New Zealand captured the hearts of many travellers when it graced the silver screen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, the first of which premiered over twenty years ago now. (Has it really been that long? Where did the time go?) The magic of New Zealand’s natural landscapes were broadcast to the world through epic film locations and if we weren’t already, we all fell in love with New Zealand from the cinema chair.
But it’s not just ‘Middle-earth’ that you can visit on an RV holiday in New Zealand. Boasting numerous other film locations, New Zealand is the ultimate destination for TV and movie buffs. Here are our top picks for your film location inspired RV trip around New Zealand.
As seen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001
The rich turquoise hues of Kawarau Gorge in New Zealand provided a stunning backdrop film location for the Anduin River in The Lord of the Rings series. Beyond the cinematic scenery, visitors can get their adrenaline pumping here in various ways, including the Shotover Canyon Swing, Shotover Jet, and AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge Bungy.
As seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy, 2012–2014
The meticulously well-kept, immersive film location that is the Hobbiton Movie Set is the reason many travellers visit New Zealand, and for good reason. The 12-acre movie set is the only remaining movie set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises and allows visitors to experience the picturesque, rolling hills of The Shire as if they were a real Hobbit.
December 2023 saw even more magic in the Shire with the opening of the Bagshot Row experience. Visitors can now venture beyond the door and step inside an authentic Hobbit Hole for the very first time.
Featured in The Last Samurai, 2004
New Zealand’s most climbed mountain, Taranaki Maunga, showcased its breathtaking beauty as Mount Fujiyama in The Last Samurai. Soon to be recognized as a legal person named Te Kāhui Tupua, and granting it the same legal rights as a person in recognition of its ancestry to New Zealand’s people, this significant maunga offers stunning views along the Pouākai Crossing, Taranaki’s premier one-day walk.
Additional film locations for The Last Samurai in New Zealand include Port Taranaki and Lake Mangamahoe.
Featured in Top of the Lake, 2013
Queenstown and Glenorchy in New Zealand served as backdrop film locations for the mystery drama TV series Top of the Lake. Moke Lake, known as ‘Paradise’ in the series, is a tranquil spot just a 20-minute drive from the centre of Queenstown.
As seen in The Power of the Dog, 2022
The rural property below the Hawkdun Ranges in New Zealand, used as a film location for Burbank Ranch, offers vast plains, tussock-clad hills, and mountain ranges. Nearby filming locations also include Ranfurly, Naseby, and the Maniototo and both Manuherikia and Ida Valley.
Cycling the Central Otago Touring Route provides a comprehensive backdrop experience.
Featured in multiple films
A jewel in New Zealand’s crown, Milford Sound has graced the screen as a film location in several movies, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Mission Impossible: Fallout. The towering waterfalls, lush greenery, and imposing cliffs make you feel that you’ve been transformed into a different world.
As seen in the Chronicles of Narnia
The great castle of Cair Paravel on the Eastern Sea of Narnia was created by computer-generated imagery on the cliff tops of Pūrākaunui Falls, a cascading three-tier waterfall surrounded by lush bush reminiscent of a fairy grotto. The entire Catlins area is home to unrivalled wildlife and natural scenery – discover the best of it with Catlins Scenic and Wildlife Tours, including the opportunity to see yellow-eyed penguins at sunrise.
As seen in The Power of the Dog, 2022
The iconic Dunedin Railway Station in Dunedin, New Zealand, featured as a film location in The Power of the Dog. It’s reportedly the most photographed building in New Zealand. After a three-year refurbishment, the architectural landmark is now fully accessible for visitors to admire its historic grandeur.
Although it’s possible to send your RV over to New Zealand on a freight ship, this, of course, is hardly worth the hassle and expense for a one-to-two week holiday. As a result, most of us just rent an RV before arriving and pick it up when we get there.
Here are some options for renting an RV in New Zealand for an epic film location road trip:
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