Woke early, with a palpable sense of excitement in the air! Debated if we should go on a later tour, but the consensus was to go early, for (hopefully) a smaller sized group. Somehow managed to get breakfast eaten, & school work done in record time, & we were back at the i-site, in central Matamata, well before the required time of 9.15am. We paid ($66/5) & D&L signed the confidentiality agreement, which prohibits any details of the set being published.

We boarded the bus at 9.30, & were thoroughly entertained by Benji, our driver, who related numerous stories, & a lot of interesting information, about the tours, the film set, auditioning to be a Hobbit, & some of the fans (& fanatics) that he has met over the past 4 years. People come on the tour in full costume (notably the 2.20m tall Hobbit!), fluently speaking Elvish (but little English), or who just sit under the Party Tree, & read!

We arrived at the "Shire's Rest", & picked up a few more people, in the aged, but recently refurbished, ex-school bus: "Gandalf". Then we were through the gate, & driving down the access road to the set.

******* redacted, until after film's release *******

All too soon we were back on the bus, & driving back to Matamata, amazed that the time had flown by so quickly, but very happy that we had seen the film set in pristine condition! L was particularly taken with the beauty of the facades of the Hobbit holes (colourful flowers & "Devon cottage-y appearance), & it's given us a few ideas for "Our Place", in the future!

Back in Matamata, we thanked Benji, & walked around town, checking out a couple of charity shops & ending up in the library for an hour, or so, using their free wifi. Then we drove back to the Holiday Park for lunch (bacon, avocado & tomato sandwiches), & spent ~2 hours in the pool, relaxing in the sunshine! D quickly popped into town for supplies, then made seafood pasta + ginger & cream, for tea.