Isengard New Zealand FAQs

Well technically Isengard is in Middle Earth! But that’s just semantics… you can visit Isengard in our very own Glenorchy.

Big LOTR buffs will also enjoy jet boating past Amon Hen (where Merry and Pippen were captured by the Orcs) during their Dart River Adventure!

Other notable Lord of the Rings Glenorchy locations include Lothlorien Forest, The Misty Mountains and Ithilien! Pure Glenorchy offers great half day tours if you want to go LOTR location hopping.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed at more than 150 locations throughout New Zealand's North and South islands, including Tongariro National Park, Mount Aspiring, Milford Sound, and even Glenorchy!

New Zealand’s Department of Conversation has a comprehensive guide that covers several iconic Lord of The Rings filming locations all over New Zealand.

According to Wikipedia The Fellowship of the Ring was filmed over a period of 438 days. From the 11th of October 1999 to the 22nd of December 2000. A true project of the new millennium!

According to Wikipedia, the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was filmed here in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic - with around a third of filming on location.

Several competition-style shows such as The Amazing Race, Celebrity Treasure Island, Next Top Model, Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under, and The Bachelor have filmed seasons, or parts of seasons in New Zealand.

Other iconic television series filmed in New Zealand include Xena Warrior Princess, Shortland Street, Under the Vines, Flight of the Conchords, Wellington Paranormal, and One Lane Bridge.

New Zealand is most renowned as the filming location for The Lord of the Rings film series (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King).

But that's not all! The Hobbit film series (An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies) was also filmed here.

Aside from J. R. R. Tolkien adaptations, there have been many other famous films shot in Aotearoa, including: The World’s Fastest Indian; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – The Chronicles of Narnia; Without A Paddle and many other major motion pictures.

After you’re done visiting the Isengard Lookout and checking the local cafés for Hollywood’s finest… book a jetboat tour with us. You never know who you might end up sitting next to!