20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

Twizel, New Zealand

Twizel is a large town in the Mackenzie District, located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The town offers visitors gorgeous views and plenty to do, including hiking, kayaking, fishing, and skiing. But nature lovers aren’t the only ones who will appreciate what Twizel has to offer. The Lord of the Rings fans will also recognize the town and the land around it from the trilogy.

The town itself was frequently used as the filming location for the scenes that take place in Gondor, famed for being the “realm of men.” Aragorn is the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, and it’s also home to Boromir and his brother, Faramir. Sam and Frodo find themselves held captive in Gondor until Faramir decides to release them, and it’s where Sam gives his well-known “There’s some good in this world” speech to Frodo.

Not only is Twizel the real-life filming location of Gondor, but the land nearby was used to film the Battle of Pelennor Fields. For those who don’t know the battle by name, this is the fight during which Éowyn disguises herself as a man in order to join the fray. Her famous “I am no man” scene, during which she kills the Witch King of Angmar, also occurs during the Battle of Pelennor Fields.

Those visiting Twizel to see all of The Lord of the Rings scenery can sign up for a two-and-a-half hour set tour that explains the significance behind each location that appears in the trilogy. Apart from that, fans can also take advantage of the boat tours and air tours that give a broader history of the area.