Along for the ride: Hobbiton, New Zealand

We reluctantly leave the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula for our next camp at Opal Hot Springs. Of all the hot springs we stayed at in New Zealand, Opal was voted as the least likely for a return visit. Let's just say the hot pools at Opal are not well maintained. However, Opal is within easy reach of Hobiton Movie Set, the next stop on our agenda. We also meet Fern and Ricky for the first of many times. They are a Canadian couple who have rented a similar van from the same place as Jill & Mark and are also following Kelly's suggestions.

Maori warrior sculptures guard the Thames River bridge

More happy cows

We are better adjusting to the driving with each day, but the narrow twisting roads, one lane bridges, and roundabouts still take full attention. Yes - ONE LANE bridges are quite common. Fortunately most are announced with a sign denoting the road narrowing to one lane and which traffic direction has right of way. Of course, right of way is relative even if we do have priority, a big truck bearing down on the bridge takes right of way in our book. We stop for lunch and a coffee break at the Organic Health Shop in Te Aroha. It's a really cute place and I have an excellent iced coffee made with vanilla ice cream. No I didn't count calories on that one, but I still remember how wonderful it tasted.

Organic Health Shop in Te Aroha

One lane bridges are common in New Zealand

We have difficulty arranging tickets to a tour time we wanted for Hobbiton online and have to settle for a later time than optimal. Still, we arrive early hoping for a better time. Once at ticket booth in person, we have no problem switching our tickets to an earlier tour (they must set aside a certain number for walk-ins). Happy with our good luck we celebrate the extra 20 minutes before our tour by buying more coffee and a snack at the Shires Rest Cafe. We are quickly becoming caffeinated Kiwis.

We made it to Hobbiton!

Sikhs waiting for our tour outside cafe

Gandalf at the ticket booth

Just wandering around the area, we can easily see why Peter Jackson and his crew picked this area for replicating the Shire. This set was used for both the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit series movies based on J. R. R. Tolkien's books The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. The local lore goes that Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson's wife, first found this location for the Shire. From what we can see, Fran did an excellent job of site scouting.

Alexander Farm mostly raises sheep and Angus Beef

After coffee and a snack, we wander closer to the sheep and find a small paddock holding mothers with their new born lambs. These lambs are so cute. I hereby renew my vow never to eat lamb or other baby animals.

Twin lambs with Mom

This ewe makes says we are too close to her baby

Darling lambs with their mothers

A few minutes before our tour, we assemble at the starting point and meet our guide, Jonelle, who has lived in this area all of her life. The other members of our group come from around the world, including Asia, the Americas, Europe and South Africa.

Jonelle introduces herself

and the tour starts.

The Shire lives

Our first stop is at the garden at the base of the Shire to get a good overview. The Hobbit homes are easily distinguished by their round front doors.

The Shire's main garden

CU of a front door

Each is a different home

The amount of detail that goes into each Hobbit home is truly amazing.

Each Hobbit home is dug into the side of a hill - very ecologically correct. The main difference between them is their size. Some are life sized, while others are half or quarter sized to allow for different camera shots.