FOCUS Photos - Approaching Hobbiton - Matamata, New Zealand

As we drove on the north island of New Zealand we couldn't believe how many scenes like this we saw along the side of the road. This particular sheep farm just outside of Matamata is Hobbiton of The Shire from Lord of the Rings. Just around the corner to the left in this photo, dug into the hillside, are the hobbit holes and all the other features of Hobbiton that you see in the films. They had just finished filming The Hobbit when we were there, so they made us promise not to post any photos of the hobbit holes until the movies come out. But this photo is just outside that area, and still gives you a sense of what the countryside of Hobbiton looks like.

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