Today we took a leisurely two and half hour drive south from Auckland to Matamata, down highway 1. We continue to be captivated by the beauty of New Zealand, and today’s drive through the green rolling hills and lush fields was a delight. We were drawn to this part of New Zealand so that we could visit the Hobbiton movie set. (The Shire’s location in the movies from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series).
We didn’t really know what to expect, and were prepared for a rather cheesy approach. However, truth be told, we were enchanted by the beauty, attention to detail, and whimsy of Hobbiton and transported to a magical place.
We enjoyed a delightful two hour stroll on dirt footpaths to see 44 of the Hobbit homes, identical to the original set, and rebuilt for the filming of the prequel story – The Hobbit.
Interestingly, they said a third of the visitors here have never seen the movies but they flock here anyway, and we can certainly understand why. Being in Hobbiton was like being entertained by the magic of the movies again! We appreciated the attention to detail, the beauty of the grounds, and skills of professional gardening.
The homes were of varying sizes, to allow the film company to make people look small, or tall, as needed. A guide took 25 of us around the hollow, up the hill, and down over the bridge, to the lake. 
And – as an added bonus – we got to enjoy a stout and a hard cider at the Green Dragon tavern at the conclusion of the tour. If you’re ever in this part of the world, we can enthusiastically recommend this tour to you!
This day was capped off by a wonderful evening at Redoubt Eatery and Bar in the center of Matamata, a spirited small town. It was Steak and Taters night at Redoubt which included a fabulous Country and Western singer from Arkansas. We loved the food, the music, the libations, and chatting with the people. It’s been a great day!
Tomorrow we take a long six-hour drive down the center of this north island, to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.