The magic of Middle-earth 🧙
There are places you visit on a trip, and then there are places where the line between reality and a story simply disappears.
Hobbiton, nestled amongst the rolling green hills outside the small farming town of Matamata, is one of those places.
For a few hours, we weren’t just looking at a movie set—we were wandering through the Shire itself. And somehow, it felt completely real.
Today we visited the top tourist attraction in New Zealand—The Hobbiton Movie Set. We heard the story of how the Hobbiton came to be and the amazing work that’s gone into preserving this magical place.
In 1998, location scouts for director Peter Jackson were searching New Zealand for a “shire” that could be used in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
From a helicopter, they spotted a farm that had all 3 main requirements: a sheep farm with rolling green hills, a lake, and no main road. That farm belonged to the Alexander family. A deal was made.
Construction began shortly after where 44 hobbit holes were built into the hillsides, along with gardens, fences, and pathways.
When the films became a global phenomenon, fans kept showing up asking where Hobbiton was. Eventually the set was rebuilt permanently for filming The Hobbit trilogy and stayed for all of us!
The experience starts with a bus ride across the Alexander sheep farm. I felt like I was in the movie before even arriving!
Then you see the Shire and you truly have stepped into Middle-earth—little round doors tucked into hillsides; stone paths winding through gardens; laundry hanging from clotheslines; smoke coming from the Baker’s chimney. I half expect Bilbo Baggins to step out and ask why I was on his front lawn!
Each of the 44 hobbit holes has its own personality and profession. Some look like they belong to gardeners, with wheelbarrows and vegetable patches outside. Others belong to fishermen, with nets hanging on fences. One even has tiny cheese wheels stacked beside the door. Then there’s the beekeeper with an assortment of honey ready to be sold.
The hobbit holes aren’t full houses. They’re mostly just façades. The real interiors were filmed on stages in Wellington. But the outside details are astonishing. Nothing is random. Every prop tells a story and the gardens are simply beautiful.
Since 2023 there are now two holes that have been meticulously decorated inside. I wish I could live in a hobbit hole—talk about cozy!
Another fun fact—The hobbit holes vary in size to create forced perspective for filming. For example, some doors are oversized to make actors look smaller or vice versa.
Sheep 🐑 fact – the New Zealander sheep were too white, clean and fat to use in the movie. Therefore, Jackson brought in dirty, skinny sheep. When filming completed, he tried to leave the sheep there but no one would take them, so they had to be exported.
After the tour we had some beer from the Green Dragon Inn and a yummy buffet lunch.
Beneath the Earth: A Magical Journey Through Waitomo Caves
Next, on to one of the country’s most surreal natural wonders. the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. I don’t have any pictures here as they’re not allowed once in the cave so I will describe its beauty the best I can…
Step by step we descended about 40 meters (about 131 feet), and entered a world that feels almost otherworldly.
Our experience began with a walk through limestone caverns sculpted over millions of years. We saw stalactites and stalagmites—nature’s slow, patient artwork. But the real grand finale reveals itself when the lights dim.
We boarded a small boat and drifted silently through the darkness—no motor on the boat so the guide uses a rope system attached above to guide us.
Look up and gasp at the thousands of blue-green lights that shimmer like a night sky. These are glowworms—unique to New Zealand—creating a living constellation across the cave ceiling. The stillness is striking. No talking, no engines, just the gentle glide of water and the quiet awe of the light!
What makes Waitomo so unique isn’t just its beauty, it’s the feeling. It’s the sense that you’ve slipped into a hidden world that has existed for centuries and it’s a moment we won’t forget.
Christina’s Journey Journal 