Home of Middle‑earth™

loading placeholder image

More than 20 years after the first Lord of the Rings™ movie was released in 2001, New Zealand is still known as the 'Home of Middle‑earth™'.

New Zealand’s dramatic scenery, consisting of golden plains, towering mountains and enchanting valleys, plays a part in creating the mythical world of Middle‑earth™ as seen in The Lord of the Rings™ and The Hobbit Trilogy™. When you visit Middle‑earth™ you can explore the many film locations and join tours and activities for the chance to see the film locations for yourself and step inside the imaginative mind of Tolkien. 

Discover the Lord of the Rings in New Zealand

Visit famous filming locations and be transported into another world.

Experience The Hobbit in New Zealand

Explore iconic destinations and relive your favourite parts of the story.

Visit Hobbiton™ and Middle‑earth™

One filming location to rule them all - Hobbiton™ stands out as an incredibly unique and immersive experience for Tolkien fans. But if you're interested in the movie-making geniuses that brought Middle‑earth™ to life, you must also visit the Wētā Workshop Experience in Wellington, a 90-minute guided tour that takes you behind-the-scenes of the movie magic. 

Take the Middle‑earth™ quiz

Find film experiences

Find accommodation in Waikato

Find transport in Waikato

Where to next?

Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

Film in New Zealand

Get hands-on with our practical effects

Wētā Workshop Unleashed – Tour

Get a peek into behind-the-scenes movie making with a visit to the Weta Cave, in the capital city of New Zealand.

Wellington: Film capital of New Zealand

We use cookies to provide you with a better experience on this site. Keep browsing if you're happy with this.

We also use cookies to show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to understand how you can manage cookies.