We ventured south to visit the home of Bilbo Baggins, Sam Wise Gamgee and the rest of the Hobbiton folk. It was a wonderful dream-like place filled with detail, beauty and homeliness. It struck a balance between Hobbit and nature – it was harmony. The beautiful lake, the circle shaped doors, the quaint bridge and the grand oak tree made it a place where any Hobbit-like creature, myself included, would like to retire and spend the rest of their days.

The highlight for me was how real it all felt, it was as though Hobbiton was always there. This was because of the natural wildlife – the butterflies, birds, frogs and bees – the flourishing fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. The candle sticks, ladders, gloves, clothes lines, letter boxes, gardening tools and wooden fences – all combined to make it feel like ‘home’.

If you’re in New Zealand or happen to be traveling to Middle Earth I would highly recommend visiting Hobbiton; it’s a magical and iconic place, and if Bilbo isn’t about to talk over tea, you could always try the Green Dragon – I hear they make good ale.

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