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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Oct 3 2016, 3:24am
Post #1 of 11
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NZ's Hobbiton a triple title winner from NZ tourism awards!
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Hobbiton Movie Set has won top honours in three categories at the Tourism Industry Awards.
The Matamata business won the Business Excellence Award – annual turnover more than $6 million; the Tourism Marketing Campaign Award; and the inaugural People's Choice Award.
The full news story is here
A thoroughly deserved win! I visited Hobbiton a couple of years ago and they've done a great job of giving people a taste of the Shire and being able to geek out in a lovingly maintained movie site. I especially loved The Green Dragon - I'd love to spend an evening there sometime.
I know other board members have visited as well. What are your favourite memories from being there?
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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Lily Fairbairn
Half-elven
Oct 3 2016, 2:15pm
Post #2 of 11
(1374 views)
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Once in 2008, when it was close to being a pile of rubble, and then again in 2011, about a week after PJ and company pulled out after filming scenes from The Hobbit.
All the little props and plants and washing hanging on the lines and gardens and.... It's just wonderful  . The only problem was, the Green Dragon hadn't opened for business yet. But that gives us a reason to go back a third time, yes?
There are bullfrogs living around the little pond at the very bottom of the site, croaking away. We debated for a moment whether they were real or audio-animatronic, but were assured they were real. What a great touch!
I also had my first flat white ever at the café and am hooked for life 
Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow....
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cats16
Half-elven
Oct 3 2016, 5:05pm
Post #3 of 11
(1368 views)
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The sensation of walking uphill to Bag End
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It felt like walking through a dream (albeit a brief one, as the tour is ~20 minutes long  ). Standing next to the Party Tree, looking around and realizing, "I'm here" is another breathtaking moment. The Green Dragon feels so effortlessly real and cozy.
I took a few videos while atop the Hill next to Bag End, and was taken back by how similar the end result was to a couple of shots from AUJ. One does not necessarily need a fancy RED camera to achieve such simple beauty.
Oof, now I'm craving a return journey. Congrats to the Matamata team! Well deserved.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Starling
Half-elven
Oct 3 2016, 6:25pm
Post #4 of 11
(1364 views)
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But were you actually ever here?
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I have no concrete evidence...
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cats16
Half-elven
Oct 3 2016, 7:09pm
Post #5 of 11
(1359 views)
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I have two or three horrible, they-will-never-see-the-light-of-day selfies taken at Hobbiton.
But, you know, I'm currently being audited by the photography lab and I can't release them until that is completed.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Starling
Half-elven
Oct 4 2016, 5:25am
Post #6 of 11
(1340 views)
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Excellent response. 
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cats16
Half-elven
Oct 5 2016, 1:04am
Post #7 of 11
(1311 views)
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I never thought I'd say this, but I want to trade this election season for NZ's 2014 election.
*whistfully remembers Campbell Live*
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Starling
Half-elven
Oct 5 2016, 3:44am
Post #8 of 11
(1302 views)
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you can wistfully imagine Campbell Live all you like, since it doesn't exist anymore.
It's all relative isn't it? Our current PM and his cronies are so vile, but there are others even viler out there...it is a sad world indeed.
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cats16
Half-elven
Oct 5 2016, 5:27am
Post #9 of 11
(1292 views)
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Sorry to rip off that band-aid
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I forgot about that!
And yes, indeed...
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Omnigeek
Lorien
Oct 8 2016, 1:33am
Post #10 of 11
(1151 views)
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I just made my reservations to get to NZ, am trying to decide on the tour by GreatSights or the one by Beach and Bush, both with the Waitomo Glowworm caves.
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Oct 8 2016, 2:40am
Post #11 of 11
(1145 views)
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definitely visit the Ruakuri (two dogs) cave - it is magnificent.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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