HOBBITON MOVIE SET

The Hobbiton Movie Set – created by film director Sir Peter Jackson to depict the home of the hobbits – has become a must-see tourist attraction for film fans and tourists

The Shire – otherwise known as Hobbiton – is a village of 44 hobbit holes dug into the hillside, surrounded by hobbit gardens and orchards, and the fertile pastures of a sheep and cattle farm owned and operated by the Alexander family.

The newest addition to Hobbiton is the Green Dragon Inn, opened in December 2012.

The 12-acre movie set in gentle rolling hills and on a quiet country road near the farming town of Matamata, is a two-hour drive from Auckland and within easy access of other tourist destinations including Rotorua, Waitomo, Tauranga and the city of Hamilton.

Location of Hobbiton

• Distance from Matamata = 20km; Hamilton = 43km; Rotorua = 74km; Auckland = 180km
• Matamata population:13,000; 6000 (town), 7,000 (rural)

Hobbiton Farm

• Farm area: 1250 acres or 500 hectares
• Farm stock: 13,500 sheep, 350 – 400 beef cattle
• Farm production: lamb, beef, wool
• Visitor numbers: 240,000 in 2013 / more than 800,000 since opening 12 years ago

Hobbiton Movie Set

• Film set area: covers approximately 12 acres
• Hobbit houses: 44 hobbit holes
• Roads: 8km created
• Party tree: 70 – 80 metres tall
• Construction: 70 set builders
• Catering: During production, three meals were served daily to cast and crew, plus snacks on demand for 600+ people
• Gardens: 2.3km (and growing) hedges; 30 – 200 plants around each hobbit house
• Ground staff: 7 – 8 gardeners during height of season, 5 in winter
• Traditional ales, cider and non alcoholic ginger beer, all brewed exclusively for Hobbiton, are served from barrels behind the bar at the Green Dragon Inn

Photo and text credits Tourism New Zealand

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