Calling all Tolkien trekkers – our side quest led us along Lake Pukaki’s stunning turquoise shores to the White City of Minas Tirith at the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Pass into the realm of Gondor and ride Shadowfax with the meaning of haste to marvel at the stunning Southern Alps.
Passing into the Realm of Gondor
We had some extra time, so we set out to discover the Minas Tirith filming site in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, near Lake Pukaki, New Zealand. See this helpful guide for parking past the Truss Bridge and gate access via the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail: Christchurch NZ Minas Tirith.
💡 TIP: Since the parking area and trailhead can be easy to miss, be sure to pin your GPS location in advance – you won’t want to lose cell service mid-journey. Save Minas Tirith pictures offline as well so you can easily replicate the shot.
After an easy hike, the expansive field offers countless vantage points that perfectly recreate the angles used for Minas Tirith in the films (our GPS location: 43°44’49.2″S 170°07’28.6″E).
LOTR Reenactments
We geeked out the moment we just passed into the realm of Gondor – Shadowfax showed us the meaning of haste as he thundered toward Minas Tirith, the City of Kings! Naturally, we smuggled the One Ring along for the ride (don’t tell Sauron) and powered up with a trusty bite of lembas bread.
Framing Minas Tirith at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki/Mount Cook is absolutely gorgeous – it’s no wonder it was selected as the White City’s majestic backdrop.
Driving to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park along Lake Pukaki
The drive to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park along Lake Pukaki’s western shore treats you to breathtaking views of turquoise waters framed by the Southern Alps.
No Comments