Let’s get the big secret out right now: almost all of it was filmed in New Zealand. Director Peter Jackson didn’t just pick a random country; he chose his homeland, and the landscapes basically played the role of a main character. From the rolling green hills to the volcanic peaks, New Zealand transforms into the Shire, Mordor, and everything in between.
You can actually visit the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata, on New Zealand’s North Island. It’s a real, working farm that was turned into a permanent tourist attraction, complete with hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and a party tree that makes you want to skip second breakfast and go straight for a pint.
A fun little fact: the crew had to grow the gardens and trees months before filming started to make them look perfectly overgrown. You can now book a guided tour and literally walk where Bilbo ran after the dwarves—just keep an eye out for a suspicious ring in the grass.
