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Where Filmed
The Green Dragon inn beside the pond at Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata – the hobbits' pub, built in permanent materials for The Hobbit

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2 productions

Nelson: filming locations of 2 productions

The Pelorus River.

SC 00 · MAP OF THE FILMING LOCATIONS

ACT IThe HobbitFilm · 2012–2014

The Pelorus River at Pelorus Bridge, the barrel-ride river in The HobbitJeff Hitchcock · CC BY 3.0

EXT. PELORUS RIVER – PELORUS BRIDGE

Pelorus River

as The barrel escape from Mirkwood

The dwarves ride the barrels down this river in The Desolation of Smaug; the close shots with the cast in barrels on real water were done on the stretch through Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve in December 2011.

VISITING

Free. A DOC reserve on State Highway 6 between Nelson and Blenheim, about 18 km west of Havelock, with a serviced campsite and a café. Short loop walks along the river, swimming holes in summer. Guided kayak trips run the filming stretch.

NOTEThe river floods after heavy rain. The barrels did not go through the rapids unaided, and neither should you.

Marble outcrops and tussock at Canaan Downs on Takaka Hill – the company's ride out of the ShireKorkut Tas · CC BY-SA 3.0

EXT. CANAAN DOWNS, TAKAKA HILL – TAKAKA HILL

Canaan Downs, Takaka Hill

as Riding out of the Shire; the run to Beorn's house

The company rides through the marble outcrops and beech forest of Canaan Downs early in An Unexpected Journey, and runs through the same country with the bear behind them in The Desolation of Smaug. The crew camped on the hill in late 2011.

VISITING

Free. From State Highway 60 on Takaka Hill, Canaan Road runs 11 km of gravel to the DOC scenic reserve at the end, with a basic campsite; DOC no longer maintains or promotes the Harwoods Hole track; access is at your own risk. About 1 hour 15 minutes from Nelson. Wasp numbers can be high in summer.

See the filming locations: The Hobbit →

ACT IIThe Lord of the RingsFilm · 2001–2003, Hobbit 2012–2014

The Pelorus River at Pelorus Bridge, the barrel-ride river in The HobbitJeff Hitchcock · CC BY 3.0

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.

VISITING

Free reserve with a café and campsite, on the road between Nelson and Blenheim. Kayak trips run the same stretch.

See the filming locations: The Lord of the Rings →