I am a Baggins of Baggend!

As we made our way through Auckland, we stopped by the Weta Unleashed factory where we got to indulge in everything nerd and LOTR. We checked out some of the props, how they designed certain prosthetics, CGI, and other special effects. After that we made our way to Hobbiton! The weather was holding up as best as it could with overcast and light mist, we made due.

But man oh man, that did not disappoint, nor did it stop us from enjoying the imagery that we've only seen in the movies. Words can't describe it, everything was put in place as it was when the films were created.

Fun fact, the owner of the land that Hobbiton sits on, was going to get demolished and torn apart, but the founder of Red Carpet, Vic James went to the farmer and asked if he could bring people by here to check out Hobbiton would he still keep it open, after many conversations....and many people later the owner and his sons made it a point to get this attraction up and running and legitimize it as a movie set! So you can thank Vic for that! We wouldn't have Hobbiton without his determination and love for these films!

Back to our journey.... Hobbiton, vast and wide, this place was breath taking. I think between 60 people on our tour we must of taking a thousand photos and videos. Stopping and admiring every little detail of Hobbiton, you felt like you were heading off on your own adventure. Seeing Bagged was a dream, I was smiling ear to ear! We eventually made our way to one of two new Hobbit Holes that were now open to the public and we were the first RC group to walk through them. Shockingly a 6'4" person can easily stand in the living room of one! Walking through the door was a different story...I felt like Gandalf. The weather held up right when as we walked out of the Hobbit Holes and then it started to down pour! We made it to the Green Dragon where we had a pint of Ginger Beer and had a dinner catered that night. Man, juicy chicken thighs....roasted potatoes...or should I say PO-TA-TOES! rice, veggies, lamb, and can't forget about dessert!

THAT WAS ONLY THE FIRST STOP OF OUR TOUR! Talk about a tough act to follow.