1 Wonderful Must-Do Tour of Hobbiton

It was in Summer Solstice 2019 that I took a tour of Hobbiton. It was a magical evening in a world far away from the one we live in, and I challenge anyone to spend time here and not feel the same.

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If you are travelling around New Zealand, the best way is by car. Not only do you get to see more but you will also find more hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.

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And So It Begins – Tour of Hobbiton

Our adventure began in Matamata at 6.30 pm, where we hopped on a bus to be transported into Middle Earth and visit Hobbiton. We watch videos to see how Sir Peter Jackson found Alexander’s Farm and how Hobbiton was rebuilt before The Hobbit movies, as they tore down the Hobbit holes after the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We had a couple of people dress up, which is optional, and there were even people who had never seen any of the movies. Once we stepped into The Shire, everyone, it seemed, tended to believe that New Zealand didn’t exist anymore. It was like stepping through a portal to another world, the world of Hobbiton.

There are 44 Hobbit Holes in Hobbiton, and we were to visit, it seems, all of them by the time the night through. Some have smaller doors than others to give the illusion of height. Small doors for Gandalf compared to the short Hobbits against the larger doors.

The doors are all brightly coloured, and the Hobbit Holes are as individual as their owners. Wheelbarrows, pumpkins, cheese and bread were laid out on tables in their front yards. One even has their washing on the line.

The Walk Around Hobbiton

We pass our first Hobbit Holes before heading into the Vegetable Garden, where we learn that although the Hobbit Holes may be fake, everything that grows above ground is real. The vegetables, trees (except for one), flowers and gardens are exquisite, adding to the reality of this world. Even the birds are real. One tourist thought they were mechanical, somehow flying from tree to tree. Along the way, our guide tells us about how Hobbiton came about, the filming, what it was like at the time, and how to become a Hobbit (you had to be under 5 foot 6 inches – that’s me).

Little picket fences and stone pathways also add to the cosy feeling you get walking around.

Up The Path We Go

Heading up the path (and I mean up), past the Dell and the Frog Pond, we are now on the upper parts of The Shire. The Artist’s Hole has its door open, although nothing is beyond it. It’s time for photos to be taken as though you’re answering the door and greeting the group.

From up top, we’re looking down on The Green Dragon Inn. The festivities are underway as the first groups enter. It’s also from here that we get a good look over all of The Shire and the farmland surrounding it. The Hobbit Hole that we’ve all been waiting for is of the Baggins Family. Here we are told about the artificial tree above his hole (in the photo below).

We head back down past Samwise Gamgee’s house, seeing where the actors’ daughter ran out to greet Samwise after returning to Hobbiton. Past the field where Bilbo had his eleventy-first birthday celebrations and then along the bush path until we are out in the open, and in front of us is the bridge with a very tall Wizard welcoming us to the night’s festivities.

At this point, the sunsets (as it’s taken a good 90 minutes to get down here). After a cloudy and showery day, Mother Nature then provides a sunset to remember with all the colours you could imagine.

The Festivities

The festivities begin with food and drink, markets, entertainment and, of course, the Souvenir shop to visit.

There is throwing a ring on a target, the fire eater/juggler and the Wizard. We then take another walk around The Water to see more Hobbit Holes in the light of lanterns. Lights glow in the windows, giving the illusion of a habitable village, with Hobbits settling in for the night.

And all at once, our tour of Hobbiton was over. About 4 hours later, everyone is loaded back onto buses where they are transported back to Matamata and the life they knew before. This time watching snippets of the videos back again, it’s different. Somehow because we’ve been there, it’s like seeing an old familiar place that will be forever etched in our memories.

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Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights, Accommodation & Car Hire – You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Hopper and WayAway, which has 5% cashback.
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• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe – Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and train travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance – is your number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master and Insubuy are invaluable in keeping you insured during your travels.
• Attractions – buy before you leave home with these great sites, Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• House Sitting – is a great way to save on accommodation and Trusted Housesitters has house sits all around the world for you to try.
• Photo Editing – is a great way to bring your photos to life and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
• Visa Applications – apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• Sim cards – Try Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).

If you want more tips, try my Travel Links and Resource page.

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