20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

Kawarau Gorge – Central Otago, New Zealand

The Kawarau Gorge is a massive gorge in Central Otago, through which the Kawarau River flows between Queenstown and Cromwell. The entire valley surrounding the gorge is a dream come true for nature lovers, and history buffs will appreciate the role the Kawarau River played during the Otago Gold Rush in the mid-1800s.

The Lord of the Rings fans will recognize the Kawarau River (and the gorge it flows through), as it was used to represent the Anduin River in the film adaptations. The Anduin has a detailed history laid out by J.R.R. Tolkien, though it mostly serves as a backdrop during the movie trilogy.

There is a stunning view of the gorge as the fellowship rides down the Anduin in boats, and they also spend a night camped beside the river. This is where Boromir and Aragorn argue over whether or not they should travel to Gondor, and it’s where Boromir accuses the would-be king of fearing and hating human beings. It’s also one of the many locations where Sam and Frodo have one of their heart to hearts.

The best view of the Kawarau Gorge can be found from the Kawarau Suspension Bridge, which in itself will make visitors feel like they’ve been transported to another time or realm. Not only is the bridge a great place to view the river and surrounding peaks from, but it’s often used for bungee jumping. Those less inclined to leap from the bridge can also kayak and riverboard down the Kawarau. (Of course, they’ll probably refer to it as the Anduin when they tell people about it.)