Hobbiton Movie Set Tour in New Zealand
After driving for about two hours from Rotorua through the serene countryside of North Island in New Zealand, we arrived at sprawling sheep farm owned by the Alexnader family. It was a quarter to ten in the morning and the sun kept playing peek-a-boo with the sailing clouds. The hourly weather forecast has suggested it would be partly sunny with a spell of rain in between. Not a very favorable condition to spend the day outdoors. But then, we had no other choice. The tour was prebooked and rescheduling was not an option. Leaving the warmth of our heated sedan, we walked to Shire’s Rest- the reporting point from where our guided tour would begin.
All the Tolkien Fans out there, if you haven’t got your fix of Lord of the Rings yet, here is more. Hobbiton, the dreamy village of Hobbits in Middle Earth exists in reality, and you can visit it too!
Exactly at the designated time, our entourage of 14 people guided by Kelly, our peppy tour guide took off into the rolling hills on a green bus. The bus ride lasted for about 10 mins and a documentary on the making of Lord Of The Rings Movies and some interviews with the director and the farm owner were played on the entertainment system on the bus. Our tour guide also shared with us some trivia about the making of the movie and the actors. The bus dropped us off at a clearing from where started a well-trodden path, the one leading us into the Hobbit Village. So, that was where our actual tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set began.
The weather played its tricks on us as we walked into the Hobbit village. Drizzling for a moment and sending a gust of wind the other and occasionally letting the warm rays of the sun caress us for a tiny interval. Fortunately, the farm shed at the entrance of the village had many umbrellas enough for everyone on the tour. Equipped with umbrellas and covered in rain jackets, we set out into the manmade wonderland in Middle Earth. What caught our attention as we entered the village were the colorful circular doors embedded in the slopes of sprawling green hills. Flowers of brilliant colors like lilies, roses, tulips, and bluebells adorned the facades of each Hobbit hole.
The effort that went into maintaining the village beautiful and close to reality was quite evident. Every detail was paid attention to. Moss grew on the wooden sills of windows giving a worn look to the homes. The well-painted picket fences in front of the homes, chopped wood kept by the doors, treats and beverages kept on the garden tables- everything gave out vibes of true occupancy in the village. Clothes were hung on laundry lines in front of homes and there was smoke coming out of a few chimneys in the village. If someone with no knowledge of Tolkien’s legendarium were to be dropped into Hobbiton without notice, I m sure they would go knocking on the doors for directions only to realize later that what lies beneath the colorful doors is just a wall of brick and mortar or hard earth.
Right in the middle of the village was a small pond surrounded by many fruit trees. Cherry, apple, plum and peach trees were in their early stage of spring blossoms. Kelly, our tour guide surprised us when she told us that the pristine lake hosted an orchestra of toads and frogs when the weather was warm enough. We were told that when the LOTR was being shot, it was the duty of a team of crew members every morning to catch all the frogs in the pond to move them to another lake nearby. This was because the croaking of the frogs made it impossible for the actors to concentrate on their dialogue delivery.
The Hobbiton in New Zealand is like Mecca for All LOTR fans. However, if you are alien to words like Hobbits, Middle Earth and Mordor, fret not! This cute little Hobbit village with its hobbit holes guarded by circular colorful doors and well-manicured gardens will surely steal your heart with its surprises and surreal vistas. If you love flowers and are in New Zealand during Spring, it would be a sin not to visit Hobbiton. Go Figure!
You might have figured by now that a visit to Hobbiton can only happen on a guided tour and it is not possible to venture out exploring on your own. Also, thanks to the popularity of the Hobbit and LOTR trilogies and its inclusion in the list of must-do activities in New Zealand, the tickets to Hobbiton Movie Set tour get sold out pretty soon. So, make sure you do the reservations well in advance.
Awesome post!
Thanks for sharing..
Lovely coverage, great captures very informative!
The planet has no shortage of brilliant, talented, adventurous photographers that go the extra mile for their craft. They capture moments and images from around the world, share invaluable knowledge with aspiring photographers, and keep them abreast of the latest news and technology in the photo world. I have found photography blogs that will blow your mind both visually and literally. Thank yo so much Find the best wedding photography package & wedding photographers in Bangalore for marriage functions. Find the reviews, portfolios & availability for best wedding photography Our experienced and professional photographers will help you capture every glorious second backed by years of solid knowledge in candid photography. For more info visit our official website https://www.spphotographystudio.in/studio-for-rent.php
These photos are awesome and a great review!