Rolling green hills dotted with sheep and blooming cherry blossoms – it’s no wonder New Zealand was chosen as the filming location for The Shire and Lord of the Rings franchise movies.
This month I ventured to New Zealand’s north island (Auckland, Hamilton, and Rotorua) as part of my day job in corporate marketing. I attended an expo in Hamilton for an international business launch and got to enjoy some outdoor adventuring as well.
As a fan of fantasy and adventure books, the movie set and filming location of Hobbiton (Lord of the Rings) was a must-see when road-tripping around Matamata and nearby Auckland.
The Shire (aka the Alexanders’ spectacular 1250-acre sheep and beef farm just outside Matamata) was the perfect location for Sir Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the classic works by J.R.R. Tolkien.
It is where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogy were filmed, along with countless other locations across New Zealand’s north and south islands.
I visited this idyllic setting for The Shire, home of the Hobbits, including Bilbo Baggins’ residence Bag End (which is movie-perfect, right down to the giant pumpkin and little pipe on the front porch).
Check out my photos over on Instagram as I walked past the Hobbit Holes (I expected five at the most – but the hills were filled with the iconic, circular doors!), the Party Tree, the water mill, and across the stone bridge to enjoy a pint (of ginger beer) at The Green Dragon.
Filming facts – The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings
A total of thirty-nine Hobbit Holes were created with timber, ply and polystyrene as part of the set development.
The oak tree that overlooks Bag End was cut down and transported in from near Matamata, and artificial leaves were brought in and individually wired onto the tree.
Attention to detail really pays off when you see this location in person, and the set is maintained to keep the magic of The Shire alive.
Visit Hobbiton, The Shire
I highly recommend visiting the movie set of Hobbiton. While there, I saw construction on a brand-new attraction that’s coming soon, where you can experience the inside of a Hobbit’s house.
If you’re a fan of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, add this activity to your to-do list when in New Zealand. And, if you’re not a fantasy-lover like me, it’s still an incredible destination for the sheer natural beauty and open landscapes.
Jayne McIntyre Author 