Hobbiton Movie Set hosted an evening to remember for Crystal Cruises.
Guests disembarked the Crystal Serenity and travelled by coach to Hobbiton Movie Set over the Kaimai ranges. On arrival at Hobbiton, guests were greeted by their guide and made their way through the Alexander farm to the movie set, enjoying beautiful views across the rolling green hills of the Waikato.
Those wanting a tour of Hobbiton Movie Set were dropped off at Gandalf’s cutting to begin their adventure. The guide escorted guests through the set for an hour long journey and explain how Hobbiton was brought to life for filming. Throughout the set, there are 44 complete Hobbit Holes, The Mill, the double arch stone bridge and The Green Dragon Inn kept as they were during filming.
Those not wanting to partake in a tour were taken straight to the The Green Dragon market place. The market place was be bursting with traditional Hobbit fare and guests were invited to taste a little piece of Middle-earth. The market place offered NZ cheeses, freshly baked artisan breads, cured meats, smoked fish, seafood and shellfish and fresh fruit from the Hobbiton garden.
The fully themed party marquee was located directly behind the Green Dragon Inn and offered quieter area for guests to sit back and enjoy the views of the village. The marquee is a replica of the tent seen at Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday party. The exterior was beautifully created from yellow painted canvas and the interior is fully themed with colourful bunting and lanterns creating a festival-like atmosphere.
Throughout the evening there was roaming Middle-earth entertainment mingling amongst the guests. Guests were joined for the evening by some of the NZ actors who played the dwarves in ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy.
As the sun set over Hobbiton Movie Set, guests were then escorted to the lake’s edge by the NZ actors and treated to a spectacular watershow on the Hobbiton Lake. The water show incorporated scenes from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies, lighting and lasers.
At the end of the show, guests made their way back to the coach along illuminated paths with fire breathers and dancers blowing flames into the air as they departed.
