Are you planning an island vacation and are not quite sure which destination to choose? Well, if you are a fan of the popular Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and if you marveled at the spectacular scenery seen in these films, there is only one destination for you. New Zealand, located at the westernmost tip of the Polynesian Triangle and just north of Australia, is the perfect place for the vacation of your dreams.

All of the Lord of the Rings movies—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—were filmed in New Zealand. From the lush, rolling hills of Hobbiton to the black, stark, volcanic wastes of Mordor to the frozen mountain tops above the deep mines of Moria, every setting that director Peter Jackson chose for his blockbuster films was located on the island of New Zealand. One island nation contains all these vastly different settings. And now, you can see all these beautiful places yourself.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was filmed all over the country of New Zealand, including the use of thirty different Conservation Sites and National Parks. The use of these protected areas posed special problems for the film crew and props staff, because absolutely no damage to the natural scenery was allowed. In one famous location, the beautiful Elvin city of Rivendell was created within a Conservation Site. Rivendell is surrounded by waterfalls and bisected by many flowing streams, all of which were created by the settings masters—but not one drop of water could be added to the natural landscape. Every waterfall and stream was a closed system to prevent water from escaping!

Also, whenever plants had to be uprooted to make room for cameras and film staff, these plants were carefully moved to special greenhouses. Lovingly cared for during filming, each and every plant was replanted after the filming was completed. During the large battle scenes, hundreds of yards of carpeting were laid down to protect the landscape from the impact of so many feet and hooves. Location scouts were also employed to ensure that no cultural landmarks were damaged during the filming schedule.

Today, when you tour the many sites where these astonishing movies were filmed, you will see the difference made by the filmmakers' care and attention to detail. These National Parks and Conservation Sites remain every bit as lovely and pristine after filming as they were beforehand, welcoming visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and majesty of New Zealand.

Many tour companies offer special Lord of the Rings tour packages, and these are one terrific way to ensure that you do not miss a bit of the history and trivia about the filming of these popular films. However, if you prefer to set your own touring schedule, you can find terrific, detailed information about the filming locations on the internet, as well as from New Zealand's Tourism Centers. A world of adventure awaits you in New Zealand. Are you ready to explore it all?