11 Magical Places Like Middle-earth

The long wait is over: We can finally dive back into the beautiful world of Middle-earth. With the new series 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power', Amazon Prime brings the world of J.R.R. Tolkien back to life eight years after the last adaptation of 'The Hobbit'.

For those who haven't watched the series yet or who simply want to bask in nostalgia for the two film trilogies, the travel experts at Travelcircus have compiled eleven stunning filming locations for Middle-earth.

The magical world of J.R.R. Tolkien enchants readers. However, seeing beautiful Middle-earth in pictures and colors is simply a dream come true. Thankfully, one can still visit the filming locations of both 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogies.

The breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand provided the backdrop for these magical worlds. While only a few parts of the films were shot in English studios, the film crew utilized the stunning New Zealand landscapes for the majority of the films:

For some locations, entire film sets were integrated into nature. However, for the sake of nature, these were mostly dismantled after filming. Some parts of the film sets can still be visited today.

Even if most film sets are no longer viewable, the breathtaking nature of New Zealand is still incredibly scenic. We have identified eleven of these exciting and beautiful locations in anticipation of the new series:

One of the first locations that introduces us to the magical world of Middle-earth is the Shire. Both the 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogies begin their stories in the Hobbit village of Hobbiton, as it is the home of the two protagonists Bilbo and Frodo.

This wonderful scenery was filmed around the town of Matamata in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Situated in the northern part of New Zealand, this area is also home to the Waitoa and Waihou rivers, as well as the Kaimai Range.

While the Hobbiton film set was dismantled after the filming of 'The Lord of the Rings' to preserve the natural environment, the village was allowed to remain as a tourist attraction after the completion of 'The Hobbit'. So, you can still visit the little Hobbit village today.

A significant meeting place for both trilogies is the Elven house of Elrond in Rivendell. The filming set for Rivendell was located in Kaitoke Regional Park, which is found in the southern part of the North Island, near Wellington. The choice of this national park for an Elven location feels fitting, as the place itself feels magical.

On the hiking trails, you will encounter not only native tree species but also rainforest and rare bird species, such as the Malherbe's parakeet. You can explore the magical area by kayaking or swimming in the Hutt River, which meanders gently through the gorge of the national park.

An exciting, yet humorous scene occurs in 'The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug': On their journey to the Lonely Mountain, the dwarves are captured by wood elves but manage to escape through the cellar in wine barrels. They float down a river in these barrels.

This scene was filmed in the Pelorus River in the Marlborough region. The river is located on New Zealand's South Island in Mount Richmond Forest Park. While you can't experience the scene in large wine barrels, you can enjoy it in a kayak. Numerous hiking trails also lead to exciting waterfalls, cool bridges, or little natural pools.

Near the Lonely Mountain Erebor, and thus the home of the dwarves, lies the human city of Lake-Town. The backdrop for Lake-Town, as well as for general nature shots in the trilogy, was Mount Cook National Park with Lake Pukaki and the adjacent Mount Cook.

The brilliantly blue Lake Pukaki catches the eye with its radiant color. The view of this beautiful lake is only enhanced by the stunning Mount Cook.

Named after its British discoverer, Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand at 3,724 meters. In the heavily glaciated Mount Cook National Park, you can find 19 peaks rising over 3,000 meters.

In 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers', Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf, and Gimli travel to the capital of Rohan, Edoras. The film set for the city was established on Mount Sunday, located in the Canterbury region of the Hakatere Conservation Park.

On a hike suitable for beginners, you can climb the 611-meter-high Mount Sunday. The reward is a breathtaking view of the landscape dotted with valleys and mountains.

To defeat the armies of Sauron and Saruman, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas seek the help of the undead. To reach the army of the dead, the three must first walk the Path of the Dead.

These eerie sites were filmed in the Wairarapa region at the Putangirua Pinnacles. The incredible rock formations alone transport you to a magical world; they are the result of millions of years of erosion. Today, exciting hiking routes pass through the area.

The final great battle in 'The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King' takes place before the capital of Gondor, Minas Tirith. This battle is set against the landscape around Twizel in the Canterbury region. Here, you can explore the three lakes Lake Pukaki, Lake Benmore, and Lake Ōhau, as well as Mount Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin.

Fun Fact: A significant portion of the extras in the battle were residents of the town of Twizel.

In Tongariro National Park, you can see two important places in Middle-earth: In 'The Hobbit', the scenery of the park with the active volcano Mount Ngauruhoe represents the Misty Mountains and the Lonely Mountain Erebor. This is the home of the dwarves and a symbol of hope in the trilogy's story.

In 'The Lord of the Rings', however, the national park represents the realm of the evil wizard Sauron, the dark place Mordor, with Mount Doom.

Tongariro National Park is located in the center of New Zealand's North Island. This UNESCO World Heritage site is not only the oldest national park in New Zealand but also the fourth oldest in the world.

In both trilogies, there are scenes where the protagonists wander through the world of Middle-earth. These moments particularly enchant viewers with beautiful landscape shots of New Zealand. Here are three of these scenic backdrops that you can definitely explore:

At the southern end of New Zealand's South Island lies Fiordland National Park, the largest national park in New Zealand. As the name suggests, its landscape is characterized by fjords, expansive lakes, rainforests, and high mountains. The national park served as the backdrop for numerous scenes in both trilogies.

Earnslaw Burn is a hiking trail that leads through a beautiful valley in the Queenstown region. Along the way, you'll pass magical waterfalls, breathtaking glaciers, and enchanted forests. For example, scenes featuring the dwarves resting at the house of the shape-shifter Beorn in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' were filmed here.

After Bilbo, the dwarves, and Gandalf were pursued by the orcs and Wargs, they were rescued by Gandalf's friends, the giant eagles. During their escape, viewers are treated to incredible landscape images. This is the Treble Cone ski area in the Wanaka region.

In the largest ski area on New Zealand's South Island, both Middle-earth fans and especially powder hounds will have a great time. The national ski team of Austria also enjoys training in this region during the off-seasons.

As of September 2nd, it's finally here: The first season of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' has been released on Amazon Prime. What will the series be about and what is known so far?

For those hoping to see the return of Hobbits Bilbo or Frodo, sadly, they will be disappointed, as the new series is set about 3,000 years before the well-known events of the two trilogies. Nevertheless, it is possible to encounter nine characters from the previous films who lived during this time.

The storyline is primarily set in the Second Age of Tolkien's magical world, before Sauron created the One Ring and ruled the lands of Middle-earth. This opens up the possibility to portray not only Middle-earth but also other parts of the world Arda. We will surely encounter unknown beings from Tolkien's world, such as snow trolls.

The story is expected to begin in a time of peace, during which evil is once again building itself up in the background. As the name suggests, this could involve Sauron and the creation of the rings, as well as the One Ring. The human island kingdom of Numenor, which has not been known to us before, seems to play a significant role.

Returning are the elves Galadriel and Elrond - but in a much younger version. This way, we could gain insights into the earlier splendid kingdoms and the former capital of the elves, Lindon. There will also be a hobbit folk in the story, although it is not a Hobbit village but a tribe of hobbits that live as nomads.

Additionally, it has been hinted that we might also get a glimpse into the Dwarven kingdom of Moria. This was previously only seen in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' in its destroyed state. However, this was once the most splendid Dwarven kingdom of Middle-earth.

The first season was filmed again in New Zealand, but the second season has already been announced to potentially bring the filming locations to England or Wales. This is not surprising, as Tolkien is said to have drawn inspiration for the Shire from the Lake District near Lake Windermere in England.

Fans can already rejoice, as five seasons are planned. The name 'The Rings of Power' represents only the title and content of the first season. We can look forward to many more adventures in Tolkien's magical world.