Hairy Feet Waitomo - Hobbit Film Location Tour — Attraction in North Island

Well, I honestly can’t say enough positive things about these guys!

What I think is important to stress about this place is, although I’d personally consider the tour an absolute bucket list experience for fans of Middle-earth, especially Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, the Denize Bluffs is a must-see destination in itself. The scenery is spectacular, the history of the farm is fascinating, and the natural wonders are boundless. Anyone and everyone can enjoy Hairy Feet Waitomo, whether they’ve seen any of the many productions that have utilised the landscape, have an interest in the unique rock formations and surrounding flora and fauna, or simply curious about the operation of a working farm. Some of my favourite sections of the tour involved actually just listening to our host explain about some of the amazing nature in the area.

To begin with, the lovely Suzie was extremely flexible and accommodating when, as suggested on the website, I reached out to enquire about a date we were hoping to visit on that was seemingly not one when they were planning on running a tour. She very kindly agreed to open it up for us on a Saturday morning when we were going to be in the area celebrating a special birthday, and we were even joined by her cousin who was also really friendly! All together there were only five of us guests which was a comfortable number and ideal as opposed to some of the large scale Rings-related tours on offer elsewhere. In fact, it’s my understanding that they only run visits in smaller groups.

I won’t spoil any of the surprises of the tour itself (yes, there were some) as they are best discovered first hand, but Suzie shared some exciting recent developments that took place at the location, which as an enormous Tolkien nut, had me loosing my mind. And yes, these guys are huge fans themselves, with an impressive knowledge not only of the behind the scenes of the first Hobbit film that shot there, An Unexpected Journey, that they were present for, but the rest of that wonderful world. We were supplied with several fun props, etc. to assist us in effectively recreating iconic moments from the story, which Suzie orchestrated fantastically. She even had some handy high resolution images from the film to use as reference and help guide you when viewing each destination along the way.

Suzie’s husband Warwick was busy throwing together some brand new toilet facilities on site at some point on the route, so that’ll be a great addition to the site for future visitors. Of course anticipate a little bit of light activity when walking around the farm and reaching certain spots, but nothing strenuous and you are driven around sections in a spacious and sturdy van. Worth mentioning that the main office has an extensive array of marvellous pieces of memorabilia and merchandise from the early 2000s when the original movies were coming out that I was obsessed with seeing again.

All in all, these guys rock and are the real deal, genuine Kiwi pride on display and a rich passion for what they do. Keep it up, I can’t wait to visit again in the future. A perfect conclusion to a fabulous hobbity birthday weekend!

Thanks again, guys.

Nick & Holly...

I did quite few self-guided and guided film set tours while in NZ (mt. Sunday, Queenstown/paradise, Hobbiton, and Weta) all were wonderful this was my favorite. It's so packed with details and fantastic views it feels like way more than 2hrs. This fantastic place is a multigenarational family farm and it's the family guiding the tours. I hope these tours and their continued good fortune in all their endeavors keeps it with them for generations to come. Not only did we get to see where the scenes were filmed but we got to hear a about the behind the scenes and the families experience with the filming (things you don't get with the appendices). But Suzie also shared with us so much about the life of a NZ rancher, raising lamb and beef. AND throughout the tour she showed us fossils, native trees, native birds, and just natural history of this part of NZ. If you are both a nature lover and a fan of films and the hobbit this place really is the whole package. She helped us get photos too and as someone who usually doesn't like photos of myself they are some of my favorites. AND if you are big on vintage collectibles they have a ton of figures and books in their little shop to browse through. I'm kicking myself for not picking up that vintage 1972 edition...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Incredible Hairy Feet Tour!

If you’re a fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the Hairy Feet Tour is an experience you simply can’t miss! We had the most amazing time exploring this breathtaking film location, just up the road from Ripples Retreat, where we enjoyed the most incredible two-night stay. The tour was truly magical and transported us straight into Middle-earth.

Our guide, Suzie, was absolutely fantastic - her knowledge and passion for the films made the experience even more immersive. She provided fascinating insights into how and where filming took place, bringing the behind-the-scenes magic to life. Seeing the exact spots where iconic scenes were shot was nothing short of incredible.

The landscape itself is otherworldly, with dramatic limestone rock formations and lush greenery that make it clear why this location was chosen to bring Tolkien’s world to life. Standing in the very places where these legendary films were made was surreal, and every step felt like stepping straight into the pages of The Lord of the Rings.

This tour is an unforgettable experience for any fan of the films or anyone who appreciates breathtaking natural beauty. Highly recommended - a...