Fantastical Places

I recently wrote a post about food in fantasy made real. Now I think I’ll write about fantasy places made real. This will most likely end up as multiple posts since today I’ll just be talking about New Zealand.

Hobbiton- or a sheep farm in Matamata

I love New Zealand. Actually, a more appropriate word is obsessed. If you ever speak to me, New Zealand will most likely come up in conversation somehow. I’ll find a way to work it in. But ever since seeing the beauty of the country in the Lord of the Rings movies, I’ve known I had to go there.

Lord of the Rings is now, of course, what most people think of when talking about New Zealand. And they have fully embraced their status as Middle Earth. The official tourism website of New Zealand has a special section dedicated to tours, itineraries and locations based on the movies. With the release of The Hobbit next year, that list will most likely grow.

But New Zealand is not only the Lord of the Rings‘ physical home. The country also served for various locations in the recent Chronicles of Narnia movies.

Look familiar? The Pevensie children entered Narnia through this passage in Prince Caspian; it's also known as Cathedral Cove.

Peter Jackson, who is a New Zealander by birth, has filmed most of his other movies there, including King Kong. (anything on Skull Island is all New Zealand- with a few enhancements!)

Whale Rider is another well known movie filmed entirely in New Zealand.

A young Maori girl attempts to gain her grandfather's respect.

And finally, one of my favorites, The Price of Milk.

 

Will I be going to New Zealand? Absolutely. I’m just saving money for a plane ticket and then it’s simply a matter of deciding the best time to go and narrowing down what I want to see into a period of about three weeks.

I can’t wait!