Lord of the Rings filming in Nelson

Looking at Nelson from a Lord of the Rings point of view will lead you to some fantastic faraway places.

Follow the trail of the Lord of the Rings' moviemakers around some of the most scenic locations in Nelson. Start with the art and craft trail, where the characters are as colourful as their vibrant works. The 'one ring' was made by a Nelson jeweller and many local artisans worked on props for the three movies.

From Nelson drive west over Takaka Hill, which was the filming site for Chetwood Forest. Here the Ranger 'Strider' led the hobbits into the rough country east of Bree in an attempt to escape the Black Riders.

You'll need to catch a helicopter to see where the fellowship hid from Saruman's black crows. You can also ask the pilot to show you Dimrill Dale - Mount Olympus and Mount Owen. From the air, you'll get an eagle's view of the region's three national parks - Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi. At the end of the day, pop into Harrington's Brewery in Richmond to sample the stout that was served over the bar in The Prancing Pony.