The short answer
- Must see
- Hobbiton Movie Set
- Mount Doom
- Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro
- Edoras
- Mount Sunday, Canterbury
- Behind the scenes
- Weta Workshop, Wellington
Peter Jackson filmed The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies across New Zealand, and the landscapes are as much a draw as the films. Most sets were removed after filming, so many locations are now simply beautiful places, best visited with a guide who knows the scenes.
Locations you can visit
| Location | In the films | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Hobbiton Movie Set | The Shire | Matamata, North Island |
| Mount Ngauruhoe | Mount Doom | Tongariro National Park |
| Mount Victoria | The hobbits hide from a Black Rider | Wellington |
| Weta Workshop | Props and effects studio, with tours | Wellington |
| Putangirua Pinnacles | The Dimholt Road to the Paths of the Dead | Wairarapa, near Wellington |
| Mount Sunday | Edoras | Canterbury high country |
| Twelve Mile Delta | Ithilien | Near Queenstown |
| Glenorchy and Paradise | Many scenes around the head of Lake Wakatipu | Near Queenstown |
Tours
Hobbiton is visited on a guided tour from Matamata, Auckland or Rotorua. Specialist day tours from Queenstown and Wellington visit other locations with guides who show scenes on tablets. See Rotorua and Hobbiton.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Hobbiton?
Yes, on a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata, about 2 hours from Auckland. Book ahead.
Where is Mount Doom in New Zealand?
Mount Ngauruhoe in Tongariro National Park, seen from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
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