Hobbiton…

Movie week, next stop… Hobbiton. This was a must in Colin’s eyes. And I’ll admit, it was pretty neat to see and walk where the hobbits were. We found out from some friends that live around here, that when they were looking for “extras” in Hobbiton – they put up fliers for curly haired shorter people. Sadly, Colin was in the wrong place at the wrong time – because he could have totally fit that description and been a hobbit. Maybe for the next movies…..The set is on a HUGE sheep farm owned by the Alexander family – like.. thousands of acres of rolling hills full of sheep. It took us about 20 minutes to get out to the set from the main road.

A bit of Hobbiton history…
The Hobbit set was actually to be all torn down after filming. 20 of the hobbit holes were destroyed and then there was a huge rainstorm – that didn’t stop – for a week… So the destruction crew moved on and were to come back in 6 months to finish. Well, people found out after the first movie was released that the Shire was filmed on this piece of property. So the Alexander family talked with New Line Cinema and they came to a strict – but well worth the trouble – compromise. They would leave the remaining 17 hobbit holes and that was it. So, there is nothing else on the property but colored poles to help mark certain spots from the movie. Of course there is much more to the whole story, but this should be enough to explain what you will see in the pictures. Lets get on with Hobbiton!

This is a portion of the Alexander property. Isn’t it beautiful?!?! We are still a ways away from the hobbit set at this point.

WE ARE HERE!
To the far right of this picture, you will see two blue poles under the last big tree. Between those two poles there is a grass path where Gandolf and Frodo rode through in the beginning of the first movie on a cart. The cart comes around and meets with the gravel road and in front of the big tree to the left (that looks like it fell) is where Gandolf lit some fireworks for some children that were wanting to see some magic. Can you visualize it!?!?!?!

Now, from the last picture – turn around 180 degrees and this is what you will find… a bunch of hobbit holes! They had to be painted white for two reasons. First off the contract said the hobbit holes could not look like they are in the movies. And Secondly, by painting them white – they stand out so you can see them better.

This picture describes what made the Alexander property so famous. New Line Cinema sent scouts flying over New Zealand in search of the perfect spot for Hobbiton and Bilbo’s birthday party. For the party, they needed a lake with a big tree beside it – as described in the book. After flying over this property a second time – they spotted the big tree next to the pond – which they hadn’t found anywhere else. Then, Peter Jackson was going to film the actual “Hobbiton” in 3 separate locations and edit them together for the movie. However, once he got to this farm to check out the site – he realized 3 things. Not only did this location almost perfectly match how Tolkien describe Hobbiton, but you can’t see power lines or any sign of human life, you can’t hear anything (like trucks or cars) only nature, and it was completely hidden from anyone else – secrecy was of the upmost importance! So, Jackson decided this was the perfect location for Hobbiton as well and the party.
So, in this picture you can see the lake with the big round tree to the left. In front of the round tree was where Bilbo’s birthday party took place. The hill to the far right – was actually Sam’s home in the third movie. (The scene he shares with his wife and two children.) But, however, that was one of the original 20 holes destroyed. This picture was taken from one the the upper hobbit holes from the previous picture.

This is Colin standing in front of Sam’s first house – in the first movie. This is the only hobbit house with a chimney that’s still standing.

Me (Andre’a) hanging out in the Shire looking at hobbit holes.

Us in front of the famous Baggin’s home! This is Bilbo and Frodo’s house! Can you believe it?

This was taken from inside Bilbo’s house. This is the only hobbit hole that you can actually go into. Behind us is the big tree and the lake where the party was.

I think I might be too tall to be a hobbit…. bummer

For the second part of the tour, we went to a sheep sheering demo on the Alexander farm. We watched a man sheer a sheep. This is how you hold a sheep so both your hands are free to sheer… Looks kinda funny.

Then we got to feed a baby lamb!!

How stinkin adorable is that?!?!?!

by: andre’a and colin feldhaus