Reporter Ian Allen on a Hobbit hunt: The Pelorus River, 60 kilometres west of Blenheim, features in a scene from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, showing barrels plunging down the scenic waterway during a perilous journey undertaken by Bilbo Baggins and the dwarfs.

Just like Elmer Fudd on the prowl for pesky wabbits, I headed to Pelorus Bridge on Friday in search of hobbits.

Being armed with Marlborough Express photographer Ben Curran, instead of Elmer’s preferred shotgun, was all that separated me from the hapless hunter.

We had received a tipoff from a source that hobbit activity had escalated in recent days as Peter Jackson’s production company 3 Foot 7 prepared the location for 10 days of filming starting from today. More..