Venture to Middle Earth with Austravel

Take an Unexpected Journey to Middle Earth in the Footsteps of the second Hobbit movie, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, with Austravel, the leading Australasia Specialist.

(PRWEB UK) 13 December 2013

The much anticipated second Hobbit movie, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is hitting our screens today. From the Academy Award winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, the second in the trilogy of films follows the dwarves, Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey as they continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Taken from the popular masterpiece The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and after the huge success of the Lord of the Rings, the second instalment of The Hobbit will bring alive New Zealand's landscapes once more.

The loved character of Bilbo Baggins will again face all sorts of challenges as he travels through more threatening territory, far from the familiar surroundings of the charming ‘Shire'. This fantastic fantasy will bring back to our screens some of the well-known characters that we love and is sure to be a hit.

The Hobbit is set in the beautiful surroundings of New Zealand's breathtaking landscapes and has lent itself impeccably to the movie. Some of the country's most stunning backdrops are featured in the movie including the Pelorus River in the Marlborough region. New Zealand is clearly a popular choice for the movie location. Tourism New Zealand has commented to say that nearly one in 10 (8.5%) of visitors have cited The Hobbit Trilogy as a reason for visiting the destination.

Austravel, the leading Australasia specialist, can take its customers right to the heart of New Zealand and into the real-life movie sets.Take on your own epic adventure where your quest will start from the minute you step foot on your plane to landing in Middle Earth and exploring the natural beauty of New Zealand. Film buffs can follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest stars in the industry and enjoy the trip of a lifetime.

Austravel is offering customers an eight day self-drive trip which includes a one night stay at the Chateau on the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch, a two night stay at Peppers Awaroa Lodge in Abel Tasman and three nights at the Scenic Hotel in Marlborough before returning to Christchurch for a final night. This New Zealand holiday starts from £1,549 per person and includes return flights from London Heathrow with Qantas in April 2014. Explore the Marlborough region of the South Island which is home to the Pelorus River which is the setting for ‘Forest River' in The Hobbit.

For those looking to experience the famous ‘Shire' - the picturesque home of the Hobbits - they can do so by visiting the farmland of Matamata in New Zealand's North Island. You can tour the Hobbiton movie set and walk through some of the film's most iconic setting. The tour takes two hours and finishes off with refreshments at The Green Dragon pub. The set of Hobbiton was rebuilt for the second Hobbit movie and is now a permanent tourist attraction. Visitors can take a trip to Hobbiton during a holiday in Auckland and Rotorua, which is a 45 minute drive from the attraction. Austravel is offering customers an eight day holiday with prices from £1,249 per person for departures in April 2014. The New Zealand holiday includes a three night stay at Rydges Auckland, two nights at Rydges Hotel Rotorua and a two night stay at Pauanui Pines Motor Lodge on the Coromandel Peninsula and four days car hire.

Explore Queenstown and its surrounding landscapes from £1,395 per person with Austravel. Queenstown and its surrounds offer some of the most magical locations in the first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and visitors can explore the region alone. Austravel's eight day South Island self-drive holiday, departing on various dates in March 2014, includes a night at the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch, four nights at Rydges Lakeland Queenstown, one night at the Comfort Inn Kaikoura and a final night back at the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch, seven days car hire and return flights from London Gatwick with Emirates.

For the ultimate trip, guests visiting Queenstown can also experience the ‘Safari of the Scenes' tour with Austravel. This 4WD tour gives a spectacular look at the diverse scenery where the filming of the Peter Jackson trilogy, Lord of the Rings, was shot. Prices from £83 per adult.

For more information on Austravel and holidays to New Zealand visit http://www.austravel.com or call a travel expert on 0800 988 4834.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/12/prweb11421324.htm