Filming for Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey  finished on 5 July and fans of his Lord of the Rings trilogy are waiting in anticipation for the film’s premiere in Wellington on 28 November. The film is the first of two multimillion-dollar Hollywood blockbusters telling the story of Bilbo Baggins, kinsman of Lord of the Rings protagonist Frodo.

Outside Queenstown, New Zealand, students display LOTR for Lord of the Rings

Already New Zealanders are gearing up for hobbit fever with New Zealand’s national airline
Air New Zealand securing a two-year deal to promote the upcoming Hobbit films to passengers to and from the United Kingdom and North America. Passengers will fly on film-branded planes and watch a special edition of the in-flight safety video, designed with the help of Weta Workshop.

Students on AUIP’s New Zealand and Sydney Sustainable Business program visit the Weta Cave at Weta Workshop in Wellington. The Weta Cave screens a behind-the-scenes look at Weta and interviews with co-founders including Peter Jackson. It also hosts a mini-museum featuring characters, props and displays from the various films the company has produced including the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

For Hobbit-enthusiasts undertaking other AUIP New Zealand programs, there is a host of Lord of the Ring tours on offer from Queenstown where students have free time. Not only do students get to see many of the amazing locations used in the production of the films but they also get to handle costume and weaponry from the films.