Peter Jackson shot the entire Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies across New Zealand. The Shire is still standing as a permanent set in Matamata, and Mt Doom, Edoras, Rivendell and the Dead Marshes are all hikeable national parks.
The Shire
The Hobbiton set was rebuilt as a permanent attraction for The Hobbit trilogy and is now the most-visited film location on Earth. All 44 hobbit holes are maintained year-round, and tours end with a free pint at the Green Dragon.
Mount Doom
Mt Ngauruhoe, a near-perfect volcanic cone, played Mount Doom. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is widely considered New Zealand's best one-day hike — 19.4 km across volcanic craters and emerald lakes.
Edoras — Capital of Rohan
Mt Sunday is a lone grassy hill rising from the Rangitata Valley. The Edoras set was fully removed after filming, but the location is unmistakable. A short 30-minute walk takes you to the summit where Meduseld stood.
Fangorn Forest & Dead Marshes
The mossy beech forests and wetlands of Fiordland stood in for Fangorn and the Dead Marshes. The Kepler Track and Milford Sound boat trips both pass through filming locations.
Paths of the Dead
Eroded gravel pillars 50 metres high form a surreal canyon — the entrance to the Paths of the Dead. A 3-hour loop track takes you through the pinnacles and to a lookout above.
Walk Middle-earth
A two-week loop covers Hobbiton, Tongariro, Edoras, Fiordland and Wellington — the heart of Middle-earth.
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