Why you should visit the Hobbiton Movie Set in NZ

In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. “THE HOBBIT” OR “THERE AND BACK AGAIN”

Imagine a place with colourful houses and lush gardens completely surrounded by emerald hills. A place where having seven meals per day and attending parties would be part of your daily routine. Such is the life of Hobbits, the joyful residents of Hobbiton, a tiny piece of land somewhere in Middle Earth, Tolkien’s epic fantasyland.

Where is Hobbiton located?

Well, you got it right, visiting Hobbiton means you need to travel all the way to New Zealand and book your place to the official two-hour guided tour. Matamata, the nearby village, saw an increased flow of tourists since Hobbiton Movie Set officially started welcoming visitors. It was back in the 1990s when Sir Peter Jackson spotted a picturesque 1.250-acre farm stretched across rolling hills with some amazing views over the Kaimai Ranges – a typical New Zealand countryside. After negotiating with the Alexander family (the owners of the farm), he received permission to recreate Tolkien’s Hobbiton for the “Lord of the Rings” and the “Hobbiton” trilogies.

What can you see in Hobbiton?

Hobbiton is a magnificent place, truly a sight for sore eyes! Fans of the movies will be able to recognize specific landmarks such as the enormous party tree, where Bilbo shot his final stunt before departing, the old Mill with its quaint stone bridge, the (artificial) oak tree overlooking the village and Bag End, the lucrative residence of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. The setting is miraculously untouched by modern technology, a world away from reality, a pristine little corner of (Middle) Earth.

However, one of the most impressive parts of the tour is The Green Dragon Inn, hands down. You actually get the chance to roam inside a real hobbit pub, chilling by the fireplace and tasting the famed hobbit ale - “the only brew for the brave and true”.

Fact: Since the vegetation of Hobbiton is 100% real, most of the goods offered in the pub are gathered directly from those beautiful grounds. Pretty awesome, right?

There are 44 hobbit-holes of varying sizes, colours and shapes, waiting to be explored. It is amazing how each one reflects the occupation of the actual hobbit living there. You will be able to easily spot the village’s florist, cheese-maker or baker with all those adorable details adding up the surreal setting of the village. It will be hard to convince yourself that you will not come across an actual hobbit enjoying his pipe-weed.

Why you should visit Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand

Hobbiton Movie Set is a memorable experience that actually makes people cross half the globe to get a chance to see it. If you are a fan of Tolkien’s universe then you certainly don’t want to miss the chance visiting that one place in earth resembling Hobbiton. You will be enhanced by the magic of Middle-Earth, alive and well-preserved in a bucolic setting.

Read the full article on visiting Hobbiton here.

About the author: Combine travelling, food and SEO and you'll have Nikos. With a passion for exploring, he is always game for a bit of adventure and will never pass on an opportunity to discover something new – local bites and weird drinks, unique experiences, a dark cave or that mysterious footpath down the corner. Feel free to give him a shout at MilesWithVibes.com!