The Shire, Hobbiton, March 16

Cyclone Lusi continued circling near us on and off of the coast, intermittently delivering moderate winds and light rainsqualls. We departed Auckland aboard a bus headed south on the north island toward Matamata, the nearest town to Hobbiton, site of “The Shire” in the trilogy movie set of “The Lord of the Rings“ and “The Hobbit”. We had so far successfully eluded the brunt of the cyclone and when we arrived in Matamata we found the skies heavily overcast but dry.

           

Hobbiton is located on a 1250-acre sheep and beef farm near Matamata and it was chosen as the idyllic setting for Sir Peter Jackson’s adaption of the classic works of the author 
J.R.R. Tolkien. While touring the site we searched in vain for Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf and other characters in the Hobbit production but though their round cottage doors were found snugly implanted into the hillsides and their chimneys emitting smoke.  Sadly no live hobbits were to be found.  The tour was well done and at the conclusion we were invited into the Green Dragon Inn, a full-scale reproduction as it was portrayed in the story line.  We were offered a mug of cider and were introduced to a sweet and delightful calico cat named “Fig” who we discovered snoozing and comfortably ensconced on a red pillow, in a wing chair, in front of a roaring wood fire. Lucky cat! We proceeded to our days end destination in Rotorua during a driving downpour. And settled in for the evening happy to be out of the wet.

Bilbo's house

Typical Hobbit home

Two very large Hobbits

Tom enjoying a cider in The Green Dragon pub.  Cheers mates!