Sharing pics from The Shire!

Súlimë

Súlimë

Rivendell
I was in New Zealand! And, of course, the Shire was one of my top agendas. I thought I'd share some pics with you. The real location was very well-kept, very picturesque, and surrounded with a million sheep. And it's a lot prettier than it seems in this photo:



Here's the famous green door [heart]:



The whole trip was just lovely, lovely, lovely. New Zealand is breathtakingly beautiful and it IS Middle Earth! You can really feel the magic.

[heart][heart][heart]
 
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I was there in January, and it looked much like that. So wonderful! But I have been very worried, with all the reports of drought on North Island, restrictions on water usage, etc.

They do a truly wonderful job of maintaining the grounds in what I like to describe as "frowzy loveliness" -- not too well groomed, but luxuriant.
 
I was worried too when I heard of the drought. But when I got there the place was much greener than it looks in the photos. :)
 
And the Green Dragon too? [heart]

I must know--was there a mark on Bilbo's door? [;)]

This part of the Shire is just lovely. Thanks for posting these pictures!
 
Especially that landscape one. [heart] It looks just like a still from the films.

Silly question - are there any restrictions when walking around the Bag End set - are there "keep out" and "do not enter" signs, or can you literally walk anywhere? What I'm trying to say is, does it feel like Hobbiton, or does it feel like a film set?

Where you the only ones there - I can't see anyone else.
 
We are planning to go in 2015. I have been worried about the party tree because I heard it had a fungal issue - your pictures are amazing!!!
 
I've been fortunate to go to NZ twice before, in 2006 and 20011, each time for a month, but neither time was I able to work Hobbiton into my schedule. The first time I wasn't that enthusiastic because they had dismantled most of the hobbit holes etc. Last time, it was closed because they were about to start filming there. I MUST go to Hobbiton next time!!!
 
We are *probably* looking at late August (so no school missed). We asked my son what he would want to celebrate graduating middle school (which will be 2014) and he said the only gift he would want for any celebration (including HS grad) was to see Hobbiton [:)][angelic] (Make me so happy!)

Wow! Would love to run into you in front of Bag End Elaen!
 
I was there in March of '08, when Hobbiton was just a shell, and then again in December of '11, just a couple of weeks after filming ended there and a lot of props were still scattered around. It's truly a bit of heaven on Earth.

Thank you for taking me back there [:)]
 
And the Green Dragon too? [heart]

I must know--was there a mark on Bilbo's door? [;)]

This part of the Shire is just lovely. Thanks for posting these pictures!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately we weren't allowed to go up to the door, but I stared very hard and couldn't see any glowing runes. He must have had it repainted [:P]

And yes, that's the party tree by the lake, and you can see the Green Dragon on the right after the bridge [heart]
 
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Silly question - are there any restrictions when walking around the Bag End set - are there "keep out" and "do not enter" signs, or can you literally walk anywhere? What I'm trying to say is, does it feel like Hobbiton, or does it feel like a film set?

Where you the only ones there - I can't see anyone else.
Click to expand...
The tour leaves the 'Shire Cafe' every half an hour, and they take you all on a mini bus to the actual location (which was further away from the entrance than I had expected). You get to see about two million sheep on the way [:P]

You are not allowed to wander around, but they don't rush you either, so you can stop and take pictures whenever you want. You walk through the Shire, and go up the hill to Bag End, down to the Party Tree, then across the bridge to the Green Dragon, where you get a free drink. Our guide was a fan of the movies and she showed us where some of the shots were filmed. The best one was the fence that Bilbo jumped over in AUJ [:)]

The location felt real -- it was not something like "and we filmed this scene from this angle, and then that scene from a slightly different angle". Hobbiton was real -- you can really imagine Hobbits living there. It was more like a "tour of a village" than "tour of a film set", if you know what I mean.

There are only about 10-15 people in a group, and each group is half an hour apart, so it really gives you the feeling that you have the entire place to yourself!
 
You obviously have a better camera than I! LOL! I was there this past Nov/Dec and it was a lot more overgrown. The Green Dragon fortunately had just opened, and we got to go in and have an ale...or a cider. For those going for the first time, you will be thrilled. It's amazing. It really IS the Shire!
 
to see those that can take the trip (i will most likely never be able) to NZ and catch the sights especially the shire, and share their pictures It give me pause and a deep breath to gaze upon such loveliness. Thank you Sulime.
 
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in a link so they can be full sized even? I do it through photobucket. I must say the required (although understood...sort of[crazy]) size is is such that it renders any picture almost useless. I use 2 pairs of glasses to see them and i end up counting pixels. Sorry entmaiden for my quacking frustrations[sorry].
 
thank you so much for sharing your beautiful and wonderful pictures. : ) it's so neat to be able to think of actually being there, and that these are truly independent, physical locations.

is there an official tour company that runs this? or are there many?

is hobbiton going to remain in perpetuity like this, or is there a time limit to its existence?



cheers, and thanks again for sharing this beauty --


.
 
but I think it's directly run by the owner of the place, who then maybe partners with other tour companies?

I think Hobbiton will be fine for at least a few more years from now (at least until after the third movie is out). My feeling is that it's going to be there 'as long as there is interest', because from what I understand it does seem like it costs a lot to maintain the set as it is, and keeping everything green and pretty.

The tour is NZD 75 for an adult, which is arguably quite pricey, but I think it's totally worth it! :)
 
what me and my friend did was book a tour that originates in Matamata. There are MANY times available, and they bus you to the farm, to the Shire's Rest. From that point there are small buses that take you to Hobbiton proper, where you get off and walk the entire Shire on foot. You do have a guide, but it's quite relaxed and we had more than enough time at each spot to ooo and ahhh and take photos etc. They just don't want people wandering off alone and into places they shouldn't go. Some of the hobbit holes are roped off so you stand just outside their gate, but some you can actually go right up to (and in to, although it's just a dirt back wall).

BTW the headquarters in Matamata is quite spendid and cute! Very hobbity. I didn't get to spend much time there though because we wanted to get on the next bus leaving.

Everyone who loves these films MUST at some point in their lives visit Hobbiton! It won't disappoint.

http://www.hobbitontours.com/
 
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