One of the activities that we were most looking forward to on our cruise was Tauranga, because we had a tour booked to Hobbiton. I’ve spent most of my life reading a variety of books, but I had a soft spot for J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit were some of the books that secured the fantasy genre for me. (Not to mention, once the movies came out I thought Legolas was soooo attractive!)
We got off the ship and hightailed it to our meeting point. There was a group of us from the cruise ship that met up and starting our journey to Middle Earth. The forecast called for rain. Rain. And more rain. We weren’t looking forward to that, but there wasn’t too much that could put a damper on our adventure.
The history of Hobbiton was really cool. “In 1998, Sir Peter Jackson’s team discovered the picturesque Alexander farm in Waikato, New Zealand, resembling JRR Tolkien’s vision of The Shire. Recognizing its suitability for Hobbiton, they transformed the 1,250-acre sheep farm, preserving its natural beauty. Bag End, perched atop a hill near a magnificent pine tree by a lake, became a focal point. With the New Zealand Army’s assistance, they constructed 39 temporary Hobbit Holes in secrecy, implementing strict security during the nine-month project that began in March 1999. Filming commenced in December 1999, and within three months, The Shire scenes were successfully wrapped.”
After Lord of the Rings, the entire place was dismantled. However, a few years later the filming for the Hobbit brought them back. This time they reconstructed Hobbiton to be a more permanent feature – that way fans could come to visit.
Enough about the history… it was MAGICAL. I ONLY took 77 pictures and videos of the place. We got to walk around with a guide for a few hours – the group was large, but it never felt crowded. People were respectful about space – and making sure everyone got a chance to look at the different Hobbit holes and get pictures.
We lucked out, early in December, Hobbiton had opened two separate Hobbit holes that were fully furnished. And they staged them to look like two different families had lived there. The details were so intricate. Down to the newspapers – the food in the pantry – the children’s toys! I’m so glad we got there AFTER they had opened so we could spend more time looking around!
As the tour wrapped up, we ended at the Green Dragon. You could get a pint of beer, cider, or a non-alcoholic beverage. It was a great way to end the tour.
We made our way back to the ship. We got cleaned up and had dinner – before heading to the magic show.
If you don’t already know, you’re about to find out. I love magic shows. If the magician ever asks for a volunteer, I always raise my hand. Random fact: I once was part of a magic show in Las Vegas.
What made this show extra fun, was that the magician was a woman. Jessica Jane from Las Vegas! She went through a few tricks and then asked for volunteers. She picked me and another guy from the audience.
The goal was to show that even though we didn’t know each other that we could quickly form a mental connection. I won’t spoil it if you want to watch the video. It was really fun to be a part of a trick! Although, he got to stick around and help her get into her straitjacket.
Ending the night at a silent disco (always a crowd favorite on a cruise ship).
Up Next:
Waiheke Island wine tasting tour
Scribbles and Snapshots 