Wellington, New Zealand: Lord of the Rings Sites and the South Coast
Where Middle-earth was made, and where the city meets the open sea.
See top-rated activities »About Miramar and the South Coast
For fans, Wellington New Zealand is the Lord of the Rings capital. Peter Jackson grew up nearby, and his effects, sound and post-production companies made the trilogy and The Hobbit films in the suburb of Miramar, a short drive east of downtown. The Weta Workshop runs guided 90-minute tours from the Weta Cave there, showing how the company designs and builds creatures, weapons, armor and miniatures, with props from the films and a shop. Photography is not allowed in the tour spaces.
Several filming locations are close by. On Mount Victoria, the wooded town belt above the city, the scene where the hobbits hide from the first Black Rider under a tree root was shot a few minutes' walk from the road, and the summit lookout gives a 360-degree view of the harbor, airport and city. North of the city, Kaitoke Regional Park was the setting for Rivendell, with signs marking the spot, and the Hutt River in Harcourt Park stood in for the Anduin. Small-group tours combine these with the Weta Workshop, and some include lunch and costume photos.
The south coast is Wellington's wild side. A road follows the shore from the airport around Lyall Bay, a popular surf beach, to Island Bay and Owhiro Bay, where a coastal track leads to Red Rocks, a band of red pillow lava, and Sinclair Head, where New Zealand fur seals haul out, mostly in winter. Keep at least 20 meters from seals and never get between them and the sea. The Taputeranga Marine Reserve at Island Bay has a snorkel trail, and on clear days the mountains of the South Island are visible across Cook Strait.
Don’t Miss
Guided tours of the effects workshop behind the Lord of the Rings films, from the Weta Cave.
The best city panorama, near the forest where a Black Rider scene was filmed.
River walks, swimming holes and the Rivendell filming location.
A coastal track to red volcanic rocks and a seasonal fur seal colony.
A protected stretch of the south coast with a snorkel trail.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Miramar and the South Coast
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 31, 2026. Wellington Travel may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Miramar and the South Coast — FAQ
Can you visit Hobbiton from Wellington?
Hobbiton is near Matamata in the Waikato, about a seven-hour drive north, so it is a separate trip. Wellington's own film sights are the Weta Workshop, Mount Victoria and Kaitoke Regional Park.
When can you see seals on the south coast?
Fur seals rest at Sinclair Head mostly from late autumn through winter, roughly May to October. The walk from Owhiro Bay takes about an hour each way.
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