How to explore Lord of the Rings filming locations in New Zealand
When diversity asked director Peter Jackson why he chose the film Lord of the Rings In his native New Zealand – then known only for his art house and indie films – the Kiwi filmmaker quipped more than Hollywood, “Why would I leave the Shire to live in Mordor?”
Fast forward 20 years and six blockbuster films later – plus the hit series The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime, which launched in September – New Zealand’s reputation as the true Middle-earth continues to have a profound impact on the country’s tourism industry.
In the ten years after the premiere of the Lord of the Rings movies diversity reported that international visits to Wellington increased by a staggering 87%. According to Tourism New Zealand, nearly one in five visitors first discovered the country through the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, and a third of all travelers visited a film location during their stay. In 2019, Tolkien Tourism was worth NZ$630 million (£330 million) to the economy alone. Since New Zealand’s border restrictions were eased earlier this year, fans have returned to rediscover Middle-earth all over again.
Of course, the best way to understand Bilbo Baggins’ unexpected journey is to start at Hobbiton. Visitors can stop by Bag End, stroll through hobbit-sized vegetable patches and toast Bilbo’s 111th birthday with a South Quarter pint at the Green Dragon Inn. Enthusiastic film fans should also set off Wētā workshop in Wellington, where you can delve into the weapons, costumes and practical effects behind the films, and get hands-on with a sculpting, leatherworking or gory makeup workshop.
While the sets may have been cleared away long ago, there are still more than 150 film locations across the country to explore, including those they were used for The Rings of Power, which can be visited with a rental car or mobile home. The small town of Piha outside of Auckland and the North Island’s celestial Coromandel Peninsula served as Númenor, the great fallen kingdom of men, as the occupation is seen making their way through the South Island’s epic Fiordland and Kahurangi National Parks.
Nomad Safaris has half and full day tours from Queenstown and Glenorchy to key sites used for the Misty Mountains, Isengard and Lothlórien; while Hassle-free tours offers 4×4 expeditions through stunning highlands used to recreate Edoras, the kingdom of the Rohirrim. Those venturing into the land of Mordor can book a guided hike through Tongariro National Park, where Mount Ruapehu became Mount Doom Drift off Tongariro.