Mt Sunday

Mount Sunday is a stunning sight, with expansive views of the Rangitata River and the surrounding mountains.

This has to be one of the most remote Lord of the Rings locations one can publicly access. 
Amidst the vast Hakatere Conservation Park in Mid Canterbury lies Mount Sunday, a sheer-sided hill that provided the perfect setting for Edoras - Rohan's capital city. 

Building the Edoras village set was a massive undertaking, not only due to the remoteness of the location but also because of the high northwest winds that are funnelled through the valley. It needed the New Zealand army to build several hundred metres of an access road before the production crew was able to access the hilltop and start with the set construction. All the structures had to be secured to the rock with iron pegs in order to withstand the elements.

The focal point of the set was Meduseld - The Great Golden Hall of the Kings which stood atop the hill, overlooking around a dozen other buildings, including the stables, the gatehouse and a wooden tower.
Filming only took about three weeks, with all the interior scenes shot in the studio in Wellington. After the wrap, the entire set was dismantled, and everything was returned to its natural state.

Carved by glaciers, this hill got its name because boundary riders from the high-country stations would meet here on Sundays to share news, stories and have a good chin-wag.

Interpretation panels explain the importance of our remaining ‘stars’—our native fish and quinnat salmon. In contrast to Mount Sunday, get your tramping boots on and head up the Mount Potts easement track to climb Mount Potts—after the easement, there is no marked route to this high peak (2184 m).

The Mount Sunday walk is an easy walk for the whole family and will take approximately 30 minutes each way, spanning 1.5km. The incredible views are 360 degrees and include the Rangitata River and various mountain ranges that will tower around you (Cloudy Peak range, Ben McLeod Range and others. The track is a firm favourite with children as there are several streams to cross and an awesome swing bridge.
Hassle-Free Tours offers a fabulous Lord of the Rings day tour from Christchurch check out the details here

For more information please view more information about the Hakatere Conservation Park supplied by the Department of Conservation

• High country tracks can get very cold and windy, so dress appropriately
• No dogs allowed
• Carry your own water