Where wasThe Lord of the Ringsfilmed?

EXT. HOBBITON MOVIE SET – MATAMATA

Hobbiton Movie Set

as The Shire, Bag End, the Green Dragon

The Alexander family's sheep farm was Hobbiton for both trilogies. The 44 hobbit holes, the Party Tree, the mill and the Green Dragon inn were rebuilt permanently from 2009 for The Hobbit (the Green Dragon opened in 2012) and are the only surviving set of either trilogy. Since 2023 you can enter two furnished hobbit-hole interiors.

NOTEThe first tour of the morning and the last of the afternoon have the softest light and the fewest people in your photos. Book the evening banquet tour if you want the Green Dragon at night.

EXT. MOUNT NGAURUHOE – TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

Mount Ngauruhoe

as Mount Doom

The cone of Ngauruhoe is Mount Doom in every wide shot; the slopes of Mount Ruapehu next to it were Mordor's plains and the Emyn Muil, filmed on the Whakapapa ski field.

NOTEThe Crossing is weather-dependent and the shuttle bookings are the way to avoid the car-shuffle. Take it seriously as an alpine walk.

EXT. KAITOKE REGIONAL PARK – UPPER HUTT

Kaitoke Regional Park

as Rivendell

The elven refuge was built in the beech forest by the Hutt River; nothing of the set remains, but the park has marked the spots and put up an elven archway in 2014.

EXT. MOUNT VICTORIA – WELLINGTON

Mount Victoria

as The Hobbits' hiding place from the Black Rider

The first location filmed, in October 1999: the hobbits tumble down the bank and hide under the roots from the Ringwraith on the town belt above the city. The 'Get off the road' scene.

INT. WĒTĀ WORKSHOP – WELLINGTON

Wētā Workshop

as Where the props, armour and creatures were made

The Miramar workshop built the weapons, prosthetics and miniatures for both trilogies. The Wētā Cave and the workshop tours show the process and originals.

EXT. PUTANGIRUA PINNACLES – CAPE PALLISER

Putangirua Pinnacles

as The Paths of the Dead

The eroded gravel pillars in the Wairarapa are the road Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli take to summon the Dead.

EXT. MOUNT SUNDAY – ASHBURTON LAKES

Mount Sunday

as Edoras

The Golden Hall of Meduseld stood on this hill in the Rangitata valley for the shooting of The Two Towers; the set was removed entirely.

EXT. GLENORCHY AND PARADISE – GLENORCHY

Glenorchy and Paradise

as Isengard, Lothlórien, Amon Hen

The beech forest at Paradise was Lothlórien and the approach to Isengard; Amon Hen and Ithilien are in the same valley. Also Beorn's house in The Hobbit.

EXT. KAWARAU GORGE – QUEENSTOWN

Kawarau Gorge

as The Argonath and the Anduin

The Fellowship rows between the Pillars of the Kings on the Kawarau River; the statues were added digitally. Also the Ford of Bruinen at Arrowtown and Skippers Canyon nearby.

EXT. PELORUS RIVER – MARLBOROUGH

Pelorus River

as The barrel escape in The Hobbit

The dwarves ride the barrels down this river in The Desolation of Smaug; Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve is the exact stretch.