We were blown away by the Hairy Feet Waitomo tour, which revealed incredible filming locations from The Hobbit and The Rings of Power. Surrounded by the dramatic limestone bluffs of the Mangaotaki Valley, every viewpoint felt cinematic. Our guide, Suzie, brought the experience to life with fascinating stories about the filming process and her family’s role in hosting the crew. To top off the day, we visited Spellbound Caves, where a serene boat ride beneath thousands of glowing bioluminescent worms created a truly magical finale.
Hairy Feet Waitomo
After Hobbiton, we drove to Hairy Feet Waitomo in Piopio—a stunning filming site for The Hobbit (Trollshaw Forest) and The Rings of Power (Harfoot scenes). We hadn’t expected much, but it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip! Suzie, whose family owns the property, was hands-down the best tour guide we’ve ever had, sharing both behind-the-scenes stories and insights into life as a New Zealand sheep farmer. This spot actually received the most screen time of any location in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, including the scene where Bilbo receives his sword Sting from Gandalf. Even beyond Middle-earth, the property has hosted film crews for projects like Bud Light’s “Dilly Dilly” Super Bowl ads – and after seeing it ourselves, we can’t wait to see what’s filmed there next.
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