Hobbiton is a fictional village which appeared in the novels: "The Lord of the Rings” and "The Hobbit” by by J.R.R. Tolkien. Hobbiton village was built as a set (for the films which were based on the Novels) is located on a farm near a little town called Matamata in northern New Zealand. It was decided to keep the Hobbit holes set as tourist attractions, (they blend smoothly into the environment), there is even a sign which says :”Welcome to Hobbiton” on the main road, directing people to this wonderful little Hobbit town.
To many people, New Zealand has become synonymous with Middle Earth and the Lord of the Rings. From tours to location scouting, pretty much everywhere you turn here, you can find some hint from the famous films. None so true as Hobbiton, home of Frodo and the Shite. Nestled deep in horse country in the central North Island in Matamata, the original set was destroyed after the conclusion of the trilogy.
But with the remake of the Hobbit, the set was rebuilt permanently and now is open for tours. Wandering around the idyllic gardens and posing in front of hobbit-holes is a fun past time for anyone on a trip around New Zealand.
And the best part? Picking out what spots you recognize from the movies of course! And you can even go in costume.
If you're a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, then you owe it to yourself to visit the Alexander Farm in New Zealand. The family-owned farm served as the movie set for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as the more recent The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey prequel, detailing the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. While it is still a working sheep and cattle farm, Russell Alexander now travels the world spreading the word about the 'Shire' he calls home. Alexander's Hobbiton is unlike a theme-park. It's an experience that both fans of Tolkien's work and movie enthusiasts will enjoy, given the extraordinary attention to detail and the built-to-last nature of the architecture, coupled with the stunning natural landscape. A particular highlight is the Green Dragon Inn, which is featured in the most recent film (and is a functioning pub).
For more information visit Wikipedia – Matamata