Hobbiton

Anne here, and I'm just back from my travels. I went first to Brisbane (capital city of the state of Queensland) for the Romance Writers of Australia conference, and then to New Zealand for the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference but I'm blogging today about neither of those events (though I will, once I've unpacked my case and sorted out my thoughts.)  

Today it's all about Hobbiton, the "real live" movie set used in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

I first started to read Tolkien when I was fifteen, but never finished The Hobbit. And never read the rest. I tried again as an adult, but again, never finished. I also started to watch The Hobbit on a plane, and again, didn't finish it. So I was definitely the odd person out on the little tour I did. (I had to confess that what drew me to make the tour was my love of little houses. Yes, a deeply frivolous wench, I'm afraid. The tour guide thought so, too.) 

The day started here, at the tourist information centre in the main street of Matamata. The only access you get to Hobbiton is through the tours —you can't just arrive and wander around. And it's not cheap — $78 for the tour (though it includes a half pint of hobbit beer or cider or non-alcoholic ginger beer.)

The hobbit village was sited on a sheep farm set in rolling hills with a background of steep mountains behind. It was originally built as a two dimensional movie set that was pulled down after the filming of The Hobbit was finished. It was for built for exterior shots only, and the interior scenes were filmed elsewhere in a studio.

However after the first movie came out, even though there was virtually nothing to be seen, visitors kept coming to the farm to see where Hobbiton had been, so when it came time to make the second movie, it was decided to make the village more permanent, using real materials, and solid building methods, so it could live on as a tourist attraction, long after the movie had been made. And so it has.

It's extremely cute, as you can see, and the level of detail is delightful. You can see a house belonging to hobbit cheesemaker, a baker, a fish smoker, a bee-keeper, a wood-turner and more — I could happily fill this blog with pics. And the vegie and flower gardens are all kept up beautifully — there's quite a substantial workforce maintaining the village. The tour guide told me a lot of the vegies are used for meals in the Green Dragon. 

Before the movie people arrived, the farm was just an ordinary sheep farm, with lush green grass and a few big old pine trees that would have been planted when the first British settlers arrived — pines are not native to New Zealand. There was one enormous old pine that was estimated to be 140 years old. 

Speaking of detail, when Hobbiton was built, they wanted a more European feeling, so all kinds of mature European trees were planted to give that village look. And it being early spring, some were still bare-branched and others just coming into blossom. 

The gnarled old tree at the top of this photo ("growing" on the roof of the hobbit hole) is fake all the way through — it was made from silicone and the leaves were hand-made in China, and then painted to give the exact shade of green the director, Peter Jackson, wanted. The other trees in the village, however are all real.

I was a little disappointed that you can't actually go into the hobbit houses. There's only one you can enter, but it's empty and like a large closet inside — really it's only opened so that people can have their photos taken looking out of it. As we all did.

The Green Dragon pub however, is very much for people to go into. It's as cosy and warm as you could want, with fires burning in three large fireplaces, and drinks and snacks available, and tables and benches outside for warmer weather. It's early spring in New Zealand, and though it was sunny, the air was quite crisp, so I was for staying indoors with the fire and my half of golden ale.

So that's it for my visit to Hobbiton. I enjoyed it immensely, and whether or not you're a Tolkien fan or a fan of the movies, I'd recommend a visit to Hobbiton.
Are you a fan or not? Have you been to any other book-world or movie-world type locations?

Comments

[Malvina]

I was one of those that visited after the first film, when there was hardly anything there. But oh my gosh it was magical, recognising all the scenery, the big tree, and looking out of Bilbo's door. One day I'd love to go back to see the amazing scene now.

[Mary T]

I read the Hobbit many years ago as a challenge from my teenage nephew. I gave him a book to read and he gave me that one. I remember that as I was reading it, I had trouble visualizing middle earth. I read the book with my head and not my heart, so I don't remember too much about it. Hobbiton looks fascinating, but $78 - ooh, I don't know.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Oooh, I want one of those for a summer home! I read the Lord of Rings trilogy in college, as one does, and found it interesting enough that I remembered most of the characters and story lines decades later when the movies came out. I never reread the books, but I LOVED the LOTR movies. Wonderful New Zealand scenery, great actors and acting, and a deeply moving epic tale of bravery and danger.

Can't get into the Hobbit movies, thought I've tried. But I'd love to visit Hobbiton. *G*

[john rekus]

anne, thanks so much for your travellouge, ufortunately Mary jo and I were unable to visit, so your narrative filled the void providing a nice sense of what we missed havig attended two of the anzak romance writers conferences I look forward to your blog on 2017 later. lasty remember that you are welcome to use the private apartment here whenever you happen to visit the states

[Sue McCormick]

A librarian sent The Hobbit home with my youngest child. I read it aloud to her (with the older ones sneakily listening in. (And reading ahead the next day.) Molly checked it out of the library again and again, "rereading" it from memory. I think we can safely say Tolkien taught her to read.

A friend at work gave me The initial Lord of the Rings volume and I read it aloud to all the children. All four of us have loved the books ever since. We met my husband about five years later. He claimed he didn't like fantasy, until my older daughter inveigled him into reading Tolkien, and also one of Madeline L'Engle's books. He is the movie buff — we now own all of Peter Jackson's movies.

I'm afraid we'll never get "down-under" but I would LOVE to see Hobbitton. Thank you for the tour.

(And Anne, you heed my admonition very well indeed! You brought back great pictures.)

[Kathy K]

I read LOTR in high school. It was one of the things that brought my DH-to-be and me together. We both loved the worlds and the feeling of knowing the characters. We loved it so much that we memorized the runes at the back of the 3rd volume and used them to send notes to each other that the teacher couldn't read! I loved the LOTR movies, but share the opinion that the 3 Hobbit movies were stretched out too thin and contained a lot of characters and action that weren't in the book. But the acting in all of them was wonderful.

[Anne Gracie]

Malvina, I can well believe it -- the scenery of the area really does look "middle-earth-ish" with the green green grass and steeply rolling hills and the ridge of high mountains in the background. I hope you get to return and see what it looks like not. I think you'd love it.

[Anne Gracie]

Mary, I was warned before of the steep cost, but I could see what they were spending it on, and that they were taking care of the houses and gardens. And as I said to Malvina (in the comment above) the area is very middle-earth-ish.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Mary Jo, a lot of people told me I needed to watch the LOTR trilogy, not just The Hobbit. And the NZ scenery is indeed stunning.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, John — so glad you enjoyed the post. And thanks again for your very kind offer. :)

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Sue — I love fantasy but for some reason never got into Tolkein. As for the photos, I can take no credit ‚ I stupidly left my glasses back in the motel, and so didn't have a clear idea of what I was doing with the phone. It's very new -- my old phone died just before I left home.
I'm long-sighted, so I have difficulty seeing close-up things, like writing on my phone. I simply pointed the iphone and clicked.

[Anne Gracie]

How wonderful, Kathy. I love the idea of those notes in runes.
I've been convinced now to try reading the books again and to watch the LOTR trilogy of movies.

[Patricia Franzino]

I am a member of a meet-up in NYC that talk about epic fantasy fiction, and of course, Tolkien's books come up all the time. I've read the trilogy, "The Hobbit", "The Silmarillion", "Tales From Middle Earth", among others by the author.

I saw an animated feature from 1978 depicting the first book of the trilogy that was shown at this meet-up.

I enjoyed all the films by Peter Jackson, and I read he is considering filming "The Silmarillion".

There's a documentary on youtube with Christopher Tolkien talking about his father's work that is worth seeing.

I would love to see the Hobbiton village you saw, Grace.

I also wanted to see the Harry Potter sets from Warner Brothers at Watford Junction, 20 miles NW of London. From what I've seen in their emails to me, it's just wonderful, especially at Christmas. Everything is decorated beautifully.

[Patricia Franzino]

Anne, sorry, not Grace.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Patricia. I think youd love it here. And I would love to visit Harry Potter world — with Christmas lights it would be the icing on the cake.

[Anne Gracie]

No problem, Patricia. :)

[Annette Naish]

I have never read any of the books and I do not believe I have seen all the movies. I liked what I watched, but I have not been into fantasy....fantasy about Viggo Mortensen is a whole other thing.

Anne, you have made me want to go back and pay more attention. The pictures of the village are charming. Thank you.

[Anne Gracie]

fantasy about Viggo Mortensen is a whole other thing.

Indeed it is. *g* An excellent reason to see the movie.

Thanks, Annette.

[Margaret]

What a nice conversation you started, Anne. It's calm and peaceful, and by the time I finished reading all the comments, I almost felt like I'd seen the place myself and experienced the serenity firsthand. Thank you!! My sister loved all the Tolkien books, as did all the readers I knew in high school and college. My husband loved them. I was never even tempted. Finally, after about 10 years of marriage, I relented and ploughed my way through them. My only thought when I finally reached the end was that I had never encountered a series of books more in need of a good editing. Needless to say, that didn't endear me to my husband, sister, or any of the legions of fans I've shared my opinion with over the years. My entire family loved all the movies and saw them in the theater and then bought them as soon as they became available. I always enjoyed the music I heard in the background while going about my life , , , , !

[Glenda M]

If I ever make it to New Zealand, I will be going to Hobbiton!! Luckily my husband is in full agreement. We both loved those books. When we moved in together we had 5 sets between us.

[Michelle Athy]

If I ever make it to New Zealand, Lord of the Rings things will be definitely on the list. I was in high school/college when the movies were coming out and I read the triology then. I didn't read The Hobbit until many years later and only saw two of the movies, but I'd love to see Hobbiton1

I was in Ireland two weeks ago on vacation and the shops at the Ciffs of Moher reminded me of hobbit holes, since they're built into the mountain.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Margaret, I'm glad you enjoyed my post. Tolkien has legions of fans and if some of us are not in that number, well, you can't please everyone. *g* I've been convinced by friends that I need to watch the LOTR trilogy, so I'm happy to give it a go.

[Anne Gracie]

Glenda, that's fantastic that you both enjoy the same books. There is a special pleasure in sharing books, isn't there? I hope you get to Hobbiton one day.

[Anne Gracie]

The Cliffs of Moher would be a perfect hobbit location, I think. New Zealand reminded me quite a bit of Ireland — the lush greenness for a start, but the NZ mountains make it a little otherworldly, which is why I think it was perfect for Middle Earth.

[Kareni]

I also tried to read Tolkien as a teen but I got nowhere with it. My friends in college were all Tolkien fanatics while I was the sole romance reader -- we teased each other about our reading tastes but got on well. I ultimately did read The Hobbit as an adult but felt no compulsion to go on and read LOTR. My daughter read them all, and she and my husband loved the movies (which I've only seen bits of in passing). I did enjoy your post, Anne, and I'd happily visit Hobbiton were the opportunity to arise.

[Karin]

I'm another one of those who cannot read the Tolkien books. I tried The Hobbit in college, and never got past a chapter or two. And I had no desire to see the movies either. But I would have loved Hobbiton, as I adore tiny houses. I have a huge Pinterest board full of tiny homes and cabins!

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Kareni. I've had a pile of friends convincing me to watch the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and I might try it. And maybe the books.
I do enjoy lots of fantasy books and authors, so it's not the genre. I think maybe Tolkein's style isn't my cup of tea.

[Anne Gracie]

Karin, me too on the tiny houses. I think when we look at the cute little Hobbiton dwellings it takes us right back to childhood and the desire for a cubby house. I made heaps in my day, but they were all temporary and nowhere near as detailed or delightful as the hobbit houses. I'm off to check out your pinterest board.

[Shelagh]

We went to Hobbiton on the Monday after the RWNZ conference. Like you, I took heaps of photos. We loved the rolling hills with all te gorgeous little hobbit houses nestled into them and thoroughly enjoyed our cider in the Green Dragon Inn. It turned driving up to Auckland for our afternoon flight home into a real outing.