Few places can match the natural beauty of New Zealand’s North and South Islands. From sweeping valleys to imposing mountain ranges and picture-perfect beaches, the variety of landscapes is astonishing. It might be the only place in the world you could go skiing at breakfast and surfing at dinner, exhibiting the staggering scenery on offer in the country.
As a result, New Zealand is one of the world’s leading natural tourism destinations, attracting millions of visitors once again after the borders opened. Movie studios have also taken advantage of the country’s natural beauty, most notably in films like Lord of the Rings. The panoramic vistas on offer are hard to replicate anywhere else, ensuring movie-makers don’t need CGI to create the vast scenes they are after. Keep reading for some of the best movies filmed in New Zealand.
Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings trilogy showcases breathtaking landscapes, many of which were filmed in New Zealand. Remember the iconic city of Minas Tirith? Or impenetrable Helms Deep castle? Both of these recognizable hallmarks of the LOTR trilogy were filmed in New Zealand. Filming locations for The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King spanned over 150 locations on the North and South Islands, taking full advantage of the country’s varied scenery.
With the first look at Gollum’s exciting video game enthusiasts, it’s clear the Lord of the Rings franchise still holds weight worldwide. There are numerous factors in its success, but you cannot deny the importance of New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery in the movie series’ overall popularity.
Wolverine
The 2009 box office smash hit Wolverine was filmed primarily in the Otago region of the South Island. Hugh Jackman’s legendary interpretation of the X-Men character is a huge reason behind the film’s continued success, but you cannot forget about the awe-inspiring natural landscapes.
Wolverine’s home during much of the film was built in the Deer Park Heights mountain range. It offers unrivaled views across the Otago region and Remarkables mountain range. The 2009 Wolverine movie was so successful it spawned several sequels and crossovers. While Hugh Jackman is the principal cause, don’t discount the importance of the beautiful setting Wolverine was filmed in.
Mission Impossible 6: Fallout
Filming for the sixth Mission Impossible movie took Tom Cruise and co. to Rees Valley, Cromwell, and the Nevis Valley. As you can imagine, the blockbuster had a gargantuan budget, leading to impressive stunts and set builds in these beautiful New Zealand destinations.
Kiwis also had the pleasure of seeing famous actors like Henry Cavill and Simon Pegg enjoying themselves in Auckland. Both were spotted hanging around the infamous CBD district in places like Le Bar. They were also seen at the SkyCity Casino throwing down a few chips during their downtime. There are only six land-based casinos in New Zealand, so if you want to join Cavill and Pegg in some casino fun, you’ll have to find online casino alternatives. The best platforms grant access to a diverse array of games developed by the best in the business. For example, the award-winning Casumo online casino stocks titles from the likes of NetEnt and Microgaming. It also has an impressive selection of over 700 live casino games, the perfect way to enjoy the land-based casino atmosphere from home. You can read about Casumo NZ for a more in-depth review of its features and VIP program. Regular players can earn trophies, receiving extra bonus promotions in the process, which they can then redeem for free spins or even cash! The site is the perfect accompaniment to watching Mission Impossible 6: Fallout and gawping at New Zealand’s incredible natural beauty.
The Hobbit
It simply wouldn’t have been right to film The Hobbit trilogy anywhere else but New Zealand. This fact is particularly pertinent, as the Hobbiton Movie Set is permanently located on the North Island. The majestic Pelorus River also plays a vital role in the comical barrel run scene at the end of the first installment, An Unexpected Journey.
Peter Jackson received some schtick for his interpretation of The Hobbit, notably for the overzealous use of CGI in place of real-life human characters. However, one thing nobody complained about was the scenery, showcasing the beautiful vistas New Zealand is so well associated with.
The Last Samurai
Although the film is set in Japan, the bulk of The Last Samurai was actually filmed in New Zealand. Mount Taranaki is the Mount Fuji we see on screen, perfectly displaying the wide variety of New Zealand’s topography.
The Last Samurai shooting sites range across the country, but the foot of Mount, Taranaki is the most famous. It provides the perfect backdrop for the final battle scene between the Samurai and Imperial Army. While The Last Samurai was heavily lauded for the performances of Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe, New Zealand’s stunning natural landscape is also central to several scenes in the movie.
