(LogOut/ Participants can run, cycle, swim, or walk to reach the set distance, and each stop has stories and postcards detailing Frodo and Sam's journey. Stranger Things 4. (LogOut/ While Mt. Read on to see my top 7 Lord of the Rings Read more, Hiking the Edoras Filming Location on Mount Sunday, NZ, New Hampshire Fall Foliage Scenic Road Trip, 11 Amazing Sights in Athens (that arent the Acropolis! From Whakapapa you can also get an amazing view of Mount Ngauruhoe, the volcano that played the part of Mount Doom. Other scenes were put together digitally, at the WETA Workshop in Wellington, as well as at soundstages in Wellington and Queenstown. The surrounding mountains make for an unbeatable view. The Lord of the Rings Filming Locations in Ohakune. from Ithilien Lookout In my opinion, the drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy is one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand. Thanks to one Middle-earth fan on TikTok by the name of DonMarshall72, we know. Or, about 1,718.5 miles. Change). from Picton Ferry, respectively Perhaps the most insanely difficult filming location to get to, Mount Owen played the part of Dimrill Dale in the Fellowship of the Ring when the fellowship exits Moria and mourns the death of Gandalf. Frodo also stopped for a good while in both Rivendell and Lothlorien. Come here to experience the magic of silence, and be in awe of the REAL Middleearth. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive an email notification when there is a new post. Just 45 minutes from Queenstown, Glenorchy is nestled on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu & is the gateway to hiking trails and Middleearth magic, Find current deals in Queenstown(opens in new window). View more Lord of the Rings driving routes. A New Drug Switched Off My Appetite. Hopefully if we pace ourselves a little better and do it over a few extra days our feet won't end up looking like those poor Americans hahaha. It turns out that Frodo and Sam walked a whopping 2,765.6 kilometres (1,718.5 miles). Part of your road lies along the Waikato River - you join it 15km from the Hobbiton set, and follow it for about 75km. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Some are deciding to build their own companies. Think I missed something? Two direct hiking routes take you to the Putangirua Pinnacles, which can be undertaken in 2-4 hours. I'm planning a hike early next year which will begin in the Hobbiton set in Matamata (New Zealand, obviously) and end on Mt. Thankfully it was rebuilt for The Hobbit trilogy and has remained as a tourist attraction ever since. Also, camping is heavily preferred over staying at a formal accommodation. About 1 hr. If you enjoy the content I create, please consider buying me a coffee! These guys did the exact same thing a few years back, it's a series of videos. We'll either be camping or staying at an Inn or something similar if it looks like it might be suitable for hobbits. HOWEVER, hobbits are smaller than humans and have a smaller stride like a child. Some Hobbits don't like to stray too far from home, but occasionally they embark on a grand adventure. The author used the Hobbits journey in the films to motivate herself to get back up on that treadmill and start exercising again. Indulge in the Wellington(opens in new window) citys buzzing food and wine scene, and enjoy a cable-car ride to the Kelburn lookout for expansive harbour views. And that makes it easy to trace a Hobbit trail through five essential locales that were all featured prominently in past films for your own unexpected journey through Middle Earth. Tolkien's fantasy novels, to Mordor, home of the Selected weekend . Follow this map, and it will guide you on, and off, country roads, down tracks and bike trails, from Horahora Road to Whakamaru Dam. Let me know in the comments below! Each time you complete a distance-based exercise such as running, walking, cycling, swimming, etc you advance along the map of Middle-earth. These two guys spent a week in New Zealand making the 120 mile trek from Hobbiton to the film location of Mount Doom to prove that you can actually walk into Mordor. Is there a place like the Shire? Getting there:The Hooker Valley hike begins at the Visitor Centre, or the White Horse Hill car park. You can also run, cycle, or even swim your way to Mt Doom. Looking to get in shape but need some extra motivation? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. It rests inside of Tongariro National Park, which was New Zealand's first UNESCO World Heritage site. from Lake Pukaki lookoutPelennor Fields is the location outside of Minas Tirith where the largest battle of the War of the Ring took place. Getting there:The Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve is located between Blenheim and Nelson in New Zealands South Island. During the 4 hour trek, you can expect to encounter swing bridges, glacier lakes and incredible views of Aoraki / Mt Cook - New Zealands tallest mountain. Thanks for the advice. duration: 2 hours BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL Evening Banquet Tour. Traveling to the Shire and Rivendell and the realm of Gondor was only possible if you closed your eyes and let your mind wander as you read The Lord of the Rings. Hundreds of thousands of workers lost jobs at Google, Meta, and other giants in recent months. Jens Hansen was the jewelry designer behind whats perhaps the worlds most famous ring. Visit various filming locationsthe forest realm of Lothlorien and Isengard near Glenorchy, the valley where the giant oliphants made way for battle, and moreand anticipate impromptu scene reenactments with supplied costumes and props. I'm having a scrabble around, to see what I can find. Haha, perfect. The South Island of New Zealand is a haven for walkers and hikers. Wt is the Academy Award-winning company behind the special effects of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies, and the Wt Cave(opens in new window) in Wellington is a mini-museum that showcases the props and characters that create the movie magic. The Beach, 85Beach Road, I've never been to NZ (though I will have in 2 months!! The land of rugged coastlines, nature walks, and wildlife. Originally published in Amon Hen, a publication of the Tolkien Society. Frequently Asked Questions. Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Thanks for any advice you can give on any part of the journey between Matamata and Mt Ngauruhoe! Its wooded green fields depicted the outskirts of Hobbiton quite the contrast to the rest of the sinister Mordor landscapes filmed in the area. About 3.5 hrs. McClean Falls surrounded by lush rainforest in the Catlins. One does not simply walk into Mordor. It would be interesting to know how long the journey would be on foot all the way, and also how far it would be going the fellowships original route through Rohan. 10 The Lake District, England (The Shire) The rolling fields and tiny towns of this national park bear an unmistakable resemblance to the Shire, but rising above the . Dont be surprised for fellow guests to quickly adopt character once properly cloaked and armed with weaponryor, even if one or two amongst you proves well-versed in Elvish (the language of Tolkiens elves). 5. The filming location is on private farmland but can be seen from Waikaretu Road just South of Port Waikato. Gentle streams dissect emerald green valleys as giant mountains stand sentinel and ancient glaciers tumble to the sea. It puts Frodos journey roughly equal to the Great Eastern Trail(which runs from Upstate New York to Alabama), but still a few hundred miles short of the Appalachian Trail. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Explore this magical world of tall trees, clear rivers and melodious birdlife on a short walk or famous multi-day hike. Over 5,000 NZ events listed - find an event anywhere in the country. Maori history and culture are part of New Zealand's identity. Frodo took six months to travel across Middle-Earth, but you could do it in five. Journey to Mordor Experience wilderness in Tongariro National Park - an area known for its mountainous, desolate beauty. Whatever you chose, the wildlife, rainforest and spectacular falls will leave you in awe of your Lord of the Rings hiking tour in New Zealand. Stopping off at Tom Bombadils house factors into the apps trip. I first discovered my passion for travel when an opportunity to study abroad allowed me to visit all of my favorite Lord of the Rings filming locations, and now I want to share that passion with the world! I'm planning a holiday with a group of friends to walk from The Shire (Hobbiton in Matamata) to Mt Doom in Mordor (Mt Ngauruhoe). Read more about visiting Edoras. This means that the events of The Lord of the Rings take place over six months, or 182 days using the Shire calendar. Turn off State Highway 6, 500m south of Franz Josef Village onto the Franz Josef Glacier access road until you reach the car park. No sweat. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Modern-day explorer, perpetual seeker, and diligent travel scribe Elissa Richard has set out circumnavigating the globe on an ambitious 14-month adventure. Simply Walk Into Mordor Challenge In J. R. R. Tolkien's masterpiece "The Lord of The Rings" Frodo and Sam must travel across Middle-earth in order to destroy The One Ring. Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions. A short riverside walk gives you a glimpse of the river that was once full of Dwarves on the silver screen, while a 3-4 hour trek takes you through podocarp forests, over a swing bridge and past thundering waterfalls on a track that makes up part of New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail - The Long Pathway, an incredible walk that runs the length of New If you aren't, stick to the road. USA/Canada: 1-877-282-2577 Perhaps take a short helicopter flight into the heart of Mordor or visit Whakapapa Ski F Fonstad, Karen Wynn. While the original LOTR Shire set had been largely dismantled post-filming, The Hobbit brought an entirely rebuilt site that was left intact as a permanent attraction (now jointly owned by the original farm family and Peter Jackson). The Shire is a region of J. R. R. Tolkien 's fictional Middle-earth, described in The Lord of the Rings and other works. Discover New Zealand's spectacular North Island scenery that has become a portal to Middle Earth for film lovers and Tolkien fans. Learn their secrets about what it takes to create the movie masterpieces. NZ is home to stunning golf courses set in incredible locations of natural landscapes. You can experience the raw and untouched beauty of this Lord of the Rings location with an easily accessible hike through the beautiful Hakatere Conservation Park. The Arrow River just North of the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown was used to film this entire scene. You need to buy hut passes - usually $5 a night, sometimes a bit more, before you go, from the Department of Conservation. The company says this is a time-limited series, so anyone who is interested in taking part may want to do so sooner rather than later. What a wonderful idea, Precious! It's a big year for The Lord of the Rings, as Amazon's long-awaited TV series, Rings of Power, premieres on September 2. Bestseller. Then drive on to Wellington, production base for The Lord of the Rings movies and Director Peter Jackson's hometown. So if these halflings could do it, what is your excuse not to? from Auckland. It accounts for the longer distance recorded in Tolkien's book. Mordor was a black, volcanic plain in the southeast of Middle-earth to the east of Gondor, Ithilien, and the great river Anduin . One patient guide. Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, debuts on HBO Max. It is little wonder that Peter Jackson selected New Zealandto bringTolkien's Middle-earth tothe big screen. You can get a great view of the Hutt River and the surrounding scenery and skip some pebbles in Poets Park. Tesla pioneered selling vehicles online. An easy drive south of Auckland will take you to the verdant Waikato, home to Hobbiton and The Shire. Well, as with most things these days, theres an app for that. here is the walk to mordor that frodo and sam did from the shire to mordor. Day 37: After a relaxing morning and the biggest breakfast, I have ever had Matt and I set out from the hostel to resupply for the next five days. Two diehard Tolkien fans. In 2021, 142 Fresno County residents ages 4-73 participated . No hiking experience is necessary. In the end though, what is more motivating than imagining oneself as Frodo or Sam, needing to walk that pesky One Ring into the volcano to its destruction? New Zealand/Aotearoa is calling all halflings, elves and sorcerers on a quest through the ethereal and fantastical landscapes of the North Island, taking in The Shire to Mordor.. ), Summitting Mount Doom (Mt. The Middle-earth map in the app shows where you are on your journey from The Shire to Mordor. And the films famously omitted that section of the books. mbingcrosby created a Google Maps mockup of Middle-earth from The Lord of the Rings that includes walking directions from the Shire to Mordor. JOIN NOW. Near Nelson, Reid Helicopters helped location scouts determine film sites, and shuttled cast and crew out for shootingtheir two film-themed LOTR chopper tours land on the giant karst rocks of Mount Owen (or, Dimrill Dale, on the exit from the Mines of Moria), or the pinnacle rock formations of Mount Olympus (aka South of Rivendell), both in Kahurangi National Park.