TOP 10 FILM LOCATIONS
New Zealand’s popularity as an international film making destination means movie buffs are spoiled for choice when it comes to real film locations to visit.
10. CATHEDRAL COVE
The set for the ruins of the castle Cair Paravel, in The Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian, was built on the nearby Hereherataura Peninsula, overlooking iconic Cathedral Cove. From beautiful Hahei Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula you can walk to Cathedral Cove. .
9. HOBBITON MOVIE SET
Hobbiton Movie Set – in the lush rural Waikato region – continues to attract international visitors looking to experience their own slice of Middle earth™ in New Zealand. This set was used for filming Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
8. MOUNT TARANAKI – THE LAST SAMURAI
Most of the filming of The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise, took place near New Plymouth in Taranaki. A Japanese village was constructed for filming on the hillsides of the Uruti Valley, with Mount Taranaki standing in for ‘Mount Fuji‘.
7. Paradise – Wolverine & The Hobbit Trilogy
Paradise – a real place at the end of the Queenstown – Glenorchy road in New Zealand’s Southern Lakes region – set the scene for Beorn’s House in The Hobbit Trilogy. Scenes from Wolverine were also shot at this picturesque location.
6. Aoraki, Mount Cook – Vertical Limit
Vertical Limit, the thriller about climbing and falling from mountains was directed by New Zealander Martin Campbell. Filming took place on New Zealand’s highest mountain (12,316ft), Aoraki, Mt. Cook.
5. FLOCK HILL – CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
New Zealand director Andrew Adamson chose Flock Hill Station, near Arthur’s Pass in Canterbury, as the setting for the climactic final battle between Aslan’s forces and the powerful army of the White Witch, in the Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.
4. KAITOKE REGIONAL PARK – THE LORD OF THE RINGS & THE HOBBIT
North of Wellington lies the Kaitoke Regional Park, the location used for Rivendell, the home of the elves, in Middle earth™ Trilogies. Although film sets have been dismantled and the park returned to its natural state, the area where Rivendell was set is a beautiful picnic spot with river swimming and bush walks.
3. KAREKARE BEACH – THE PIANO
The breathtaking Karekare beach in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges was made famous in the 1993 movie The Piano, directed by New Zealander Jane Campion. It also landed Anna Paquin an Oscar and launched her international acting career.
2. ORETI BEACH – THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN
Oreti Beach, just a few miles from the city of Invercargill, offers a vast expanse of sand, surf and sunshine. It was here Burt Munro, subject of the film The World’s Fastest Indian, created speed records on his modified Indian Scout motorcycle.
1. LYALL BAY – KING KONG
Wellington has produced some of Hollywood’s biggest movies in recent years. King Kong “Skull Island” was located in a large-scale set built above Shelly Bay, on the Miramar peninsula and the dinosaur run scene in the movie took place at surfing beach Lyall Bay.
