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Hobbiton!

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March 6th 2015
what a day yesterday! We went to the town of Matamata which is a few miles from Hobbiton, where they filmed part of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. We got a bus transfer from the town out to the set, along with thousands of others! We were given a guided tour and it was great fun. We were told a lot about the filming and why they chose this area. If was a very hot day but lovely just looking at ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island

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The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year... ... read more