Today, I planned to explore more than one Lord of the Rings movie location on New Zealand’s North Island. I woke up at 7:45 am feeling tired but knew I had to get up. The plan was to buy a parking ticket for two hours, then return to bed. By 8:15 am, I hadn’t been asked to pay yet, which seemed odd. Since I couldn’t insert any coins, I chose to go back and catch some more sleep.
Harbourside Market in Wellington
At 9:40 am, I woke up, feeling refreshed after some much-needed sleep. The bed was incredibly comfortable. After checking out, I headed to my car, but the issue with paying for parking persisted. Surprisingly, none of the other parked cars had tickets either, so I decided not to stress about it. The Harbourside market across the road caught my attention, and I took a stroll to explore it.
Numerous stalls offered various foods, and people were indulging in hamburgers and other treats. However, the scent in the air didn’t appeal to me. After a brief walk, I returned to my car, ready to kickstart my day with a packed schedule ahead.
Exploring Victoria Park’s Unexpected Challenges
I headed towards Victoria Park, situated in the heart of Wellington. Google Maps suggested a detour, but I decided to navigate on my own. In hindsight, following Google Maps would have been a time-saver. I assumed entering the park from a different spot would expedite my journey, not realizing that the park was actually a significant hill.
Inside Victoria park, I explored a famous Lord of the Rings scene that piqued my interest. Parking my car on a quiet street, I strolled toward the hill. The walk was easy, but I soon realized I wasn’t in the right location. Resorting to GPS, I attempted to navigate towards my intended destination. Ten minutes later, I was still off course. After 15 minutes, I finally reached the road Google Maps had originally suggested. Crossing the road, I checked the sign, confirming I was at Mount Victoria. The movie location lay downhill from this point, nestled within a captivating forest. Descending a steep bicycle trail, I embarked on my quest.
I explored the vicinity around the steep hill, fully aware that the Lord of the Rings movie location I sought wouldn’t be there. My quest was to find the hobbit’s hiding places featured in “Fellowship of the Ring,” the first Lord of the Rings movie. Descending the trail, I enjoyed a picturesque view of Wellington. Spotting a paved road to my right, I decided to walk in that direction.
From my excellent vantage point, I captured some stunning cityscape pictures. Noticing a new road ahead, my curiosity led me to explore it. Thirty minutes had passed since I entered this park, and I found it quite enjoyable—a lovely park with a bustling local presence.
Get Off the Road, Lord of the Rings Set Location
With the city on my left and the forest on my right, I began exploring this area. After walking 200 meters, I concluded that it wasn’t here, and I decided to retrace my steps. I opted to return to the mountain back trail, heading back to the main road where the signs were located. Taking a different path down, I was convinced that it had to be somewhere around here. The exhilaration of recognizing the movie location was truly amazing.
This was the spot where the hobbits hid under the tree. The significant gap next to the road marked the place where the hobbits concealed themselves from the black rider. Interestingly, the actual tree featured in the movie is entirely artificial. Numerous elements seen in the movies are crafted during post-production, and we’ll encounter more examples of that later today.
I strolled around and captured some fantastic pictures. It was incredibly cool to be walking in this iconic location. I spent about 10 minutes there and then retraced my steps toward the hilltop. Another 10 minutes and I would reach my car. With the urge to use the restroom, I was eager to get back on the road.
The Gardens of Isengard Set Location
I departed from Wellington, heading towards the small town of Lower Hutt, situated about 10 kilometers north. After refueling for the lengthy journey ahead, I chose not to waste any time and set off immediately. There was one Lord of the Rings movie location I decided to skip as my information indicated it was inaccessible—the quarry used for Helmsdeep and Minas Tirith. I didn’t feel disappointed, knowing that the location wasn’t particularly special.
Continuing northward, I made a stop at a small town featuring Harcourt Park. This park served as the backdrop for the scene of Gandalf riding towards Saruman in Fellowship of the Ring, representing the gardens of Isengard. Despite not recognizing it all, I later discovered that the park had undergone modifications in post-production.
It was amusing to stroll through the park and witness children cycling on a race track—imagining it in the context of the movie would be quite humorous. The park itself was delightful, and I took pleasure in my leisurely walk. I grabbed a drink and a banana, used the restroom, and returned to my car. The entire visit lasted about 20 minutes. Once back at the car park, I opted to head to the bridge for a scenic view. The Hutt River offered a picturesque setting that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Drive to Rivendell
While on my walk, I devised a plan for the upcoming day. I intended to embark on a short hike at another Lord of the Rings movie location, quite remote—approximately 50 kilometers away from the main highway and any nearby towns. The goal was to arrive there in the late afternoon and commence the hike the following morning. After a quick search, I located a pak’nSAVE supermarket, renowned for being the most economical option in New Zealand. It turned out to be quite sizable, resembling more of a wholesale store than a typical supermarket. Despite the slightly cheaper prices, I purchased some snacks and returned to the car. En route, I spotted a Subway and decided to grab a sandwich for lunch, which I planned to enjoy later at Rivendell.
Heading towards Rivendell, which was approximately 15 kilometers north of my current location, I realized I had lost track of the specific town I was in. The area was dotted with numerous small villages, a notable difference from the South Island. Another distinction was the increased presence of cars and people. To my surprise, the roads were somewhat worn, not extensively, but not as well-maintained as those in the South Island. Despite the condition, it didn’t bother me much—I simply made a mental note. Along the journey, I came across the Twinlakes lookout and decided to take a moment to appreciate the view.
The Stuart Macaskill Lakes served as a reservoir for when water was scarce in the region, with the Kaitoke National Park located right next to them. This was my destination as it was the spot where the set for Rivendell used to be. Another Lord of the Rings movie location.
Discovering the Secrets of Rivendell
After driving 3 kilometers, I made a left turn towards the National Park, following the signs that pointed to Rivendell. Finding the location was straightforward. Upon parking my car, I joined the crowd of movie fans exploring the area. I took a stroll along a small loop walk, reading informative signs along the way. Eventually, I found a picnic table, where I sat down to enjoy my meal.
The post-production process significantly transformed Rivendell. The movie incorporated waterfalls and grand cliffs from Fiordland into the scenes. Although the actual set was initially constructed here, Peter Jackson later had to dismantle and restore everything to its original state.
The signs displayed the map of Rivendell and the locations of its original features. A small arch had been reconstructed, adding a cool touch. It would have been amazing if the actual set were still present, but alas.
Impressions of Movie Magic: Rivendell Exploration
The second image below captured the location where Frodo’s Room was constructed. In the third picture below (currently covered in bush), the Fellowship was formed. The last image marked the spot where Elrond’s house once stood. Several signs indicated the trees featured in the Lord of the Rings movie location, offering interesting insights.
I wasn’t particularly impressed. While it was thoughtful of the National Park to install signs, it felt more like a marketing effort to attract tourists to their park. It seemed to have worked well, considering the crowded parking area.
After spending a relaxing 30 minutes at Rivendell, I made the decision to head to my campsite, which is approximately 50 kilometers from here. I anticipate reaching there around 5 pm.
Journey to the Coastal Campsite
The last leg of the journey to the campsite was breathtaking. I seized the opportunity to capture some scenic road pictures. Eventually, I reached the coastline, finding myself approximately 200 kilometers east of Wellington on the map.
I made a left turn towards the DOC campsite at Putangirua Pinnacles, parking my car promptly. I spotted a small toilet and used it. Following that, I strolled towards the main road, crossed it, and aimed to capture a few pictures of the coastline.
Relaxing Evening at the Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite
Afterwards, I drove my car to the campsite, where three other camper vans were parked. I placed 6 dollars in the small bag and provided some details on the bag (number of nights, car registration number, etc.). Following that, I relaxed in the car, watching some How I Met Your Mother and typing up some reports. Tomorrow marked another visit to a Lord of the Rings movie location.
