Image source: Lifestyle Asia
Filming places for popular movies and television shows have long been attractive tourist destinations. Indeed, they have been proven to significantly increase a location’s tourism. The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) has been no different in this way. The whole franchise, including the previous three films and The Hobbit trilogy, has contributed significantly to New Zealand’s tourism over the last decade or so. The filming sites used in these movies have been known to attract tourists to visit these areas.
Here are 5 ‘Lord of the Rings’ filming locations you can visit in New Zealand
1. Matamata
Enter the captivating land of The Shire and Hobbiton, nestled in the lush, rolling hills of a 1250-acre sheep farm near the Waikato town of Matamata, Rotorua. Originally designed for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Hobbiton Movie Set was reconstructed for the Hobbit trilogy.
2. Lake Pukaki
The magnificent Lake Pukaki was picked as the location for Laketown in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the second film in the trilogy. This lake gets its blue water from the glacier lakes that spread across the area. This is one of the most beautiful spots in New Zealand, with Mount Cook in the backdrop.
3. Tongariro
Mount Doom of Mordor, also known as Mount Ngauruhoe, is one of the most famous locations. It is where Frodo ends his journey to destroy the Ring. If you go to the start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, you’ll notice this active volcano towering out of the earth.
4. Kaitoke Regional Park
The filming of Rivendell, where an important scene shows Frodo surviving a knife attack, took place in Wellington’s Kaitoke Regional Park. This location is popular with tourists who enjoy nature because of the grassy area and the surrounding forests.
5. Pelorus River
Director Peter Jackson chose this lovely river for a scene in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, when dwarves are shown floating down the river in huge barrels to get away from an Elven village.
