SINGAPORE — If you’re a huge Hobbit fan but can’t go to New Zealand just yet, you can experience a piece of Middle-earth right here in Singapore. A life-sized hobbit hole now stands in the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal Three and will be open to the public from noon tomorrow (March 14).

“Hobbiton sits in an idyllic landscape in New Zealand and we hope to give visitors a little taste of what New Zealand has to offer,” said Russell Alexander, owner and general manager of Hobbiton. “You can smell the flowers; the props and the timber were all brought in from New Zealand. We have art directors and builders to make sure everything is made to look like our hobbit holes back home. There are 44 hobbit holes in Hobbiton ... this travelling one is our 45th.”

Director Peter Jackson’s location scout spotted Alexander’s family farm back in 1998 as a possible location for The Shire in the film-maker’s The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Just over a decade later, the movie set was permanently rebuilt in 2009 as the Hobbiton Movie Set. Alexander revealed that the biggest challenge in recreating the hobbit hole was the logistics — transporting the props from different parts of New Zealand before they finally made their way to Singapore. “It’s not a cheap exercise,” he said.

Presenters Tourism New Zealand and Changi Airport group declined to give the total cost of the hobbit hole, but said several partners, including companies such as DHL and Singapore Airlines, were involved. It took Alexander’s team two weeks to finish constructing the hobbit hole that measures 10m by 5m. The hobbit hole had previously been in London’s Claridge’s hotel for the premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, the last instalment of the Hobbit movie trilogy.

Besides the hobbit hole, visitors can get to see a statue of Gandalf the Grey and a replica of the One Ring — by the same people who created it for the film. “We know there is quite a big appetite for New Zealand in Singapore. The last film in the Hobbit trilogy is the highest grossing among the LOTR and Hobbit series here,” said Jacqui Smith, a representative from Tourism New Zealand. “Singapore is a key market for visitors to New Zealand and this year, we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations as well.”

The hobbit hole will be at Changi Airport until April 5, although there are discussions to extend its stay. There are other activities running in conjunction — including food tasting sessions of New Zealand produce and a 5D simulator ride (which sits eight) built beside the hobbit hole to add to the fun as part of the March school holidays.