The Lord of the Rings Locations in North Island, New Zealand

Ready to discover the best Lord of the Rings film locations in North Island, New Zealand?

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If you’re as big a fan of Peter Jackson’s interpretation of The Lord of the Rings as I am, you’ll definitely be seeking out the movie locations on your trip to North Island, New Zealand. (Or should I say Middle Earth?)

I had so much fun seeking out these LOTR spots during my road trip around the country! While you might not make all of them, depending on time, the whole country gives an awe-inspiring sense of what it might be like to journey through a fantasy movie. The varied and breathtaking landscapes evoke curiosity and wonder that will take you back to Tolkien’s original works.

If you’re planning on using this list to help you plan a New Zealand itinerary or North Island road trip, please note that all the locations roughly go from North to South down the country. Enjoy your trip planning, and I’ll see you soon in mesmerising Middle Earth!

From Hobbiton in Matamata to mountains and Mordor in Tongariro National Park, this is definitely going to be a trip to remember.

And if you’ve yet to read The Lord of the Rings, the audible edition is now
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Lord of the Rings movie locations in North Island New Zealand:

WEATHERTOP – Port Waikato

Our first The Lord of the Rings location on this North Island list takes us to an iconic moment from the first movie, The Fellowship of the Ring. On Tolkien’s Weathertop, it was here that the black rider stabs Frodo as the hobbits are attacked. Thankfully, Aragorn arrives just in time to save the brave hobbits from further disaster.

While the hills of Port Waikato do look different in real life, due to the ruins from the movie not being present, this would be the perfect spot to begin any The Lord of the Rings road trip through New Zealand.

That said, it is a bit of a detour. If you’re starting from Auckland, it takes 1.5 hours to get here and then a further 2 hours to get from Port Waikato to Hobbiton. At the same time, it is only a 2-hour drive from Auckland directly to Hobbiton.

Since this spot isn’t super recognisable from the movies, don’t feel bad if you have to skip this spot because you’re short on time. In that time, you could just rewatch The Fellowship of the Ring instead!

HOBBITON – Matamata

The most iconic spot from the LOTR movies is one of the furthest North in New Zealand, and thus only the second spot listed on this round-up!

Hobbit-lovers and regular travellers alike adore this fantastic location. I’ve even met New Zealanders who’ve never seen the movies and who STILL loved their trip to Hobbiton. The set is extraordinary and a must-see for any Tolkien or Peter Jackson fanatics.

I took the two-hour tour and adored my time here. I only wish I could go back and enjoy it all over again – the first time went by so quickly!

My full guide to Hobbiton is coming soon.

MOUNT DOOM & MORDOR – Mount Ngaurahue & Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park is one of the most beautiful places on the North Island and one of the most unique in New Zealand in general.

From ancient volcanoes, grizzly valleys, and mesmerising blue lakes, it’s a stunning area to visit. Travellers flock here throughout the year to take on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (or as I call it, the walkthrough Mordor) and the ski fields in the Winter.

While the rough and rugged landscapes are all reminiscent of Mordor, Mount Ngaurahue will enchant you the most. It’s easy to see why Peter Jackon decided this would be the location for ‘Mount Doom’.

Read my complete list of Lord of the Rings locations in Tongariro National Park – including Gollum’s Pool, which was one of my favourite spots on the North Island.

RIVER ANDUIN – Rangitikei River Gorge

This is actually one of several spots used to create River Anduin, the longest river in Middle Earth. I actually visited another couple on the South Island!

Today, you can take a raft down the river with an eco-tour from ‘Grand Canyons of the Rangitikei’. You can also view the gorge from the Mokai Gravity Canyon site.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to make it here on my trip so for the full directions to the gorge and ALL of the LOTR movie locations, I’d recommend reading the official LOTR locations guidebook. This is an absolutely brilliant guide to all the locations in New Zealand with a forward from Peter Jackson.

THE OUTER SHIRE – Otaki

Can you believe that I lived in Otaki for five months while living in New Zealand? I volunteered (and lived at) an animal sanctuary just a stone’s throw away from this The Lord of the Rings location!

The Otaki Gorge Road is the location where the hobbits first leave the shire, though the area itself is on private land and not accessible. For that reason, very few people visit Otaki. But I had to include it!

For there I was, on the outskirts of the shire, working in the countryside, living simply for five exhausting months.

RIVENDELL – Kaitoke Regional Park

My first statement about Kaitoke Regional Park is to keep your expectations low. Not because I didn’t personally love it, but because it does not look like Rivendell. There are no grand CGI structures or gushing waterfalls, there are no great valleys and cloaked elves crossing in the distance. No, not all; Kaitoke Regional Park is just that. A park. You’re going to have to use your imagination!

Thankfully, information boards around the small woodland area are used to illustrate where the movie scenes were filmed. The panels showed us exactly which scenes were filmed and where. As a huge fan who knew what to expect, I actually found it super fun skipping around the various boards and through the ‘archway’. So enjoy it for what it is and have fun knowing you’re standing in the same place as the Fellowship and the Council of Elrond!

If you have more spare time, this beautiful regional park is an excellent place for hiking and cycling. And for waterfall scenery more reminiscent of Rivendell, you’re going to have to head to further afield and do a South Island road trip – the waterfalls themselves were actually filmed in Fiordland, including the spectacular Doubtful Sound. (Watch this space for my South Island LOTR blog posts coming in 2024!)

Just down the road from Kaitoke Regional Park, you will find Harcourt Park. This location was used to portray Gandalf and Saruman walking through the Gardens of Isengard. From here, it’s just another 15 minutes to reach the Hutt River. Head to the river section between Moonshine and Totara Park for another location used to create the long Anduin River.

HOBBIT’S HIDEAWAY – Victoria Park, Wellington

This is a super fun spot to visit, as it’s right in the centre of Wellington, and you can match up your photos to 3 exact areas from The Fellowship of the Ring movie!

• when Frodo shouts, ‘Get off the road!’
• moments later, when the hobbits hide behind the tree from the Black Riders (though note that in real life, the tree itself doesn’t exist)
• Frodo’s rest stop – where he relaxes next to Sam and smokes a pipe, just a short while into their Middle Earth adventure after leaving the Shire

To visit these spots, head to Victoria Park near Wellington city centre. There’s a handy Lord of the Rings location car park marked on Google Maps, and then just follow the signs to Hobbit’s Hideaway.

Some have noted that it’s a little tricky to find the exact spots (especially Frodo’s rest stop), so if you’re headed to Victoria Park, please check my complete directions.

PATHS OF THE DEAD – Putangirua Pinnacles, Wellington

Next, we head to Putangirua Pinnacles, and right through the pages of Tolkien’s The Return of the King. The pinnacles are limestone structures that dominate the surrounding landscape. How completely atmospheric!

On the way, try to arrange a visit to Fernside Gardens. They were used in part to portray the magical Lothlorien.

WETA WORKSHOPS – Miramar Peninsular, Wellington

This is the must-visit NZ attraction for movie fans everywhere – with a massive bonus in store if you’re also a LOTR fan!

The 90-minute ‘Weta Workshop Experience’ allows visitors to see the true creativity and expertise it takes to make movie effects, props, costumes, and more. You’ll see many genuine The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit props during the tour and interact with real movie artefacts. The tour guide will be a Weta and LOTR expert who can answer all your questions. The second half of the tour takes you to the Thunderbirds Are Go set, where you’ll learn how miniatures are made and filmed for TV and film.

The tour is $49 or free to enter the Weta Cave retail store, which is described as a ‘mini-museum’ and full of collectable items. You’ll even see Bilbo’s trolls at the entrance!

While you’re in the area, why not finish your day out with a lunch spot at the nearby Chocolate Fish Cafe or Scorching Bay Cafe? The cast and crew frequented both during their time in Miramar, Wellington.

If you have extra time, visit Seatoun nearby. Also, upon the Miramar Peninsular, this small seaside suburb was used to film the scenes at Bree. While you won’t recognise the location, since the set was built for purpose and removed after filming, it’s a beautiful area. I did a few walks around the peninsular to enjoy the beautiful Wellington coastline. Head to Fort Dorset to follow the filmmakers’ footsteps and enjoy the natural New Zealand scenery that remains.