Hobbit actors arrive in Dunedin

New Zealand film director Peter Jackson with actor Elijah Wood, who plays hobbit Frodo Baggins. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Hundreds of cast and crew for The Hobbit films have flown to Dunedin International Airport seemingly bound for Otago film sets.

An airport spokesman said four chartered flights carrying 320 cast and crew arrived, starting on Thursday night with a BAe146 Whisper Jet from Wellington. Today (Friday) another three flights arrived, two from Wellington, and one from Taupo, also on chartered Whisper Jets.

A large contingent of rental cars had been organised for the arrivals to travel, but he did not have further details.

The spokesman said he had not known the large group was coming until a couple of days ago.

Filming locations for the two-film series are closely guarded, but include areas around Queenstown, Middlemarch, and possibly Mosgiel.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is scheduled for release on December 14, 2012. The second film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is due to be released on December 13, 2013.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES