Be on the ready on December 14th at 8 am AEST, and you could be in with a chance to bed down like Bilbo Baggins in your very own Hobbit Hole.
New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes are magical in more ways than one. Each year, the country draws hordes of Tolkein fans eager to experience a taste of Middle Earth — the fictional landscape immortalized in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation. Now, fantasy enthusiasts can take the experience a step further and bed down in a Hobbit Hole of their own. For the 10-year anniversary of The Hobbit, guests will have the chance to live like Bilbo Baggins in an adorable Hobbit Home located on the original Hobbiton film set.
Spend the night in an adorable Hobbit Hole. (Image: Larnie Nicolson)
If there’s one thing Hobbits are known for, it’s leisure. And of all the regions in Middle Earth, there couldn’t be a better place to unwind than Hobbiton. Located a two-hour drive from Auckland in the luscious, rolling pastures of the Waikato region, the original film set of Hobbiton is preserved as a popular tourist attraction.
The Hobbiton film set is located in the luscious, rolling pastures of the Waikato region of New Zealand. (Image: Larnie Nicolson)
The whimsical opportunity to stay the night comes from a partnership between Airbnb and Hobbiton’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Alexander in celebration of the 10-year anniversary. For a few lucky people, the magic of Middle Earth will come to life through an overnight stay in The Shire that includes an immersive experience into one of the most beloved fictional worlds of all time.
Stay overnight in Hobbiton and watch your Tolkien fantasy come to life. (Image: Larnie Nicolson)You can even visit The Millhouse during your stay. (Image: Larnie Nicolson)
You’ll explore the Hobbiton set with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, with access to 44 Hobbit Holes, The Millhouse, The Green Dragon Inn, and other cherished locations from the film and book. And when you’re all tuckered out from your great adventure, relax in privacy behind your very own circular door built for relaxing.
Open the door to your own Middle Earth adventure. (Image: Larnie Nicolson)
The Green Dragon Inn will be serving up wholesome hobbit fare such as beef and ale stew, whole roast chickens, and fresh-baked bread. Bring your appetite with you, because they’re also serving second breakfast and elevenses daily, too. (When in Hobbiton…)
You’ll be well-fed during your stay. (Image: Larnie Nicolson)
In traditional Hobbit hospitality, the whole experience is just $10. However, there are only three stays up for grabs, which will take place March 2 – 4, March 9 – 11, and March 16 – 18, 2023 (so clear your calendar!). Hopeful Hobbits should be on the ready on Wednesday, December 14 from 8 am AEDT, when requests to book open. With a maximum occupancy of four, you can bring three of your closest companions to create a mini fellowship of your own. Two bedrooms are configured with one queen bed and the other with two king singles. The lucky winners will certainly be in for an unexpected journey…
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Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for International Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
