20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

Kaitoke Regional Park – Kaitoke, New Zealand

One of the most iconic locations in The Lord of the Rings—whether referring to the books or films—is that of Rivendell, the realm Arwen and Elrond call home. The gorgeous sanctuary and the house of Elrond make their appearances in The Fellowship of the Ring, as Rivendell is where Frodo goes to recover from his near-fatal encounter with the Ringwraiths.

Rivendell is also iconic because it’s where the fellowship is eventually formed. During the Council of Elrond, Frodo decides that he must be the one to take the ring to Mordor. And his courage inspires Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas to join him—along with the other three hobbits who refuse to stay behind on the quest.

Kaitoke Regional Park is the real-life location that served as the set of Rivendell during The Lord of the Rings films, making it a must-see for any hardcore fans. While the park obviously doesn’t look like Rivendell all the time, visitors can try to spot the resemblances between the filming location and the Rivendell that appears onscreen. A replica of the elvish archway is also still present, so this is a great photo opportunity for fans.

And once fans are done admiring what’s left of Rivendell, there’s plenty more to see and do at Kaitoke Regional Park. There are walking trails, picnic areas, and opportunities to go swimming and kayaking. The nature spot has something for everyone, and visitors can even spend the night at the park’s campground.