 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 Movie Set
When does the Hobbiton Beer Festival take place at Hobbiton Movie Set?
The festival takes place on 13 and 14 November 2026, with visitors choosing one of the two listed dates.
Where is Hobbiton Movie Set and how do you get there?
The attraction is near Matamata in New Zealand's Waikato region. Festival departures are listed from The Shire's Rest at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, and Matamata Information Centre.
What is Hobbiton Movie Set?
It is a guided visitor attraction on a 1,250-acre working farm, with a 12-acre film set featuring locations including Bag End, Bagshot Row and the Green Dragon Inn.
