Both trilogies, released between 2001 and 2014, were filmed entirely in New Zealand across more than 150 locations on both islands. Highlights include the permanent Hobbiton set near Matamata, the volcanic plateau of Tongariro National Park that stood in for Mordor, Mount Sunday as Edoras, and Kaitoke Regional Park as Rivendell. Guided tours run from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels turned New Zealand into Middle-earth for more than a decade. The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the three Hobbit films used real landscapes, from volcanic plateaus to alpine river valleys, rather than relying on sound stages. Many of those places can still be visited today, and one set survives intact.
The productions left a lasting mark on New Zealand tourism. Weta Workshop in Wellington, which created props, costumes and effects for all six films, now welcomes the public. Hobbiton, originally built as a temporary set, was rebuilt permanently in wood and steel for The Hobbit and operates daily guided tours. Other sites remain natural landscapes that you can walk or drive to, some free, others reachable only on organised tours.
Filmed here: The Shire village including Bag End, Party Tree, and hobbit holes
The Shire village near Matamata in the Waikato region, including Bag End, the Party Tree and the hobbit holes, was filmed here for both trilogies. Unlike every other set, Hobbiton was rebuilt permanently in wood and steel for The Hobbit and now operates year-round. Access is by guided tour only, with advance booking recommended, and a visit ends at the Green Dragon Inn. Numerous day tours run here from Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga.
Location 02
Kaitoke Regional Park
Wellington, Upper Hutt Free to see
Filmed here: Rivendell
This park in Upper Hutt, north of Wellington, stood in for Rivendell, the elven refuge in The Fellowship of the Ring. Today the elaborate set is gone, but a replica arch marks the filming site and interpretation boards explain what stood where. Entry is free and the park is open year-round, with the site a short walk from the car park. Several Wellington Lord of the Rings tours include a stop here.
Location 03
Mount Victoria
Wellington Free to see
Filmed here: Hobbiton Woods including 'Get off the road!' and Frodo reading scenes
A short walk from central Wellington, Mount Victoria provided the Hobbiton Woods scenes, including the famous 'Get off the road!' moment and Frodo reading beneath a tree. Access is free and there are multiple filming points scattered through the reserve, which makes it one of the easiest Middle-earth sites to visit independently. Wellington-based film location tours typically cover it alongside other city sites.
Location 04
Mount Sunday
Canterbury, Hakatere Free to see
Filmed here: Edoras
This remote high-country peak in the Hakatere area of Canterbury became Edoras, capital of Rohan. The set required 11 months of construction by a team that included the New Zealand Army, yet it was completely removed after filming, so visitors today see the striking landscape alone. The site is accessible by road, but given its remoteness most people arrive on a dedicated day tour from Christchurch.
Location 05
Tongariro National Park
Tongariro/Taupo, Whakapapa Free to see
Filmed here: Mordor and Mount Doom (Ngauruhoe slopes)
The volcanic plateau around Whakapapa became Mordor, with the slopes of Mount Ngauruhoe standing in for Mount Doom. The summit itself was never filmed on due to its tapu status to local Maori, so the production used the lower slopes combined with digital effects. Nearby Tawhai Falls served as Gollum's pool. The park is publicly accessible, with tracks to explore independently or with a guided tour.
Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The story is set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, but every frame was captured in New Zealand. Local landscapes stood in for the Shire, Mordor, Rohan, Rivendell and the other realms, which is why fans can walk through the actual places that appeared on screen rather than studio reconstructions.
The Studio Side
Weta Workshop in Wellington created the props, costumes and effects for all six films and remains a working creative facility. It offers public tours that show how the films were made, from miniature models to weapons and armour, making it the closest you can get to the craft behind Middle-earth. Several Wellington tours bundle a Weta Workshop visit with location stops around the city.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Tours fall into three broad groups: Hobbiton trips from Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga; Wellington tours combining city locations with Weta Workshop; and South Island options from Christchurch and Queenstown covering Edoras and lakes district sites. Length, group size and inclusions such as lunch vary considerably, so the right choice depends on your starting city and how much time you have.
Hobbiton Walking Tour From Shires Rest
Hobbiton™ Movie Set Walking Tour from Shires Rest
The core Hobbiton guided walking tour starting at Shires Rest, rated 4.8 from 4029 reviews.
No. Hobbiton near Matamata is accessible by guided tour only, and advance booking is recommended. Numerous operators run day tours there from Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga, most including round-trip transport.
Where was Mordor filmed?
Tongariro National Park on the North Island, with the slopes of Mount Ngauruhoe standing in for Mount Doom. The summit itself was never filmed on out of respect for its tapu status to local Maori. Tawhai Falls nearby served as Gollum's pool.
Is anything left of the Edoras set?
No. The set on Mount Sunday in Canterbury took 11 months to build with help from the New Zealand Army but was completely removed after filming. Visitors today see the natural landscape, reachable by road or on a day tour from Christchurch.
Can you visit Lord of the Rings locations for free?
Several. Kaitoke Regional Park, the Rivendell site, has free entry, and Mount Victoria in Wellington, where the Hobbiton Woods scenes were shot, is walking distance from the city centre at no cost. Tongariro National Park also has public tracks.
What does Weta Workshop offer visitors?
The Wellington studio created props, costumes and effects for all six films and now runs public tours showing its work. Several Wellington Lord of the Rings tours include a Weta Workshop visit along with filming locations around the city.
Which cities are best for a Lord of the Rings tour?
Wellington covers city locations plus Weta Workshop. Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga are the bases for Hobbiton. Christchurch is the departure point for Edoras, and Queenstown serves the South Island lakes filming sites, with 4WD and private options available.
New Zealand remains the only place where Middle-earth exists as a real, visitable landscape. Travellers with limited time should prioritise Hobbiton from the North Island and either a Wellington or Queenstown tour depending on their route. Those with more flexibility can trace the full journey from the Shire to Mordor, exactly where the cameras rolled between 2001 and 2014.
