For anyone that is a Lord of the Rings fan, Hobbiton is probably very high on your list of destinations to see in New Zealand. As you drive through green hills out to the farm where the set is located, it’s easy to see why it was chosen as the filming location. After the Fellowship of the Rings was released, the owners of the farm started giving tours of the set in a minivan. Now, the location is so popular that large buses leave almost every thirty minutes to accommodate all of the visitors. The thing that impressed me the most about my visit was how immersive everything was in Hobbiton. It didn’t feel like a movie studio. It felt like it was a real village. Paths and bridges nicely connect everything in Hobbiton, and there is an incredible attention to detail. Each house has specific clues to indicate the profession of the hobbit that lives there, and various tools and hobbit items can be found along the paths. Just don’t look behind the doors if you want to keep the magic alive. The tour ends at the Green Dragon tavern where you can grab a glass of a special Hobbit-themed brew. I was a little hungry after the tour so I had second breakfast when it was over.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.