FX.co ★ Film vs reality: 5 LOTR filming locations in New Zealand

Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park (Mount Doom)

New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park is home to multiple Lord of the Rings filming locations. The biggest scenes were filmed near Mount Ngauruhoe, known by LOTR fans as Mount Doom. The filmmakers sometimes had to use digitized images of mountain slopes because filming at the top of the mountain was not permitted as the peak of Mount Ngauruhoe is sacred in Maori culture.

Matamata, Waikato (Hobbiton)

This area in Waikato is known as the Hobbiton movie set. Searching for a location for Hobbiton, the home of Frodo and Bilbo, film director Peter Jackson strived to find a place that would be comfortable and feel lived in. The Hobbiton village was built near a farm in the town of Matamata. The unusual film set created for the LOTR production has been preserved in New Zealand since 2011. It has been transformed into an entertainment center for visitors from all over the world.

Lake Pukaki, Canterbury (Laketown)

Lake Pukaki was chosen as the perfect location for Laketown in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. On its shores, an extensive outdoor set was built. However, it was dismantled right after the filming was over. Glacial waters that feed the lake give it a vibrant blue colour.

Fiordland National Park, Te Anau (Fangorn Forest)

The beautiful Fiordland National Park is featured in The Lord of the Rings as the mythical Fangorn Forest. The park covers 1.2 million hectare of mountains, rainforest, lakes, and fjords. This place shows a spectacular location and has a fantastic landscape.

Kawarau Gorge, Central Otago (Anduin River)

The unusual landscape of the Kawarau Gorge in Central Otago starred in the first Lord of the Rings film when the Fellowship paddled down the Anduin River. On their way, they saw two towering statues. Of course, they cannot be spotted in real life as they were created by means of animated graphics. Yet, they fit harmoniously in the unique landscape of the surrounding area.