Rivendell and Mt Taranaki

02 - 05 March 2023

Julie and Anthony at the entrance to Rivendell.

Thursday we drove to Upper Hutt, the location for filming the Lord of the Rings scenes in Rivendell.

On the way to New Plymouth, we stopped in the location where Gandalf rides into Isengard, before Saruman imprisons him in the tower.

Cyclone Gabrielle knocked out the roads in and out of Napier and clean up activities were still underway, so we decided to divert to New Plymouth instead. Mount Taranaki (formerly known as Egmont) loomed up in the distance on the drive. The next day we drove to Konini Lodge for a 4 mile hike to Wilkie Pools and Dawson Falls. Unfortunately, Mt Taranaki was shrouded in clouds the whole time we were there.

We saw the coolest trees on the trail.

There was more to see and do at New Plymouth than either of us expected. It was a pleasant surprise.

Lake Taupo

Wellington