Once your in Broken Valley this first area is massive and could take a solid days playing if not more if it's your first time to see and do everything it has to offer. It's blocked off for a reason because it's all part of the story. Once past there is really does open up and the main starting area becomes part of it with greater use of teleporters to get you around. It doesn't stop there either as much, much more will open up.
Not to spoil anything to much but it will be many days, anything to a week if not more depending on how much time you put in before you have the power to become a Dragon, but the build up to it all is amazing. Your get this far and realize the game has not even started yet!! I have not said this to put you off, just to give you an idea that this game is BIG and will keep you busy for a very long time and the journey is a beautiful one, very rewarding and a pleasure to play.
