Peter Jackson’s adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings” permanently changed how film fans see New Zealand. The country’s mountains, rivers and rolling farmland provided real-world foundations for Middle-earth, especially in “The Fellowship of the Ring”, where the fellowship travels through multiple regions.
Hobbiton, one of the most famous locations, was built on a farm near Matamata in the Waikato region. The set was partially dismantled after filming, then rebuilt as a permanent attraction when the Hobbit trilogy went into production. Today it is one of the world’s most popular film-location tours, complete with guided walks and themed food.
Rugged landscapes such as Tongariro National Park and the Remarkables mountain range doubled for Mordor and the Misty Mountains. Hikers will recognize some of the ridges and valleys from classic shots of the fellowship crossing snow-covered passes or fleeing from ringwraiths.
Smaller locations, like rivers near Glenorchy or forests outside Wellington, were used for brief but memorable scenes: the Nazgûl crossing the river, the approach to Rivendell, or the company leaving the Shire. Many of these spots are public land, which means visitors can combine normal hiking itineraries with film-history pilgrimages.
New Zealand tourism now actively promotes “Middle-earth” itineraries. On Where Was It Filmed, you can see these locations on an interactive map, filter by region and create a custom route that follows the fellowship’s journey.