4. Matamata, New Zealand
The best place for visitors to feel like they’ve gone to The Shire is in Hobbiton, a village near Matamata on the North Island. The lush and whimsical set from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies has been left intact and is one of the major tourist attractions in the country. Minor fans and uber-fanatics alike will enjoy a tour of Hobbiton. See the Hobbit Holes, The Mill, The Green Dragon Inn and the double arched bridge, and feel like you’ve stepped into the rolling green hills of the Middle Earth Shire.
5. Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
This active volcano on New Zealand’s North Island starred in the films as Mount Doom. This was a picture-perfect setting (with a little CGI help) for the Black Land of Mordor, where Sauron forged the One Ring and where Frodo ultimately destroyed it. Many adventurous types like to hike and climb in this scenic area, but, as Boromir says, one does not simply walk into Mordor. Arrange a trip from Taupo where you can walk one way and get transport back from the other side.
6. Putangirua Pinnacles, Wairarapa, New Zealand
This is one of the most scenic hikes in the southern part of the North Island. Even without the LOTR connection, the rock formations in this area a well worth the trek (or tramp, as the Kiwis say it). You may recognize these surreal pinnacles from The Return of the King. It forms the otherworldly backdrop as Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas ride the eerie Dimholt Road to meet the Army of the Dead. There are a few two to four hour hiking routes around the haunting Putangirua Pinnacles, and a longer track that offers stunning views of Lake Onoke and Palliser Bay. Watch out for falling rocks around this erosion-prone area.
