Hobbiton Movie Set, Film set near Matamata, New Zealand
Plateau de tournage Hobbiton is a filming site in Matamata-Piako District, New Zealand, set on rolling green hills and containing rows of circular dwellings with brightly painted round doors. Paved paths connect the houses and lead past a pond, vegetable patches, and a replica tavern, while the surrounding farmland forms the backdrop.
The site was first built in the late 1990s using temporary materials for a trilogy of fantasy films, then taken down after production wrapped. When a second trilogy was filmed in the early 2010s, the owners rebuilt everything with permanent materials and decided to keep it open for visitors year-round.
The farm where the set was built remained a working property throughout filming and remains so today, though it now welcomes fans from around the world. Visitors often dress in costumes and reenact scenes from the films, treating the place as a living connection to the stories they grew up with.
All visits take place on guided tours that must be booked ahead, as the property does not allow independent exploration. The paths cross hilly terrain and include some unpaved stretches, so wearing sturdy shoes is recommended.
The round doors and windows come in different sizes to create the illusion of height differences between characters during filming. A team of gardeners tends to the trees and flowers every day, ensuring that the landscape remains green and carefully groomed throughout the year.
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