|
Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King“Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate; and though I oft have passed them by, a day will come at last when I shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun” - J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Return of the King” Half a day, or 12 hours, west of Los Angeles by air, the epic battle for Middle-earth enters its final phase, with the premier of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” coming to the screen in Wellington on Dec. 1 – with the final installment in the blockbuster trilogy reaching U.S. theaters Dec. 17. While the One Ring comes full circle and the Fellowship plots to stave off the dark forces, “Ringers” can embark upon their own climactic journeys through New Zealand’s secret places and hidden paths worthy of the one Middle-earth – with echoes of the cinematic version easy to find on the ground. In place of a hobbit sword, opt instead for The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook, written by Kiwi Ian Brodie (published by HarperCollins; suggested retail price $15.95). The first edition of this guidebook on film locations in New Zealand was released last year – with the comprehensive new edition containing locations from all three “Lord of the Rings” movies available in US bookstores for the first time on December 18. Once fully armed with the master guidebook to the sites, lay siege on Gondor on the outskirts of Queenstown. Charmingly uncrowded and pristine, the tiny village of Glenorchy (population 200) is a step back in time (like the film). Glenorchy makes up for its compact size with awe-inspiring surroundings – as the unassuming gateway to 870,000-acre Mt. Aspiring National Park whose sharp, snow-capped peaks are the setting for the movie’s Misty Mountains. Not far from Paradise on a vast green meadow, Isengard and the bleak Tower of Orthanc were conjured into being by the computerized wizardry of the film’s celebrated special effects. Dart Stables offers overnight two-day horseback treks in the company of actual Black Riders – many of the guides’ expert horseback riding skills were called on in bringing the role of the shadowy horsemen to life. One of the most memorable battle scenes on Pelennor Fields was fought on a sheep farm in Twizel. The Ben Ohau High Country Sheep Station has been run by the Cameron family since 1897, producing “super fine” and “ultra fine” merino wool for the past century. The White Mountain Foothills or Mt. Cook, as well as the Tasman Glacier, are best looked down upon – from ski-planes and scenic flights booked from Christchurch. En-route to Wellington, the dual capital of New Zealand as well as Gondor, consider a strategic encampment in Nelson on the northern tip of South Island. In Trafalgar Square lies an unassuming jewelry store, where local artisan Thorkild Hansen crafts One Ring duplicates in 9- and 18-carat gold, a talismanic souvenir for die-hard fans. His father, the late Jens Hansen, crafted the 40 gold rings used in the films. Gondor’s capital of Minas Trinith was captured in Wellington, home base of Kiwi director Peter Jackson’s WETA Studios. Brimming with film locations (Bree Gate, Chetwood Forest, Weathertop Hillside and others), this compactly walkable city combines arts and theatre, fine dining and historic buildings with boutique vineyards to the north, a seal colony to the west and challenging biking trails to the east. Not to be missed is the Putangirua Pinnacles, whose other-worldly natural formations of rocky peaks eroded by rain and floods made a perfect film location seen only in “The Return of the King.” Used in the scenes of Paths of Dead, this scenic reserve is easily accessible via helicopter or, alternatively, a three-hour hike from Cape Palliser. No mission to Middle-earth can be deemed accomplished without a visit to Mordor. Four hours drive north of Wellington is volcanic Taupo, best known for its sizable crater lake. Much like the cast and crew, set up camp at the Grand Chateau in Tongariro National Park. Located at the foot of Mt. Ruapehu, the tallest of the park’s three live volcanoes, this landscape of varied mountain faces was used in many a battle scene in Mordor – and these memorable sites are reachable on foot. To gain the full impact of Mordor, spend a day hiking the Tongariro Crossing, an eight-hour day hike across lava flows, emerald lakes and a bubbling crater. Soak tired feet in the therapeutic waters of Taupo hot springs, a modern day House of Healing. After the One Ring is destroyed and the hobbits head home to the Shire, follow in their footsteps to Matamata, where thrice daily tours to Hobbiton are hosted. Part of the movie set remains on this private farm and hobbit holes peek out from the paddocks. Newmans South Pacific’s “New Zealand – Home of Middle-earth” packages start at $1,399 per person (double occupancy), including roundtrip economy airfare from Los Angeles with Air New Zealand, a copy of “Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook,” eight days car rental and seven nights accommodations via Go Kiwi Silver Hotel pass, with more than 50 participating hotels in 30 cities. For information, reservations and sample itineraries, visit the http://www.newmansvacations.com/middleearth/ or call 1-800-416-0667. For information on New Zealand, log on to www.newzealand.com or call 1-866-NEW ZEALAND (1-866-639-9325). For more information about “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, visit www.lordoftherings.net. For more information about The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook visit www.harpercollins.co.nz. Edited by Madelyn Miller |
|
TM