J.R Tolkien’s “Mid­dle Earth” is mocked up in New Zealand’s pic­turesque rur­al vil­lage, Mata­ma­ta, in the heart of the Waika­to region (North Island). The Shire’s quaint thatched cot­tages sur­round­ed by idyl­lic coun­try­side of flower-strewn mead­ows, baa-ing sheep and tin­kling streams is also known as “Hob­biton” where LOR fans can take tours and pre­tend they too are hob­bits.