Thursday, July 18, 2013

Road trip at NZ (part 5)

One of the "must visit" place in the North Island is Hobbiton, the location for the Lord of the Rings / Hobbits movies. The site was chosen for it's rolling green pasture land which devoid of any tall, modern structures. The original hobbit shire was built out of Styrofoam and plywood, which was completely demolished when the Lord of the ring movie trilogy was completed. When the movie "The Hobbit" commenced shooting, the production crew rebuilt the entire shire with permanent structures which tourist can visit today. It was all nice except for the entrance fees, each person is charged a whopping NZD75.00 for a 2 hours guided tour. With 5 members in my family I have to forked out NZD350.00 just to buy the tickets, this has to be the most expensive visit on our road trip in NZ. However, in the face of 3 teenagers who are enamoured with the LOTR and The Hobbit movie, I was in no position to object!
The Green Dragon Inn from a distance, in the movie it most appeared in closed up night view. However in daylight, with the rolling green hills as backdrop, it has a different surreal look to it.

The hobbits family!

This hobbit hole belong to Bilbo in the movie "The Hobbit". The door looks like it leads to a cosy hobbit abode, but it is fixed, there is nothing but a shallow void behind the door. The rest are just a facade. All the interior scenes were shot in studios in other locations.

Not all hobbit holes as impressive looking, this must have belong to a poor hobbit family.

9 comments:

Muhamad Azree said...

TJ, last night is my second visit to your blog and i read allllll your post and i found it is interesting to try.

i will be converting my portfolio website to a blog where i will share my chase for a sustainable living with campervan, planting, solar etc

will invite you then :)

hope can meet u to know more about your van. i also want to look it closely :)

Azree

TJ Chang said...

Hi Azree,
Glad that you enjoyd my blog!

Rahman said...

Enjoy your post so much. How I dream I can travel like you and your family TJ.

Land of the Maori is truely breathtaking . Great to be there TJ

Anonymous said...

Part 6 coming?

Eylizar Homestay said...

Nice post..great photos...

nordin said...

hi TJ,
i know it has been so long, but has your campervan/bus been sold? I did sms/call you earlier about it. pls let me know. thanks a lot.

can email me : anjunglaman@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hi I have some enquiries for campervan. Can email me @ finkloy@gmail.com?

Camper Lover from Singapore

Homestay Johor Bahru said...

That looks like the hobbit home from Lord of the Rings. Lol.

Unknown said...

Hi TJ, I have enquiries on campervan hire in NZ, can I get your email please? My email add: xuwen.boey@gmail.com


Thanks!
Xu Wen