We headed south out of Auckland heading for Matamata and Hobbiton. There were fully booked out but that didn’t stop my wife from organising a place for us on a tour. I didn’t ask how she managed it. Sometimes it’s best not to know.
We backroaded a bit to get around some traffic (thanks Google) and arrived just in time to get our boarding passed and climb on the bus to be taken out to the village.
We got a welcome video from Peter Jackson on the ride out, and the farm owner. Then it was time to step out and be guided through Hobbiton.
It was magical, just amazing. The attention to detail is astonishing. There are, obviously the Hobbit holes, with their round doors, but there was also lot of other bits and pieces that you would expect to find in a village, like washing hanging from the lines, gardens, and all sorts of knickknacks.
Most people just focused on the doorways, getting selfies in front of them. But if you turned around there were so many other lovely shots to be taken. I did my best to capture some of them, but the pace of the tour is quite quick, and we were having trouble keeping up.
I was surprised to hear that the gardens are real gardens with real plants growing in them. It is all lovingly managed, and you can really see the care that has gone into creating the set.
I was also impressed by the arrival point. For some reason I was expecting to park on the side of the road or a farmer’s muddy paddock. But this has a first class setup with proper parking areas and facilities.
If you are thinking about visiting Hobbiton but are not sure if it is worth the drive (or the entry cost) I’d recommend going, especially if you are a fan of the books / movies.
Check out my stories here on Steemit
Running Deer
Running Deer - part 1
Running Deer - How legends are born
Charlie Rabbit
Meet Charlie Rabbit
Charlie tides up
Charlie Rabbit and Margery Mouse
Charlie Rabbit and Margery Mouse make music
Little Peppers Adventures
Runaway Rabbit and the hungry fox
Maybe and the land of purple rainbows – A Little Peppers adventure
How Pappa Pepper and Monster Truck the Pepper got their wild hogs - a Little Peppers Adeventure
Dark Angel Regiment of the Space Marines - Mission Files
First Squad Sniper Elite - Zaresith mission
Other stories
Also don't forget to check out my Dad's blog
Who else can tell you stories about impersonating an officer, stealing a military aircraft to go on a booze run, or steal military aircraft and go on an unsanctioned bombing run - and that's all before he turned 18!
Check out @len.george and find out what other madness he got up to!
Are you new to Steemit and trying to figure out what it's all about?
Head over to: https://www.steemithelp.net/. It's the best place to get a handle on what the platform is all about.
New zealand maximized on the lord of the rings well and this has become a tourist attraction. this is a great place to visit if you havent , great experience
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yeah, these guys were smart. the farmers invested in this opportunity and now they are creaming it. And good on them too. This has brought a lot of jobs to a small town and a lot of revenue to the country, and i think they have done a good job to provide a good experience.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I adore the pictures and the topic too very useful
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
wow the very place, if it's like being in a hobbit movie, it's real, it's a nice trip
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's all very real, at least the outsides of the hobbit holes. There are no insides. The attention to detail is just amazing. I could have spent all day there quite happily.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Our family loves Hobbiton! We have gone twice with different members of our family, and they had a great time. Glad you enjoyed it. :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'd love to go back and spend some more time there. There was just so much to see and not enough time :-)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Going there was a highlight of our trip to New Zealand. We did the evening tour with a feast at the Green Dragon. It does feel like a real place. Just a shame the houses have no insides
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Oh wow! A feast at the Green Dragon. That sounds awesome. I'd love that. I need to talk to my wife...... ;-)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Glad to see the hobbits allowed a Gnome into their village, mind you they would have had to deal with Vera if they hadn't.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Vera was into it, especially since she had to sit through the extended versions of all 6 movies so she would know what it is all about.
She has even found a place that makes people sized hobbit holes that you can buy (a bit like a container house). sounds interesting....
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Watch this space.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit