This spellbinding location was the site of Lothlorien forest, using the mystical glow that streams through the giant Beech trees around Mount Aspiring National Park. In The Lord of the Rings, the elves made Lothlorien their home after falling in love with the golden, ethereal forest.
Tolkien described Lothlorien as the fairest part of Middle Earth, like a heaven on Middle Earth, and Paradise perfectly captures this divine atmosphere. Unfortunately, all these locations are set on private land so cannot be accessed, however you can still go to the forest along the Glenorchy-Paradise Road.
There are plenty of parking areas around the forest and you can admire the magical scenery from these vantage points. That is the fairest of all the dwellings of my people. There are not trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold. This location is famous for the scene where Arwen calls a flood to defeat the pursuing Ringwraiths in The Fellowship of the Ring.
This scenic area was used as the site of Amon Hen, where the Fellowship were split up during the final battle of The Fellowship of the Ring. The scenes were filmed in a Pine forest near the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Twelve Mile Delta encompasses a sparkling blue stream surrounded by thick shrubbery and rugged mountain ranges. It was here that the hobbits lay, enthralled by the part mammoth, part elephant Oliphaunts. These colossal beasts were computer generated and a five metre high scaffolding was used to create the space where they be digitally edited into the film.
This site will also take you back to the scene where Sam and Gollum discuss the best way to cook potatoes in The Two Towers. Earnslaw Burn is an awe-inspiring site. This massive glacier has dozens of wondrous waterfalls cascading over huge granite rock faces of metres.
The waterfalls freeze in the winter to form magical ice caves. The location is only accessible via helicopter or a challenging eight to twelve hour return hike along the Earnslaw Burn Track.
The picturesque Lake Wanaka and Southern Alps were used for many scenes including the Black Riders searching for Frodo across the glimmering plains and Arwen and Frodo racing through the forest to the Ford of Bruinen. You can access the locations from the small farming village of Tarras, around an hour from Queenstown.
Gaze up at snowy peaks of the Southern Alps rising behind Lake Wanaka and picture the scene where Gwahiri the eagle rescued Gandalf from Orthanc. Immediately recognisable as Rohan, the land of the Rohirrim, Ida Valley is a place of striking beauty. This supernatural landscape feels quite surreal with sweeping, desolate plains strewn with rocky outcrops and sandy tussocks. The jewel of this otherworldly moonscape is Poolburn Reservoir, also known as Poolburn Dam.
The lake is breathtakingly blue and marbled with incredible white swirls of ice. From here, you can walk to Wilcox Green, the site of the Gladden Fields. This awe-inspiring national park was the setting for the beautiful scene where the Eagles save Gandalf, Bilbo and the Dwarves then fly over Middle Earth.
The best way to experience this location is with a scenic helicopter flight over the Fiordland. Snowdon Forest in Fiordland National Park was also used as the location for Fangorn Forest, the home of the Ents, the ancient tree shepherds.
This wondrous location perfectly depicts the mystical beauty of Rivendell, home of the Elves. Head to the Norwest Lakes where the Fellowship travelled south from Rivendell. The lake can also be seen in the epic scenes where the Fellowship flees with the eagles.
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At Discover New Zealand we use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Cookie Policy for more information. 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. 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.
While the movie business centre is off-limits to visitors, The Lord of the Rings pilgrims can experience the Weta Cave. The sheer drama of the South Island's mountain ranges and wilderness areas means there are dozens of filming locations to visit that are stunning in their own right - even non-movie buffs will enjoy these.
Nelson Tasman is home to Jens Hansen, the goldsmith responsible for creating the 40 different rings used in production. One of the original rings is on display and copies can be bought in 9 and 18ct gold. 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.
From the air, you'll get an eagle's view of the region's three national parks - Abel Tasman , Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi. 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 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.
The grassy fields that stretch to the foothills of the mountains look exactly as described in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The location is on private land, however you can arrange a tour in the town of Twizel.
How to visit: Glenorchy is on the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, bout 28 miles north-west of Queenstown. It's a scenic place for an independent stroll, or can also be visited on a LOTR -themed tour of the Queenstown area. Scenes filmed here: Mt. Gunn is one of the places where the beacons between Gondor and Rohan were lit. Good views can be had from scenic helicopter flights, but travelers on a more limited budget can enjoy walks in the area.
The surrounding peaks represented the rough country south of Rivendell. It's the largest river in Southland. Various sections of the river were used in filming, but aerial shots of the flotilla were shot along the Manapouri to Te Anau highway.
A self-drive tour of the area is a good way to get a sense of this scenery. How to visit: North and South Mavora Lakes are about 90 minutes' drive from Te Anau, and can only be reached by private vehicle. There are two basic Department of Conservation-administered campsites on the lakes. Some guided tours to LOTR locations in Southland are available, but there are fewer in this area than around Queenstown or elsewhere.
How to visit: The Mararoa River is in the same area as the Mavora Lakes, and one particular filming location is at the swingbridge at the southern end of South Mavora Lake. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads.
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