Hobbiton Movie Set and the Glowworm Caves

Of course, a visit to Hobbiton is a must when you're in New Zealand :D Whether you're a fan or not, I don't think anyone leaves without a big smile on their face :) We booked relatively last minute and took one of the last tours of the day. So we were able to explore Matamata (the small Hobbiton town) beforehand.

You can only visit Hobbiton on a guided tour. A bus takes you through the 1,250-hectare sheep and cattle farm owned by the Alexander family, directly to the film sets. In September 1998, Sir Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema discovered the Alexander farm while searching for suitable filming locations from the air. Construction of the set began in March 1999.

You can admire a total of 39 Hobbit holes, some of which you can even open and look inside. Unfortunately, they are empty on the inside, but the tour guides are happy to take a photo of you peering out of one :) Everywhere you look, you can discover lovely little details and it feels like being in a fairytale world. It's a lot of fun to walk through, even though the crowds can be a bit overwhelming at times. The entire site is well-maintained and it's simply enjoyable. To finish off, there's a cool beer at the "Green Dragon". The perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day :) And then it's back on the bus and off we go. Everything runs according to a precise schedule. Buses arrive every 10 minutes. Despite all of this, there's plenty of space to take beautiful pictures.

The next day, we continued to Waitomo. There, we visited the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. We booked a tour that took us through the cave and provided us with plenty of interesting information about the cave itself and the glowworms. Afterward, we boarded a boat that sailed through complete darkness on the water. After all, we wanted to see the glowworms :) Thousands of them were hanging from the ceiling and it was definitely amazing to see. However, whether all the hype is worth it or not, we're not so sure. No photos were allowed, so we couldn't take any.