This is your chance is to see the stunningly realistic sets that were designed for the three Lord of the Rings movies. They are set in picturesque farmlands in the Waikato heartland. The land itself is privately owned so you need to book a tour through one of the operators. See the information centre in town for assistance.
17 out of the 37 hobbit holes still exist, the rest having being taken down to return the farm back to it's original state. These include the Party Tree, the remnants of the reconstructed oak tree and Bag End, the famed Hobbit Hole of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. The informative guides will tell what was needed to create the fictional town of Hobbiton and share some stories about what went on during filming. There are panels outside the structures that show what it looked like in the movie to orientate viewers. The views are quite spectacular with the Kaimai ranges in the distance.
Since it is on a farm, they'll include a sheep farm experience with real shearers plying their trade on less than co-operative sheep! For the kids and the young at heart, there is an opportunity to cuddle and bottle feed a pet lamb. The farm is home to some 13,000 sheep and 300 cattle.
The appropriately named 'Shire's Rest Cafe' is where you can grab a muffin, some coffee and discuss what you have just seen. From Matamata , the tour is about 2 and a half hours long. It is possible to get a transfer from Rotorua but there is an extra cost involved and an extra hour tacked on each way for the travel time. Find out more at Tourism Rotorua in Fenton Street.
95 Arawa Street, Matamata, Waikato.
07 888 9913
