Lord of the Rings South Island Campervan Itinerary

About this itinerary

There's some good in this world Mr. Frodo — and it's worth fighting for

When the decision was made to film the Lord of the Rings trilogy entirely in New Zealand, the secret was already out — that the country’s scenery was enchantingly beautiful.

More than two decades later, the buzz and excitement surrounding the film franchise locations and those of its subsequent prequels remain.

We’ve keenly researched this South Island LOTR itinerary and organised it in a way that works perfectly as a clockwise circumnavigation around the island — starting and ending your motorhome adventure in Christchurch.

Lord of the Rings South Island filming locations await! So what are you waiting for? After all,  a wizard is never late.

Highlights

• Edoras — Mount Sunday, Canterbury

• Pelennor Fields — Mackenzie Country, Canterbury

• Edoras to Helm’s Deep — Deer Park Heights, Otago

• Isengard — Paradise, Otago

• Anduin River — Mavora Lakes, Southland

• Fangorn Forest — Snowdon Forest, Southland

• Dead Marshes — Kepler Mire, Southland

• Ered Nimrais — Mount Gunn, West Coast

• Dimrill Dale — Mount Owen, Tasman

• Chetwood Forest — Canaan Downs Scenic  Reserve, Tasman

• The One Ring — Jens Hansen, Tasman

Day 1 | Edoras — Mount Sunday

A green hill rises upon the east

Nestled deep amongst the Ashburton Lakes is a unique rocky outcrop that was once the scene of Edoras —  the capital city of the Kingdom of Rohan. It’s difficult to describe this place because it’s absolutely breathtaking.

Introduced to this stunning location in The Two Towers, it’s well worth making a detour to drive the sealed and gravel roads to Mount Sunday car park. This is also the trailhead where you can start your half hour stroll to the peak.

Featured movies: The Two Towers and The Return of the King

Where: Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury

Directions: Take Inland Scenic Route 72 to Ashburton Gorge Road which becomes Hakatere Potts Road to  the Mount Sunday trailhead

How best to view: Hike to the summit

Resources: Mount Sunday Track

Day 2 | Pelennor Fields — Mackenzie Country

Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending

The Mackenzie Country was the location of the largest battle between good and evil in Lord of the Rings. This is where thousands of Sauron’s orcs fought against the warriors of Gondor and Rohan.

A vast space of land between golden tussock hills, this region was named after James Mackenzie — an infamous sheep thief during the 1850s. It was chosen for its sweeping grassy fields that stretch to the foothills of the mountains. 

Most of the filming took place on private farmland near Twizel. Up to 1,700 people and 200 horses were on set over the 32 days of filming. There was a guided tour of the battle’s film locations a few years ago but that now seems to have run its course.

Featured movie: The Return of the King

Where: Near Twizel, Canterbury

Directions: Take State Highway 8 to Twizel

How best to view: From afar as the exact location  is on private land

Day 3 | Edoras to Helm's Deep — Deer Park Heights

If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall 

Day 4 | Isengard — Paradise

My business is with Isengard tonight — with rock and stone

The location of the fortress of Isengard is in a small rural locality named Paradise, not far from Glenorchy.  A truly isolated location, it’s essentially fields of sheep surrounded by imposing mountain peaks.

You’ll find Paradise about halfway between Glenorchy and the Routeburn trailhead. Take your time and imagine  how the characters interacted with Saruman’s Tower amidst the stunning environment.

Nearby is also the location of the forest of Lothlórien — a natural beech forest between Glenorchy and Paradise.  It featured in The Fellowship of the Ring where the Uruk-hai were chased by Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli.

Although filmed on private forest land, you can still pull over into some off-road parking areas to get a feel for the location. It’s perhaps fitting that the fairest realm of the elves remaining on Middle-earth was filmed in a place  called Paradise.

Featured movies: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers

Where: Near Glenorchy, Otago

Directions: Take the Glenorchy-Paradise Road to Lothlórien and the Glenorchy-Routeburn Road to the Isengard Lookout

How best to view: Drive or join an LOTR tour

Day 5 | Anduin River — Mavora Lakes

Even the very wise cannot see all ends

About 70km from the picturesque tourist town of Te Anau are the tranquil Mavora Lakes. To get there, you’ll have to take a 40km stretch of gravel road — so check that travel on unsealed roads is permitted by your rental vehicle operator.

Both Mavora Lakes, and the Mararoa River that connects them, were utilised for multiple scenes in  The Fellowship of the Ring, including:

• The edge of Fangorn Forest — where Merry and Pippen escaped from the orcs and hid from the Uruk-hai
  
  

• Nen Hithoel — a large lake on the River Anduin where the Fellowship camped out and where Boromir’s body was left to float home down the river.
  
  

• The end of the Fellowship’s journey along the  Anduin River.

Featured movie: The Fellowship of the Ring

Where: Near Te Anau, Southland

Directions: Take State Highway 94 to Mavora Lakes Road then on to North Mavora Lake where the above scenes took place

How best to view: Drive or join an LOTR tour

Resources: Mavora Lakes Conservation Park

Day 6 | Fangorn Forest — Snowdon Forest

I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now — at the turn of the tide

Day 7 | Dead Marshes — Kepler Mire

There are dead things — dead faces in the water

Day 8 | Ered Nimrais — Mount Gunn

The Beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid — and Rohan will answer

Day 9 | Dimrill Dale — Mount Owen

Some things that should not have been forgotten were lost

Day 10 | Chetwood Forest — Canaan Downs Scenic Reserve

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us

Day 11 | The One Ring — Jens Hansen

One ring to rule them all