Waitarere Beach is nestled between two forests of quite different styles. The North is forestry land dedicated to large areas of lined Pine trees of varying ages. The South is a mix of interesting gnarled and low brush trees haphazardly placed along the coast. The North was used for a few shots of Trollshaw forest, …
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In a hole there lived a Hobbit.
Hobbiton is the most well known film location in New Zealand. Nestled in the countryside near Matamata in the North Island it is usually the first stop for many Lord of the Rings fans after leaving Auckland. For me however it was the second stop after visiting Weathertop near Port Waikato. It has been many …
To the Watchtower
I write this as I sit at the gate to the private lands where Weathertop is located. I've been waiting for some time now after trekking for two and a half hours to this spot. The future is uncertain as to whether anyone will come or if they'll even let me into the land to …
Going on an Adventure
I arrived just before midnight on Wednesday, I even had the whole row to myself at the tail end of the plane. The full moon lit the clouds below us, and it looked as though we were gliding above snow topped mountains stretching as far as the eye could see. But, soon enough the mountains …
Journey to the Cross-Roads
Poolburn East of Glenorchy/Queenstown is the Central Otago Region. Hot in the summer months and freezing in the winter, this flowing golden brown region was perfect for representing the lands of Rohan. The area surrounding Poolburn and nearby Ida Valley was used extensively for wide shots of Rohan. Here Rohan villages were attacked by Sarumans …
The Window on the West
Queenstown Our flight to the Ford is over. The journey must now continue South to the major tourist destination of Queenstown. Queenstown is known for its beautiful landscape, snow-capped mountains, majestic lake and extreme sports. There are a number of filming locations closeby, spread along the outskirts of the Queenstown area. The below map shows …
Flight to the Ford: Chapter 2
Pillars of the Kings The Anduin river has been represented by multiple rivers, from both of New Zealand's main islands. For the awe-inspiring scene of the Pillars of the Kings, or the Argonath, a section of the Kawarau River was chosen. An area known for its sharp cliffs and bungy-jumping was used and computer-enhanced with …
Flight to the Ford
Leaving the Battle of the Pelennor Fields behind, and heading south from the town of Twizel, our next filming site is near the small town of Tarras. Tarras is a small farming village South-East of Wanaka and nearby private land was used for a section of the Fellowship of the Ring, as Arwen rides to …
The King of the Golden Hall
The northern parts of the South Island are filled with beautiful mountain ranges and national parks. As I head further south this will break into two distinct climate/landscape types. The wetter, greener lands to the west of the Southern Alps, and the dryer, flatter lands to the east. Reaching the next filming location will be …
The Ring goes South
We have just completed our journey of the North Island! By this point each filming location on the North Island, for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, has been visited. Our elf eyes are now set for the South. The remainder, and arguably the more interesting, longer, and tougher part of the journey …
Backpacker's Guide to Middle Earth 