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The day's itinerary was to find a number of Lord of the Rings film locations within an hour's drive of Wellington. Very convenient for the filmmakers, no doubt, but still tricky for us to find without our own location scout.
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Exploring the Elven Forest and More November 16, 2004
Ttrealtravels2005-12-26 15:50:23
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The day's itinerary was to find a number of Lord of the Rings film locations within an hour's drive of Wellington. Very convenient for the filmmakers, no doubt, but still tricky for us to find without our own location scout.
First stop was at the Lower Hutt River, which was one of many New Zealand rivers to stand in for Middle Earth's Great Anduin River. Heading north on SH2, cross the Moonshine Bridge and turn left almost immediately on the small access road. This leads to a car park right off the riverbanks.
Along this stretch of river, the Fellowship first launched their Elven boats as they left Lothlorien in the first movie. Farther upstream was filmed as the Rohan River, which Aragorn fell into from a cliff and dreamed that his horse kissed like Arwen. Apparently the weather gods didn't want us to tarry for too long because it started to rain. So on we went.
The small town of Upper Hutt is some 30 minutes northwest of Wellington on SH2. Outside of this town by about 10km is Kaitoke Regional Park, site of Rivendell.
To get there, continue on SH2 past the first Kaitoke Park entrance. Go about 5km further on SH2, where it becomes a twisty mountain road over the Kaitoke Summit. Past the summit is Water Works Road on the left, and you take that to the second park entrance. Follow the main road and signs a kilometer or two into the park. Look for the Rivendell signs to the Pakuratahi-Hutt Forks area. There's a car park, and it's a very short walk up to the film site, which has a large explanatory sigh.
The peaceful Elven haven of Rivendell -- the last homely house of the West -- was realized on film through digitally composited images from this park, together with models, studio sets, and matt paintings. The park location is not wholly recognizable from the movies.
Nonetheless, the lovely green glade with
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See photographs from:
New Zealand Gallery
