The quaint and peaceful shire from the lord of the rings and the hobbit can be seen near matamata on the north island. Experience middle earth to its fullest by visiting the filming locations, the hobbiton movie set, or adesign and prop workshop. In december 2012 the first of the new hobbit movies was released. Furthermore, many are within close proximity to new zealand s most luxurious lodges, retreats, and villas.
The entire lord of the rings movie trilogy, as imagined by peter jackson in the film adaption of the books, serves as a highly effective tourism advert for new zealand having seen all the films, and being a bit of a tolkien fan, it was inevitable that new zealand would make it onto my list of places i must visit. You and your small group will be one of the first to this popular attraction near matamata, a small agricultural town approximately 2. Lord of the rings, ring and map whakarewarewa living maori village. Hi, we want to take a new zealand australia cruise. Step into the enchanting village of hobbiton movie set in the heart of new zealand, you can step into the lush pastures of the shire with a guided tour of hobbiton, as featured in the lord of the rings and the hobbit t rilogies. Visit official sites used in the filming of the lord of the rings and hobbit movies, whilst visiting some of new zealand s most stunning attractions including glowworm caves, active geysers, dramatic mountains and deep fiords. The hobbit holes of the north islands hobbiton movie set act as a portal to new zealands film legacy. A sculpture of gollum, the villainous lord of the rings hobbit, in front of a welcome sign, in hobbiton town, matamata, new zealand on june 28, 2010. The new zealand army brought in heavy equipment to. How to visit hobbiton village in new zealand, the lord of.
Lord of the rings tour nz itineraries new zealand luxury. Although, one place we were particularly anxious to get to was hobbiton movie set. As of may 9, new zealand has less than 1,500 confirmed cases of covid19. Lord of the rings filming locations in new zealand finding. Trails of middleearth tour won a trip advisers certificate of excellence. New zealand film director sir peter jacksons famous movie trilogies based on jrr tolkiens the lord of the rings and the hobbit put new zealand s incredible scenery on display for millions of movie goers around the world.
May 26, 2019 while new zealands south island typically gets all the praise and glory, there is a lot to explore up in the north as well. Take a onceinalifetime journey to middleearth, traveling from auckland to queenstown via many exciting lotr filming locations, movie studios, and adventures. Take a tour through the set during the day or spoil yourself with a unique evening banquet in the village. Further work included building the facades for 37 hobbit. Lord of the rings tv series to be filmed in new zealand. When jackson was scouting new zealand to find places to film the lord of the rings, he spotted the alexander farm during an aerial search of the. Near the town of matamata on new zealands north island is the hobbiton set. Lord of the rings filming location matamata, new zealand. Everyone knows that the lord of the rings was filmed entirely in new zealand.
Dont miss any of the highlights with a guide who takes you through the stories and scenes on the set during a walking tour, which grants you access to places tour vehicles cant reach. Join us on your personalised journey through the real middle earth. Gardens of isengard, the river anduin, rivendell, osgiliath wood, paths of the dead. New zealand is ready for its closeup as most of film. Lord of the rings tours in new zealand tourism new zealand. The use of conservation sites and national parks meant jackson had to employ a specialist. May 01, 2016 today we had the opportunity to visit the hobbiton new zealand movie set. The fellowship of the ring, new zealand has been dubbed middleearth. The fellowship of the ring in 2001, new zealand has become the embodiment of middleearth to millions of moviegoers the world over. Hobbiton really does exist and its in matamata credit. Indulge, relax, and savor the tranquility of new zealand at an allinclusive luxury lodge. Top 7 movie locations in new zealand new zealand guide.
Lord of the rings tv series release date cast, trailer. The lord of the rings films make up one of the worlds most famous movie trilogies. Walk through the pelennor battle fields, cross the river anduin, explore the shire, wonder through the gardens of isengard and much more on a new zealand lord of the rings tour. Hobbiton movie set in the lush rural waikato region continues to attract international visitors looking to experience their own slice of middle. Seeing the scenic backdrop in the fantasy trilogy is the reason many backpackers and holidaymakers come to nz. Ill never forget that feeling of coming to hobbiton the first timetheres so many feelings of nostalgia and history. The rolling green hills, dramatic mountains, and crystalclear alpine waters made the perfect backdrop for the moviesand they make for an ideal travel destination, too. We then climb up to over feet to cross the kaimai mountain range, which divides the bay of plenty coastal region from the. Get a map with the exact locations of places from the lord of the rings pointed out, so that you can easily find them. The lord of the rings films showcase new zealands most stunning destinations.
Discover movie location tours and visit some of the most iconic film sets in new zealand including the hobbit, lord of the rings trilogy, narnia and wolverine travel alert. Whilst staying in rotorua a visit to hobbiton movie set tours at matamata in new zealand is an essential inclusion for any lord of the rings or hobbit movie fan. Discover the lord of the rings filming locations new zealand. The lord of the rings hobbiton movie set a mustsee. New zealand lord of the rings tours explore the locations of the filming of the lord of the rings films. This definitive guidebook showcases the principal movie set locations around new zealand as seen in all three films. Furthermore, many are within close proximity to new zealands most luxurious lodges, retreats, and villas. New zealand was made famous by the peter jackson lord of the rings movies, and is now the centre of middle earth.
Guide to the lord of the rings in wellington nz pocket. Lake pukaki, home of laketown in the hobbit trilogy credit. More than a decade later, rings and now hobbit fans continue to travel to the country to experience the mountains, lakes, rivers and plains that were the backdrop to the movies famous scenes. In virtually every region of new zealand, tourists will be reminded of middleearth and the lord of the rings trilogy and the hobbit trilogy the lord of the rings trilogy was famously filmed in one hit, making it one of the longest and most massive productions in movie history.
This 14 day lord of the rings new zealand adventure is our most popular tour. Thousands of visitors still flock each year to lord of the rings filming locations around the country. The lush dairy farming landscape around the waikato town of matamata was used to portray the peaceful shire. Your guided tour starts with a drive through our picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the kaimai ranges. This set was used for filming lord of the rings and the hobbit trilogies. Dec 12, 2019 on my 2nd day in new zealand, i am at the lord of the rings movie set in hobbiton. One of the most visually stunning movies of all time, the lord of the rings was entirely filmed in new zealand. Experience in person the panoramic wonders that were used to portray middle earth. Reviewers rave about tour guide rob and his staggering knowledge nay, nerd fandom about lord of the rings, the movies, filming process, film sets in new zealand, and everything lotr in between. Travel through a landscape of lush farms, then take a guided tour of the 12acre 4. A sign directs visitors to the shire on the hobbiton movie set in matamata, new zealand, where peter jackson filmed the movie trilogies the lord of the rings and the hobbit. Red carpet tours are the original lord of the rings movie tours operating since 2001.
Many are on the south island, but lotr fans visiting auckland can tour the lush hobbiton movie set, alone or in combo with other top nz sites. Peter jacksons film trilogy was also a seminal moment in moviemaking history. We head south into middleearth for a tour of peter jackson s lord of the rings hobbiton movie set, as seen in the lord of the rings and the hobbit trilogies. Join us on our next journey and be a part of a fellowship of likeminded people through breathtaking middleearth, new zealand. Visit the hobbiton movie set on a fullday tour from auckland that explores new zealand s middleearth, where lord of the rings and the hobbit came to life on film. Lord of the rings, avatar could soon resume filming in new. It is thanks to lord of the rings that thousands of people descend upon the new zealand fiordland every year. In the city often described as wellywood, wellington is not only the political capital of new zealand but the movie making capital. Visit these beautiful locations across new zealand where the famous movies were filmed. Lord of the rings and avatar 2 able to begin filming again. You will also meet those involved in the making of the movies, and get off the beaten track into the. Snap photos in front of hobbit holes and the party tree, sip a drink at the green dragon inn and dress up like your favorite character during this funfilled experience with fellow lotr fans. It is situated on a family run farm about 8 kilometres 5.
Here we highlight the dramatic landscapes that stole the show in the hobbit and the lord of the rings film series, based on the book, and put new zealand on everyones travel bucket list. New zealand is home to the set of the famous movie lord of the rings. The lord of the rings hobbiton movie set early access. Jrr tolkiens lord of the rings movies were filmed in more than 150 locations across new zealand. In the heart of new zealand, you can step into the lush pastures of the shire with a guided tour of hobbiton, as featured in the lord of the rings and the hobbit t rilogies. Hobbiton new zealand pictures and details about movie set. Other scenes were put together digitally, at the weta workshop in wellington, as well as at soundstages in wellington and queenstown. The use of conservation sites and national parks meant jackson had to employ a specialist lawyer to gain consent to film in protected areas. Jan 03, 2015 when jackson was scouting new zealand to find places to film the lord of the rings, he spotted the alexander farm during an aerial search of the north island and thought it would be a perfect.
Discover the movie magic when you visit the lord of the rings locations for filming. The hobbiton movie set was a significant location used for the lord of the rings film trilogy and the hobbit film series. The lord of the rings trilogy new zealands stunning landscapes captivated movie fans around the world as the unbilled star of the hugely successful the lord of the rings film trilogy. Lord of the rings locations map new zealand travel insider. Any true lord of the rings fan cannot come to new zealand without visiting this iconic movie set. Lord of the rings tours greatsights new zealand tours. Visit lord of the rings locations in fiordland, new zealand. A key game of thrones writer is set to join amazons lord of the rings tv series game of thrones writer and coexecutive producer bryan cogman will also be consulting on the series. While new zealand s south island typically gets all the praise and glory, there is a lot to explore up in the north as well. With so many lord of the rings fans coming over to new zealand, it is little surprise that tours became available showing travelers where the films were located. Hobbiton lord of the rings film set, new zealand youtube.
Sep 17, 2019 amazon studios revealed today it will shoot the lord of the rings tv series, based on j. More than a decade on, the hobbiton movie set has become a mustsee tourist activity for the lord of the rings trilogy and the hobbit trilogy fans travelling through new zealand. Amazons lord of the rings series to shoot in new zealand. Lord of the rings new zealand new zealand tourism guide. The alexanders have opened a cafe called the shires rest as well as the green dragon inn and run regular movie set tours on the working farm. May 09, 2020 indiewire has reached out to amazon for comment regarding when the shoot on lord of the rings might pick up again. The lord of the rings locations for filming matamata. Discover movie location tours and visit some of the most iconic film sets in new zealand including the hobbit, lord of the rings trilogy, narnia and wolverine. Hobbiton movie set tour from tauranga port zealandier tours. Hobbtion is the only intact set from the the lord of the rings and the hobbit trilogies, spread over 12 acres.
Located about an hour from tauranga, where youll be picked up at the port, the hobbiton movie set is situated on rolling farmland that depicts the shire, a region inhabited by hobbits in the lord of the rings and the hobbit. Today we had the opportunity to visit the hobbiton new zealand movie set. Hobbiton movie set, from hobbit holes to gardens and the green dragon inn. Lord of the rings self drive tours of both the north island and south island of new zealand. Kara and i are both big lord of the rings and hobbit fans so when we started to plan our trip to new zealand. Mar 19, 20 and having been the onscreen standin for j. Not all of the locations from the lord of the rings movie can be accessed just by driving to them. Tolkiens middle earth throughout the lord of the rings trilogy, new zealand is set to be featured again in all its epic, scenic glory in. Hobbiton, nz slice of middleearth tourism new zealand media. Amazon to film the lord of the rings tv series in new zealand. New zealand lord of the rings tours red carpet tours. Here are the top 7 spots to hit for all the movie buffs out there. Visit filming locations throughout new zealand including hobbiton movie set tour in matamata.
About experience the real middleearth with a visit to the hobbiton movie set, featured in the lord of the rings and the hobbit films. Indiewire has reached out to amazon for comment regarding when the shoot on lord of the rings might pick up again. Lord of the rings hobbiton movie set tour new zealand tour. Avatar 2 and lord of the rings tv show allowed to resume. Hobbiton movie set tour the lord of the rings new zealand. The ultimate lord of the rings location map for new zealand. Lord of the rings and the hobbit play starring roles. Dec 01, 2003 since the first screening of the lord of the rings. Amazon studios has set new zealand as the location for its upcoming series production of the lord of the rings, following in the footsteps of.
So it comes to no surprise that wellington was a central hub for the making of the lord of the rings. Embark on a journey of middle earth and new zealand. Stunning new zealand locations that were also film locations for world renowned movies. Today, the movie set remains and is a popular tourist attraction in the north island of new zealand.
New zealand the perfect middleearth tourism new zealand. Read on to learn more about how you can plan your visit to hobbiton village. Lord of the rings and the hobbit play starring roles in. Even for those who have not seen the movies, the scenery found within them is nothing short of spectacular. Following the hobbit trail in new zealand fodors travel guide. Established in 2001 as new zealands lord of the rings specialists, we have created a selection of special tours and experiences to cater to your passionate middle earth hopes and expectations. Lord of the rings filming locations in new zealand.
Amazons the lord of the rings tv series had only been filming for a few weeks and was already set to take a break after filming its first two episodes before the pandemic shut down the series. The lord of the rings tours from auckland 2020 travel. Rotorua lord of the ringstours hobbiton new zealand movie tours. Hobbiton, nz slice of middleearth tourism new zealand. Lord of the rings tours in new zealand l discover nz.
The new zealand army brought in heavy equipment to make. We visited hobbiton, the movie set for the shire in the lord of the rings and the hobbit, set in middle earth, filmed in new zealand. Following the hobbit trail in new zealand fodors travel. The lord of the rings is a trilogy consisting of high fantasy adventure films directed by new zealander, sir peter jackson. Over 150 realworld locations were used for key scenes, including mordor, hobbiton, rivendell and more. We spent beautiful time discovering the city of auckland, sampling wine on waiheke island, and hiking through the rain forest of waitakere range.
Lord of the rings tours new zealand, lord of the rings tour. The lord of the rings was filmed over 274 days, using 350 purposebuilt sets in more than 150 locations all over new zealand including 30 department of conservation sites. Kara and i are both big lord of the rings and hobbit fans so when we started to plan our trip to new zealand we knew we. The lord of the rings films showcase new zealand s most stunning destinations.
Lord of the rings filming locations in new zealand finding the. Established in 2001 as new zealand s lord of the rings specialists, we have created a selection of special tours and experiences to cater to your passionate middle earth hopes and expectations. The star performance was unquestionably new zealands. Most tours to lord of the rings filming locations in new zealand focus on just one or two locations, but there are a few longer tours that visit more spots from the films. Step off your cruise ship in tauranga and enter middleearth on a 2hour guided visit to the hobbiton movie set, featured in the lord of the rings and the hobbit trilogies. Which cruise line would offer the best touring of lor as well as other nz sites. New zealand film director sir peter jacksons famous movie trilogies based on jrr tolkiens the lord of the rings and the hobbit put new zealands incredible scenery on display for millions of moviegoers around the world. Visit the hobbiton movie set for the ultimate behindthescenes look at where the lord of the rings and the hobbit trilogies were filmed. Tour lord of the rings in new zealand national geographic. How to visit hobbiton village in new zealand, the lord of the. Movie location tours lord of the rings queenstown, nz. It is situated on a family run farm about 8 kilometres west of hinuera and 10 kilometres southwest of matamata, in waikato, new zealand, and is now a tolkien tourism destination, offering a guided tour of the set. Tripadvisor hobbiton movie set 2hour walking tour from. Take a look at bag end, where frodo and bilbos adventures began.
In new zealand, we want to include sites from lord of the rings. Since the filming of the lord of the rings trilogy and the hobbit trilogy, hobbiton has become new zealand s biggest tourist attraction. Thousands of visitors still flock each year to lord of the rings. Step into the shire where you will be guided around hobbit holes, the mill and into the worldfamous green dragon inn for a complimentary hobbit southfarthing drink. Find out where is the shire, take guided tours of the stunning film locations. New zealand is a country in the southwestern pacific ocean made of two main islands. The hyper realistic movie set designed by sir peter.
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