"Hobbiton Village"
Hobbiton Movie Set is a recreated film location near Matamata, New Zealand, featuring the rolling hills of The Shire from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Formerly appearing in the movies, Hobbiton has become a tourist attraction open to fans of Middle Earth. Visitors can peek inside hobbit holes, dance under the Party Tree, and enjoy a pint or meal at the Green Dragon Inn. It is recommended to book in advance to avoid shortages of guides and tickets.
Pio pio
The Mangaotaki Rocks in Piopio is an awe-inspiring location, with its cliff walls, unique limestone formations, and prehistoric forests. It served as the filming location for Trollshaws Forest and Staddle Farm in the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, with famous scenes such as the Dwarves arriving at the ruined farmhouse, escaping from the troll cave, Gandalf giving "Sting" to Bilbo, the arrival of Radagast, and the attack of Wargs and Orcs all shot here. By joining the Hairy Feet Film Location Tours, tourists can experience the magical charm of movie-making and explore the specific filming locations with the help of a guide.
Turovia
Turoa, located in the Ruapehu region of New Zealand, features rocky slopes and lush grasslands. The area is home to the Hidden Bay, a filming location for the entrance to Lonely Mountain in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." Turoa is a popular skiing destination in the Tongariro National Park, known for its stunning biking and hiking trails, including the Tongariro Crossing, considered one of the best day hikes in the world. During the filming of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," the crew shot scenes here and built large scaffolding to protect the unique flora and fauna of the mountain.
Teweizel
Twizel is a magical alpine landscape showcased in "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" trilogies. Some scenes, such as the warg attack, were filmed here, while the largest battle, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, was also filmed in a remote location in Twizel. Twizel is a charming mountain town and a road trip through the area can take you to relive the magnificent scenes seen in the films.
Oraki/Cook Mountain
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is home to a range of trails and stunning scenery, and was featured as an aerial backdrop in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". It is worth visiting.
Queenstown
Queenstown is one of the most beautiful locations in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The glaciers of Earnslaw Burn have carved out several waterfalls that flow straight down the massive rocks. Bilbo and the dwarves continue their journey from Rivendell from here. The Earnslaw Burn Track in Glenorchy is a challenging 4-hour hike, but once you reach the top of the valley, you can enjoy the magnificent views of the glaciers and beyond, making everything worth it. Passburn, which was used to film Bilbo's journey to Misty Mountains in the movie, is also open to the public and is part of the New Zealand National Trail Te Araroa on the Mavora Walkway.
Wanaka
Wanaka. The world-renowned ski field, Treble Cone, is another filming location with outstanding cross-country skiing terrain, where you can also enjoy the panoramic view of the entire Wanaka and Central Otago region. This ski resort is bustling in winter and has the longest vertical ski run on the South Alps in New Zealand. The peaks of the Wanaka region were transformed into "wilderness" in the first movie and became the background for the eagles soaring in the air.
Nielsen
Nelson
Nelson and Tasman, as the sunniest regions of New Zealand, provided several locations for the outdoor scenes in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". Although the exact filming location is on private land, visitors can still participate in horseback riding activities to experience the unique scenery of these outdoor locations. You can ride horses on the adjacent trails to private farms and make your way to the steep cliffs overlooking the stunning coastline of Golden Bay.
Pelorus River
Peter Jackson chose to film the scene of the Dwarves riding in barrels down the Pelorus River in "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies". Here, the Dwarves sit in huge barrels and float down the river. Stephen Hunter, who played the Dwarf Bombur, called this experience "his favorite day on set". Visitors can easily walk along a riverside trail to reach this filming location or take a guided kayaking tour.
Fiordland National Park
The epic scenery of Fiordland National Park was chosen as the filming location for both "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogies. This was also the location for the scene in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" where the Dwarves escape danger by hopping on eagles' backs. Visitors can witness the majestic fjords and mighty waterfalls through helicopter tours or boat tours.
Te Anau Downs was the filming background for the chase scene, while Mararoa Saddle became the wild area that Thorin led the Dwarves through in the film.
Lake Pukaki
In "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies", the stunning Lake Pukaki transformed into Lake-town. Lake Pukaki, nourished by glacial lake water, presents a dazzling milk-blue color. It is also a popular place for fishing, hiking, and cycling, while the snow-covered Mount Cook overlooking the lake becomes a skiing enthusiast's paradise in winter.
Braemar Station on Lake Pukaki was used for some of the most breathtaking scenery in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", including the "Goblin Chase" sequence and the journey to Rivendell. Additionally, the slopes of the forest in the misty mountains were also filmed here.
Compass River
Pelorus River was chosen by Peter Jackson to film the scene where the dwarves ride in barrels down the river in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug". The dwarves sat in giant barrels and drifted down the river. Stephen Hunter, who played the dwarf Bombur, called it his "favorite day of filming." You can easily walk to the filming location along a riverside path or take a guided kayak tour.
Bay Area National Park
Fiordland National Park was chosen as the filming location for the epic landscapes in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies. It was also where the scene of the dwarves escaping on eagles' backs in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was filmed. Visitors can experience the stunning fjords and majestic waterfalls through helicopter or boat tours. Te Anau Downs served as a filming location for chase scenes, while Mararoa Saddle became the wilderness area where Thorin led the dwarves in the films.
Pokhara Lake
Lake Pukaki, a breathtakingly beautiful lake, transformed into Lake-town in "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies". Nurtured by glacial waters, Lake Pukaki displays a dazzling shade of milky-blue. It's a beloved spot for fishing, hiking, and cycling, while in winter, ski enthusiasts flock to the Cooke Mountains that overlook the snow-covered lake. The Braemar Station on Lake Pukaki was used to shoot scenes in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", including the heart-stopping landscapes, the "warg chase," and the journey to Rivendell. In addition, the forested slopes in Misty Mountains were also filmed here.
