Trip to Middle Earth
Holiday programme ventures out to Matamata’s Hobbiton film set
Atrip to the enchanting village of Hobbiton in Matamata was a first for children on the Katikati Community Centre’s Katikids Holiday Programme.
The famous movie set at Hinuera, was a significant location used by director, Sir Peter Jackson for the acclaimed Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.
Katikati Community Centre’s
Youth and Children team leader, Jan de Faye said it was a fantastic day, “with well-behaved kids and our guide for the tour was awesome”.
“The children and parents loved it, including me.”
Forty-five children and parents travelled by bus to Hobbiton for a two-hour tour experience of the real Middle Earth, leaving from the Shire’s Rest, round the 12-acre set, past Hobbit holes, the Mill, finishing at the world-famous Green Dragon Inn, where all the children got a complimentary special Hobbit brew (ginger beer).
Although the tour took two hours, the children and parents were at the venue for a lot longer.
This was the first time Hobbiton has been a trip event on the holiday programme, due to the cost at Hobbiton for children being at a reduced rate and it was partly subsidised by Katikati Community Centre.
Jan said the centre had around 50 to 60 children a day on the two-week holiday programme, with numbers well down, however final numbers had not been completed. The funfilled holiday programme provided arts and crafts, sports, trips to movies, hot pools, Tauranga Ten Pin and special projects and trips, like the one to Hobbiton.
Will Hobbiton be included on the next holiday programme for those who missed out?
Jan said, no since they change the trips around, maybe it will be in another two years.