Lord of the Rings: follow the footsteps of Bilbo and Frodo in New Zealand

New Zealand’s wild landscapes turned the Lord of the Rings trilogy into a travel phenomenon that still pulls fans decades later. The films captured everything from cozy hobbit holes to volcanic wastelands, and many of those exact spots remain open to visitors who want to step into Middle-earth.

Hobbiton and Mordor

New Zealand consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, and several smaller islands. Both islands are blessed with breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes. The North Island is where the famous, enchanting and beloved residence of the hobbits, the Shire, is located. The background of the Shire in the Lord of the Rings films is Matamata, located in the northern part of the North Island.

Obviously, not all locations that have served as a backdrop in films are immediately recognisable, as special effects have been used in the films. This is not the case, however, with Hobbiton. Those who find themselves on the North Island during a trip to New Zealand can visit the setting of Hobbiton, where 44 Hobbit houses, as seen in the films, can still be found. You can even have a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. If you want to visit Hobbiton, you can book various tours. It is advisable to book in advance, as the tours are very popular and sell out quickly. Hobbiton stays open daily except Christmas Day, standard adult tours run about NZD $130, and bookings are essential months ahead.

Not only the scenes of the serene and fabulous Shire were filmed on the North Island. Another location on the North Island served as the set for the magical Rivendell, the hidden refuge of the elves: Kaitoke Regional Park. Kaitoke is located about 45 kilometres northeast of New Zealand's capital, Wellington. It is therefore easy to combine a visit to the country's capital with a visit to this regional park.

The North Island is not only home to locations that have served as film sets for the serene and magical locations of the films. In the central part of the North Island is Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest national park, whose eerie arid landscapes were chosen for the filming of the dark and gloomy Mordor. Also within this park is Mount Doom, in real life known as Mount Ngauruhoe. If you want to visit the mentioned film sets, you need a visa for your trip to New Zealand. Fortunately, the New Zealand visa can easily be applied for online.

Lord of the Rings Tourism Impact

Hobbiton alone draws roughly 600,000 visitors each year, and tour operators report fresh spikes in requests tied to the films’ 25th anniversary. One in five American travelers arriving in 2025 cite the movies as their main reason for choosing New Zealand. The numbers show no sign of slowing, which means advance reservations stay essential for any fan hoping to stand where Frodo once stood.

Cultural Significance of Filming Locations

Mount Ngauruhoe’s summit remains sacred to Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro, and the Department of Conservation has removed all trail signs directing visitors upward. Tongariro itself carries dual UNESCO World Heritage status for both its volcanic geology and its Māori cultural values. Travelers who respect those boundaries help preserve the landscape that doubled as Mordor.

Additional Filming Locations on the North Island

Beyond the headline spots, Tongariro National Park holds two more accessible Lord of the Rings sites. Mead’s Wall served as the Emyn Muil ridge where Sam and Frodo scramble, while Tawhai Falls became Gollum’s Pool. Both features sit within the park’s public trails and require no special permits, giving self-guided visitors extra frames to photograph without leaving the same volcanic basin.

Planning a Lord of the Rings Self-Drive Itinerary

A practical route starts on the North Island with Hobbiton near Matamata, then moves south to Kaitoke for Rivendell and Tongariro for Mordor. Cross to the South Island for Fiordland’s fjords and the remaining national parks. Most locations stay open year-round; guided tours and rental cars both work, though booking the popular Hobbiton slots months ahead still prevents disappointment.

Other highlights of New Zealand

Since the New Zealand visa is valid for a total of two years and allows an unlimited number of trips during this period (each stay can last up to three months), you can also visit other highlights of New Zealand in addition to the film locations. The country is famous for the beautiful natural landscapes and has a lot to offer. For example: in addition to the Tongariro National Park mentioned above, the country has thirteen other national parks. New Zealand counts exactly thirteen national parks in total. Fiordland ranks as the largest, while Tongariro claims the title of oldest and carries UNESCO dual heritage status for both natural and cultural value.

The film locations mentioned above are all located on the North Island, but the South Island is also definitely worth a visit. Here you will find, among other things, New Zealand's largest national park: Fiordland National Park. In addition to the beautiful natural landscapes, New Zealand has a number of interesting cities. Visit for example Auckland, Wellington (on the North Island) or Christchurch on the South Island.

To travel to New Zealand you need a visa (NZeTA)

New Zealand is not only the ideal destination for lovers of the Lord of the Rings films. The country has something for everyone: breathtaking natural landscapes, many interesting sites and an intriguing history. Anyone who wants to travel to New Zealand, whether to visit the famous film sets or for another reason, needs a visa. A visa for New Zealand, i.e. the NZeTA (“New Zealand Travel Authority”) can easily be applied for online. Before submitting your New-Zealand visa application, it is important to check whether you meet all the requirements. The NZeTA stays valid for two years with multiple entries and permits stays of up to 90 days per visit or a total of six months within any 12-month window. Remote work for an overseas employer or client is allowed for up to 90 days under the same visitor rules, giving digital nomads a straightforward path to combine film-site pilgrimages with work from the road.