A Visit To Hobbiton? So Precious It'll Make You Feel 3 Feet Tall

From the world of hot springs and Maori culture, it's only a short side trip to the land of hobbits.

Drive about an hour northwest from Rotorua to the small town of Matamata and catch a tour of an actual outdoor set from the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, shot in New Zealand by director Peter Jackson.

You will be taken in a van to a 1,200-acre sheep ranch a few miles out of town, and there you will see Hobbiton, the 10-acre shire where Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and all the other hobbits lived. The shire has been returned mostly to its natural condition, but 17 hobbit houses remain from the original 37, including Bag End — Bilbo's house —the only one you can go inside.

You will see the "party tree" and the shire's lake, and illustrated signs depict how certain parts of the shire looked in the movie. It's an interesting effect.

It took almost a year's work to create Hobbiton — a painstaking process that included bringing in gardeners to plant special grasses, hedges and trees. Three months of shooting started in December 1999.

All this was explained by guide Teresa, whose love of the films came shining through. We were free to run around the site undisturbed, bounding among the hobbit houses and taking in the sweeping views of the green, rolling countryside.

Teresa explained that filming for "The Hobbit," the prequel to "The Lord of the Rings," is likely to start next year, and it's unknown whether Hobbiton will be used for the new movie. If it is, the area will close to tourism during filming.

At the end of the tour, you have a close encounter with New Zealand's ubiquitous sheep, with a sheering demonstration in a small farmhouse across the road from the main ranch. You can watch a sheep lose its wool in under five minutes, then you can feed hungry lambs with milk bottles.

The 2 1/2-hour tour from Matamata costs 58 New Zealand dollars (roughly $44). Children ages 10-14 are half-price, and younger children even less. Infants and toddlers under 5 years old ride free. Half-day tours are also available from Rotorua, with transportation included. Cost is 93 New Zealand dollars (about $70) general, less for children.

A snack at the Shire's Rest in Matamata is included.

More information: www.hobbitontours.com