Akshaya Devi“Home to massive underground caves, lush rainforest and the buzzy city of Hamilton”
Waikato as described by Forbes
Forbes has added Waikato to the world’s top 50 destinations to visit. Deja vu? Yes, this Lord of the Rings famed location doesn’t need an introduction. It’s long since J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have attained cult status and Peter Jackson has only taken them to a whole new level through visuals.
Matamata back then was a modest agricultural town tucked below the Kaimai mountain ranges in the Waikato region. The good news is this place is a bustling attraction now which you can actually visit! Take a trip down the memory lane, see how the famous Hobbiton looks like in real life today:
JRR had the privilege of leaving the idea of Middle Earth to readers’ imagination while there was no way Peter could get away without justifying the surreally beautiful place it ought to be portrayed as. Peter turned to New Zealand and the rest was history! He got a stunning location for his movie and we got an undeniable inclusion in our New Zealand itineraries!
Thirty-seven hobbit holes were built for the movie and an additional 7 were added during the reconstruction in 2011. You can check out the spot where Gandalf and the Elves meet up for an iconic scene.
The inside is a vintage classic! This is how the Green Dragon Pub looks like!
Who’s up for this feast?
Still unconvinced? Here’s a broader perspective!
How to reach?
Waikato is a 2-hour drive from Auckland, and less than an hour ride from any of these places: Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga etc.
Book your trip to the magical land of the Maoris, New Zealand
Visit the fantastic recreation of J.R.R’s masterpiece now, with Pickyourtrail!
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