2001 · Directed by Peter Jackson
Explore the real-world connections to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, with each location linked to its own story and evidence.
These existing site references are not exact scene or camera positions. Access notes and sources remain attached to each location.
General reference · Restricted access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Guided tours only, on a working farm; book ahead. Tours leave from The Shire’s Rest and the Matamata i-SITE.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. From the Pākuratahi Forks car park, cross the bridge for the 15-minute return Rivendell walk. Gate closes 6pm in winter, 9pm in summer; no drones over the picnic area.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Remote alpine ground: DOC rates access as a challenging walk-in; most people see it by helicopter from the Nelson region.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. In summer, drive the toll road to the Remarkables ski field and walk the 2.4 km return track. In winter it is avalanche ground.
General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Look down on the river from the historic suspension bridge or from Chard Farm. The statues were never there.
Hobbiton Movie Set
Guided tours only, on a working farm; book ahead. Tours leave from The Shire’s Rest and the Matamata i-SITE.
The Alexander farm near Matamata became Hobbiton; filming began there in December 1999.
Production: Hobbiton Movie Set · Depicted: Hobbiton (fictional)
Mount Victoria / Matairangi
A walk from central Wellington. The Town Belt tracks are free and open; the exact filming spot is not marked.
On Mount Victoria’s forested slopes the hobbits hide from the Black Riders.
Production: Mount Victoria / Matairangi · Depicted: Hobbiton Woods (fictional)
Kaitoke Regional Park
From the Pākuratahi Forks car park, cross the bridge for the 15-minute return Rivendell walk. Gate closes 6pm in winter, 9pm in summer; no drones over the picnic area.
Kaitoke Regional Park is the location of Rivendell.
Production: Kaitoke Regional Park · Depicted: Rivendell (fictional)
Mount Owen
Remote alpine ground: DOC rates access as a challenging walk-in; most people see it by helicopter from the Nelson region.
Mount Owen contributes ground to the geography after Moria.
Production: Mount Owen · Depicted: Dimrill Dale after Moria (fictional)
Lake Alta
In summer, drive the toll road to the Remarkables ski field and walk the 2.4 km return track. In winter it is avalanche ground.
Lake Alta is another contributor to the geography after Moria; this does not establish a continuous real route from Mount Owen.
Production: Lake Alta · Depicted: Dimrill Dale after Moria (fictional)
Kawarau Gorge
Look down on the river from the historic suspension bridge or from Chard Farm. The statues were never there.
The Fellowship pass the Pillars of the Kings on the Kawarau; the Pillars were added in the studio.
Production: Kawarau Gorge · Depicted: The Argonath on the Anduin (fictional)
Paradise and the Dart valley
Glenorchy is 45 minutes from Queenstown; Paradise is further up the Glenorchy–Paradise Road.
The beech forests at Paradise are the setting for Lothlórien.
Production: Paradise and the Dart valley · Depicted: Lothlórien (fictional)
Mavora Lakes
39 km of gravel road from SH94, about 90 minutes from Te Anau, to the DOC campsite; the North Mavora 4WD track needs a gate code.
The Fellowship moor at North Mavora Lake at the end of the Anduin.
Production: Mavora Lakes · Depicted: Nen Hithoel (fictional)
The film’s Wikidata record lists these production locations. Exact filming areas and visitor access have not yet been established here.
