For those of you who have been lucky enough to visit the Hobbiton set (like me!), you know how magical it is to wander among the well-tended gardens and Hobbit-home facades, to rest in the shade of the magnificent party tree, and to enjoy a pint at the Green Dragon Inn. However, as most of us are aware, the Hobbiton set is surrounded by a 560 hectare (approximately 1,400 acre) working sheep and cattle farm owned and operated by the Alexander family.
Stuff.co.nz recently recounted a bit of the history of the Hobbiton and how Hobbit holes and sheep continue to coexist nicely in a quiet corner of the New Zealand countryside:
“Right alongside the tourism business is their sheep and beef operation, on probably the country’s most-visited farm. While not many of the tourists see the whole farm, the stock is still very much in the public eye, meaning Craig [Alexander] has to be strategic in where he farms stock because of the occasional gate left open by an unsuspecting tourist. Hobbiton is also ring-fenced with paddocks for stock on either side. “If we’re driving a mob of 1500-2000 ewes down the main track and there is a [tourist] bus going through that can be pretty frustrating.”
While the farm is family-owned and operated, Hobbiton is a 50/50 partnership between the family and Peter Jackson. “Today, the tourism venture has about 70 permanent staff and twice that number over the busy summer season. It’s given the Matamata district a huge boost in earnings and the region is now thriving.”
Read the full article here.
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For the past three months we’ve teamed up with our friends at BudK.Com to give away one of the many great Middle-earth weapons featured throughout The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit Trilogy. This month you could win the beautiful sword of the King Under the Mountain. That’s right, Thorin Oakenshield’s sword! We’re giving away the Regal Sword of Thorin Oakenshield. Entering is simple all you have to do is fill out the contest page and you’re entered. This contest is for U.S. Residents only.
Enter for your chance to win the Regal Sword of Thorin Oakenshield.
Congratulations to the winner of Herugrim, last months give away, Rachel Casey.
We hope you’re enjoying your wonderful prize.
Editors note: As previously explained by Elessar, the reason these competitions are “US Residents only” is due to these collectibles being considered weapons by some countries outside of the U.S. so we can only team up to do these competitions this way.
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Earlier this week, we told you about a special event happening this weekend, Saturday 7th November, in London (UK), when The Hobbit Fan Fellowship and Warner Bros. are hosting a special screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition. A little bird has told us there are going to be some pretty great surprises at this invitation-only gathering!
Fortunately, even if you can’t be in London or didn’t win an invitation, you can still join in! The event will be LIVE STREAMED, and we’re told that those watching over the internet will even be able to join in and interact.
We can’t share any more details of exactly what will be happening in London – we’re keeping it secret and safe! – but we suggest you join the live stream on Saturday if you can. Here are the details:
[Please note, TheOneRing.net is not in any way involved with the planning and streaming of this event. We can’t help fix it if the stream doesn’t work for you! We’re just sharing the news so fans around the world are aware of this fun happening.]
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This weekend, Saturday 7th November, in London (UK), The Hobbit Fan Fellowship and Warner Bros. are hosting a special screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition. And YOU could join them!
We’re told that the evening will include ‘a couple of surprises’ – and of course it’s a chance to see the final Hobbit movie, in its full extended version, on the big screen; as well as spending time with fellow fans. The competition is open worldwide, but in order to take advantage of the prize, you’d have be to sure you – and a friend! – can get to London this coming weekend!
You can find more information about the competition here; and click here to enter. The contest closes on Thursday at 12noon GMT – so get on over there and sign up! We look forward to hearing about another splendid Fan Moot!
[Click here to enter to win an invitation]
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Today, Sir Peter Jackson turned 54 years old! We here at TORN hope he had a most wonderful day and wish him many happy returns. (May the hair on his toes never fall out!)
Thank you, Peter, for all you’ve gifted us with – from the very first online preview for The Lord of the Rings to the Extended Cut of The Battle of the Five Armies. May the coming year, and those after, be most prosperous for you. Continue reading “Happy Birthday Peter Jackson!”
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Those of you lucky enough to live in the L.A. area can catch an appearance by Sir Ian McKellen at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica on Tuesday, November 17th at 7:30 p.m. He will be appearing before a special showing of Mr Holmes, in which he portrays an aging Sherlock Holmes struggling to put closure on his last case from thirty years earlier. As we all know, our favorite wizard from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies is always entertaining and gracious to his fans, and may even discuss or take questions on his role as Gandalf, so get thee to the Aero on November 17th if you can! Tickets can be purchased here.
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For those of you who have been lucky enough to visit the Hobbiton set (like me!), you know how magical it is to wander among the well-tended gardens and Hobbit-home facades, to rest in the shade of the magnificent party tree, and to enjoy a pint at the Green Dragon Inn. However, as most of us are aware, the Hobbiton set is surrounded by a 560 hectare (approximately 1,400 acre) working sheep and cattle farm owned and operated by the Alexander family.
