Hobbit holes -Bilbo/Frodo Baggins, Party Tree and the spot where Sam says: "if I take more more steps its the furthers I've been from home"
Offically located in the towm of Matamata the town actually changed its name in honor of the movie
The Hobbiton movie set has been returned to its natural state. However, 17 of the original 37 hobbit holes and some structures from the film set are still present and is a working sheep and beef farm.
As the Hobbiton Movie Set is located on a real New Zealand farm, only acess is with a tour.
When Peter Jackson spotted the Alexander Farm during an aerial search of the North Island and was focused arround the party tree, also it was such a great spot where no roads/ wires or other buildings could be seen.. making it the perfect spot.
Site construction started in March 1999 and filming commenced in December that year, continuing for three months there after. Below is a short summary from the Hobbition movie set and tours website
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visit link)
- The New Zealand Army was contracted to build 1.5 km of road into the site and the initial set development. They brought diggers, bulldozers, loaders, trucks, rollers, graders and other heavy machinery to the site.
- Barberry hedges and trees were brought in and gardens were nurtured throughout winter.
- Thirty-seven hobbit holes were created with untreated timber, ply and polystyrene.
- The Mill and double arch bridge were built out of scaffolding, ply and polystyrene, then glued and painted.
- Thatch on pub and mill roofs was cut from rushes around the Alexander farm.
- The Oak tree overlooking Bag End was cut down and brought in from near Matamata. Each branch was numbered and chopped, then transported and bolted together on top of Bag End (weighing 26 tonne).
- Artificial leaves were imported from Taiwan and individually wired onto the dead tree.
lastly, hobbition was suposed to be put back to its existing conditions [like Edoras] but there was a lot of rain when they were converting it back and removal got delayed.... and delayed... in the meantime people had been asking to see the site and the owner of the farm relaized he was on to something thus he negoaited a deal to leave the remaing structures as an attraction... as such the farmner ownes the land but New Line Cinams ownes the hobbit holes.