The Perils of Forgetting Movies Use Special Effects: A Traveler's Tale
This can lead to some serious disappointment when we finally visit these places for ourselves. Something I witnessed several travelers experience first hand on a work trip to New Zealand. I was here for adventure, I was here to learn about a destination, and I was here to explore film locations from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (fulfilling a 15+ year dream).
Side Note: You don’t need to be a fan of these films to love everywhere I went and everything I did/could still do (yes, I plan on going back for round 2). New Zealand is a dream from every angle.
With my background in theater and film production, nothing came as a shock to me in regards to the tricks used to create the film’s stunning shots. However while enjoying a few tours, I listened in and talked to fellow travelers who were genuinely having their dreams dashed as they learned about movie magic and the true extent of what it can create.
As you can see, the majestic mountains are actually located on the South Island,
while the walking path is located on the North Island. Magic!
I might have just written it off as one silly individual who was kind of crazy to think Isengard would actually be a standing tower, but it wasn’t just one person. It was person, after person, after person I’d met. Some were still able to enjoy themselves while others were close to tears. So…going in to your journey to discover Middle Earth I beg you to remember a few things.
Many were upset because they went on tours located on the North Island where many of the foreground shots were filmed before placing the majestic mountains of the South Island behind the action of the actors. This is a common practice but when you have traveled to a distant land expecting to see the entire scene in one place and perhaps do not have the time or funds to add on a leg to your journey to see those mountains, it can of course be disappointing and taint your entire experience. This being said, both are worth seeing. Make the time to see both.
Sets that were actually built and not CGI’d had to be removed because they were all on National Park Land (the exception of course being Hobbiton).
Here you see me "hiding" where the hobbits ducked under a large tree's roots.
The tree was added, then removed in order to keep New Zealand's nature safe.
In fact, so many travelers were getting lost in the Rivendale rainforest looking for the set, that the park ranger responsible for finding them petitioned the government to add signs indicating to hikers they had indeed found the location they were looking for. This was not an easy process with how resolutely New Zealand safeguards their national parks but easier than rescuing lost travelers.
The hard fought for Rivendell signage.
Lord of the Rings was king at creating masterpiece scaled models of sets to use for filming. Above is a prime example is the iconic bridge at Isengard where Gandalf rushed to receive guidance from Sauron. This bridge is only about 2 feet wide and a series of filming tricks were used to create the final image the audience gets to see. Below you'll see me standing in front of where Isengard stood in the films.
Speaking of film production, don't forget to stop by the Weta Workshop in Wellington for a tour. Here you'll get a chance to marvel at the true genius behind these films...the artists.
Never fear, if you're heart is searching for epic you can still find it. If you step away from the literal and hold to the feeling, epic is New Zealand.
You can helicopter out to many stunning locations from the film, but if your budget doesn’t go that far the truth is exploring these mountains will make you feel you are in the fellowship no matter where you are in them. New Zealand has some of the most well kept trails in the world. Day hikes, multi day hikes, months long hikes and various skill levels are available. You will be able to journey into the epic beauty of this world.
It's important to remember that movies are just that: movies.
They're not documentaries or travel guides. They're meant to entertain
us, not to give us an accurate representation of the world. But, if you're like me and want the LOTR experience, I can defiantly help create a trip for you that delivers.
When planning a Fan Travel experience keep these three thing in mind:
- Be realistic: Remember that movies are often exaggerated for dramatic effect. Don't expect everything to be exactly as you saw it on screen.
- Go with an open mind: Be prepared to be surprised by what you find. You might discover hidden gems that weren't even featured in the movie. Remember, we can recreate the FEELING even if we can't create actual magic.
- Have fun! Exploring new places is an adventure, so relax and enjoy the experience. Bring costumes!
In addition to being a GOLD Level New Zealand Specialist, Holly is a Travel Advisor with Vista Travel Consultants specializing in adventure travel, sustainable travel, wellness travel, family travel, cruise travel, and cultural immersion travel.
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