Looking Back at the Lord of the Rings Effect
“ absolutely put us on the map,” says Jasmine Millet, head of creative industries at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and an advocate for the region’s filmmaking industry. “People started…
Tag Archives: Hobbiton
Why You Should Visit New Zealand
“Chances are you’ve met a kiwi or two and you’ve probably seen Lord of the Rings—the country’s friendly population and breathtaking natural beauty is reason enough to visit. But if you still need convincing,…
New Zealand Food Experiences You Can’t Replicate
“Known for its active volcanoes, Maori history and a landscape that swings between farmland, forest and foreshore, New Zealand’s North Island upholds its reputation for adventure. But look beyond Auckland’s restaurants and Wellington’s coffee…
Milford Sound NZ’s Most Instagrammed Place
“Pictures don’t quite do Milford Sound justice, but that’s not stopping people from trying,” writes Johnny Lieu in an article for Mashable. Often referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world” the…
An Offbeat Vacation Experience
“Often overshadowed by its sophisticated neighbours, like buzzing-city Auckland, picturesque Hamilton frequently gets neglected. But this city – that has long been a centre of dairy farming, on the banks of the Waikato River…
Hobbit Holes To Be Recreated by Glamping Firm
A corner of JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth will be recreated at Craighead Howff, near Braco in Scotland after a glamping firm was given the green light to build two underground holiday huts,…
A Haven For Thrills
“When you really want to get away from it all, there’s no better place to visit than New Zealand’s North Island,” according to an article in thesundaily.my. The article recommends starting in Auckland,…
Epic Middle Earth Locations That Really Exist
“As World Hobbit Day makes us wistful for Middle Earth’s colossal mountain ranges, mythical forests and untamed rivers, we look to the epic landscapes that stole the show in the Hobbit and Lord of…
The Rise Of Film-Friendly New Zealand
The screen industry in New Zealand is “big business: four of the all-time 20 most profitable films were made here, and revenue in 2015 was $3.22 billion compared to just $2.6 billion in 2005,”…
Wine and Dine Your Way Through NZ
“From freshly caught seafood to lamb, meat, everything, the delicious yet frequently underrated cuisine New Zealand offers should top your foodie-travel bucket list,” writes A. Van Houten for Paste Magazine in an…
What to Do in New Zealand
21-year-old Taylor Gleason has travelled to 65 countries, “documenting it all — in classic millennial fashion — on an Instagram account that has amassed an impressive 65,800 followers,” writes Brittany Kriegstein in…
The Experience of a Lifetime
“A trip to New Zealand might just be the experience of a lifetime.” Queenstown and Christchurch are widely known for their extreme sports and cultural attractions, but New Zealand’s North Island also “has a…
The Best Places To Visit in New Zealand
With its picturesque landscapes, and multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites and natural wonders New Zealand has something to offer travellers of all interests whether you’re into a relaxing scenic drive or taking part in…
The 10 Most Instagrammed Places In New Zealand In 2015
“New Zealand is basically just a country made entirely of absolute beauty. From the beaches to the glacial mountains, there’s nothing New Zealand can’t do,” writes Matt Whitehead in a Buzzfeed article…
Real Life ‘Lord of the Rings’ Locations
In Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth is “composed of dozens of incredible locations around New Zealand,” and “the natural beauty of New Zealand’s lush countryside and icy blue…
Quirky Places and Travel Hacks: New Zealand
Lifehacker has picked five top quirky places and travel hacks for travel in New Zealand so you will explore “New Zealand like you’ve been there a thousand times – even if it’s your first…
Settling in over a Beer at Hobbiton’s Green Dragon
“In New Zealand, even a nondescript cutting in the woods can lead somewhere extraordinary. That magnetic pull to see what’s around the next bend, whether sparkling glacier or primeval forest, is my favourite thing…
Visiting the Shire in Hobbiton
Evan Edinger travels to New Zealand and visits the magical Hobbiton located in Matamata.
Sam Smith’s New Zealand Adventure
This is the “best day of my life”, English singer Sam Smith proclaimed on Instagram following his visit to Hobbiton, the real-life movie set of Lord of the Rings located on the North Island…
Hobbit Fans in Singapore Gather at Changi’s Middle-earth
Singapore Hobbit fans are being treated to a life-sized piece of Middle-earth in the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal Three. As well as a hobbit hole, visitors can see a statue of Gandalf…
Esteemed Middle-earth Location Scout Dave Comer
Dave Comer, who selected many of the spectacular New Zealand locations for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies for director Peter Jackson, has died aged 58. Comer started out as a still…
Living a Kiwi Life – Episode 7: Hobbiton Movie Set, The Shire, Middle Earth
In this episode, the couple visit the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, just outside of Matamata, North Island, New Zealand. Living a Kiwi Life is a series of youtube videos…
“Bilbo Baggins Slept Here” in New Zealand
“It’s dinner and a movie … set” reports Ashley Winchester of the New York Times, who describes the Lord of the Rings guided tour as “straight out of Middle Earth”. The Hobbiton Movie Set in…
North to South Through the Hobbit’s Stomping Ground
To take a walk in the footsteps of The Hobbit, the Huffington Post has published a guide to many of the locations where scenes from the movies were filmed, and where with the convenience…
The Daily Mail’s ‘Awe Inspiring Journey’ to Hobbiton and Beyond
‘Thanks to the Lord of the Rings, and now The Hobbit, New Zealand one big photo opportunity for Tolkien fans’, says Helen Nicholson in The Daily Mail. Nicholson did a Hobbit Tour of…
Is This Place for Real?
“The hill is perfect – steep, shaggy and as green as a radioactive shamrock, like the matching hills around it,” The New York Times describes. “The sheep seem pretty idyllic themselves: polite little nibblers who only…
Tours in Make Believe
“When Florida native Michele Maro became captivated by The Lord of the Rings movies, she never imagined she would one day be walking around in the Shire, touring Hobbiton and peeking into hobbit holes,”…
