The Enchanting Hobbiton Village

Hidden deep beneath the Earth's surface, for the past decade, there has been an annual attraction drawing a multitude of international tourists.

Explore New Zealand with a Visit to the Quaint Hobbiton Village

Welcome to Hobbiton, the village of the hobbits, once a natural setting for pivotal scenes in the highly popular trilogy - The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Renowned New Zealand director, Peter Jackson, brought to life the novels of the British author, J.R.R Tolkien, in these three epic films.

Scattered across lush green hills, surrounding a lake and a crystal-clear stream, are 44 tiny houses belonging to the hobbits. Hobbiton Village, one of New Zealand's premier tourist destinations, is a picturesque marvel that captivates visitors from around the globe.

When you visit, be sure to find the house with the green door, as that is the private abode of Bilbo Baggins, the famous hobbit in The Hobbit trilogy. This cinematic masterpiece, directed by the acclaimed Peter Jackson, is an adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien's equally enchanting novel.

Make sure to keenly observe the various houses to distinguish which hobbit family is relatively affluent, which one is economically challenged, which house sells dried fish emitting fragrant smoke, which one specializes in producing cheese, and which one focuses on selling various types of vegetables. Despite their humble and small appearance, each house is solidly constructed with stones, bricks, and concrete to withstand the test of time.

To bring more vibrancy to Hobbiton's daily life, wood is burned to release smoke from the chimneys, and an array of tiny clothes is hung freely, dancing in the cold winds of New Zealand's winter. Surprisingly, these miniature garments are the special creations of Weta Digital, a world-renowned company in the design and production of everything from monsters to weapons in many blockbuster films. They sway in the wind and light for two years before needing replacement.

In Hobbiton, many things are authentically sourced from nature, such as the soil, lush green grass covering the house roofs, and various trees and flowers surrounding each dwelling. However, there is a single large oak tree, with branches and leaves cascading down the hill just above Bilbo's house. It is a sizable tree with 376,000 plastic leaves imported from Taiwan, meticulously hand-painted and cared for one leaf at a time.

Crossing the stone bridge, you reach the wheat mill, and directly opposite is the Green Dragon inn, a place for meetings, merriment, and beer drinking – the hobbits' entertainment hub. This space was inaugurated at the end of 2012 and also featured in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Nowadays, visitors enter the Green Dragon to sample local beers and then enjoy a buffet feast. Choices include regular beer, brown ale, non-alcoholic Frogmorton Ginger Beer, or Sackville apple wine. The guide mentioned that during peak season, guests consume up to 20 large barrels of beer daily, approximately 1,000 liters.

Opening its doors to visitors just over a decade ago, the quaint Hobbiton village gains more fame each year. By 2015, it hosted over 350,000 visitors, with peak days seeing guides leading up to 60 tour groups. This large influx of visitors does not hinder the care of 300 Angus beef cattle and 13,000 Romney sheep belonging to Ian Alexander's family, the owners of this expansive 560ha property.

Surprisingly, the Alexander family did not anticipate that Peter Jackson would approach them in 1998 to borrow their lush natural space as the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings films. Today, their farm, originally known for breeding cattle, sheep, and wool, is the most famous agricultural estate in New Zealand, attracting numerous international visitors.

Generating numerous economic benefits not only for themselves but also for the local community, director Peter Jackson (engaged in a 50/50 business partnership) envisions using Hobbiton as a unique brand for their beef and lamb products originating from their farm now known as “Hobbiton Movie Set,” benefiting hundreds of households in the Matamata town, approximately a two-hour drive from Auckland city.

As reported by Doanh Nhân Sài Gòn

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour