Over the hills and far away, young and old hobbits come out to play…
Or at least they used to. Deep in the Waikato, near Matamata, lies the remains of the small settlement that is known as Hobbiton. Now, a few years after its hey day, the town is but a (literal) shell of what it once was. But, since the original inhabitants departed, the tourists have descended in droves.
I was surprised how many tourists were with us on the tour after the fairly grotty weather of the day and the dire weather predictions of the day before, but in the end, the Shire provided us with splendid conditions to wander around what used to be busy Halfling streets.
A
t $50 for a two and a half hour tour, it wasn’t the cheapest trip I have ever done, to be sure, but the enthusiasm of the guides and odd stories of tall Germans obsessed with living under the party tree made the whole trip seem worth it. There wasn’t a whole lot left from the movie set, with the bridge torn down, all the polystyrene facades removed, and not a hobbit to be seen. But it was interesting how much smaller the “set” was in real life, and how some people are completely oblivious when others either want to take photos or how long people themselves take when setting up the perfect shot.
In a moment seemingly fated by Gandalf, we found ourselves forced to shelter in the only “active” hobbit hole – the remains of Bag End. Obviously, the great White Wizard was not at all offended when none of us chose to dance under the party tree, opting instead to hug and, in one case, mount the tree instead.
It was a very entertaining if not always warm trip. It was one of the few tours I had been on that actually made me want to look at the merchandise on sale (not available anywhere else, apparently), though the spirit of the Wizards protected me from fiscal folly and closed all the stores before we got back to Matamata. No hobbits spotted, no wizards nor elves neither, but a (dare I say it? Dare! Dare!) magical experience nonetheless.
Verdict: Recommended for Hobbits and other inhabitants and fans of Middle Earth
t $50 for a two and a half hour tour, it wasn’t the cheapest trip I have ever done, to be sure, but the enthusiasm of the guides and odd stories of tall Germans obsessed with living under the party tree made the whole trip seem worth it. There wasn’t a whole lot left from the movie set, with the bridge torn down, all the polystyrene facades removed, and not a hobbit to be seen. But it was interesting how much smaller the “set” was in real life, and how some people are completely oblivious when others either want to take photos or how long people themselves take when setting up the perfect shot.
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