Glenorchy is a sought after tourist destination and movie location. If you travel down New Zealand’s most scenic highway your reach Glenorchy, a tiny fairytale town which surrounding areas have stunning scenery and varied landscapes.
Local movie company- Film Queenstown says: “This region offers a complete turnkey package – just bring your storyboard; more than 120 locally based crew honed their skills here, working with the best directors.”
It is well known that Glenorchy and its surrounding areas features extensively in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. Also Peter Jackson filmed the set Beorn’s House from The Hobbit.
Many others have been filmed in the area including X-Men Origins: Wolverine :a superhero film, based on the Marvel Comics‘ fictional character Wolverine. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian : an epic fantasy film based on Prince Caspian, the fourth chronological novel in C. S. Lewis’s epic fantasy series.
The 2013 television mini-series Top of the Lake was also filmed in the area and was set in and around Paradise
Hundreds of enthusiastic locals from Queenstown and Glenorchy have actively taken part in many of these films as movie extras. At Pure Glenorchy Tours we can proudly boast a family member who appeared as an extra in one of the Top of the Lake pub scenes…15 seconds of fame pulled out to be replayed at every opportunity; and also several friends who donned Orc outfits or displayed their horse-riding skills as the Riders of Rohan in the Lord of the Rings !
As film enthusiasts ourselves, it is always a pleasure to show off the Glenorchy/Paradise region and point out its film locations to our guests. Their awe at the idyllic landscape and the other-worldly feel of this special part of New Zealand is obvious, and they can see for themselves why this is such a great place to make movies. For more information on our Scenic Lord of the Rings tours, check us out at www.pureglenorchy.com.