From Tolkien to Peter Jackson
You don't have to be a fan of The Lord of the Rings to recognize some or all of these quotes, which have become so central to pop-culture since the release of the first part of New Zealand director Peter Jackson's trilogy in 2001.
It was indeed in 2001 that J.R.R Tolkien's world came to life on our screens, shaped by the stubborn dedication of a passionate team, and embodied by the inimitable beauty of New Zealand landscapes. For that's what makes this world so palpable, so real, so authentic: breathtaking landscapes in a country of raw, peaceful beauty. Misty mountains and dormant volcanoes, verdant hills and ethereal valleys, endless beaches and impenetrable forests... it's all here. For many, and for a long time to come, New Zealand IS Middle-earth.
From Peter Jackson to Amazon
With landscapes like these, it's no surprise that Amazon's insanely budgeted series (no less than US$90 million per episode) chose to return there for the first season of Rings of Power. Shot between February 2020 and August 2021, the show has been available on Amazon Prime since September 2, 2022, and once again brings New Zealand to the fore. This time, we're transported to Middle-earth some 4,000 years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, at the heart of a historical fresco recounting the events of what Tolkien calls in his work "the Second Age of Middle-earth". It is during this second age that the Rings of Power will be forged, and the Dark Lord Sauron will lay waste to the free peoples of Middle-earth. The immortal nature of the elves brings us back to two familiar characters: Galadriel, struggling with herself in a never-ending battle against Sauron, responsible for the death of her brother during the first great war; and Elrond, making his first forays into politics and touching in his unwavering friendship with Durin, a high-ranking representative of the Dwarf people.
But Tolkien's universe is so rich and elaborate that the bridges with the previous two trilogies don't stop with these two characters. Well aware that the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are part of a much larger fresco, Peter Jackson's work contains numerous references to Tolkien's extensive universe and treats every detail with historical rigor, giving his universe the body and depth we know. The most attentive among us will recognize many of the characters and places mentioned in Jackson's trilogies in The Rings of Power: Isildur, who in a desperate gesture manages to cut off the ring-bearing finger from Sauron's hand; Númenor, the lost kingdom of which Aragorn is heir; Khazad-dûm, better known as the Mine of Moria, the dwarf kingdom where Morgoth's Balrog slumbers, and which Gandalf repels with his famous "You shall not pass PAAAS!"to name but the most obvious.
The shooting locations
While the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies were mainly shot in Wellington, where Peter Jackson hails from, it was in Auckland that the production of The Rings of Power was set up, as the Wellington studios were then occupied by James Cameron for the filming of theAvatar sequels. Fortunately, not everything was shot in studios! A third of the scenes were shot on location, and crews travelled to 38 locations across the country, giving Middle-earth that "truer to life" touch it's known for. Here are the main locations, from north to south:
On the North Island
Anawhata Beach, Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana. The Gulf of Hauraki ("vast inland advance of the sea") comprises the marine territory and coastline between the east coast of the Auckland region, the Hauraki Plains, and the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. It comprises over 50 islands, the best known of which are Great Barrier island, Little Barrier island and Waiheke island. "Hauraki" means "north wind" in Māori and "Tikapa Moana" has been translated as "the mournful sea". Two beaches in this region were used for filming: Anawhata Beach and Bob's Beach. Anawhata Beach is perfect for hikers, as it's only accessible on foot!
It was in this sumptuous setting that Galadriel and Elendil's horseback ride was filmed, and the slow-motion shot of Galadriel's horse caused quite a stir on the Internet. No doubt many travelers will be inspired by this little controversy surrounding the scene, and the Internet will soon see videos of people filming themselves in slow motion on this very beach.
Piha Beaches, West Auckland. Popular with surfers, Piha beach on Auckland's west coast saw Galadriel and Halbrand beached after their wanderings at sea, as well as Isildur and the other apprentice sailors mooring their boats after a training outing on the ocean. Piha must-sees include Mercer Bay and Kitekite Falls.
Coromandel Peninsula / Te Tara-o-te-ika-o-Maui (Maui's toothy fish tip). One of the North Island's must-see destinations, the Coromandel is one of Aotearoa's largest peninsulas. Beaches and seascapes on one side, primary forest-covered heights on the other, it offers the perfect scenery to embody Middle-earth.
Denize Bluffs, Mangaotaki Valley. This is the second time these cliffs ("bluff" means "cliff" in English) have made an appearance in Tolkien's world. The site had already been used in The Hobbit trilogy: it was here that Bilbo and Thorin's company were captured by Tom, Bert and William, the forest trolls who ended up being turned to stone thanks to Bilbo's cunning. The cliffs seem much larger in The Rings of Power, this time in the territory of much smaller creatures: the Harfoots. These cliffs are easy enough to access, but are located on private land, so you'll have to go through a company offering guided tours to get there!
South Island
Kahurangi National Park, Tasman region. At 4,500 km², Kahurangi National Park is the2nd largest national park in the world. Located in the north-east of the South Island, it is a popular hiking destination, with a wealth of trails, each wilder than the last. It's easy to see why it was chosen to embody the Rhovanion, also known as Wilderland. This region includes Lorien, Mirkwood and Erebor.
Otago region. The Otago region is full of spectacular sights, especially in the Queenstown and Wanaka area. And it's precisely there, at Earnslaw Burn, that the exteriors of the dwarf city of Khazad-dûm were filmed. For the more adventurous, the Earnslaw Burn track (very steep) allows you to see the famous and spectacular wall of waterfalls. Alternatively, treat yourself to the luxury of a helicopter tour via one of the companies operating from Queenstown.
Fiordland National Park - Southland. What better way to represent the Southlands! Before the eruption of Mount Doom turned them into the desolate lands of Mordor we know, the Southlands of Middle-earth were just as green and spectacular as those of New Zealand. So why not shoot a few scenes there? For example, Lake Quill, on whose shores the special effects teams set up Ostirith Tower, a base from which the elves keep an eye on the humans of Southland who had rallied to Morgoth and the dark forces during the first great war... This national park is also home to Mount Kidd, a 3,350 m peak where crews were flown in by helicopter to film Bronwyn establishing herself as the leader of the Southlands.
The location is so spectacular that two actors are said to have shed a few tears on arrival. Both sites are frequent destinations for helicopter tour companies.
On the same theme
And if this new series has awakened your nostalgia for Peter Jackson's trilogies, don't forget to visit the must-see Hobbiton, as well as some of the key sites to immerse yourself further in the inimitable ambience of Middle-earth as it was first shown to us (for a complete list, Ian Brodie's Locations guidebook is an excellent reference).
Tongariro Natinal Park. This is where Mount Doom sleeps and where most of the scenes from Mordor were shot. In real life, Ngauruhoe (i.e. Mount Doom) seems much more peaceful, and the sites are not as gloomy as one might imagine Mordor to be. The terrifying atmosphere we know has been exacerbated in post-production.
Wellington and the surrounding area. In the very heart of Wellington, the very first shot was taken on Mount Victoria ! In all, it is estimated that around a hundred shots were taken on this hill, mainly scenes of the hobbits leaving the Shire or fleeing the Black Rider. Unless you have a guide, it's hard to find the exact locations, but the atmosphere is intact and you'd almost expect to find a hobbit along the way.
Fan tip: for those who swear by the longer versions of the films (what, because there are other versions?), an excursion to the Pūtangirua Pinnacles in Wairarapa (a short hour's drive from Wellington) is a must. This is where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli wandered in search of the army of the dead.
"The way is closed, it was made by those who are dead; and the dead guard it. The way is closed..."
Mount Sunday, Canterbury. One of the most spectacular sites in the saga, and one of the most isolated! From Clearwater Lake (2 hours' drive from Christchurch), it's another 16 km of dirt road to the site where Edoras was built. Nothing remains of the set, which was painstakingly dismantled after the 3 weeks of filming, but the majestic backdrop of Rangitata valley is still in place, and not about to budge...
Lake Pukaki, Canterbury. A spectacular turquoise lake on whose shores the Hobbit town of Laketown was built.
Pelorus river, Malborough region. Remember the river barrel ride in The Hobbit? Part of it was done in the studio, but another part was done in a real river: the Pelorus.
