Hobbit Mania Grips New Zealand (Middle Earth)

The worldwide premiere for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is just minutes away and New Zealand's capital city Wellington has been rushing to complete it's transformation to make it feel homely for folk with hairy feet and pointy ears. Yesterday stars jetted in for the long-awaited first movie of the Hobbit trilogy. Wellington, where much of the post production has been done, has renamed itself "the Middle of Middle Earth". Fans have had costume parties and Wellington city workers have laid a 500 m (550 yards) red carpet. A  Hobbit-themed Air New Zealand jet has landed bringing in cast, crew and studio officials for the event as Hobbit mania grips New Zealand.

We have also been busy getting ready to roll out a series of awesome self-guided and small group tours that will take in the Best of The Hobbit filming locations.  

Peter Jackson: Wellington hometown hero, was still editing the final version of  an Unexpected Journey" ahead of today's premiere screening.

The movies are based on J.R.R. Tolkien's book and tell the story that ultimately leads up to his epic story "The Lord of the Rings", which Peter Jackson made into three Oscar-winning films a decade ago. The Hobbit is set 60 years before "The Lord of The Rings" and was planned as only two movies before Jackson decided that there was more than enough material to justify a third.

Fans from all over the world have arrived in New Zealand and have been camping overnight  getting ready to claim the best spots next to the Red Carpet to glimps the film's stars, including Martin Freeman, who plays the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett.

Hobbit Artisan Market: Wellington Council is hosting a Hobbit Artisan Market in beautiful Waitangi Park showcasing various craftspeople and the talent involved in making the Trilogy. Weta Workshop are putting on a prosthetics demonstration this coming Sunday. The market has been showing a free outdoor screenings of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Getting into the Spirit: Many businesses have been getting into the Middle of Middle-earth spirit and dressing their windows and putting on themed cocktails and special dining menus.

Air New Zealand: If you happen to be flying on Air New Zealand over the next couple of months, you will be treated by various mementos such as 'Hairy Feet' socks not to mention The Hobbit-themed "Air Middle-earth" safety video.

 Wellington Airport: Travelers arriving at Wellington Airport are in for a surprise, a Giant Gollum Sculpture has been suspended from the ceiling over the eating area of the main airport lounge. The huge sculpture weighs in at massive 2,645 pounds, and measures in at 9.8 foot high and is 43 foot long. Designed by Weta Workshop the sculpture was constructed in only 3 days.

Well we are all looking forward to the general release on the 13th of December - not too far away! And for all Hobbit Lovers we created the Ultimate New Zealand Hobbit Adventure.