A visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set where scenes from Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies were filmed was a highlight of our time on the North Island. We arrived and took a carriage from the gift shop/parking area to the entrance of Hobbiton.
We arranged our visit on the evening of the summer festival. The attention to detail of was spectacular. Each doorway, pathway and tree was lifelike. In order to maintain continuity the oak tree overlooking Mr. Baggin’s home was transported from nearby and then had thousands of artificial leaves constructed and individually wired onto the tree. Our guide’s love of the Lord of the Rings was evident as he shared tales about the movie set, actors and visitors. One of our favorite stories was about a guest who had never read the books or seen the movies. At the end of the tour, he asked how Peter Jackson was able to get the hobbits to leave their homes while they filmed the movies. It is that real.
The summer festival really started after the tour when we were invited cross the bridge for a drink at the Green Dragon. Just beyond was a market with traditional Hobbit drink and fare. In additional to the appetizers in the Green Dragon, there were numerous stalls outside and a full buffet dinner in a large hall. There was a wheel-barrel race to win a ring, stilt walking, juggling, and live music.
Twilight was magical. Once it got dark, we walked through the village by lantern. We listened and danced to the music until almost midnight. We wished we could stay longer.
