Filming Locations for The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was set in New Zealand, with its mountain ranges, wild rivers, and grassy fields. Here’s where you can get your hands on Middle‑earth™.

Whether or not you’re a Tolkien fan, it’s difficult not to draw parallels between New Zealand and Middle‑earth™.

New Zealand’s otherworldly landscapes brought the movies to life, from the towering mountains to the dreamy Hobbiton™ in the Shire.

Where was Lord of the Rings filmed?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was entirely filmed in New Zealand. More than 150 filming locations were used in both the North and South Islands.

Lord of the Rings locations in the North Island

Matamata is one of New Zealand’s most popular filming locations.

The Shire and Hobbiton™ Movie Set

the hobbit: an unexpected journey, martin freeman, 2012. ©warner bros. pictures/courtesy everett col

The lush dairy farming landscape around Matamata, Waikato, was used to depict the peaceful Shire region of Middle‑earth™. The village of Hobbiton was meticulously crafted in this location.

It was later rebuilt for The Hobbit Trilogy filming and is now a permanent attraction.

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

Mount Victoria, which is within walking distance of the city center, is the most accessible filming location in Wellington. The mountain’s forested areas were used to represent Hobbiton Woods, where the hobbits hid from the black riders.

Other locations in Wellington include the Hutt River between Moonshine and Tara Park, which served as the River Anduin, and Harcourt Park, which was transformed into the Gardens of Isengard.

The Kaitoke Regional Park in Wellington was transformed into Rivendell, where Frodo recovered from the knife attack. The exact location, a grassy area surrounded by native forest, is marked from the parking lot.

You can drive up the west coast from Wellington to Queen Elizabeth Park near Paraparaumu, which was used to film the Nazgul and Mumakil in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Waitarere Forest (Osgiliath Wood) is further up the coast, where Frodo, Sam, and Gollum walked after leaving Faramir.

A drive through the hills to the Wairarapa region leads to the eerie Putangirua Pinnacles, where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli sought the Paths of the Dead.

Wellington is also home to Wt Workshop(opens in new window), Wt Digital, and the Miramar film empire, which is central to the production of The Hobbit Trilogy. While the movie business center is closed to visitors, Lord of the Rings fans can visit the Wētā Cave.

Locations in the South Island

Because of the sheer drama of the South Island’s mountain ranges and wilderness areas, there are dozens of filming locations to visit that are stunning in their own right – even non-movie buffs will appreciate these.

Nelson Tasman, Chetwood Forest, and Dimrill Dale

Jens Hansen, the goldsmith in charge of creating the 40 different rings used in production, lives in Nelson Tasman. One of the original rings is on display, and copies in 9 and 18ct gold can be purchased.

Drive west from Nelson over Takaka Hill, which was used in the filming of Chetwood Forest. In order to escape the Black Riders, the Ranger ‘Strider’ led the hobbits into the rough country east of Bree.

To find out where the Fellowship hid from Saruman’s black crows, you’ll need to take a helicopter. Request that the pilot show you Dimrill Dale, Mount Olympus, and Mount Owen. The region’s three national parks – Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, and Kahurangi – will be visible from the air.

Edoras, Canterbury

Mount Sunday is a sheer-sided hill in the Ashburton District that served as the setting for Edoras, the main city of the Rohan people.

Nothing of this set, which took nine months to build, remains, but the location retains powerful magic. You can park on Hakatere Potts Road and walk to the location. Mount Potts Station, which is nearby, has lodging and a restaurant.

Pelennor Fields, Mackenzie Country

Peter Jackson filmed the epic battle of the Pelennor Fields near Twizel in the Mackenzie Country, where thousands of orcs bred by Sauron clashed with the men of Gondor and Rohan. The grassy fields that stretch all the way to the mountain foothills look exactly like they do in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The location is on private land, but a tour can be arranged in Twizel.

Gandalf’s Ride, Isengard, and Lothlorien in the Southern Lakes

dramatic sky, lake wakatipu, new zealand

The northwestern slopes of Mount Earnslaw, which featured in the opening sequence of The Two Towers, can be seen from Glenorchy, at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu. Lothlorien, the beech forest on the road to Paradise, is also accessible from Glenorchy.

Another memorable location near Queenstown is Arrowtown, where you can walk to the Ford of Bruinen on the Arrow River and Wilcox Green, where the Gladden Fields scenes were filmed.

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A spectacular view of the Anduin and Argonath can be seen from the Chard Farm winery (Pillar of Kings). The Pillars were created in the studio using computer graphics.

You’ll arrive in the Cardrona Valley after crossing the Crown Range Road. You can drive to the summit of the Crown Range from here for a panoramic view of Middle‑earth™. The River Anduin and the Pillars of Argonath are to the left. Dimrill Dale is located in the hills straight ahead. Amon Hen, on the shore of Nen Hithoel, can be seen in the distance.

River Anduin and Fangorn Forest in Fiordland

As the Fellowship paddled south from Lothlórien, the Waiau River between Te Anau and Manapouri represented the River Anduin. The surrounding high peaks represented the rough terrain south of Rivendell.

To visit Fangorn Forest, ask for directions to Takaro Road in Te Anau. Fangorn Forest was filmed on both sides of the road, with remote cameras strung from high wires to capture the hobbits moving through the trees.

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