I returned to New Zealand multiple times after studying abroad, eventually moving to the land of the kiwis. On one of my visits, I dragged my {then} boyfriend to a location I had always dreamed of visiting…
H O B B I T O N
{!!!!!!!!}
Now, I am not the biggest fan of Lord of the Rings, but I am a human being. Therefore, I appreciate, and extremely enjoy, the movies. When I googled New Zealand, before choosing it as my study abroad location, Hobbiton was one of the first things to appear under the highlights of visiting the country.
When I researched further, I realized that the Shire on display was the actual, and entire, set that was used in the movies. This is not your typical bits and pieces of a set like they provide on other tours {ex: Warner Bros. Harry Potter} The crew created an entire village.
You can walk through the Shire, gaze at the infamous Bilbo Baggins doorstep, and play with some of the props in the movie.
The tour begins in the morning {or afternoon} and lasts about two hours. You are provided a guided tour with facts about the movies and cast, but you can wander freely as well, if you wish to. Surprisingly, it is not overly crowded, so you have unlimited photo opportunities.
After the guided tour of the Shire, you are invited to the Green Dragon Inn to indulge in a handcrafted ale. You truly feel as though you have been transported to Middle Earth.
It was such a magical experience that I will never forget. If you are a fan of Disneyland in any way, shape, or form, you will truly love this experience. Or… if you have an imagination of any kind. {Great for kids!}
The tours can be a bit pricy, with the cheapest option offered at $79.00 NZD. However, it was an experience I will never forget. And one that I can make my LOTR friends jealous of. Make sure you visit on a clear day to avoid sloshing around on a muddy set.
Check out the website here.
You cannot miss this attraction on your visit to New Zealand.
Have you ever visited Hobbiton?