The Hobbiton Movie Set is one of the biggest tourist attractions in New Zealand
The Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand, will make you feel like you've just stepped into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit" films and books.
First opened in 2002, Hobbiton is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in New Zealand, drawing in more than 350,000 visitors a year.
When you enter the 1,250-acre Alexander Farm, you'll see 37 hobbit holes waiting to be explored.
You can step inside the house of Bilbo Baggins and see where Samwise Gamgee and Rosie Cotton lived. Some of the hobbit holes are big enough to explore while others are miniature in size.
Outside the homes are everyday items from the lives of hobbits including cabbage gardens, smoked fish, honey pots, butterfly catchers, and hobbit-sized shirts and pants hung on clotheslines to dry.
Props like "freshly caught" smoked fish can be found outside the hobbit holes.
They began site construction in 1999, implementing incredible detail to make the set complete. The Party Tree was created with artificial leaves imported from Taiwan and individually wired onto the tree.
The set was rebuilt again in 2011 for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again."
Today, the Green Dragon Inn offers an exact replica of what is seen in the films, where you can enjoy a cold cup of beer or cider and sample traditional Hobbit fare like beef and ale pie.
You can tour the Hobbiton Movie Set year-round for $75, which includes transport to and from the set, a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn, and a guide who will explain how the set was created.
You can also embark on the Evening Dinner Tour at $190, where you'll be treated to a banquet feast with Hobbit fare, and a nighttime tour where you'll be given an authentic handheld lantern as you walk through an illuminated Hobbiton.
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