Lord of the Rings Filming Locations Guide

Guide to exploring Lord of the Rings filming locations in New Zealand

Wellington Region

Weta Workshop and Weta Cave, Wellington

• Exhibits and insights into the film's production, special effects, and props.

Mount Victoria, Wellington

• The scene where the Hobbits hide from the Black Riders in "The Fellowship of the Ring"

Kaitoke Regional Park, Wellington

• Lush forests of Rivendell.

Queenstown and Central Otago

Arrowtown, Queenstown District

• Used for scenes set in Bree and surrounding areas.

The Remarkables, Queenstown

• Mountain range used as the backdrop for Mordor.

Glenorchy, Queenstown District

• Landscapes used to represent Lothlorien and Isengard.

Fiordland National Park, Southland

• Scenes of the river Anduin and other dramatic landscapes were filmed here.

Canterbury Region

Mount Sunday, Canterbury

• The site of Edoras, capital of Rohan.

Castle Hill, Canterbury

• Known for the Pillars of the Kings in "The Two Towers".

Other Famous Film Locations

The Hobbit Trilogy

Hobbiton, Matamata

• Hobbiton Movie Set features the iconic hobbit holes and the Shire as seen in "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Hobbit".

The Chronicles of Narnia

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula

• The scene where the kids return to Narnia at the start of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"

Fiordland National Park, Southland

• Used for scenes in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe"

The Last Samurai

Ohakune

• This region was used to depict Japanese landscapes.

Avatar

Fiordland National Park

• Inspired some of the landscapes in the movies.

"The Lord of the Rings" Documentary Sites

Wellington Museum

• Features exhibits on the making of "The Lord of the Rings", including behind-the-scenes insights.

Film Location Tours

Guided Tours

The Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

• Guided tours of the Hobbiton set, including various hobbit holes and drinks at the Green Dragon Inn.

Lord of the Rings Tours

• Several companies offer specialized tours of filming locations across New Zealand.

Self-Guided Tours

Map and Itineraries

• Use online resources to plan self-guided tours of the Lord of the Rings filming locations

Tips for visiting

• Plan your visit as some locations require permits or are difficult to access.
• Book in advance, as popular tours like Hobbiton fill up quickly.
• Respect local Guidelines
• Leave no trace and follow environmental guidelines to preserve the locations
• Respect privacy for the locations on private property and follow local guidelines.
• Engage with local guides to gain deeper insights into the significance of the filming locations.