October 27 : Hobbiton

Hobbiton is the name of the fictional Hobbit village in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Located near Matamata in the northern part of New Zealand’s North Island, the movie can be explored through guided tours lasting approximately 2.5 hours. You can also book an evening banquet; however, reservations for this special dining experience must be made weeks in advance. Being a big fan of the Lord of the Rings (inn case you hadn’t noticed yet) visiting Hobbiton was naturally one of the highlights of my visit to New Zealand.

Hobbiton is situated on a private sheep and cattle farm. The movie set was originally constructed for the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the early 2000s. After production wrapped, little remained of the initial set, yet this didn’t stop crowds from flocking to take pictures at the site where Hobbiton once stood.
When Peter Jackson approached the farm’s owner before filming The Hobbit trilogy in 2011 to request use of the land again, the owner readily agreed – on the condition that the new Hobbiton would be built to last.

The movie set is a stunning testament to the films, featuring 44 so-called “Hobbit Holes” carefully crafted into the hillside of the green hills. Most of these holes are, of course, merely facades. While many offer only a small storage space behind their doors, two are fully furnished as Hobbit accommodations. It’s also fascinating to note that the exteriors of the Hobbit Holes vary significantly in size, allowing filmmakers to create the illusion of actors appearing small (like Hobbits) or tall (like Gandalf) when standing next to the respective holes.

Enjoy Hobbiton :