In The Footsteps Of Frodo: Lord Of The Rings Filming Locations To Go Visit
We could write a book on how amazing J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is, and we fear it will still not be enough! There is a good reason why it is the top in the fantasy and adventure genre. We are happy to report that the film industry did not fail the book adaptation. They stayed as true as possible to the source material and made a fantastic series that is celebrated to this day.
Now, let’s not forget the real gems here—those unforgettable characters and Legolas’ hair. But the jaw-dropping scenery really takes these movies to the next level. The folks in charge scoured the globe for the most enchanting locales, turning them into pure magic on screen. In this listicle, we’ve hunted down spots that could easily double for scenes straight out of The Lord of the Rings. So, if you’ve ever daydreamed about being a hobbit in the great outdoors, this one’s for you!
Mount Doom
Ironically, we’re kicking things off with the place that’s basically the beginning of the end—Mount Doom. This is where our intrepid heroes set their sights on their ultimate destination in the story. Plus, it’s the very spot where the Dark Lord Sauron cooked up that notorious One Ring.
You may not get the pleasure of pushing Gollum into the depths of Mount Doom. However, you can still enjoy the replica of Mount Doom by visiting Mount Ngauruhoe from New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park. Mount Ngauruhoe is also an active volcano.
Snowdon Forest
Fangorn Forest is one of the dangerous forests in Tolkein’s fantasy universe. This location is not built for the weak-hearted since you run the risk of never walking out of the forest alive. The trees of the Fangorn can speak.
We all recall the sequences where Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas entered the forest to look for Merry and Pippin. After watching that scene, we knew we would never enter the forest, even if we were paid a million dollars. Thankfully, New Zealand’s Snowden forest is much safer!
Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith is one of the most important locations in the TLOTR lore. Many significant events took place here and it is also the last bastion of the kingdom of men. It is the most glorious and magnificent looking place.
The chances of you transmigrating inside the novel and actually visiting this place is slim to none. However, you would be pleased to know that Peter Jackson, the celebrated director of TLOTR, drew inspiration from the French city of Mont Saint-Michel.
Kepler Mire
Thank you; but, no thank you. Contrary to popular belief, we are not completely insane. Yes, we might sometimes stare at the wall with a blank stare for no reason. However, that’s because our wallpaper is quite pretty. As a reasonably sane person, we are not visiting this location.
If you have seen the movie, you know why. We are sure Kepler Mire is divine. However, after seeing the nightmarish pale bodies floating in the water —- no thank you. Surprisingly, we like to live. However, you daredevils can feel free to visit Kepler Mire.
Mordor
Tolkein knew what they were doing when they designed Mordor. That place screams “murder” (no pun intended). This is where the legendary one ring started. This is also where it ended. We must also applaud Sauron for choosing this location.
No opponent could invade his territory due to mountains surrounding the mountain area. Half of the book consisted of the protagonists trying to overcome tumultuous terrain. Thankfully, life for us is much easier. A ticket to New Zealand will be enough to see this beauty.
Rivendell
We will never forget the moment when we saw Rivendell for the first time through Bilbo. Rivendell is what dreams are made of. The awe on Bilbo’s face; the ethereal music —– everything contributed to the perfection of the majestic Rivendell.
It is only fitting that glorious creatures such as the Elves live in the beautiful city of Rivendell. The valley seems to float on air due to the numerous waterfalls. Although we cannot visit the real thing, this will do for now.
WETA Workshop
New zealand’s WETA Workshop is nothing less than Disneyland for an average The Lord of the Rings fan. This is where all the magic is created. You could say the artisans in the workshop are something of a magical being themselves.
The studio is single handedly responsible for designing all the amazing props, costume, sets and magical creatures that you see in the movies. This is a must visit spot for every TLOTR fans. You can also buy TLOTR merches from this place.
Battle Ground
Imagine seeing the battle for Minas Tirith in the theaters back in 2003. It was nothing less than the excitement of watching Avengers: Endgame (2019). The fact that cinema could portray such a wild battle was beyond us back then.
However, we are not ashamed to admit that we were a little distracted by the scenery. As decapitated heads were flying, we were too busy staring at the gorgeous mountain terrain. Thankfully, you do not have to cross a war of 1,500 people to see this beauty in real life.
Waiau River
In case you have not figured it out yet, this listicle is basically just an oversized love letter to the country of New Zealand. Just do yourself a favor and start saving up for a trip to New Zealand asap.
Even if you do not love The Lord of The Rings books or series (we cannot imagine why), you should still visit the country to see some of the finest creations of god. The Waiau River should also be a must on your list.
Shire
Oh to be a lazy hobbit basking in the natural abundance of the shire —- it is a dream harbored by many, yet very little actually gets to achieve it. However, the dream just will not leave our tired adult mind.
You know how gorgeous the shire is if you have seen The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit movie. The shire is blessed with mother nature’s love and the hobbit residents live their best life. If you visit New Zealand, you might get to live the dream for a short while.
Fernside Lodge
This will always be the place where the biggest disaster in the history of fishing trips happened. If you know, you know. Imagine rowing a boat on the bluest water and catching bass with your best pal one minute; and then killing your pal over a junk you found on the river floor.
You cannot relate (hopefully). However, Gollum can. That’s where his tragic tale started. You can also visit Fernside Lodge and enjoy the beauty of the Hobbit waters. Just make sure to run for the hills if you come across a seemingly innocent looking golden ring.
Putangirua Pinnacles
God bless whoever scouted the location for the Lord of The Rings. They knew what they were doing and they did it well. Look at these sharp looking rock pinnacles. The only thing that could rival it is Orlando Bloom’s chiseled jawline.
We have all seen the iconic scene where Aragorn went to the land of the dead to gain the allegiance of the army of the undead. That scene was fiction and cinema at its finest. You can also visit this spot. Although we cannot confirm whether you have to give an oath or not.
Mount Victoria
The Lord of The Rings movies have an ample surplus of gorgeous locations. However, we still cannot get enough. Undoubtedly, some of the best definitely came from the hobbit territory. There is something so soothing and lovely about these vast green lands.
If you love such locations like us, Mount Victoria is the perfect spot for you. This is also the same spot where Frodo and his friends almost got caught by a Nazgul. Hopefully, you can also visit this place (minus the visit from a Nazgul).
Takaka Hill
Olivia Rodrigo’s lyrics “Do you get déjà vu?” rang in our head the moment we saw this picture. We could not pinpoint where we had seen this spot in the movie. However, once again our dearest Google came in handy.
This is the valley that Aragorn and hobbits traveled through on their way to Rivendell. Perhaps, this spot was so hard to relate to the movie because in the movie, the color palette was cool toned. This photo portrays the tanaka hill in the warmest summer light.
Mount Gunn
Great moments in cinema will come and go. However, we doubt anything will ever be impactful of the beacon lighting scene in the movies. That sequence can motivate a snail to attack a pile of salt. This is cinema at its peak.
If you have a drone camera, you have to visit the gorgeous peaks of Mount Gunn. The snowy mountains may be cold. However, they will still light a fire in your heart —- just like the beacons of fire lit on the mountain peaks.
Mangawhero River
Controversial opinion: however, our favorite character from the franchise is Gollum. He was the perfect victim of the ring. His tragedy is what makes the power of the one ring so terrifying. In the end, no one could resist its corruption.
However, Gollum had his sweet moments. He tried his best to look after Frodo. He even caught a live fish from the river for him. Although Frodo was sadly eons away from understanding the glory of sashimi. This is the river where Gollum hunted his fishes from.
The Paradise Valley
We are starting to get the feeling that New Zealand is God’s favorite place on earth. They took extra time to craft each and every detail of the country’s landscape. There is no doubt that The Paradise Valley is the closest thing we will find to heaven on earth.
No wonder the TLOTR crew filmed in this beautiful location in every chance they got. Sometimes we do not even listen to dialogues when scenes are shot here. We are simply in awe of the natural beauty of the country.
Mount Sunday
Edoras is the ultimate horse girl paradise. Everyone you know that fits with the horse girl starter pack meme needs to be shipped to this location asap. We assure you, they will be forever grateful to you. They might even name a pony after you.
Edoras is the capital city of the Rohan. Just like literally every other scene in the movie, Edoras is also devastatingly beautiful. They are also highly protected by the surrounding mountain from invaders. You can also see if you could take a horse ride to Edoras.
Mavora Lake
Why Sean Bean never seems to be alive till the end of the movie is something we will never understand. At least we can say that he had an honorable death in the Lord of The Rings. Although, we have to admit it crushed us.
The only people who were more crushed than us were probably the hobbits. Boromir was a true son of a gun. It took the enemy three arrows to strike him down. His demise in the woods of Amon Hen was a pivotal point in the movie.
Anduin River
In this prolonged love letter to New Zealand, we once again implore you to save up for a trip to the country. You only live once. Why not make sure you witness some of the finest things this world has to offer before you pass away.
In that case, we definitely suggest you definitely visit the water bodies of New Zealand. The river of New Zealand is made of dreams. Accompanied by gorgeous mountains, Waiau River is especially serene yet majestic. This is the perfect spot to kayak with your buddies.
Dry Creek Quarry
New Zealand should honestly grant Peter Jackson an honorary citizenship. If it weren’t for him and Tolkein’s epic tale, many in the world would still be unaware of how beautiful the country is. New Zealand’s tourism income was bumped up by 40% due to TLOTR.
We are glad that more people are recognizing how gorgeous the country is. The Dry Creek Quarry was a crucial shooting spot for the team. Peter Jackson treated this place like a blank canvas and brought out the best battle scenes out of it. This is where the war of Helm’s Deep happened.
Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve
The Lord of the Rings is obviously a masterpiece. However, do not solely focus on that since J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is also worthy of high praise. The cinema adaptation did the literature justice —- especially with the intense fight scenes.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) probably had the most creative naval battle scene in the history of cinema. The barrel fight against the orcs in the river still makes us laugh. This is the river where that legendary fight happened.
Jackson Hole
Let’s just say that you do not have the funds for a trip to New Zealand? What do you do then? Do you just stay at home and be miserable while scrolling the internet? For this portion of the listicle, we are offering you alternative locations.
Sometimes a nearby location can feel like something that came out of a TLOTR movie due to their aesthetic. You may not get to visit the snowy mountain of New Zealand. However, the Yellowstone national park is waiting for your arrival.
Aspen
May the lord have mercy on our poor soul. Days like these are what makes us grateful about having functional eyes. We do not have to be Picasso to know true beauty —- and this is marvelous. To know that places like these actually exist is surreal.
This looks like some that came out of a fantasy novel —- specifically, The Lord of the Rings. Americans would be overjoyed to know that beauty such as this exists in their own backyard. During the fall and spring, the Misty Mountains and Rocky Mountains put on bright dresses like these.
Portland
New Zealand’s Snowden Forest is not the only option if you want to enjoy the lush greenery of the wilderness. Portland’s woodland area is not the exact same thing to TLOTR’s Fangorn forest. However, it is the closest you will get to the real thing.
Portland, Oregon is often regarded as the greenest city in america. Therefore, it is fitting they resemble the enchanted Fangorn Forest. The good news is that you will most likely not encounter any malicious ent in Portland. However, be careful not to come across a hungry bear.
Missoula
We already talked about how envious we are of the Hobbits and their living habits. To live in the Shire is the ultimate dream. A house in the Hamptons feels like nothing compared to a cottage in the serene Shire.
Good News for the west coast, they get to live pretty close to what could be a Shire on earth. Montana’s city of Missoula looks and feels like heaven. Just looking at the picture makes us feel soothed. We can only imagine how well residents live.
New York
Hold on, do not throw your phone at the wall yet. Allow us to elaborate ourselves. Yes, New York city may be rather unconventional in this listicle where we are relentlessly glorifying natural scenic beauties. NYC, a concrete jungle, supposedly shouldn’t belong here.
However, we forget that The Lord of the Rings does not just contain snowy mountains and blue rivers. The movies also consist of great structures that highlight the power of the magical beings. One of them is Minas Tirth. Once you compare it to NYC side by side, you start seeing the resemblance.
Asheville
Lothlórien, the home of Galadriel and Celeborn, is one of the most mystical places of the The Lord of the Rings universe. It is considered a holy city in the hearts of the elf population. It is our greatest desire to transmigrate to Lothlórien.
However, you do not necessarily have to build a time machine to do such a thing. Just go to Asheville and that would be enough. The trees in Asheville may not turn gold during the fall, since the Nenya ring does not exist there. However, it’s still a beautiful place.
Anchorage
If you haven’t read J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, you probably do not know much about the city Eregion. The maximum that the majority knows is that the fellowship of the ring crossed Eregion during the third age.
According to them, it was supposedly a peaceful, yet barren location. However, Eregion was quite different in the past. Tolkein wrote about how prosperous and beautiful the city was at its prime. The detailed description kind of resembles the city of Anchorage from Alaska.
Misty Mountains
It should be noted that J. R. R. Tolkien was a meticulous writer. He put intricate details to make sure the readers reached the proper imagery. Which is why he researched European landscapes to come up with new locations in his book.
Which is why many scenes from the novel had surprisingly realistic locations despite being in a fantasy setting. Although it is not confirmed. We definitely think he drew some inspiration from the Misty Mountain. Middle earth looks a lot like the Swiss Alps.
Learnarticles.com
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
There is no doubt that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on the earth. The beautiful ocean; the abundance of fresh tropical fruits; cheap and tasty food; the friendly people —– everything radiated the aloha spirit about the island.
However, did you also know that the island has several active volcanoes? You know what else has an active volcano? Mount Doom. you should visit Hawaii for sure. However, make sure you do take a swan dive like Gollum and his “precious” in the mountain depth.
Mackenzie Country
Kids these days will never understand the thrill of watching battle scenes in theaters back in the days. The 2000s were not as advanced when it came to CGI. However, Peter Jackson never played around. He filmed probably the most realistic war in cinema.
Watching soldiers march on despite the shower of arrows was filled with pure adrenaline. Sometimes we wish we could erase our memory and watch it again for the first time. You cannot watch the war scene live with 1700 actors. However, you can visit Mackenzie Country where it all happened.
Iceland
Good news for everyone who wants more variety in their travels. If you do not want to go to New Zealand (we cannot fathom why), you could go to Iceland instead. Iceland may not be the place where the film was shot.
However, New Zealand has a similar topography and geography to Iceland. Hence, it sort of feels like you are inThe Lord of The Rings. It also helps that the people are friendly and you also get to see the northern light.
Worcestershire
Many seem to forget that J.R.R. Tolkien was a British man and not someone from New Zealand. We want to break that misconception. We are here to remind you that J.R.R. Tolkien is an undying gem of British literature.
Therefore, it is not surprising that some of the lands in his fantasy universe were inspired by the topography of his motherland. Tolkein spent many years in the midland. Hence, many scholars assume that Rohan was inspired by this region.
Wellington
We saved the best for the last. Your trip to New Zealand was useless if you had not visited Wellington. Even if you do not like The Lord of The Rings, you are morally obligated to visit Wellington. Skipping this location is sacrilegious.
This is the wooded area where the hobbit gang was chased by the Nazgul. Some parts of the elf city Rivendell were also filmed here. Wellington is also home to the studio that single handedly designed and produced all the props, sets and costumes for the movies.