The magical village of Hobbiton, nestled in the lush hills of Waikato, New Zealand, has earned a place in cinematic history once again — this time for its real-world size. The Hobbiton Movie Set, created for Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies, has officially been recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest purpose-built movie set in the world.
Spanning 5.5 hectares (over 13 acres), the set features 44 permanent Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Mill, and iconic rolling green landscapes that brought J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth to life on screen.
Shayne Forrest, General Manager of Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, shared his excitement about the recognition:
“It was very exciting to be contacted by the Guinness World Records team, confirming that Hobbiton Movie Set is indeed the ‘largest film set’ in the world. The entire team is absolutely thrilled.”
Originally built for The Lord of the Rings films and expanded for The Hobbit trilogy, Hobbiton has become one of New Zealand’s top tourist attractions, drawing fans and film lovers from around the globe.
The Guinness title not only acknowledges the scale and authenticity of the set but also celebrates its transformation into a lasting tribute to fantasy filmmaking — one that continues to captivate visitors decades after the cameras stopped rolling.
