Spellbound in Middle Earth

Spellbound in Middle Earth

Some of the most striking elements of the Lord of the Rings films weren't created by special-effects—they were the astonishing views of New Zealand's countryside. The film crew traveled all over the country, so there are dozens of locales to tempt you to stop and dream awhile.

On the North Island, you can visit a handful of hobbit homes in rural Matamata (www.hobbitontours.com). The volcanic peaks and blasted terrain of Tongariro National Park provided the setting for Mordor. Tackle one of the park's walking trails to see the otherworldly hot springs, lava rocks, and craggy peaks like Ruapehu, the films' Emyn Muil. Take the spectacular Tongariro Crossing trek to pass Ngauruhoe, the volcano the hobbits Frodo and Sam braved as Mount Doom.

Wellington, the film production's home base, is also the hometown of the director, Peter Jackson. Here the orcs, trolls, and the horrible Balrog all came to life, created by Weta Workshop and the production company Three Foot Six (named for the height of a hobbit). Weta's has had its hands full with other major films, including Jackson's King Kong. Local wags dub the capital "Wellywood."

The Hutt Valley, east of Wellington, saw plenty of hobbit action. During filming a huge polystyrene castle towered over a quarry by the Western Hutt road. Unsuspecting drivers would pass by Minas Tirith and the fortress of Isengard, where the wizard Gandalf was betrayed and imprisoned. Stay on Highway 2 to reach the beautiful Kaitoke Regional Park, used for the Elven city of Rivendell and a perfect place to picnic on the riverbank.

On the South Island, Highway 6 unrolls south to glacier country. Stop at Franz Josef and look for Mount Gunn, where the beacon burned. Carving through the magnificent landscape, the road leads on to Wanaka, where the ghastly ringwraiths gave chase to Arwen and Frodo.

The breathtaking White Mountains, or Remarkables, at Queenstown was the background for the Ithilien Camp, the giant statues of the Pillars of Argonath, and other scenes. From nearby Glenorchy, you can hire a horse and ride to Paradise, seen as the Elven Lothlórien forest. Farther south, near Te Anau, the brooding silence of the lake district was shot as the Midgewater Marshes, and is prime trout-fishing territory.

Hungry for more? Then turn to the "Lord of the Rings" Location Guidebook by Ian Brodie, which tracks the films up hill and down dale.

-Bob Marriott