he managers of the Pelorus Bridge camping ground hope the secret of their whereabouts will become public knowledge after the river it is built near features in the first Hobbit film.

Campground manager Stephanie Neal hoped more people would learn about the camping ground's location after seeing the "beautiful river", which will be used as part of Middle-earth in the two-part film being shot by Sir Peter Jackson.

A scene from the first of the two films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will be shot near Pelorus Bridge, 60 kilometres west of Blenheim, over 10 days in December.

The river will be the setting for a number of barrels concealing 13 dwarfs, along with the film's main character, Bilbo Baggins.

Most people from Nelson who stay at the camping ground had only just found out about it, Mrs Neal said.

She hoped the exposure would be good for business after a terrible 2010-2011 summer in which the camping ground was severely flooded and bookings fell.

The filming would be exciting for the community, especially around Havelock and Rai Valley.

Filming was scheduled for December 6 to 16, just before the peak camping season begins on Boxing Day, she said.

Manager Nobby Neal said the production company 3 Foot 7 had contacted the couple, who run the Department of Conservation-owned campsite, about July, saying that they were scouting for locations.

The campsite, which is closed only on Christmas Day, will close during some of the filming period.

The couple will use that time to paint their house.

They will also hold a staff Christmas party during the day, which is something they have never

- The Marlborough Express

Come camping at Middle-earth

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 21/10/2011

DEREK FLYNN

On scene: Pelorus Bridge camping ground manager Stephanie Neal stands on the bridge near where a scene from The Hobbit movies will be shot in December. She hopes the exposure will attract mo