Today is THE day. This is probably the single most anticipated part of this whole trip.
WE ARE GOING TO HOBBITON !!!
I got up early and worked on the blog, then packed almost all of my things well before breakfast opened. We headed down to breakfast and were in line a few minutes before 6:30 (opening time). There was a large tour group in line already and more kept coming. I guess they had to be at their busses at 7:00, so breakfast opening at 6:30 was pretty hard to get everything done.
Sunrise
Breakfast was mostly the same as yesterday. I got bacon, eggs, sausage, bread, hash browns, and peaches. This time I put quite a bit of tobasco on my eggs to give them a bit of taste. I use allot of tobasco so I know what it should taste like. This must be New Zealand mild tobasco because even with 10 drop, the eggs were still tasteless. I ate them because I need the protein but yuk.
After breakfast we finished packing and headed for the car. As we were loading I looked in the back seat where I expected to find my hat but couldn't see it. I check a bit in the luggage then Mike asked when I last specifically remembered it. We passed around a few ideas and then remembered the lady asking me to remove my hat at the performance last night but I could remember ever putting it back on. That HAS to be where it is. As much as I like my outback crushable leather hat, it's not worth missing HOBBITON so we left without trying to retrieve it.
Last known picture of my hat
The drive was about 70 kilometers away. Mike has gotten better at staying between the lines but he still wanders occasionally including mowing down a couple of construction cones. I just have to giggle a bit and Mike jerks the wheel to the right. At one point, google routed us down a 15 kilometer one lane road. It was probably a shortcut that saved allot of driving but we had another car following us who kept getting really close trying to push us faster. We were driving through some fairly hilly country so the road made lots of twists and blind turns. We did come around a turn to find a garbage truck facing us but he was pulled way to the side to let us pass. We were both relieved when it dumped us back out on a wide highway.
Shortcut to Hobbiton. The whole area looks like the Shire This must be the place
We made it to the parking lot with 30 minutes to spare. The ticket office has a big sign behind them saying "NO OPEN TIMES AVAILABLE TODAY" which we already knew because Mike had call and beg for tickets weeks ago. Hobbiton is sold out months in advance.
We've arrived
We wandered over to the gift shop and tried to figure out what would make good gifts. Just as yesterday, it's about how to get them home. I don't have a checked bag so I can't take a ton of large stuff. There was an elven cloak with the Lothlorien broach on it for $1,200. I like LOTR but I'm not crazy. I'm not going to buy anything until after the tour anyway.
We got in line about 20 minutes early, maybe we're a bit over eager because we were the first to line up. We watched groups with earlier entry times line up and load into the busses. Groups leave every 10 minutes and every bus was fully loaded. The staff always waited for the last person to show up and there was always 1 or 2 that showed up a few minutes late.
Since we arrived there was always a bit of LOTR background music playing and the bus was no different. We were greeted with the theme song of the Hobbit movie and a video clip of Bilbo "Going on an adventure". We took the two unobstructed front seats and settled in as the rest of the passengers boarded. Our tour guide was Sebastian. He appeared to be Maori but didn't have any telltale tattoos, unless they were covered up.
We watched an introduction video by Peter Jackson and the owner of the land. The bus pulled up to a gate leading to a one lane road. It wound around and across some beautiful green hills that really felt like the Shire. The entire area was a patchwork of farms, fields, cows, and sheep.
We got our first glimpses of Hobbiton as we neared the end of the road. We could see the party tree and a glimpse of bag end just before the bus stopped.
First Glimpses of Hobbiton
Sebastian told us we had a few minutes so I headed to the nearby bathrooms. I was one of the first, but by the time I'd washed my hands and walked back, the tour was already starting the walk into Hobbiton. So I guess several minutes meant ONE.
We followed a beautiful trail through some greenery toward the main set and Sebastian explained that this trail was part of both Gandalf's in LOTR and Bilbos departure in The Hobbit. He told us that Gandalf's wagon ride was recorded in several different areas and really makes no sense but it looks good on film, so who cares. But it was fun to recognize some of the scenes.
The Hobbiton map. It's relatively accurate.
The hill with Bag End on the top. (NOT the party tree beside it)
Hobbit holes with smoke and real gardens with real vegetables
This map actually fits the movie set. We started towards Gandalf's Cutting, then kept to the right. We took pictures of every hobbit hole we came by. There was allot of vegetation, including gardens with large vegetables. Sebastian said that almost all of the gardens we were seeing were real. Gardeners tend the plants and have competitions to grow the biggest and best. They are allowed to keep and eat everything they grow. There were a few large pumpkins and they were real as well. He said they always get huge ones, then roll them down a hill to see which lasts the longest and goes the farthest.
Many of the hobbit holes had smoke coming out the chimneys. Usually there is a small hot plate that they sprinkle wood chips into. They must have just re-filled them because we had lots of smoke hanging in the air as we walked through. The fish-monger's house especially had allot of smoke pouring out and it was obviously hickory chips they stock it with because the smell is very distinct and smells really good.
One of the hobbit holes has an open door with about 3 foot of interior space. Sebastian let us enter in small groups and used our phones to take pictures. He took about 3 of each group. Mike and I took the opportunity to get a picture with both of us since that's a rarity for us.
The only open door we could get pictures in
Fish Monger's house - Real hickory smoke in the smoker on the right
Finally we were climbing the hill toward Bag End. We could see the tour ahead of us was still taking pictures so we stopped to wait. This whole time Sebastian has been relating stories about where various scenes were shot and how this version of Hobbiton came about. It's all common knowledge and I'm sure most everyone knows the story but it was interesting to hear anyway.
Preparing to climb the hill to Bag End
Another one of soooo many hobbit holes
Hobbit hole blended into the greenery
At last it was our turn at Bag End. Sebastian related the story of the tree on top. The original movie cut down a tree elsewhere, then using wires and glue, re-assembled it on the top of the hill. Then the hand wired thousands of leaves onto the branches. That version was torn down and discarded. This version is fully synthetic and was built to last years with the limbs and leaves all an integral part of the tree. Hobbiton only has about 2 feet of rough space inside the door and all interior shots were done on a sound stage.
Our tour guide Sebastian by Bag End, the tree on the roof
No Admittance except on party business
Everyone was given a few minutes to get pictures in front of the door. I took some of Mike and he took some of me. I think we each took pictures for other groups so they could all be in together.
Once we had our fill, we started down the hill towards the party grounds, the may pole, and the party tree. The party tree is real and is one of the reasons this farm was chosen for Hobbiton. The 3 mains reasons for the selection were:
1. The party tree
2. A large pond where they could build the Green Dragon Pub
3. A good hill where they could put Bag End
Looking down from Bag End toward the lake and the Green Dragon
Hobbit sized hole to make humans look big
The Party Tree
Bagshot Row
Number 3 bagshot row - Sam's house
At the end of the party space was Bagshot Row. That's where Sam and the Gaffer lived, number 3 Bagshot Row. We got pictures of Sam's house, then we got what was for me, a surprise. The last 2 houses on Bagshot Row were real hobbit holes. Fully built out, filled with items and we were allowed to go in.
I had no idea. So we split the group in half and entered the 2 holes. It was really impressive. Even the smallest details were present and they truly looked lived in. The pantry was full of food, the bedrooms had clothes, there was a fire in the fireplace, and there was a room with a wooden toilet in it, etc etc. It was very cool and I geeked out like the little childlike geek that I am. I got a few videos of the place but I'm sure youtube is also filled with videos if you want to see them for yourself.
They encouraged people to sit in the chairs, lay on the bed (keep your feet off). If something didn't move, leave it alone. But otherwise feel free to pose with things or touch them.
After we'd wandered through everything we were treated to yet another wonderful surprise, there was another half to this hobbit hole. They opened a door and we made our way into the Kitchen, living room, and study. It was a whole new section and just as intriguing and special. Our security followed us in and then closed the door, probably so the tour behind us could come through the first part.
We started poking around the kitchen and each of us got a picture with the rolling pin in hand. Then I thought that the den would make an awesome backdrop to video meetings so I got a picture of me in the chair, then got a blank picture of the room. I can't wait to try it out in one of the last few online meeting I'll have before I retire.
Oh, I'm retiring in 2 months, did I mention that. Maybe I'll talk about it in the next blog. Hobbiton needs no distractions.
Back to the hobbit hole. There was a kids play area, kind of partitioned off with a blanket hanging over a rope. Just like real kids do. There were toys, games, and dolls all tucked away from sight. I could have spent a lot more time wandering around, but our time was up and the security guy gently pushed us out the door.
Sebastian asked us how we liked that and explained that it was only added 2 years ago. Everyone thought it was great, even those who had never seen the movies and been drug here unwillingly.
The bridge leading to the Green Dragon
The mill. The original was burned as part of Frodo's Vision
The Green Dragon - original was also burned
Gandalf's Staff
The Barkeep - trying to look "Hobbity"
The Green Dragon in the Green Dragon
Our next stop was the Green Dragon Pub. We had a beautiful view of it across the water. The path lead way around the lake and felt like it could have been the path through Myrkwood except it was very comfortably flat and easy to navigate. There was a mill by a stream and a bridge over that stream to the pub.
In the pub, our first drink was free. Mike and I both got ginger beer which just tastes like a mild ginger ale. It was good but pretty sweet. We took more lots of pictures. To one side of the bar was Gandalf's staff and I posed for a picture with it.
There were also sandwiches and meat pies for sale so we bought and split a beef pie. It tasted like dinty moore stew, good but not great.
Looking back toward Bag End and the Party Tree
Pretty View
Last view of Hobbiton
We wandered around the pub and grounds outside until it was time to head back. Sebastian led us down the path and around the lake, back through Hobbiton and Gandalf's cut and back to a bus. We were allot quieter on the ride back. There was another video message from Peter Jackson and the owner of the farm.
We went into the gift shop again and bought a few things for grandkids. There were allot of things I'd love to buy but I don't have a way to get them home easily. I did find several online and decided just to order them delivered instead of carrying them. And the $1,200 cloak? It was gone. Someone bought it, probably to wear on their tour.
Gandalf Statue in the gift shop
Finally all my excuses were done and it was time to leave. We were both hungry and the nearest reasonably priced food was in a town called Matamata. It was a short drive. Mike parked on main street and we started wandering to see what was available. Just 3 doors down we saw a little premade sushi shop and both of us turned straight in. It was just what we needed, something a bit lighter.
It was sold by the individual piece like bbq salmon, tempura shrimp, veggie roll, etc and we each got about 4 of those. Mike got Pot Stickers and Inari as well. I got salmon sashimi and Inari. We sat at a table to eat and people watch. It was pretty popular and they kept running out and making more.
From Matamata, we headed toward the town of Hamilton. The LDS temple was built there in 1958 and we wanted to stop by for a look. Its pretty out of the way but very visible from a distance. It was open but only a few cars were present. There was a small building that looked like a visitor center, but only held a Christus statue and bathrooms. There were probably offices as well but they were closed.
Next we headed for the Auckland airport to return the rental car. Mike really didn't want to drive on major city streets, so we returned it early and took an Uber to our hotel by the harbor.
By the time we checked in it was time to think about dinner. We took a footbridge across the harbor and into the shopping district. Once there we meandered a bit looking at stores and souvenir shops. It was only 6:00 but almost every store was closed or closing. There's certainly no late night shopping here.
We ate dinner in the Harbor Side Seafood and Oyster restaurant. We were out on a terrace but it was surrounded by a plastic barrier to keep the chill winds out. We ate dinner while watching the water fairies shuttle people back and forth from various places around the harbor. We probably watched 8 different boats, each of which made a couple of runs. Most of the time boats left with only a handful of people on board.
Our View from dinner, watching ferries come and go
After dinner we grabbed ice cream in a little shop on the way back.
My step count for the day was 15,000 or 6.8 miles
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