10 Movie Locations That Became Immortalised Thanks To Fans

You could argue that no country received as impressive a tourism swell as New Zealand did after Peter Jackon's Lord of the Rings trilogy hit the big screen.

The vast landscapes, ancient woods and monstrous mountains gave the country its own starring role in the epic series, yet it was one setting in particular that captured the imaginations (and hearts) of the Middle-Earth faithful.

Matamata (2 hours south of Auckland) played host to the most popular little village in film history, Hobbiton, and fans have drawn inspiration from their cherished Fellowship by journeying from far and wide to witness the fictional home of the Hobbits.

Incredibly, the fan investment was so substantial that the film-set has now actually become a fully functioning Hobbit village. Fans that are lucky enough to walk in Frodo and Bilbo Baggins' footsteps are given the chance to tour the famous landmarks within the location. Be it spending a night in the Green Dragon Inn, eating at The Shire's Rest cafe or even going the full Samwise and getting married amidst the greenery, it's not hard to see why this spot has become immortalised by those who swear by the fantastical trilogy.

You can obviously experience many of the other LOTR locations up-close - including the snow-capped Mt. Sunday or Volcanic Ruapehu - but fans will always have a soft spot for the humble place where it all began.