HOBBITON, SCENERY OF THE MOVIES LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE HOBBITT

In 1998, Peter Jackson's team of localization researchers, New Zealand scriptwriter, filmmaker and film producer, was in search of Hobbiton's iconic rolling hills and lush green pastures. An aerial search took them to Alexander farm, an impressive 1,250-acre sheep farm in the heart of Waikato.

They noticed the area's striking resemblance to The Shire, a fictional land described by JRR Tolkien, a famous English writer and poet, and quickly realized that they had found the ideal place.

In a specific part of the farm, a magnificent pine tree rose over a nearby lake, adjacent to a growing hill. Overlooking the Festa Tree, as that pine tree would later be known,. the areas were untouched, with no power lines, no buildings, and no roads in sight. This meant that Sir Peter Jackson could leave the 20th century behind and fully immerse himself in the fantasy world of Middle-earth.

In March 1999, the team began the nine-month journey to bring the ideas to Hobbiton into action. Aid was provided by the New Zealand Army, and soon 39 temporary Hobbit Holes were spread across the 12-acre plot used for the set. Confidentiality was fundamental and strict security measures were implemented by the producer during construction and filming. Filming began in December 1999 and took about three months to complete.

Hobbiton is an incredible place, full of magic and was opened to visitors in 2002.