Travel Guide to Lord of the Rings Locations
With the recent filming of Peter Jackson's film
The Hobbit, there has never been a better time to visit the filming locations of
The Lord of The Rings trilogy and
The Hobbit.
Film Locations
New Zealand's dramatic and diverse scenery was a compelling element in Peter Jackson successfully pitching his homeland as the location for the epic.
'Tolkien's world was one of deep hidden valleys, barren wastelands, remote mystical mountains and lush, low valleys, and we found all these places throughout New Zealand.'
(Peter Jackson, Foreword, Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook, by Ian Brodie)
The pivotal battle at Pelennor Field and scenes involving the Eastemnet Gullies were filmed on the spectacular
Ben-Ohau high country sheep station
located in the Mackenzie Basin, near Twizel. The farm is nestled at the
foot of the Southern Alps in the South Island of New Zealand. Tours can
be booked at the
Twizel Information Centre.
Please note that most Lord of the Rings set locations (eg: any actual buildings or sets constructed for filming) have long gone.
Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours in Matamata is one exception. Co-owned by Peter Jackson, this set has been protected and offers guided tours.
Search for film locations
Waikato - Hobbiton
Taupo Region - Mordor, Emyn Muil
Kapiti Coast - East Road
Upper Hutt - Isengard, Rivendell, Great River Anduin
Lower Hutt - Minas Tirith, Minas Morgul, Helms Deep
Nelson - Dimrill Dale
Takaka - Chetwood Forest
Queenstown - Lothlorien
Canterbury - Edoras, Plains of Rohan
Tarras / Wanaka - Golden Plains
Twizel - Pelennor Fields
Te Anau - The Dead Marshes
Milford Sound - Nen Hithoel, Amon Hen, Fangorn Forest
Southern Alps - Misty Mountains
LOTR location guidebook
For more detailed information on the filming locations, pick up Ian Brodie's Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook (Harper Collins 2002, revised edition 2003) or Lonely Planet's Lord of the Rings New Zealand Guide Book. The revised edition of the
Lord of the Rings Locations Guidebook contains new interviews with key cast and crew, new location photographs and movie images from the
Return of the King, along with touring information, GPS references and local directions to filming sites. It can be ordered online at the link above, or from a local supplier or bookstore by quoting the ISBN code (1-86950-452-6) and HarperCollins NZ as the publisher.
Useful links and articles
Peter Jackson - the director of The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings - World of Wearable Art
The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition
Stansborough - fabric weavers to The Lord of the Rings - the Magic Cloaks
Weta Studio - Heart of The Lord of the Rings
This site is maintained and updated by Jasons Travel Media, and is in no way affiliated with Tolkien Enterprises or the Tolkien Estate. We in no way claim the Lord of the Rings artwork or images displayed to be our own. Copyrights and trademarks for the books, films, articles, and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners and their use is allowed under the fair use clause of the Copyright Law. All images are sourced from various Newspapers and considered to be in the public domain.
