Start off by taking a scenic flight over Lake Pukaki, or as it’s known in The Hobbit: Lake-town. The shimmering blue gem of the South Island sits amongst high mountain peaks and glacial fed rivers, so of course the best way to take it in is from above. A 25 minute helicopter flight will cost you about NZ$265 per person and can be booked through The Helicopter Line.
New Zealand’s top attraction is the town of Hobbiton, found on the North Island about two hours from Auckland. Of course it all looks much like the film, making it the perfect destination for any Hobbit lover. The Hobbiton Evening Dinner Tour takes you through the details of how the set was created and includes a drink in The Green Dragon and a banquet feast to boot. Exploring The Shire at night by lantern is an otherworldly experience. More information can be found at www.hobbitontours.com.
Reenact the dwarves in barrels scene on the Pelorus River, South Island, but with a much less treacherous vehicle: a kayak. A guided tour of the river will take you to waterfalls, streams and the actual filming locations. There’s also the option to camp the night, a mere 100m from where the filming took place! A 3½ hour trip will cost NZ$85 through www.kayak-newzealand.com.
Of course there are plenty more Hobbit experiences waiting to be had in New Zealand, if you’d like to see more of them head to www.newzealand.com and live out all your wildest Middle Earth fantasies.
