Hobbiton, Matamata, New Zealand. If you hadn't figured out already, the Hobbiton movie set was used in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and was absolutely thrilling to visit. When given the opportunity to visit the set of of a world-renowned movie, you grab it!
Hobbiton is a three-hour drive from Auckland and it is certainly not a boring one. On the way, one will witness rolling hills as far as your eyes can go. Fat, grazing cows will be passed. New Zealand's famous sheep will also make an appearance. This bucolic scene is sure to leave you wanting more. I for one was squealing with excitement as we passed the woolly ones; I swear I could gaze at the view for days.
Upon arriving in Hobbiton, you will find yourself in the midst of a vast farm and a The Lord of the Rings shop. The farm is actually called the Alexander farm, named after its owners. Hobbiton runs its own tours and will take you to the Alexander farm by bus. As you board, you will again witness the cute little sheep and will constantly make weird noises about how cute they are.
Once you embark on the Hobbiton bus, you will be whizzed away to Alexander Farm. As the stroll around the grounds begins, tour guides will fill you in on all the LOTR information you will ever need. The tour guides take you to different parts of the movie set and you are whisked away to Hobbiton. What's great is that you can tell they are just as enthusiastic about the films and the books as the fanatics are. At every spot you stop at, they will mention what exactly happened there, as well as all the effort that was put into making said spot or prop look picture perfect. Different hobbit houses are out for display as well, making one feel truly part of and escape into Hobbiton. Part of the tour is even getting a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. It was such an eye-opener to the movie-making process, as well. The tour guides make everything sound intriguing as well - so even if one isn't particularly interested in the trilogy, listening to the tour guides will make them want to appreciate it.
All in all, the Hobbiton tour was perfect: it catered to both fans and newbies. It was fantastic to be whisked away to a movie set that took on a life of its own. Not only was it picturesque and absolutely idyllic, (because trust me, it was) but it was a new take on the film that I'd never encountered before. Not on tour could rival it.
