Viator Announces Exclusive Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Movie Tour in Time for World Premiere

As the world awaits the upcoming release of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Viator.com, the leading resource for researching and booking tours and activities worldwide, has announced the launch of a new collection of hand-picked experiences that bring travelers straight to the heart of “Middle-earth.”

Dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien as the hometown of the characters in “The Lord of the Rings” and in the prequel trilogy “The Hobbit,” Middle-earth is depicted beautifully on screen by film-maker Peter Jackson, using the lush and stunning landscapes of New Zealand as the backdrop. Viator has added three new “Hobbiton” tours to its selection of Lord of the Rings experiences so fans of the Tolkien series can revel in behind-the-scenes access to the actual sets used in filming. In addition to walking in the footsteps of Bilbo and Gandalf, travelers will be treated to insider information provided by expert local guides.

Be the First on Set, Only with Viator

Available only through Viator.com, the Viator Exclusive: Early Access to The Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Movie Set provides the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at where ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the 'Hobbit' trilogies were filmed. This exclusive small group tour departs Auckland at 6:30am and arrives at this popular attraction near Matamata, a small agricultural town approximately 2.5 hours' drive from Auckland, before the site opens to the general public. The expert guide brings travelers to portions of the set typically only accessed by the crew and off-limits to other tour groups. Travelers will see Bilbo Baggins’ house, Bag End, the Mill and the Party Tree among other recognizable landmarks, and enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Green Dragon Inn.

Tolkien fans have a chance to win two free tickets to the Viator Exclusive Hobbiton Movie Set tour: details on the contest, which runs until December 20, can be found on Viator’s Auckland & North Island blog.

A Private Journey to Middle-earth

For a personalized experience, the Private Tour: The Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Auckland lets travelers select their departure time from Auckland and travel to the Hobbiton movie set on a private drive along the meandering Waikato River. On the way to Middle-earth, travelers will see where a famous battle took place in 1863 between Maori and British forces at Rangiri, have views of the sacred Taupiri Mountain and drive through the historic site of Ngaruawahia, seat of the ancient Maori king and a traditional Maori meeting place. Hear tales of the filming and visit the films’ iconic sites including the Hobbit holes cut into the ground at Bag End. Travelers enjoy lunch at the Green Dragon Inn before a relaxing return trip to Auckland.

Combine the Hobbits of Hobbiton with the Glow Worms of Waitomo

Travelers can experience two of New Zealand’s most popular attractions during the Private Tour: Waitomo Caves and The Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Auckland. The private drive through the gently undulating farming country makes its first stop at Waitomo to join a 45-minute tour of the glow-worm caves, including a tranquil boat ride on an underground stream to ensure an up-close view of the glow worms. After lunch in Waitomo, travelers are transported to Matamata and the Shire's Rest café where the Hobbiton tour begins. The tour takes visitors on a drive through the bucolic sheep farm chosen as the Hobbiton movie set and visits its most memorable sites before returning to Auckland.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a tequila enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

New Zealand Creates World's Largest Pop-Up Book in Honor of The Hobbit

As movie fans await the imminent release of the second film of The Hobbit Trilogy – and another epic dose of Middle-earth landscapes – New Zealand has taken a cue from Hollywood by unveiling a giant pop-up book of New Zealand in Los Angeles.

The country that provided the epic scenery that backdrops The Hobbit Trilogy movies has installed the world's largest pop-up book - occupying an area roughly the size of two tennis courts and 50 feet high – in the grounds of the Beverly Hilton hotel, that shows how film fantasy becomes reality for visitors to New Zealand.

The pop-up book of New Zealand is on site for five days coinciding with the Hollywood world premiere of The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug – produced and directed by acclaimed Kiwi film-maker Sir Peter Jackson. It is divided into four sets representing new filming locations from the film – Hidden Bay (Turoa, Ohakune), Forest River (Pelorus River, Marlborough) Lake-town (Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook), and Beorn's House (Paradise, Queenstown).

With original pieces of the actual movie sets and living features of the real landscapes, the pop-up book employs multi-media production techniques and film-making wizardry to show how the film fantasy is firmly attached to the real life Middle-earth landscapes of New Zealand.

Guests will literally step into the giant book and take a unique journey through four of the principal filming locations for the Trilogy, combining the actuality of the book, and the magic of the movies with the reality of the Middle-earth locations.

Authentic props used for the pop-up book of New Zealand include the giant wooden armchair from Beorn's house, two-level waterside houses and a boat from Lake-town and the gigantic brooding bust of the dwarf king Thror that stood over the back entrance to Lonely Mountain.

It will set the stage for media activity and cast interviews with The Hobbit Trilogy stars for the media junket based around the LA premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug on Monday and provide an innovative setting for New Zealand hospitality and film business events.



Access to the pop-up book of New Zealand will be reserved for a series of invitation-only events, but a select group of lucky film fans will have the chance to browse the pages as part of a special public tour this Wednesday.

Jackson's epic Tolkien-inspired productions of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies have created a legendary fan following and been at the source, over the past decade, of a film tourism phenomenon for his home country New Zealand.

The much anticipated The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, is scheduled for worldwide release on 13 December, 2013.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.