Welcome to Hobbit world

WELLINGTON — Shooting in New Zealand isn’t just the natural choice for Peter Jackson.

For cast members, many of whom are also New Zealanders, bringing Middle-earth to life in their country opened their eyes to the beauty of the land.

The Pelorus River, located in a forest covered by towering beech trees in the Marlborough region, has become one of the most recognisable Middle-earth sites, thanks to the memorable scene in The Desolation Of Smaug where the dwarves and Bilbo make their escape downriver encased in barrels.

“I think most of us agree — certainly for me — that our favourite scene was shooting down the Pelorus River in the barrels,” said John Callen who plays Oin the dwarf.

Jed Brophy, who plays the dwarf Nori gushed about Rock and Pillar Range in Middlemarch, calling it “an amazing location”.

It’s that otherworldly nature Jackson talked about and this could be due to New Zealand’s remoteness from the rest of the world, as Brophy pointed out.

“New Zealand is relatively untouched compared to other countries. We’re an unpeopled land. This is not the same as other countries with bigger populations and I think that is a major thing that makes it different. In (Tolkien’s) books it was another world — it’s a fantastical place and we are just very lucky that we have a number of places that are very fantastical here.”

However, it’s not just in New Zealand where you can make believe you’re in Middle-earth. Some die-hard Tolkien fans have also taken the trouble to do up their homes to look like one Bilbo Baggins would be proud of. At vacation rental site Airbnb, there are Hobbit-esque listings found in England, Norway, the United States and even in nearby Thailand.

At Hobbit House, located in a small village near Khao Yai National Park, a two hours’ drive away from Bangkok, the owner Chanikul even calls himself Bilbo Baggins. Currently based in London, Chanikul wrote on his listing site that he left his Hobbit village 12 years ago and his house built with “love and passion” for The Hobbit films. He’s even in the process extending the house to create a village by mid-2015. In the meantime, you can have fun with his collection of “Hobbit entertainment” such as books, costumes and Lego sets. That is, if all The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies aren’t enough to keep you occupied.