Hobbiton is one of the “must-see” tourist destinations on New Zealand’s north island. It is every Lord of the Rings fan’s dream come true, and it was one of the most unique locations I visited during my time abroad. This post will take you on a photo tour of Hobbiton, in hopes that it will make your list of places to visit.
Hobbiton has tours set up that take you from the nearest town’s I-site, out to the countryside via a short bus ride, and straight to the main entrance of The Shire.
Visitors then meet-up with their extremely knowledgeable tour guide that can answer anything from a fanatic’s detailed question to a novice’s general inquiry about the movies and their plot (I was a member of the latter category!). The tour guide takes the group throughout the Shire, explaining the time line and construction of the sets.
After meandering through hobbit holes, the tour ends at the Green Dragon. For those of you that do not know, the Green Dragon is the infamous inn that the characters frequently visit. Here you can sit back by the Party Tree with a ginger beer or a brew that is served at the Green Dragon.
Kate Farrell is a TEAN Alum and recent graduate from University of Hartford, she studied abroad in Wellington, New Zealand.