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Visiting Middle-earth: A guide to New Zealand for LotR lovers

We have one very important question to ask: If you could make like Frodo and adventure through Middle-earth, would you? If you've ever seen The Lord of the Rings, then the answer is probably yes, and you're in luck. The lush green land of hobbits, orcs and wizards is real, and it's called New Zealand

All right, so maybe New Zealand is only home to the set of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, but the movie magic has been preservedand it's just as riveting as it looks on the big screen. We can't promise you'll see any hobbits while you're here for your locum tenens assignment, but we can promise one thing: It's an experience you'll never forget.

Head over to Hobbiton

Located near a town called Matamata in what we know as the Shire, Hobbiton is now a permanent addition to the local landscape. When you trek out to this mythical little town, you'll get to pay an actual visit to the home of Bilbo Baggins and the Party Tree. After, you can gallivant through the surrounding field just like all the hobbitser, humansbefore you. The tours aren't terribly lengthy but we still recommend that you bring second breakfast with you.

Meander through Mordor

You probably didn't think you wanted to pay a visit to Mordor yourself, but we promise there haven't been any Sauron sightings since the filming of the final LotR installment. Mordor's real-life name is Mount Ruapehu, and it's located in Tongariro National Park on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The beautiful volcanic hiking trails are totally orc-free these days, so no special ring is necessary for paying a thorough visit.

Relax in Rivendell

Kaitoke Regional Park in Wellington set the scene for the elven haven of Rivendell. The trees here really are ancient and though it's unlikely you'll cross pass with Legolas, you will find hiking trails, swimming holes, rare birds and signage marking important scenes from the movies while you're paying a visit to the park. 

If you can swing a few weeks in this country before, during or after your New Zealand locum tenens assignment, you can even embark on The Ultimate Middle-earth Itinerary, which takes you all the way from Auckland to Queenstown on a quest that will have you feeling like Gandalf himself by the end of the trip. One thing is for sure, regardless of which parts of this stunning country you visit, New Zealand is pretty magical.