The Hobbit Filming Locations

Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit filming locations

Where was the Hobbit filmed?

Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were filmed at more than 150 locations in both North and South Islands of NEW ZEALAND. Here is the list of location where the magic of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit books was captured on reel.

Hobbiton & its nearby attractions

Photo by Thomas Schweighofer on Unsplash

The Shire is the first name that comes to mind when we think of Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies. Everyone freak out when they come to know that this place actually exists. It is located in a place called Waikato town which is approximately 1 hour away from Auckland. Yes, this is the real place where Frodo lives with his uncle Bilbo Baggins!

Hobbiton has 44 hobbit holes including the BAGEND, and a pub. They offer two guided tours daily, so plan accordingly and book the tickets in advance.

It is a known fact that the set was supposed to be demolished after the shoot, but was retained because of LOTR fans. Everything was kept intact and new additions were made including the pub which is mentioned in the books by Tolkien.

Mount Ngauruhoe - the land of Mordor (Tongariro National Park)

Photo by Matthew Buchanan on Unsplash

Though a lot of locations of Tongariro National Park were used to create the land of the Mardor on screen, Mount Ngauruhoe is definitely the major attraction. It was used as Mount Doom - the place where the ring was brought into existence, the same place where it is destroyed in the end.

Mount Ruapehu

In the Lord of the Ring movies, Mt Ruapehu was used to represent the fictional place called Emyn Muil which, according to the LOTR Universe, is a place somewhere between Rohan and the lands of Dead Marshes and the Nindalf.

Mangawhero Falls

Mangawhero Falls is located near the town of Ohakune. It is the place where Ghollum is shown catching fish in the LOTR movies.

Tukino ski field

Tukino ski field is another great location in NZ that was using during the filming of the movies. This place, located on the ease side of In the movies, it is shown as Gogoroth & Black Gate. It is located on the eastern side of the Mount Ruapehu.

Lord of the Rings Filming Locations in Wellington

Mount Victoria

Photo by Pat Ho on Unsplash

Located not far from the Central Wellington, Mount Victoria comes across as the highlight of all the filming locations located in Wellington. The forests of the Mount Victoria were used as Hobbit Woods in the scenes where the hobbits hide from the black riders.

Harcourt Park

In Lord of the Rings movies, Harcourt Park in Wellington was used as the Gardens of Isengard. Hutt River is also located close by - it was used as River Anduin.

Kaitoke Regional Park

Another notable park in Wellington which was used in the Lord of the Ring movies; Kaitoke Regional Park was used perfectly as backdrop for Rivendell and the Fords of Isen, the place where Frodo recovers from knife attack.

Queen Elizabeth Park

On the western coast of Queen Elizabeth Park lies Nazgul and mumakil which were used as backdrop for the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Waitarere Forest

Waitarere Forest is also located nearby, it was used as the Osgiliath Wood - the desne woods near Osgiliath, the capital city of Gondor. It is this place where Frodo, Sam and Gollum are shown after they leave Faramir.

Putangirua Pinnacles

Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash

Putangirua Pinnacles, also part of Wairarapa region was also used in the Lord of the Rings movies. It was used as backdrop for the Paths of Dead - the haunted pass through the White Mountains, that Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli face.

Lord of the Rings Filming Locations in South Island

Nelson Tasman

Nelson Tasman is not a filming location, but is of great importance; it is the place where the rings used in the movies were forged by a man named Jens Hansen

Takaka Hill

This was used as the backdrop for the Chestwood Forest where hobbits are taken towards east of Bree by Ranger 'Strider' in order to escape the Black Riders.

Cantebury

Mount Sunday, which falls in the Cantebury part of NZ was used as backdrop for Edoras which in the LOTR Universe is the main city of the Rohan folks. As per the reports, a set was built on this place which unlike the Hobbiton set was not retained. You can still visit the place, Mount Potts Station is quite popular here.

Mackenzie Country

The battle of Pelennor Fields was shot at Mackenzie Country, even the scenes where the clash between Gondor and Rohan men is shown were shot here only.

Lake Wakatipu

Photo by Phil Botha on Unsplash

This beautiful lake in South Island's village of Glenorchy . The opening scenes of the Two Towers movie were shot here; from this lake you can enjoy the views of Mount Earnslaw which was used in the said scenes.

There is also another location, the Paradise Forest which was used as Lothlorien in the LOTR movies.

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