CREDITS LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, 2001 dir: Peter Jackson Elijah Wood Ian McKellen Ian Holm Christopher Lee Viggo Mortensen Orlando Bloom Cate Blanchett Sean Astin Sean Bean Liv Tyler Hugo Weaving

An amazing achievement, three films in The Lord of the Rings trilogy filmed simultaneously, against the varied backdrops of director Peter Jacksonís native New Zealand, standing in for Tolkienís ëMiddle Earthí.

Be aware, though, that the locations are spread over both of New Zealandís islands, and some are pretty inaccessible.

The private Alexander Farm, near Matamata, toward Karapiro in the Waikato area, represented the rolling, bucolic greenery of the Shire, home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.In order for ëHobbitoníto blend naturally into the landscape, the extensive set was planted with crops and flowers a year before the cameras rolled. Matamata, which now proudly advertises itself as Hobbiton, has a Tourist Information Centre at 45 Broadway. You can visit what remains of the Hobbiton set (on guided tours only) with Rings Scenic Tours Ltd.

Tongariro National Park, home to three volcanoes: Mount Ruapehu (which is still active), Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe proved ideal as the dark rand savage realm of ëMordorí and ëMount Doomí, where the ring is forged. Whakapapa Ski Field, on the slopes of Ruapehu, supplied Middle Earthís snowy slopes and the opening battlefield on the slopes of ëMount Doomí, where an alliance of men and elves defeats the armies of ëMordorí, and the ring is taken from Sauron.

A quick detour to the South Island: the Southern Alps and the extensive glaciers of South Island became the ëMisty Mountainsí, in which the wretched Gollum hid away in his cave for 500 years with the ring.

Back to the North Island. Otaki Gorge Road, in Otaki Totara Forest in the Manuwatu Region, about 45 miles north of Wellington, was used for the ëOuter Shireí woods and roads surrounding ëHobbitoní.

Surprisingly, itís in the centre of the city of Wellington that the four Hobbits, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, are forced to hide under tree roots to evade the Black Rider after escaping with Farmer Maggotís vegetables. The site was the Town Belt of Mount Victoria, a peaceful park overlooking the city centre and, incidentally, it was the first day of filming Also in Wellington was the town of ëBreeí, where the Hobbits are supposed to meet Gandalf at the ëInn of the Prancing Ponyí, but instead meet up with the mysterious Strider. The set was built on the abandoned army camp of Fort Dorset at Seatoun, in Wellingtonís Port Nicholson harbour. Thereís nothing left of ëBreeí, but you can see the site from the beach at the end of Burnham Street.

Back north of Otaki, to Keeling Farm in the tiny country village of Manakau, where the Hobbits narrowly escape the ring wraiths by jumping onto the ëBucklebury Ferryí on the ëBrandywine Riverí ferry.

South of Wellington is Waiterere Forest, which became ëTrollshaw Forestí and and the woodlands of ëOsgiliathí.

Lord of the Rings location: Isengard, the realm of Saruman: Harcourt Park, Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt, Wellington Photograph: Paul Lambert & Peter McDonald, Upper Hutt City

Harcourt Park, Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt, 20 miles north of Wellington, becameí Isengardí, the realm of the evil Saruman (Christopher Lee), who has an army of Orcs use ropes to pull down trees to fuel his forge (donít worry, they were old trees shipped in and erected for the movie). In June 2002, the remains of the tree, with bolts still embedded, could still be seen.

Lord of the Rings location: Isengard, the realm of Rivendell: Kaitoke regional Park, Upper Hutt Photograph: Paul Lambert & Peter McDonald, Upper Hutt City

In Kaitoke Regional Park, about 8 miles from Upper Hutt City, the elvish realm of ëRivendellí was built. This is where Frodo recovers from his wound and the Fellowship is formed.

The ëSilverlode Riverí and Galadrielís swan-boat also filmed here. The ëGreat River Anduiní is the Hutt River between Moonshine Bridge and Poets Park (Rail: Wallaceville).

The Lord of the Rings location: The White Bridge in the woods of Lothlorien: Fernside Lodge, Featherston, Wairapa Photograph: Fernside Lodge, Featherston

The woods of ëLothloriení, where Frodo gets help and advice from elf queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), are the gardens of Fernside Lodge, a homestead inn about two miles from Featherston, Wairarapa, about 40 miles east of Wellington. Here you can see the White Bridge. And, yes, you can stay here.

On New Zealandís South Island youíll find ëChetwood Forestí near ëBreeí, where the Hobbits first flee, which was filmed on Takaka Hill, between Golden and Tasman Bay near Nelson. Mt Olympus, in Golden Bay in Kahurangi National Park, provided scenes in the ëEregion Hillsí and the rough country south of ëRivendellí.

Mt Owen became the ëDimrill Daleí hillside and ëChetwood Forestí. The spectacular Fiordland region, on the western coast, supplied several locations: ëWeathertopí camp, where the ring wraiths catch up with the Hobbits and Frodo is stabbed in the shoulder, is Te Anau. The Arrowtown Recreational Reserve, 15 miles northeast of Queenstown, which was used for the ëWest Roadí, ëEregion Hillsí and the ëMisty Mountainsí. The ëFord of Bruinení, where Arwen (Liv Tyler) challenges the wraiths ìIf you want Frodo, come and claim him!, before they are washed away in a flash flood, was filmed on the Shotover River near Arrowtown.

Kawarau Gorge, on the Kawarau River, was the site of the ëArgonathí, the gigantic statues of the two kings of Gondor past which the Fellowship sails. Wanaka, to the north, on the banks of the Clutha River: the golden plains, where the Black Riders search for Frodo and Orcs attack the Fellowship.

Closeburn, about ten minutes drive west from Queenstown on Geary Road, became the summit of ëAmon Hení (the actual summit filming site isnít accessible), where Bilbo takes his leave of Strider and the fellowship after Boromir begins to succumb to the ringís power.

The Paradise area, near the tiny township of Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu toward the south of the South Island, became ëLothlorien Woodsí in the Elven realm of ëLoriení, the site of the battle, where Boromir is fatally wounded in the battle with the Orcs and Merry and Pippin are captured. In the Nelson area, Mavora Lakes Park, about 30 miles south of Lake Wakatipu in the Green Stone National Park, became ëNen Hithoelí, where Orcs chase the Hobbits out of the bush and into boats on the lake, and Frodo saves Sam from drowning.

Next