Hobbiton Tickets Sold Out? 3 Ways to Still Visit
You checked the calendar, and your heart sank: every single timeslot is greyed out. Let's get you those tickets.
The Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Because of the incredible demand—and the relatively limited capacity of the guided tours—tickets frequently sell out months in advance.
If you're reading this, you probably just realized your travel dates are entirely booked up and you are desperately searching for last minute tickets. Before you rearrange your entire North Island itinerary, try these three proven methods to secure a spot.
1. The \"Refresh Strategically\" Method
Hobbiton has a relatively generous cancellation policy. Because travelers often book months in advance, plans inevitably change. Flights are delayed, itineraries shift, and cancellations absolutely do happen.
When someone cancels, their tickets immediately return to the public calendar. If you happen to be refreshing the page at that exact moment, you can buy them. However, this method requires intense dedication: you essentially have to keep a tab open and refresh it every 15 minutes for days.
2. Look for Bundle Tours from Auckland or Rotorua
While the direct tickets from the official Hobbiton website might be sold out, third-party tour operators pre-purchase blocks of tickets to include in their package deals.
Companies like GreatSights or InterCity often sell full-day bus tours departing from Auckland or Rotorua that include Hobbiton. The downside? These are significantly more expensive than standard tickets, and you are locked into their strict bus schedules, which isn't ideal if you've already rented a car.
3. Use an Automated Ticket Monitor (The Best Solution)
Remember how cancellations happen randomly, but refreshing manually takes hours of your time? You can automate this process.
Our tool, ShireSignal, connects directly to the Hobbiton booking system. You simply input your desired dates, group size, and preferred tour type (e.g., the standard Movie Set Tour or the Evening Banquet). ShireSignal checks the calendar 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The second someone cancels and a spot opens up, ShireSignal sends you an instant email. You click the link, complete your purchase on the official site, and save your trip—without spending three days staring at your phone.