Hobbiton

In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team of location scouts were searching for a place to build Hobbiton. There were only a few requirements: rolling hills, tall trees, a river or lake, and it had to be secluded. An aerial search led them to the Alexander farm, a 1,250 acre sheep farm in the heart of Waikato. Construction took 9 months and included help from the New Zealand army to build a road. Many of the soldiers also had roles in "The Lord of the Rings" films as part of the orc army. In 2009, in preparation for filming of "The Hobbit", Jackson's team returned. This time, they built a more permanent Hobbiton that included 44 Hobbit holes. The set has been maintained and expanded over the years with the addition of the Green Dragon Inn and building and furnishing the interiors of a few Hobbit holes. It was a wonderful experience that truly made the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien come alive!Read more