The Kids' Book Review Bookish Places posts are a chance to celebrate museums, galleries and other places with a connection to children's literature and reading. The posts are compiled by KBR's Consultant Librarian, Sarah Steed, our intrepid traveller and hunter-gatherer of amazing places!
It was in the Shire where, '
in a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole ... it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.'
And it's in the rolling green hills of New Zealand's north island that you will find the
Hobbiton Movie Set, a place where fantasy meets reality.
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
The Hobbiton Movie Set was first created for Peter Jackson's movies of the classic
JRR Tolkien novels,
The Hobbit and the
The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
It brings to life a small part of the Middle-Earth world, where the adventures of Bilbo Baggins began. You'll really feel like you've been dropped in the midst of the story.
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
You'll be able to walk through Hobbiton, see the life-size Hobbit homes (there are 44 of
them!), take as many photos as you can fit in, and have something to eat
and drink at The Green Dragon Inn.
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
Visiting Hobbiton is only available by taking a guided tour, which runs for approximately two hours. Advance booking is essential.
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
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| Photo: L. Hannan |
The Hobbiton Movie Set can be found at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata. Visit the
official website for details of ticket prices, opening hours, how to get there, and more.
Interested in taking a Bookish Places trip around the world with Sarah? Enjoy this sensational map, also created by Sarah, and check out our other Bookish Places posts here.
