Highlights of the Day
Leaving Rotorua, we headed to Auckland, stopping at the Hobbiton Movie Set. Built on the Alexander family’s farm, its rolling hills and landscapes perfectly matched Middle-earth. Due to high demand, we booked tickets two days in advance and secured an 11:50 AM slot. The tour was lively, led by a humorous guide. We explored filming locations, learning about the set’s history and its transformation into a major tourist attraction. The visit ended at the Green Dragon Inn with a complimentary beer. Arriving in Auckland by evening, we enjoyed dinner at Botswana Butchery, trying steak once again.
Logistics
Accommodation: JW MARRIOTT AUCKLAND (highly recommended)
Transportation: Rental Car
Today, we said goodbye to Rotorua and its fascinating geothermal landscapes, then drove to Auckland.
On the way, we had the option to visit either the filming location of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit or a glowworm cave. Since we had seen similar caves before, we chose the unique movie set experience – Hobbiton Movie Set.
The set was built on the Alexander family’s farm. The landscape of hills, water, and grasslands closely matched the descriptions of Middle-earth in the original books. This attraction is extremely popular. We booked tickets online two days in advance, but most time slots were already full. We managed to get an 11:50 AM slot.
Upon arrival, we had a simple brunch at the café. The lamb burger was delicious—highly recommended!
While waiting in line, we noticed that a shuttle bus departed every ten minutes, each carrying around 40 passengers. Every seat was taken, showing how popular this tour is.
Our tour guide, a Filipino, was humorous and full of jokes—perfect for the job.
The farm covers 1,500 acres. When director Peter Jackson and his team scouted locations by helicopter, they looked for three key features: a lake, a particular type of tree, and rolling hills. This farm had all three.
They asked the farm owner for permission to visit. He agreed but reminded them to close the gate behind them so the sheep wouldn’t escape.
After filming The Lord of the Rings, the set was dismantled. Eight years later, when they returned to film The Hobbit, the farm owner insisted that the set remain intact. That decision turned the location into a successful tourist attraction, now generating an estimated annual revenue of over $24 million.
The crew spent three months building the set, but filming lasted only a few days. The scenery was stunning—everywhere we turned, it felt like a hidden paradise.
The guide walked us through various filming spots, recalling scenes, characters, and stories from the movies. Unfortunately, neither of us had watched the films, so we couldn’t fully appreciate the references. It made me want to watch them when I get back.
I also participated in a small interactive activity, which was quite fun.
At the final stop, we visited the Green Dragon Inn, where everyone received a complimentary beer. I had a dark beer—it tasted pretty good.
By evening, we arrived in Auckland. For dinner, we went to Botswana Butchery and tried steak again.
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