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A Place that Tolkien Fans Must Visit: Hobbiton in Tauranga, New Zealand
09 Aug 2017EXPLOREBY SweetEscape

If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, or LOTR for short, you may have already known that Hobbiton exists right here on Earth since 1999, in New Zealand to be exact. It is the set for The Shire, which is where the Hobbits live as seen in the LOTR trilogy and the Hobbit movies. As of 2002, the place is open to the public with guided tours.

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There are generally two main tours: Hobbiton movie set tour and evening banquet tours. The tour around the movie set takes 2 hours around the lush pastures of The Shire. You will be escorted around the set with a guide who will explain how the movie magic was made. You will see Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and visit the world-famous Green Dragon Inn, where you will be served with a complimentary Hobbit Southfarthing beverage.

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The evening banquet tour is held around dusk beginning with a guided tour around the site. At the end, you will be escorted to The Green Dragon Inn with a complementary beverage and then to a dining room to be treated to a banquet feast.

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The magic doesn’t end there! After dinner, your guide will take you back to The Shire for an adventure under the moonlight. You will walk through illuminated paths while carrying handheld lanterns to see the village come to light.

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Of course, the journey wouldn’t be complete without taking photos. You must take photos under the sign of Hobbiton (to prove you were there!). How about taking photos of the Hobbit holes? See how many you can count around the area – there are lots! The lush green pastures of the village and the hills are breathtakingly beautiful.

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Start planning your visit. Who knows, you might spot a hobbit there!