32 Hidden Filming Locations Where Movie Magic Was Made

13. Matamata, New Zealand – The Real Hobbiton of Middle-earth

Tucked away in the rolling green hills of New Zealand’s Waikato region, Matamata is best known as the real-life location of Hobbiton from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Director Peter Jackson transformed this farmland into the enchanting Shire, home to Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, complete with 44 hobbit holes, a working Green Dragon Inn, and lush gardens. Unlike many film sets that are dismantled after production, Hobbiton remains intact and open to visitors, offering fans a chance to step into Tolkien’s fantasy world. The untouched beauty of the region, with its emerald-green landscapes and gentle hills, makes it easy to believe that Hobbits could still be living here in secret.