Is the Hobbiton Evening Banquet Tour Worth It?
It's the most expensive ticket on the menu, and the fastest to sell out. But does the Evening Banquet actually live up to the hype?
If you're planning a trip to New Zealand, Hobbiton is likely right at the top of your itinerary. When you go to book tickets, you're faced with a choice: the standard Movie Set Tour, or the highly coveted Evening Banquet Tour.
The Evening Banquet commands a premium price tag, but it offers an experience that the daytime tours simply cannot match. Here is a breakdown of what makes it special, and why tracking down a ticket is absolutely worth the effort.
What makes the Evening Banquet different?
During a standard daytime tour, you are guided through the Shire, given plenty of time for photos, and eventually end up at The Green Dragon Inn for a complimentary beverage (Southfarthing ale, cider, or ginger beer). It's a fantastic experience, but you do share the paths with thousands of other daily visitors.
The Evening Banquet elevates this to a completely different level. Your tour begins at dusk. You get to experience the Shire during \"Golden Hour,\" arguably the most beautiful time for photography, as the setting sun casts a magical glow over the hobbit holes.
The Feast at The Green Dragon
After the dusk tour, you arrive at The Green Dragon Inn. But instead of just grabbing a quick drink and leaving, you are ushered into the dining room where the fires have been lit and a massive, two-course traditional Hobbit feast awaits.
The tables are literally groaning under the weight of the food. It's served family-style, featuring hearty dishes like roast meats, root vegetables, fresh-baked bread, stews, and incredible desserts. The atmosphere—with the cracking fireplaces, flowing ale, and warm lighting—makes you feel like you are genuinely attending a party in Middle-earth.
The Lantern-Lit Walk Back
Perhaps the most magical part of the Evening Banquet happens after you eat. By the time you finish your meal, night has fully fallen.
Guests are handed handheld lanterns, and you walk back through the Shire in the pitch black. The chimneys of the hobbit holes are softly glowing, an experience completely inaccessible to daytime visitors.
The Catch: It is Incredibly Hard to Book
So, is it worth it? Yes. Without question. It is consistently rated as the highlight of most people's New Zealand vacations.
However, because they only run a limited number of Banquet tours per week, and capacity is strictly capped by the seating inside The Green Dragon, tickets sell out months in advance. It is by far the hardest ticket to secure in all of Matamata.
If the Evening Banquet is sold out for your travel dates, don't give up. Cancellations do happen, but they get snatched up in literally minutes. You can use ShireSignal to specifically monitor for Evening Banquet cancellations. The moment a spot opens on the calendar, we'll email you so you can book it before anyone else.