"As green as it gets!" Matamata by MFAMILY

Matamata Travel Guide: 26 reviews and 127 photos

Sign at the town of Matamata and view of the farm

And they call it Hobbiton, too

This region is the live image of what we imagine New Zealand is: green fields and loads of sheep.

Matamata since a few years has become known for having been chosen to represent the Shire, on the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

The film location was found from the air. A private farm nearby had the exact ingredients to become Middle Earth´s home of those little hairyfooted people called the Hobbits on JRR Tolkiens story.

Keep it a secret

What´s left of the Holes structure

All what went through during the film making was totally secret.
A great job was done to be able to put the lovely little town together.
A gravel road was build by the army to cross the farm so that the lorries could carry the necessary equipment.
Holes digged to support the front walls and doors. There are no rooms actually. The interior scenes were filmed on studio.
Gardens were planted. All the vegetables the Hobbits enjoyed eating so much were poisoned. Yes, this was the only way to keep rodents from destroying them!

There is one room, after all

Bilbo Baggins's main door

Bilbo's house had a room after all. In fact it´s front door leads to a small room, say about 4sq meters.
On a rainy day, like it was when we visited, it was a good shelter for a few minutes.

Pros and Cons

Pros:A good explanation by the Tour Company
Cons:On a rainy day, can't escape from sheep excrement on your feet
In a nutshell:The only remains of LOTR film sets in NZ

Last visit to Matamata: Apr 2006
Intro Updated May 30, 2008
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (1)

Hobbiton Tour Things to Do (1)

Get to know in loco LOTRs Shire and Hobbiton. Hobbit holes walls skeletons are still there. A guide will thoroughly... more travel advice

Have you been to Matamata? Share your travels with the world!

Travelogues (1)

Written Aug 14, 2006

3 photos

More of LOTRs Shire

1 - 1 of 1

Comments (2)

Reply
- Report abuse
sue&gene Apr 18, 2008 at 6:19 AM

Thank you for this information.
Reply
- Report abuse
ATXtraveler Aug 24, 2006 at 3:12 AM

Sim, eu sou louco para LOTR