Happy Hobbits are set to party, celebrating not only International Hobbit Day but the birthdays of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins.
An ‘unexpected party’ of fans will take a guided tour of the Shire at dusk experiencing the Hobbiton Movie Set as the sun sets over the Matamata countryside. The group will meander
through the 12 acre site in the Waikato region on New Zealand’s North Island, recounting the details of how the movie set was created.
Arriving at The Green Dragon Inn in front of open fires, visitors will be able to toast the birthday boys as well as all Hobbits with the specially made Southfarthing™ range of drinks. Two traditional ales, an apple cider and non-alcoholic ginger beer, all handcrafted, will be available because all Hobbits like a wee tipple, especially on International Hobbit Day. The Marketplace will create a bustling, vibrant experience with individually themed stalls bursting
with traditional Hobbit fare. The market stalls will consist of New Zealand cheeses, freshly baked artisan breads, cured meats, smoked fish, and of course fresh produce from the Hobbiton gardens. Live entertainment will add to the atmosphere and one could be forgiven for thinking they had been transported right into one of Tolkien’s books.
It wouldn’t be a celebration worthy of a Hobbit without a full buffet dinner. Second helpings will be encouraged and even thirds for the Peregrin Took’s of the group.
To finish guests will receive an authentic handheld lantern to light the way back through the
Shire. This stunning journey under moonlight will travel through the village breathtakingly lit up with Hobbit hole chimney’s smoking and lanterns glowing against the darkness.
Happy Birthday Bagginses!
• Film set area: covers approximately 12 acres
• Hobbit houses: 44 Hobbit Holes
• Party tree: 70 - 80 metres tall
• Construction: 70 set builders
• Catering: During production, three meals were served daily to cast and crew, plus snacks
on demand for 600+ people
• Gardens: 2.3km of hedges; 30 - 200 plants around each Hobbit house
• Ground staff: 7 - 8 gardeners during height of season, 5 in winter
• Traditional ales, cider and non-alcoholic ginger beer, all brewed exclusively for Hobbiton, are served from barrels behind the bar at the Green Dragon Inn.
Waikato, North Island, New Zealand
Flanking the mighty Waikato River which flows through the heart of the North Island, the prosperous Waikato farming region has been a tourism destination with an international reputation for at least 125 years. First it was the underground lights of glowworm caverns in the famed Waitomo Caves, now it’s the home of hobbits as featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.
Additional Information
Tourism New Zealand markets New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. In the year ending July 2017, 3.66 million international visitors arrived in New Zealand: an increase of 9.5% on the previous year. International tourism is New Zealand’s largest earner of foreign exchange, pumping over $14.5 billion into the economy and directly employing over 188,000 people.http://ift.tt/X883Lo
Visa procedure: One may forward their application to the TT office in Mumbai or Delhi, which will then be directed to Immigration New Zealand. A visitor visa for New Zealand is processed within 15 working days. http://ift.tt/qxpVlV
Airline connections: Connecting flights to New Zealand are available on Singapore Airlines/Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines with stop-overs in their respective hubs. New Zealand’s international gateways are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Domestic services: You can fly between all New Zealand cities and most major towns using domestic air services. Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the main providers. Their services are complemented by regional airlines, charter companies and scenic flight operators.
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