Morning of March 1, 2023.

Paradise Valley. Otago Region. South Island, New Zealand. East side of the Dart River. Where Peter Jackson filmed scenes depicting the Lothlorian Forest … and Isengard.

The Pure Glenorchy Scenic Lord of the Rings Tour took us to Acadia Station, the site of Isengard and Saruman’s castle, placed there by the magic of Weta Digital. This was on private property, with permission granted to the tour group. A truck rolled back and forth at least three times in the fields below, apparently keeping an eye on us.

Thankfully, though the sky was forebodingly gray, I was protected from its dreary influence by my Warner Bros. jacket.

I’m standing on a mound on which, when one turns around, faces the following location for Beorn’s House from The Hobbit but without the house.

Our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, Francesco Garino. He took the pictures of me; I took this picture of him.

Careful where you step! This is a working farm with cattle.

For more views of the area see this coverage from Coleen Hawkes, “Slice of heaven: Arcadia Station, where LOTR was filmed, has been sold to a Kiwi,” April 17, 2020.

Back in Queenstown, Duke Street, behind Info & Track on Shotover Street. Pure Glenorchy Tours is known for its LOTR-themed license plates on their vehicles.

Special thanks to Kate Cruickshank of Pure Glenorchy.

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