The whole world was swept up in a Lord of the Rings frenzy. Or, at least the Americans were. New Zealanders seemed in a perpetual yawn about it.
I know this because my sister and I were in New Zealand after the first L.O.T.R. movie, and just before the second. We were there on a working holiday. But what we really wanted was to visit the film locations, and perhaps come across a sweet small hobbit or a stray Ork. We never dreamt that NO ONE WOULD KNOW ANYTHING about it.
We asked at the Auckland Airport (blank stares). We asked bus drivers (nothing). We even spoke to a cab driver who said, 'What's that?'
But we were not so easily discouraged. We asked our kind hosts where the village of Hobbiton could be found, and how we might get to it. Our hosts looked gently confused as to why we would want to see it. 'It is rather a long way off', they ventured. We replied that as we had flown 6,693 miles already in order to see it, a few more wouldn't matter all that much.
We found the set for Hobbiton in a town called Matamata. The people there were friendly and genuinely interested in our questions. Soon we were directed to the village and began scoping it out.
And there they were! Lots and lots of Hobbit holes!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelmattiphotography/11160588055/
Each hole was fitted with its own round door, but no insides (the inner scenes had been created and filmed on set). But we were charmed and thrilled to wander about the Hobbit holes at will, and view the magnificently huge tree from the film.
The Hobbit holes themselves were becoming a bit worn down and had not been refurbished for the benefit of tourists. There was an area with L.O.T.R. keychains and tea towels for purchase, but other than that it seemed refreshingly non-commercial.
(Things have changed. I see online now that there are a myriad of Lord of the Rings touring opportunities. Guided tours, bus tours, Inns, The Shire gift shop, and much more. Check it out!)
Over the next 10 days we rode in buses, airplanes, and private cars. We had lovely scones and tea. We gazed in awe down at the beautiful white mountains over which the dwarves and hobbits had had to climb (Mount Moria). We looked for anyone, South or North Island, who would help us find film locations.
The people we met were very polite and respectful. But when they heard our American accents twanging out, 'Can you direct us to Rivendell, please?', they perhaps did roll their eyes a bit. And we never did come across an Ork. (Which is fine - really, they do have such shocking teeth.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceosanna/3011761824/
See you along the way!
the SconeLady
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelmattiphotography/11160588055/">Michael Matti</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceosanna/3011761824/">Heather F</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arbron/8277516491/">Arbron</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>
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