AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland was different. A good different. Festivals took off in the streets, I made friends with a few people in my hostel, one of which ended up going to a nearby festival with me. People dressed in costumes, music blared in the background, and I remember dancing in the streets… looking around at my newfound friends, and wondering how incredible it all came about that I ended up here.
You've probably heard of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, but did you know the movies were filmed in New Zealand? The photograph above is taken from The Shire, which is a region in fictional Middle-earth. The Shire is an inland area settled by hobbits and is the homeland for the famous characters Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took. The Shire is represented by countryside and hobbit-holes near Matamata, New Zealand.
New Zealand Fun Facts
1. There are three meanings to Kiwi - bird, fruit, and a person born in New Zealand.
2. New Zealand is the only country with permission to put hobbits on their currency.
3. For every person living in New Zealand there are at least 10 sheep.
4. Wellington is the southernmost capital in the world.
5. It was the last country in the world to be inhabited by humans.
Did you know the steepest street in the world is Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand? The slope of the street is 34.8%. Want to visit a steep street a little closer to home? Visit Ffordd Pen Llech, in Harlech, Wales! Ffordd Pen Llech has a slope of 28.6%.
Hobbiton, New Zealand
Hobbiton is a tourist destination where one can go to visit The Lord Of The Rings film set, which offers guided tours of the set. The hobbit hole facades have been constructed and in 2010, the set was rebuilt in a more permanent fashion for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which began filming in 2011. Hobbiton offers an incredible two hour tour. Refreshments are available at The Shires Rest Café and the Green Dragon Inn now sells merchandise and souvenirs!
