Imagine having your Elevenses in this room at Hobbiton in Waikato, New Zealand. — Airbnb
One of New Zealand's top themed attractions is definitely the Hobbiton Movie Set, located in Waikato on the north island. This was where parts of the famous The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies were filmed, specifically scenes that depicted The Shire, or home of the Hobbits.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Airbnb and Russell Alexander are offering fans of the films, as well as author J.R.R. Tolkien, the chance to stay the night at Hobbiton.
Alexander is the founder and chief executive officer of Hobbiton; his family owns the sprawling farm upon which the movie set (now tourist attraction) was built. As part of the anniversary celebration, Alexander will host three two-night stays for up to four guests at Hobbiton for NZ$10 (RM28, and excluding taxes and other fees) per night.
In statement, Alexander says: “For more than two decades, we’ve welcomed millions of passionate fans to Hobbiton Movie Set, but never before has anyone had the opportunity to spend a night in Middle-earth. I am delighted to share the beauty of my family’s farm and pleased to be hosting this iconic location on Airbnb for fans from around the world.”
Guests will stay in a cosy accommodation specially curated by the trilogies’ creative director Brian Massey. This includes a writing nook fit for Bilbo Baggins at The Millhouse.
They will also have private access to a personal Hobbit Hole, and enjoy an evening banquet in The Green Dragon Inn with a delectable spread that features beef and ale stew, whole roast chickens, freshly baked breads and plenty of ale.
And yes, guests can also request for a "Second Breakfast" and "Elevenses"!
To top it all off, guess will get a private tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set.
Of course, one does not simply walk into Middle-earth ... there are some rules to follow.
Here are some of them, as published on Airbnb:
- No unexpected parties – unless with Gandalf and company.
- Bare feet are allowed but wipe them first.
- Magical rings permitted, but keep them secret, keep them safe.
- Pony parking is provided only at The Green Dragon Inn.
- Straying far at night is discouraged, thanks to multiple troll sightings of late.
- No pets are allowed, except Pickles the resident Hobbiton cat.
- Never laugh at live dragons...
Interested parties can request to book one of the three overnight stays on offer on Dec 14 from 5am (Malaysian time) at airbnb.com/hobbiton. You would need to have a verified Airbnb profile, a history of positive reviews (either as a guest or host) and must be older than 18 to be able to make a booking request.
This is not a contest, as guests would still need to pay for the stays, though at a special price.
The stays will take place in March (March 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18). You can read the complete rules and regulations on the Airbnb page.
