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The Lord of the Rings

Lake Wanaka

Wanaka · New Zealand  ·  White Mountains landscapes

The Lord of the Rings filmed at Lake Wanaka, Wanaka. The Lake Wanaka area stands in for the White Mountains in the film, according to the tour route. On screen it's The White Mountains.

Where to go

-44.5, 169.133333

Probable Named in published production coverage; the coordinate is the place itself, checked against a gazetteer. This is an area, not a spot. The coordinate is its middle, so use it to navigate to the place and not to line up a shot.

Good to know

Title
The Lord of the Rings (2001)
On screen
The White Mountains
In real life
Lake Wanaka, Wanaka
Can you visit?
Open to the public, free
Time to allow
—
Confidence
Probable

Planning the trip? The New Zealand travel atlas covers money, language and getting aroundand everything filmed in Wanaka is on one page

More Lord of the Rings locations

See all 16 Lord of the Rings locations →

Venture

Find out what was filmed where you're standing.

Venture keeps every scene location on one map, sorted by how far you'd have to walk. Open it in Wanaka and it tells you what was shot around you, how to get there, and whether you can actually go in.

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Questions

Where exactly did The Lord of the Rings film at Lake Wanaka?
At -44.5, 169.133333 in Wanaka. Named in published production coverage; the coordinate is the place itself, checked against a gazetteer. This is an area, not a spot. The coordinate is its middle, so use it to navigate to the place and not to line up a shot.
Can you visit Lake Wanaka?
Open to the public, free.
What else was filmed near Lake Wanaka?
Open Venture where you're standing and it lists every filming location within walking distance, with directions to each one.