20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

Mount Victoria – Wellington, New Zealand

Mount Victoria is another location The Lord of the Rings fans can add to their hiking lists, though it’s likely to be a slightly more physically intensive stop than somewhere like Harcourt Park. Though the summit of Mount Victoria isn’t nearly as high as Mt. Ngauruhoe (in fact, it’s under 700 feet tall), hikers will be in their element when they reach the lookout, which offers a full view of Wellington city and its harbor.

But the gorgeous view isn’t the only reason fans will want to make a stop at Mount Victoria. This location makes an appearance during The Fellowship of the Ring. One of the earlier scenes in the film, during which Frodo and the other three hobbits are pursued by Ringwraiths, was filmed on Mount Victoria.

If fans wander long enough, they might even be able to find the spot where Aragorn saves the four hobbits from the Ringwraiths, all while demonstrating an epic display of swordsmanship. Unfortunately, no matter how long fans wait on Mount Victoria, Strider is unlikely to show up in real life. Still, fans can dream, can’t they?

And once visitors locate the area used in the film, they can move on to a number of other activities. Many tourist sites recommend turning a visit to Mount Victoria on a day trip, fully stocked with walking trails and picnics. It’s also supposedly one of the best locations to watch the sun set from, so even fans planning to spend less time there should aim to visit later in the day.