Hobbiton, New Zealand!

Hobbiton, New Zealand.

If you are ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'' films fan, you must visit Hobbiton village. 

Hobbiton is a fictional, beautiful like a fairytale village, where was built on a farm near a little town called Matamata in northern New Zealand. 

It was decided to keep the Hobbit house-holes set as tourist attractions, they have even a sign which says :”Welcome to Hobbiton” on the main road, directing people to this wonderful little Hobbit town.

Matamata is a rural Waikato town in New Zealand with a population of around 7,500. A nearby farm was the location for the Hobbiton Movie Set in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings & Hobbit. The New Zealand government decided to leave the Hobbit holes built on location as tourist attractions, since they were designed to blend seamlessly into the environment. The Hobbiton Movie Set it is situated on a family run farm about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of Hinuera and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of Matamata in New Zealand.

Hobbit house

Hobbiton, New Zealand.

Green Dragon way in the Shire, Hobbiton, New Zealand.

Hobbiton, New Zealand.

Although the set was not built to last, the hobbit hole facades having been constructed from untreated timber, ply and polystyrene, it was evident that the location was of interest to tourists. Guided tours of the 5.5 hectares (14 acres) movie set site commenced in 2002 and continue to be provided on a daily basis, the two hour excursion having to be booked in advance. Highlights of the tour include Bagshot Row, the Party Tree, and Bilbo's Bag End home. There are now 44 hobbit holes on view although it is not possible to enter any of them. Refreshments are available at "The Shires Rest Cafe" prior to or after tours. Breakfast and indeed "Second Breakfast" is served. In 2012 the "Green Dragon" inn was opened on the set. There is now also a store selling merchandise and souvenirs adjacent to the cafe and evening events commenced in 2014. The tours have generally received good reviews and in 2013 the set welcomed its 500,000th guest. 

In 2010 the set was rebuilt in a more permanent fashion for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, filming for which began in 2011.

Old mill in Hobbiton, The Shire, New Zealand.

Hobbit holes

Hobbiton, Matamata, New Zealand.

Hobbiton, Matamata, North island, New Zealand.

Hobbiton, New Zealand.