[Cygnus]

I've always wanted to visit New Zeland, and after seeing LOTR, I really, really want to go. Do any of you know if they left the Hobbit village intact after filming was done? That would be such a great place to visit!

[wolfshead]

I don't know...I#d like to go too. I heard some NZ tour companies are doing 'LOTR location' tours...

[nicba]

I read in my local newspaper that New Zeland even appointed a 'minister of the rings' to handle the new tourist business. But that sounds a little too crazy...

[Eventine]

They destroyed Hobbitton http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/frown.gif
And it's spelt Zealand

[Cygnus]

Ack!! What a cultural faux pas! Oh well, I guess everyone makes mistakes. New ZEALAND, right.

They destroyed it!!!? That is just plain tragic.

Nicba- I also saw on the news about the appointment of a goverment official to promote NZ tourism in regards to the LOTR movies.

[Eventine]

They destroyed it so no greedy individuals could capitalise on the hard works of the WETA staff. Understandable, but still cringeworthy.

[Rocketsheep]

LOTR was filmed in Wellington... the official capital of NZ... and the parliament renamed Wellington "Middle Earth" for the opening of the movie so a minister of the rings is not such a long stretch.

Small country, one government, things don't get bogged down by bureacracy... if they wanna make someone something they just get a coupla blokes to agree and they're off! Sweet mate! Bob's ya Uncle!

If you do go to NZ be sure and visit Queenstown and the glaciers in the South Island... incredibly awesome and that is straight from the sheep's mouth!

Did you know that a third of the country is National Park and protected? (That was probably where they set up that nice polystyrene hobbit village so they may not have been able to leave it there.)

[Aylis]

I can't believe they destroyed it! They could've given it to me!!! (assuming that's possible...) :P

[Cygnus]

RocketSheep- Are YOU the minister of NZ tourism? http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif Thanks for the information, I truly hope that I get to visit soon.

[Rocketsheep]

Hmmm, not yet... I may take up that position after PM.

Go to a search engine and run searches on Queenstown, Milford Sound and Fox Glacier. Be sure to put .nz in the search, which will rule out like-named places in other parts of the world. I'm sure the pictures will speak a thousand words.

PS. The beer and fish and chips are tastier and cheaper there than anywhere else in the world... but all the other food is lousy.