With its rolling mountains, rampant grasslands, and phenomenal glaciers, there are not a lot of countries in the world that can rival New Zealand when it comes to natural beauty. Which explains partly why travellers flock here: to be enthralled by the stunning locales that brought many films to life. From the past few decades until now, Hollywood’s greatest filmmakers have utilized the cinematic vibes of New Zealand’s surroundings. Without further ado, here is a list of the country’s must-see movie locations.
Matamata
Fans of the Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies need no introduction to Peter Jackson’s epic movie adaptations of J.R.R Tolkien’s novels. After filming for the trilogies were completed, the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata; a two hours drive from Auckland, was touched up and opened to the public for fans to experience the wonders of Middle Earth. Ever since, the movie set has become a hot tourist attraction. Do take note that a guided tour is compulsory to explore the place. Tours depart every thirty minutes from 9.30am until between 3pm and 5.30pm, which depends on the season. It is better to book tickets in advance. Tours usually take two hours or so to complete. Even if you are not a fan of the trilogies, the beauty of everything seen on the set is still worth a visit.
Karekare Beach
Only a short fifty minute drive west of Auckland, Karekare Beach was the celebrated centrepiece of a critically acclaimed New Zealand period drama film titled The Piano. Karekare beach was the perfect cinematic foil for the film due to its long, black sandy beach, imposing cliffs and bush surroundings. The beach is a famous spot among newlywed couples to have their wedding photographs taken. Also, fans of the movie who visit the beach will attempt to recreate the iconic scene of a young Anna Paquin doing somersaults on the seashore.
Cathedral Cove
A two hour drive or so from Auckland, the Cathedral Cove is the filming spot for the novel-adapted movie titled Prince Caspian: The Chronicles Of Narnia. Well, for those who have read the Prince Caspian novel written by C.S Lewis, it should not come as a surprise that the Cathedral Cove was chosen to be the beloved home of Narnia’s Kings and Queens. The place has a combination of both scenic beauty and a secluded atmosphere, which is exactly what the film’s settings are seeking. The cove is also a great place to view the gorgeous sunset and enjoy kayaking.
Milford Sound
The beautiful landscape of Milford Sound was utilized as a planet of terror in the sci-fi epic known as Alien Covenant. Ridley Scott, the director of the movie, claimed that he chose Milford Sound due to the deep-rooted moody environment, which acts as a perfect backdrop to the dark theme of the film. If you have watched Alien Covenant, you can see how much Milford Sound’s eerily quiet atmosphere helped to emit a dreadful and intense vibe. When you are actually exploring Milford Sound, the atmosphere can be just as terrifying as what you have seen in the movie itself. Don't worry though, as wild terrifying imaginations are naturally a consequence of experiencing a real-life movie moment.
Mount Taranaki
When movie director Edward Zwick, along with his crew and cast members; including superstar Tom Cruise, arrived at Mt Taranaki to film ‘The Last Samurai’, the locals simply could not get any happier. Given that the movie’s theme was centered on Japan’s Samurai culture, it was no surprise that Mt. Taranaki was being chosen as it bears a striking uncanny resemblance to Japan’s Mt Fuji. The movie’s climactic battle scene was also well-paired with the surrounding hills as backdrop. These days, the volcano is frequently visited by many hikers from around the world.
Wellington And Auckland
The spectacular 2005 King Kong movie (a remake of the Hollywood classic) was directed by Peter Jackson and to every New Zealander’s delight, their home-town hero director chose Wellington and Auckland to be the filming spots for the movie. Wellington’s Lyall Bay acted as the backdrop for the fictional Skull Island in the movie. Lyall Bay is a popular surf beach and many visit the bay for leisure seaside activities. 1930s New York came alive in New Zealand at Seaview in Wellington's Hutt Valley, as Peter Jackson created a depression-era version of the Big Apple with all the famous attractions such as Broadway, Times Square, and even vintage cars on the roads. Auckland's 1929 atmospheric theatre, the Civic Theatre, doubled for New York theatre’s interior, the place where Kong viciously breaks free of his chains before escaping into the city. Today, the theatre is still used for hosting performances and shows, and is one of the remaining few of its type still in operation.
Central Otago
This filming location is from the movie; Mission Impossible: Fallout. The Mission Impossible series, starring the enigmatic Tom Cruise, is a huge fan-favourite among action movie buffs and Fallout is easily Tom Cruise’s sixth outing as the daredevil rogue agent Ethan Hunt. The movie’s thrilling sequence whereby Ethan Hunt clings onto a rope beneath a helicopter, is filmed in the Nevis and Rees valleys of Central Otago. In every Mission Impossible film, there will be an extraordinary setting to complement the death-defying stunt-works, and the Nevis and Rees valleys accomplish exactly that. With its gorgeous scenery acting as backdrop, viewers will feel even more at awe.
To every movie buff out there, there is nothing more exciting than seeing filming locations in the flesh. Therefore, on your next trip to New Zealand, do remember to drop by at least one of these movie locations in the list above.
