Hobbiton, New Zealand

Hobbiton is a fictional village which appeared in the novels: “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Hobbiton village was built as a set (for the films which were based on the Novels) is located on a farm near a little town called Matamata in northern New Zealand. It was decided to keep the Hobbit holes set  as tourist attractions, (they blend smoothly into the environment), there is even a sign which says :”Welcome to Hobbiton” on the main road, directing people to this wounderful little Hobbit town.  

Cathedral Cove, New Zealand

Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve is a marine reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.

Cathedral Cove is named after the cave located there, linking Mare’s Leg Cove to Cathedral Cove. Gemstone Bay and Stingray Bay are also located within the reserve. A walking track exists from the northern end of Hahei Beach, and it is also possible to walk from the local authority car park at the top of the headland between Hahei and Gemstone Bay. The area is very popular with tourists, and receives around 150,000 visitors a year.

Boat and kayaking tours come from Whitianga in the north and Hahei in the south to visit the area. Both coves contain shapely natural rock stacks, Sphinx Rock in Mare’s Leg Cove, and Te Hoho Rock in Cathedral Cove. Stingray Bay, and in particular Gemstone Bay, are popular snorkeling and diving areas, as marine life within the reserve boundaries is plentyful. In Gemstone Bay there is also a snorkel trail marked by the Department of Conservation.Both bays are also accessible by paths leading down from the main walking path to Cathedral Cove.