20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

Whakapapa Skifield – Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

For The Lord of the Rings fans wishing to see more of Mordor than just Mt. Doom (Mt. Ngauruhoe),  Whakapapa Skifield is the place to go. Located on Mt. Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park, the Whakapapa Skifield served as the backdrop for several of the memorable scenes during Frodo and Sam’s journey into Mordor.

For starters, Whakapapa Skifield is where Frodo and Sam catch Gollum, convincing him to lead them on their journey to Mordor. It’s where Gollum takes them on the path to Emyn Muil, and it’s also the film location for the scene where the three of them look upon the Gates of Mordor before venturing to climb around them and toward Mt. Doom.

The Whakapapa Skifield is also where the film trilogy begins, as it’s the filming location for the scene during which Isildur cuts off Sauron’s finger and takes the ring for himself. This moment sets both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings into motion, and without it, neither story could exist.

Of course, it might not be easy to find any of these film locations with snow and skiers present on Whakapapa Skifield. However, fans can take advantage of the location and give skiing or snowboarding a try. There are also plenty of attractions to be explored throughout the rest of Tongariro National Park, including paddle boarding, kayaking, rafting, fishing, and hiking.

Tongariro National Park is definitely a more fun place to visit than Mordor, though fans can tell their friends that they did all of these things on the border of Mordor to make the trip sound even more epic.