It’s
undoubtedly the dream of many a Tolkien fan to set foot in Hobbiton – or, really, any of the countless other locales you will find in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films.
Many have, in fact, traveled to the beautiful country of New Zealand to do just that. However, not all of us have had the opportunity (or means) to travel and see Middle-earth for ourselves. To illustrate just what awaits us across the globe, NewZealand.com has just the solution.
Fans now have the ability to take a virtual tour of the locations in The Hobbit trilogy, thanks to a new online feature known as ‘Take a Flight through Middle-earth’. It launched this week – at the same time as the Los Angeles premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. This new interactive experience, according to Tourism New Zealand‘s Chief Executive Kevin Bolwer, is meant to show prospective travelers the wide variety of activities they will be able to discover and enjoy when coming to visit the locations and sets of Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth saga.
“‘Take a Flight through Middle-earth’ clearly shows that the fantasy locations used to portray Middle-earth are in fact a reality, and that there is a whole world of experiences to be had and people to meet within the movie-scene style landscapes.”
Through the ‘Take a Flight’ experience, users are able to navigate across the North and South islands of New Zealand, exploring – amongst other things – four locations used in The Hobbit films, each of which are part of the new ‘Book of New Zealand’, now open in Los Angeles, CA. As you go through these locations on the interactive map, you will be able to look at pictures – as well watch interviews from cast members as they talk about their experiences and how the locations were used in the films. You will also have the opportunity to find a “special key”, which will allow you access to additional content.
To start exploring ‘The Real Middle-earth’, click here to go directly to the site. For a glimpse at the Book of New Zealand installation in L.A., check out the video below.
