A Hobbit's tale: Four years later, Tomica Kristic arrived in Matamata, New Zealand. Photo / tomicakristic.com
A 44-month, globetrotting quest finally came to an end on Sunday, as Tomica Kristic arrived on the Hobbiton Film Set in Matamata.
The Croatian set out on the 40,000 km route in 2015 with the aim of hitchhiking from his home town to New Zealand.
"I only started with 1500 Euros ($2550) in my pocket, which was fast running out," he wrote on his blog.
"I thought New Zealand would take me only two years, but those two years are already far behind."
In spite of taking twice as long to achieve his goal, he never turned back or thought of giving up.
The happy-go-lucky adventurer said his route was "simple".
Passing through 25 countries and 3 continents, Kristic visited Iran, India and passed through the south coast of Australia.
Writing about his experience as he went – in English and Croatian – he logged the highs and lows of the journey online. These included being sold fake banknotes in Tehran and getting a lift from a camel through the desert in Rajasthan.
Although the hiker, who worked in a cinema for four years, wrote that one of his bigger regrets was missing the release of the new Star Wars movies "because Iranian theatres only show Iranian movies!"
Methodically updating his blog Journey to Middle-Earth, the young Croat started making his way through the Balkans in October 2015 and never looked back.
Although travelling alone, and at his own pace, he has inspired a loyal followership online.
With a 12000-strong Facebook page Kristic arrived in New Zealand to complete the final 1500 km of his journey in April.
"The roads of new Zealand looked so appealing that I simply had to walk the whole country," he said.
Beginning at the southernmost tip of the South Island at Slope Point, he hiked the remainder of his journey with a pull-cart.
Arriving in Matamata on a tour with other international visitors, he was amused to be asked by some young children visiting Hobbiton: "why didn't you just take a plane?"
On coming to the end of his four-year journey, Kristic said he felt surprisingly stoic about the finish.
"Reaching my final destination there was no emotion in me at all. No sadness, no happiness, nothing at all. Just pure silence where I was observing myself at the end," wrote Kristic in his final post. "But I know, this is not the end at all."
Although he didn't have any immediate hiking adventures lined up, Kristic told The Herald he had no desire to stop travelling.
Perhaps there's a sequel to this Hobbit-inspired trek, there and back again?
Vail combines luxury with festive charm better than anywhere else.