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newzealand.com
Directed by Peter Jackson, a born and bred New Zealander, the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is one of the biggest cinema projects ever undertaken.
The movie had a budget of $280 million and was filmed in some of New Zealand’s most beautiful places. Read on to learn about the filming locations and get directions to the following New Zealand destinations:
Matamata, Ruapehu, Wellington, Southern Lakes, Canterbury, Mackenzie Country, and Fiordland.
MATAMATA: The Shire and Hobbiton Movie Set
The lush, dairy farming landscape around the Waikato town of Matamata was used to portray the peaceful Shire region of Middle-earth. The village of Hobbiton was created here. It has since been rebuilt for the filming of The Hobbit, and will now remain as a permanent attraction.
Getting there:
Driving time from Auckland is about 2 ½ hours. Follow SH1 to Tirau, turn left onto SH27.
Domestic air services run to the city of Hamilton, which is 30 minutes drive from Matamata.
Magic Traveler's Network stops at Hobbiton as part of its North Island Adventure Tour.
RUAPEHU: Mordor, Emyn Muil
Tongariro National Park, in the centre of the North Island, is the home of three huge volcanoes - Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu which featured in the LOTR movies. You can see the mountain by hiking along trails in the park; ask for directions and advice at the National Park visitor centre.
Mount Ruapehu, the largest volcano in the park, provided locations that represented Mordor and the Emyn Muil. Frodo and Sam captured Gollum at a rocky outcrop called Meads Wall on Whakapapa Skifield, while the slopes and car park of the skifield were used to film scenes of orcs attacking elves and men. Actors and film crew stayed at the grand Bayview Chateau Tongariro Hotel - you can too!
Getting there:
Tongariro National Park is about four hours drive from Auckland and one hour from Taupo.
The nearest domestic airport is at Taupo.
The Overlander passenger train service stops in both National Park Village and Ohakune.
Bus services connect National Park Village and Ohakune with Auckland and Wellington.
The Magic Travelers Network stops at Taupo as part of its North Island Adventure Tour.
WELLINGTON: The Shire, Gardens of Isengard, the River Anduin, Rivendell, Osgiliath Wood, Paths of the Dead
The most accessible filming location in Wellington is Mount Victoria, which is within walking distance of the central city. The forested areas of the mountain were used to depict Hobbiton Woods, where the hobbits hid from the black riders. Other Wellington locations include the Hutt River between Moonshine and Totara Park, which played the part of the River Anduin; and Harcourt Park, which was transformed into the Gardens of Isengard.
Wellington’s Kaitoke Regional Park became Rivendell, where Frodo recovered from the knife attack. The exact location - a grassy area surrounded by native forest - is signposted from the car park.
From Wellington you can drive up the west coast to Queen Elizabeth Park near Paraparaumu, which was used for filming the Nazgul and mumakil in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Further up the coast is Waitarere Forest (Osgiliath Wood), where Frodo, Sam and Smeagol walked after leaving Faramir.
A drive over the hills to the Wairarapa region will take you to the eerie Putangirua Pinnacles, where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli sought the Paths of the Dead.
Getting there:
Some international flights land in Wellington. Otherwise, Wellington is a short domestic flight from Auckland or Christchurch.
You can drive to Wellington from Auckland - SH1 all the way.
The Magic Travelers Network stops at Wellington as part of its North Island Advemture Tour.
Intercity Coachlines and the Overlander passenger train service run daily services between Auckland and Wellington.
For directions on how to drive to specific Wellington locations, ask at an iSITE Visitor Information Centre.
SOUTHERN LAKES: Misty Mountains, Ford of Bruinen, Gandalf’s ride, Middle-earth panorama
From the village of Glenorchy, at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, you can see the north-western slopes of Mount Earnslaw, which featured in the opening sequence of The Two Towers. From Glenorchy you can also discover Lothlorien - the beech forest on the road to Paradise.
Another memorable location can be found near Queenstown at Arrowtown where you can walk to the Ford of Bruinen on the Arrow River; you can also walk to Wilcox Green, where the Gladden Fields scenes were filmed.
From Chard Farm winery you can see a spectacular view of the Anduin and Argonath (Pillar of Kings). The Pillars were computer generated in the studio.
Drive over the Crown Range Road and you’ll find yourself in the Cardrona Valley. From here you can drive to the summit of Mount Cardona (1119m) for a panoramic view of Middle-earth. To the left are the River Anduin and the Pillars of the Argonath. In the hills straight ahead is the Dimrill Dale. In the distance is Amon Hen on the shore of Nen Hithoel.
Getting there:
Some international flights land in Queenstown. Alternatively, catch a domestic flight from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin.
You can drive to Queenstown from Dunedin. Follow SH1 to Milton, turn right onto SH8, then follow SH6 from Cromwell.
The Magic Travelers Network stops at Queenstown as part of its South Island Adventure Tour.
Intercity Coachlines run daily services to Queenstown from Christchurch and Dunedin.
For directions on how to drive to specific Southern Lakes locations, ask at an iSITE Visitor Information Centre.
CANTERBURY: Edoras
Nestled in the Ashburton District's high country sits Mount Sunday - a sheer-sided hill that was the set for Edoras, the main city of the Rohan people.
Nothing remains of this set, which took nine months to build, however the location still has a powerful magic. You can park your vehicle on Hakatere Potts Road and walk to the site. Nearby, Mount Potts Station offers accommodation and a restaurant.
Getting there:
Some international flights land in Christchurch. Or catch a domestic flight from Auckland or Wellington.
You can drive to Mount Sunday from Christchurch. Follow SH 1 to Ashburton, turn right onto SH77, left onto Inland scenic route 72, then right at Mount Somers.
MACKENZIE COUNTRY: Pelennor Fields
Near Twizel in the Mackenzie Country, Peter Jackson filmed the epic battle of the Pelennor Fields, where thousands of orcs bred by Sauron clashed with the men of Gondor and Rohan. The grassy fields that stretch to the foothills of the mountains look exactly as described in The Lord of the Rings. The location is on private land, however you can arrange a tour in the town of Twizel.
Getting there:
Christchurch, the closest airport, receives some international flights. Or catch a domestic flight from any major New Zealand city.
You can drive to Twizel from Christchurch. Follow SH1 to Washdyke, turn right onto SH8.
Intercity Coachlines run daily services to Twizel from Christchurch.
The Magic Travelers Network steps at Twizel and as part of it's South Island Adventure Tour
FIORDLAND: River Anduin, Fangorn Forest
The Waiau River between Te Anau and Manapouri represented the River Anduin as the Fellowship paddled south from Lothlórien. The surrounding high peaks were used to depict the rough country south of Rivendell.
To discover Fanghorn Forest, ask for directions to Takaro Road, which is near Te Anau. Both sides of the road were filmed as Fangorn Forest; remote cameras were strung from high wires to film Aragon moving through the trees.
From Te Anau you can jet-boat the Anduin, gaze at the Misty Mountains from a Doubtful Sound Cruise or experience your own walking quest along the Kepler Track.
Getting there:
If you want to fly, there are airports in Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill.
Driving times: Invercargill to Te Anau via SH94, 2 ¼ hours; Dunedin to Te Anau via Balclutha, Gore, Lumsdem and Mossburn, 4 ¼ hours; Queenstown to Te Anau, 2 ½ hours.
Intercity Coachlines connect Te Anau with Invercargill, Dunedin and Queenstown.
The Magic Travelers Network stops at Te Anau as part of its South Island Adventure Tour
By Kirra Holidays