are you hungry for more Lord of the Ring? Are you munching on the new season? ring of power?
we feel you While trying to quench my thirst for more Middle-earth, I decided to consider some fun tidbits from Tolkien’s lore as an appetizer before my next meal.
An adventure to one of the series’ most famous filming locations in New Zealand might lure fans out of their hobbit holes. Let’s take a look at some fun facts you may not know about Hobbiton yet.
1. Yes, this is a real place
Although practical considerations often call for a soundstage, it is not suitable for the idyllic home of Middle-earth’s most peaceful creatures. When I was location scouting in the late 90’s, Peter Jackson and his friends gathered together for an aerial search. Visit Alexander Farm, a 12-acre sheep farm in Waikato, just south of Auckland on the North Island. With miles of lush meadows and rolling fields, they quickly realized that this was their Hobbiton village.
2. Open since 2002
After most of the set was removed at the end of filming, Lord of the Ring In the trilogy, some structures were left intact and this formed the basis of the first Hobbiton tour. fellowship of the ring Freed.
When the crew returned to work, hobbit In the wake of the film, the village was rebuilt and became the stunning Hobbiton movie set that can be seen there today.
3. This particular journey requires fellowship.
Unfortunately, Hobbiton has a “no entry except on guided tours” policy. An adventure to Hobbiton may be tempting, but only Gandalf the Gray can enter by horse and cart. For the rest of us mere mortals, the only way to experience Hobbiton is by joining a guided group tour. However, private tours are also available for small groups of up to 6 people, from a group of convivial travelers.
4. A second breakfast is a real thing in Hobbiton.
Have you had your second breakfast yet? Hobbiton offers a tour of the movie set first thing in the morning on select weekends, followed by breakfast in the brand new Milhouse. It’s only an hour longer than a standard tour, but there’s enough time to get an additional 5 meals for the day.
5. They brew their own ale
Ale, beer, cider. The ABCs of brewing are all here, and everything is made locally. Beverages sourced from Hobbiton’s own Southfarthing Mountains are included on all tours, but those who want to try more than one drink can do so with Evening His Banquet His Tour.
The evening tour includes dinner and drinks at the Green Dragon Inn, and a chance to walk around the set by lantern light.
6. You can visit on holidays
As well as satisfying the occasional set tour with food, Hobbiton hosts several celebrations throughout the year, from beer festivals to Christmas and the Summer Harvest Festival in February. But before you think they’ve forgotten the biggest celebration…
7. You can celebrate International Hobbit Day
When is International Hobbit Day? For that matter, what is it? International Hobbit Day, September 22nd, is also the birthday of none other than Bilbo Baggins himself and his nephew Frodo and his Baggins. At 5 hours, this is the longest tour on offer, but most of that time is spent at a Hobbit-style party, including a large cake.
8. You can get married there
If you’ve ever wanted to make your Samwise Gamgee/Rosie Cotton fantasies a reality, Hobbiton actually offers wedding packages to brighten up your special day in Middle-earth.
9. There is no gift shop on site.
At least not completely. While Hobbiton is limited to movie sets and dining experiences, the gift shop is located a short distance away at Shire’s Rest. Fortunately, Shire’s Rest is the drop-off point for the bus that takes all would-be Hobbits into town. As buses no longer pick up from Rotura or Matamata, all tours depart from Shire’s Rest, which has a gift shop, cafe and meeting space known as The Hub.
10. Participate in a banquet tour
Fans interested in learning more about Hobbit cooking and eating rituals should check out the evening banquet tour. All tour passes include his one-day special tour of Hobbiton, a two-course meal, drinks at the Green Dragon, and a set special moonlight tour.
11. This is an ecological haven
The Hobbits and the local New Zealand residents who support them have designated Hobbiton and the surrounding area as an environmental reserve, and to date have planted more than 3,000 trees to keep the area ecologically healthy for local flora and fauna. and other plants have been planted.
12. This area’s charm doesn’t stop there.
The Hobbiton set is conveniently located and tours last just 2-4 hours depending on experience, so there’s plenty of time to experience New Zealand’s other wonders and beauties. If you want to maintain the magical atmosphere of your trip, why not take a relatively short drive to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, home to a type of glowworm found only in New Zealand.
Arezou Amin is a freelance writer with a lifelong love of all things Star Wars, romance, fantasy, and pop culture. She is the host of Geeky Waffle, a Star Wars-focused podcast on her network, Space She is also the co-host of the flagship show, and also writes reviews and summaries for the site. .
