Hobbiton
Hobbiton Movie Set
Located near Matamata in New Zealand, the Hobbiton™ Movie Set was rebuilt for The Hobbit trilogy, recreating the rolling hills of The Shire. Once featured in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hobbiton has now become a tourist attraction, open to fans of Middle-earth.
Here, visitors can peek inside the front door of a hobbit hole, sing and dance under the Party Tree, and enjoy a pint of ale or a hearty meal at the Green Dragon Inn. If you plan to visit the Hobbiton™ Movie Set, it is recommended to book in advance to avoid shortages of guides and tickets.
Piopio
Piopio
The Mangaotaki Rocks in Piopio is a spectacular place, with its towering cliffs, unique limestone formations, and primeval forest scenery that evoke a sense of awe. This area was the filming location for the Trollshaws Forest and Staddle Farm in the movie 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'. Many famous scenes were shot here, such as the dwarves arriving at the ruined farmhouse, escaping from the troll cave, Gandalf handing over 'Sting' to Bilbo, Radagast's arrival, and the attack by Wargs and Orcs from Gundabad.
If you join the Hairy Feet Film Location Tours, you can experience the magic of movie-making firsthand with a guided tour and visit the specific filming locations featured in the film.
Tūroa
Tūroa
The Tūroa area of Ruapehu is characterized by rocky slopes and lush grasslands. Here, you can find Hidden Bay from the world of the Hobbits—the filming location for the entrance to the Lonely Mountain in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'. Tūroa is a popular ski resort on Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park. The area is also known for its stunning bike trails and hiking routes, including the Tongariro Crossing, which is considered one of the best one-day hikes in the world.
During the filming of 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug', the crew shot scenes here and erected massive scaffolding to protect the unique native flora and fauna on the mountain.
Twizel
Twizel
The magical alpine landscapes of Twizel are vividly showcased in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' and 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Some scenes of the Warg attack were filmed here, and the largest battle—the Battle of the Pelennor Fields—was also shot in a remote area of Twizel.
Twizel is a charming mountain town, and a local road trip can take you through the magnificent scenes featured in the films.
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki/Mount Cook and its surrounding peaks were featured as aerial backgrounds in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park offers a range of trails and stunning scenery, making it well worth a visit.
Queenstown
Queenstown
As one of the most stunning filming locations in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', the glacier-carved Earnslaw Burn features several waterfalls cascading down massive rock faces. Here, Bilbo and the dwarves set off from Rivendell to continue their journey. The Earnslaw Burn Track, starting from Glenorchy, is a challenging 4-hour hiking route. However, after the trek to the top of the valley, you can take in the magnificent views of the glacier and beyond, making all the effort worthwhile.
Passburn was used in the film to depict Bilbo's journey to the Misty Mountains. The Passburn Track, located on the Mavora Walkway, is open to the public. This trail is part of New Zealand's national trail, Te Araroa.
Wānaka
Wānaka
The world-class ski resort Treble Cone is another filming location, renowned for its excellent off-piste terrain. From there, you can also enjoy panoramic views of the entire Wānaka and Central Otago region. This ski resort is bustling in winter and boasts the longest vertical drop in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The peaks of the Wānaka region were transformed into the 'Wilderness' in the first movie and served as the backdrop for the giant eagles soaring through the sky.
Nelson
Nelson
As the sunniest region in New Zealand, Nelson and Tasman provided several filming locations for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'. Although the exact filming locations are on private land, visitors can still participate in horseback riding activities to experience the unique scenery of these locations. You can ride along trails adjacent to private farms, all the way to the top of steep cliffs, overlooking the magnificent coastline of Golden Bay.
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Pelorus River
Peter Jackson chose Pelorus River to film the scene in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' where the dwarves float down the river in barrels. Here, the dwarves sit in giant barrels and float down the river. Stephen Hunter, who played the dwarf Bombur, called this experience his 'favorite day of filming'. You can easily walk to this filming location along a riverside trail or join a guided kayak tour.
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Fiordland National Park
Both 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogies chose the magnificent Fiordland National Park to film epic landscape shots. This is also where the scene in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' was filmed, where the dwarves jump on the backs of eagles to escape danger. You can experience the majestic fjords and powerful waterfalls through helicopter tours or boat cruises.
The grasslands of Te Anau Downs served as the backdrop for chase scenes, while Mararoa Saddle was transformed into the wilderness that Thorin and the dwarves traverse in the film.
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Lake Pukaki
The stunning Lake Pukaki was transformed into Lake-town in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'. Nourished by glacial waters, Lake Pukaki exhibits a dazzling milky blue color. It is also a popular spot for fishing, hiking, and cycling; while Mount Cook, overlooking the lake, becomes a paradise for skiing enthusiasts in winter.
Braemar Station on Lake Pukaki was used to film the breathtaking scenery, 'warg chase', and journey to Rivendell scenes in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'. Additionally, the forested slopes of the Misty Mountains were also filmed here.
Pelorus River
Pelorus River
Peter Jackson chose Pelorus River to film the scene in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' where the dwarves float down the river in barrels. Here, the dwarves sit in large barrels and float down the river. Stephen Hunter, who played the dwarf Bombur in the film, called this experience his 'favorite day during filming.' You can easily walk to this filming location along a riverside trail, or you can also reach it through guided kayaking tours.
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park
Both 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogies chose the magnificent Fiordland National Park to film their epic landscape scenes. This is also the filming location for the scene in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' where the dwarves jump on the backs of eagles to escape danger. You can experience the majestic fjords and towering waterfalls through helicopter tours or boat cruises.
The grasslands of Te Anau Downs served as the backdrop for the chase scenes, while Mararoa Saddle was transformed into the wilderness area that Thorin and the dwarves traverse in the film.
Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki
The breathtaking Lake Pukaki was transformed into Lake-town in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'. Nourished by glacial waters, Lake Pukaki boasts a dazzling milky blue color. It is also a beloved spot for fishing, hiking, and cycling; while Mount Cook, snow-capped and overlooking the lake, becomes a paradise for skiing enthusiasts in winter.
Braemar Station at Lake Pukaki was used to film the stunning landscapes, 'Warg chase', and the journey to Rivendell scenes in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'. Additionally, the forested slopes of the Misty Mountains were also filmed here.
