Hobbiton, NZ - slice of Middle-earth
When Peter Jackson flew over New Zealand scouting film locations for his next big project, he was impressed by the green hills and peaceful pastures surrounding the little farming town of Matamata.
It was 1998 and Jackson was searching for locations for his biggest-ever movie project, New Line Cinema’s three-part film adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
The project would require dozens of locations and a wide variety of spectacular landscapes to bring the epic story to the screen, and Jackson scoured New Zealand’s North and South islands to find the perfect matches for Tolkien’s mythical Middle-earth.
Discovering the ‘Shire’
On the Alexander family’s sheep and beef farm - just outside Matamata - Jackson discovered the perfect place to create the shire and village of Hobbiton.
The fantastic views and rolling countryside of the Alexander Farm resembled that of the Middle-earth that Tolkien had graphically depicted.
A large established pine tree - later renamed ‘the party tree’ - was already perfectly placed in front of the lake. The surrounding farmland was untouched by 20th century clutter such as roads, buildings or power lines.
But, while the existing topography would provide the backdrop, a lot of work was still needed to create a complete village of neat little Hobbit homes, hedgerows and gardens that would meet the director’s high standards.
Building Hobbiton
An army of workers - set builders, landscapers and a thatcher or two - spent nine months on the farm during 1999 preparing the film set.
The New Zealand Army constructed a 1.5km road into the site and completed initial land-shaping. Thirty-seven hobbit holes were created in the hillside, and a mill and double-arch bridge were erected on the edge of the lake.
Barberry hedges and trees were brought in, and new gardens were nurtured through winter. A 26-tonne oak tree was sourced from another farm, cut down in segments, transported and reassembled with artificial leaves on the spot above Bag End.
The three-month film shoot began in December 1999 and, at its peak, 400 people were working on site, including director Peter Jackson, and actors Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Elijah Wood (Frodo), Sir Ian Holm (Bilbo), Sean Astin (Sam), Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dominic Monaghan (Merry).
Hobbiton Movie Set
Since the Hobbits and film-makers moved out, the Alexander family - who’ve farmed the 1250-acre / 500ha property since 1978 - have developed a tourism business that runs alongside their traditional farming operation.
And, almost a decade on, the Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tour has become a must-see tourist activity for ‘Lord of the Rings’ fans travelling through New Zealand.
The Alexanders have opened a cafe called The Shires Rest, and run a series of movie set tours and farm experiences.
Knowledgeable guides lead tours through the 10-acre film site, telling stories about the making of Hobbiton and the films. Tours run several times daily, seven days a week, and include favourite Hobbit haunts such as the reconstructed oak tree, and the Hobbit hole of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.
In the lead-up to filming The Hobbit, the film set has been undergoing extensive development but Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tours managing director Russell Alexander says it’s business as usual for the tourism and farm activities.
Hobbiton Farm Tours
The Alexander Farm runs around 13,000 sheep and 300 Angus beef cattle producing mutton, wool and beef. The owners shear all the sheep on the property themselves.
On the Sheep Farm Experience visitors learn about sheep farming in New Zealand and have the opportunity to participate in a sheep shearing demonstration and bottle feed pet lambs. Farm-stay accommodation can also be arranged.
Background: Hobbits
The vivid descriptions of Hobbits in JRR Tolkien's books have been brought to life through New Line Cinema's The Lord of the Rings films, directed by New Zealander Peter Jackson.
Hobbits are described by Tolkien as an uncomplicated and ancient little (no more than four feet tall) people who seldom wear shoes because their feet have tough leathery soles clad in thick, curly hair. They are shy of ‘Big Folk’ and prefer well-ordered and well-farmed countryside.
A typical Hobbit is a happy individual who loves nothing better than a good party with lots of food.
Hobbiton is one of the places in The Shire where the Hobbits live in both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit.
More information
New Zealand - the perfect Middle-earth
Set jetting around New Zealand
The Hobbit returns to Middle-earth
Finding the real Middle-earth
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