Lord of the Rings driving tour around Queenstown

This morning, we went on a four hour driving tour of various filming locations of The Lord of the Rings in and around Queenstown. It was a lot of fun, and nice way to wrap up our vacation in New Zealand. The original trilogy was filmed in 1999 - fifteen years ago. We were able to see how some of the trees/plants/roads grew/changed since the films were made.

When we were in Hobbiton, we bought this book: The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook. We thought it would be a fun way to research some of the areas that we would be seeing along this trip. Our guide for our drive today had the same book, and referenced the photos inside. I'm going to post photos from this book before the photos that we took today of us standing near and around the same spots as were seen in the films.


"The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook"


Ithilien (Twelve Mile Delta)
Faramir surveys Ithilien


we are standing in the same area as where Faramir is standing in the above photo. The landscape has grown a lot since the films, so you can't see the lake behind us. The small tree that you see to the left of Faramir, is the same tree that is now above my head in this photos - it grew tall in 15 years!)


Ithilien (Twelve Mile Delta)
Sam, Frodo and Smeagol watch the Oliphants


We are standing in front of the area where the Olipants and the army walked


there's a ledge below which is where Sam, Frodo and Smeagol hid from the Oliphants


Just a photo of us with Auckland in the background


Rohirrim refugees flee Edoras


We are standing in front of the Remarkables (I keep wanting to call them "The Incredibles"). The same mountain range can be seen in the film still above.


The nine Nazul at the Ford of Bruinen


actually called The Arrow River. Dick is much less terrifying than the nine Nazul. ;)


The river is very shallow here, and the water very clear.


The Glaqdden Fields (Arrowtown)
(From the opening scene of "The Fellowship of the Ring")
The Gladden Fields were a series of marshy paddocks situated at the confluence of the Gladden and Anduin Rivers. An important geogrphical location in the story of The One Ring, it was here in 2(TA) that Isilur was ambushed by Orcs on his way to reclaim the Northern Kingdom of Arnor. He attempted to escape, but The One Ring betrayed him when it slipped off his finger. In later years a group of Hobbits settled in the area, eventually leading to the rediscovery of The One Ring by Deagol (cousin of Smeagol).


the same trail, as seen at the very beginning of "The Fellowship of the Rings"


proof that we were there. ;)


off to the back is a short ridge from which Isilur fell.


Pillars of the Kings (Kawarau River)
Looking down the Kawarau River to where the Argonath were digitally implanted into the rocks


The Kawarau River from above


a wider shot of the Kawarau River


selfie from above


looking out above Queenstown (to the right)


a nice end to our Lord of the Rings driving tour!