The film trilogy ¨The Lord of the Rings”¨ has been one of the Hollywood productions that has achieved more awards in the history of cinema, obtaining a total of 4 Golden Globes awards, 10 BAFTA awards and 17 Oscar awards. It was a work that marked a before and after in the era of digital special effects, for which it was used the newest technology available at that time.
Under the direction of one of the greats of cinema, this film stands out for its excellent recreation of the scenarios described in the book in which they are based. Who hasn’t fallen in love with the locations where the story told in the film takes place? Those snow-capped peaks or those infinite valleys of marvelous vegetation. Perhaps you are one of those who have wondered if these places really exist or if they are only the work of the digital effects mentioned above. Well, I have to tell you that these extraordinary places exist and are located in New Zealand.
The shooting of the three films that make up the saga were carried out in more than 150 locations, some so inhospitable that participants had to wear a survival kit to deal with any emergency.
If you are one of the fans of this saga and you are interested in knowing every detail about the place where the shooting of these films took place, I invite you to continue reading and find out everything.
Tongariro National Park:
The Tongariro National Park, UNESCO’s natural, cultural and spiritual heritage, was chosen to represent the lands of Mordor. Its volcanoes Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu next to Lake Taupo and its numerous thermal springs gave life to the lands of Sauron due to its inhospitable landscapes, its mists and the abundance of volcanic rocks.
To enjoy this wonder of nature is advisable to walk the path of the park that will take you through an alpine desert, surrounded by volcanoes among which is Mount Ngauruhoe, easily identifiable as the scene of the Mountain of Destiny or Orodruin by fans of the trilogy, its fires are the goal of Frodo and Sam and the place where they forged the unique ring. A curious fact is that the crater of the volcano was not allowed to be filmed as it is a sacred place for the Maori. Before concluding the tour in a subtropical forest, you can enjoy the incredible views of emerald lakes and hot pools with geothermal activities.
Kaitoke Regional Park (Rivendel):
For lovers of the elven world created by Tolkien, Rivendell is undoubtedly one of the most surprising places and best adapted by Jackson. In Kaitoke he found the ideal natural scenery to reproduce the house of Elrond and Arwen, forests and streams of crystalline waters with all the charm and magic of the Eldar. Walking its trails you will know part of its 2500 hectares of vegetation among beeches, hinau, kamahi and northern rat. The kayak is one of the main attractions of the rivers and lakes between which Hutt and Pakuratahi are the main. Without a doubt this will be a magical visit that will take you deep into the fascinating landscape that gave life to one of the most acclaimed sagas of cinema.
Matamata (Hobbiton):
Matamata is a rural farming area in New Zealand. It is presented as a quiet and placid place, just as the Hobbits like it. In this region you can visit the Alexander Farm, where the houses within the hills with round doors took shape to reproduce the peaceful village of Hobbiton, where the stories of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit began. With a guided tour you will get to know Bag End, the abode of Bilbo and Frodo, the tavern The Green Dragon, the Water Mill and the famous Party Tree where Bilbo played a joke on the participants disappearing in front of everyone. Matamata in addition to its green hills and soft grasses ideal for reproducing the hobbit village has the Wairere Falls, the highest on the North Island with 153 meters high.
Other places selected to shoot scenes from this trilogy were the Plains of Canterbury where Edoras was represented, capital of Rohan and land of horses. In the pinnacles Putangirua was represented the mysterious Path of the Dead. The Kawarau River became the mighty Anduin and its banks served the Argonath.
New Zealand is a beautiful land and its varied landscapes make it a unique destination in Oceania. Not surprisingly, it was the ideal choice to give cinematic life to Tolkien’s work, which helped make it one of the most popular tourist destinations.