We are in Matamata, in the North of New Zealand, at the foot of the stunning Kaimai Range mountain range. The picturesque village of Hobbiton is part of the Alexander farm, full of sheep grazing that now dominate the site of the film set built in 1999 for the shooting of the first film in the Tolkien saga: “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”
Several and curious are some of the procedures that led to the creation of the evocative village:
– 1.5 km of roads were built from scratch to create Hobbiville;
– The tree of Bilbo Baggins’ house was brought to the location cut into pieces and then reconstructed later, the hedges were also artificially planted and watered throughout the winter;
– Creating the characteristic “green” of the village also involved importing artificial leaves from Taiwan;
– Almost all the houses are empty inside, only the “Green Dragon” tavern was recreated identical to the Wellington set where the interior scenes were filmed;
In the wonderful village, besides admiring the typical houses of Hobbiville, you can learn to shear sheep and carry out other small tasks with a countryside flavor, thus rediscovering the sweet and pleasant atmosphere of the imaginary village of the Hobbits.
This small and wonderful “wonderland” is an example of how human imagination can shape and enhance, and therefore not only destroy, what is most beautiful on earth: nature, simple and complex at the same time. Visiting this place means immersing yourself in the adventures that starred Frodo and Bilbo Baggins while eagerly awaiting the arrival of Gandalf the Grey. A charming and fairy-tale place that will delight the little ones but at the same time awaken joyful feelings even in adults.
