New Zealand showcases over 150 locations that were used in the filming of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit. Throughout the North and South, experience Lord of the Rings film locations brought to life when you visit on screen-famous places including Amon Hen, Lothlorien, the Pelennor Fields, Edoras, Isengard and even Hobbiton!

North Island Film Locations

The Shire and Hobbiton Movie Set – Matamata

With its green pastures, Waikato’s dairy farming town of Matamata was used to represent the peaceful Shire region of Middle Earth. Having been rebuilt for the Trilogy Movie, the set of Hobbiton Village is now a permanent fixture.

Gardens of Isengard, the River Anduin, Rivendell, Osgiliath Wood, Paths of the Dead – Wellington

Mount Victoria in Wellington is the most accessible filming location, located just minutes walk from the central city. These forested areas of the mountain were used to portray Hobbiton Woods, where the hobbits hid from the black riders. Other locations include the Hutt River located between Moonshine and Totara Park, which played the part of the River Anduin and Harcourt Park, which was transformed into the Gardens of Isengard.

The Kaitoke Regional Park became Rivendell, where Frodo recovered from the knife attack. Follow the signposts from the carpark to the exact location, a grassy area surrounded by native forest.

Drive up the west coast to Queen Elizabeth Park (by Paraparaumu) which was used filming the Nazgul and mumakil in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. And further up the coast is Waitarere Forest (Osgiliath Wood), where Frodo, Sam and Gollum walked after leaving Faramir.

A drive over the Rimutaka hills, into the Wairarapa region will take you to the eerie Putangirua Pinnacles, where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli sought the Paths of the Dead.

Wellington is also home to Weta Workshop, Weta Digital and the Miramar film empire which is central to The Hobbit Trilogy production.

 South Island Film Locations

Home of the ‘One Ring’, Chetwood Forest, Dimrill Dale – Nelson

Home to Jens Hansen, the goldsmith who was responsible for creating the 40 different rings used in the production. One of the original rings is on display and you can purchase copies in 9 and 18ct gold.

Over Takaka Hill, leads you to 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.

Take a helicopter ride to see where the fellowship hid from Saruman’s black crows along with Dimrill Dale – Mount Olympus and Mount Owen.

Edoras – Canterbury

Located in Ashburton high country sits Mount Sunday – a sheer-sided hill that was the set for Edoras, the main city of the Rohan people. Unfortunately nothing remains of the set, which did take nine months to build, however the location still has a powerful magic.

Pelennor Fields – MacKenzie Country

Located near Twizel in the gorgeous 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, to the foothills of the mountains look exactly as described in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Ford of Bruinen, Gandalf’s ride, Isengard and Lothlorien – Queenstown and Wanaka

At the northern end of Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu lies Glenorchy, see the north-western slopes of Mount Earnslaw, which featured in the opening sequence of The Two Towers. From Glenorchy, discover Lothlorien – the beech forest on the road to Paradise.

Another filming location can be found near Arrowtown, walk to the Ford of Bruinen on the Arrow River and to Wilcox Green, where the Gladden Fields scenes were filmed.

And from Chard Farm winery, enjoy a spectacular view of the Anduin and Argonath (Pillar of Kings). The Pillars were computer generated in the studio.

In the Cardrona Valley, and from the summit of Mount Cardona (1119m) take in a panoramic view of Middle‑earth. To the left are the River Anduin and the Pillars of the Argonath and in the hills straight ahead is the Dimrill Dale, plus in the distance is Amon Hen on the shore of Nen Hithoel.

River Anduin, Fangorn Forest – Fiordland

Between Te Anau and Manapouri, the Waiau River represented the River Anduin as the Fellowship paddled south from Lothlórien and the surrounding high peaks were used to depict the rough country south of Rivendell.

Discover Fanghorn Forest (Takaro Road, near Te Anau) where both sides of the road were filmed as Fangorn Forest. Remote cameras were strung from high wires to film Aragon moving through the trees.