Top Tips Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Rings
When it comes to the South Island, scenic Mid Canterbury – all snow-capped mountains and braided rivers – is at the centre of the action.
About 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 King's 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 and catch up.
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.
No Dogs are allowed on this walk
