With easy access to dramatic locations and home to world-leading special effects, and the acclaimed producer of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, Peter Jackson. Where else would you make ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy but Wellington?

A still of Bilbo Baggins from 'The Hobbit' film.

Over two-and-a-half years, filming for one of the largest ever film projects, ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy of films, took place in Wellington.

Easy access to dramatic locations

While production was in Wellington, director and producer Peter Jackson made the most of New Zealand’s stunning landscapes. He shot on location throughout the country in late 2011.

Wellington’s central location made it the perfect production base for a film that needed to travel the length and breadth of the country in a very short timeframe.

World-leading technical know-how

Wellington’s creative energy drives projects from pencil and paper to ground-breaking cinema.

The first movies ever to film at 48 frames per second, the makers of ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy used the latest camera and stereo technology. As many as 48 cameras were used in the film, which was shot in digital 3D.

The high-end infrastructure, technology and crew in Wellington made such an ambitious project possible.

What the stars had to say

The proximity and world-class quality of the facilities in Miramar led director Guillermo del Toro to describe Wellington as, “Hollywood the way God intended it”.

Stephen Fry tweeted shortly after arrival for filming his role in ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy that it was “just about the most astounding place I’ve ever, ever visited”.

Meanwhile, Elijah Wood described filming ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ in Wellington to BBC as a “family reunion”. In another interview, he said, “It feels like home.”

James Cameron describes the effect that Peter Jackson has had on Wellington. “There’s nothing else like it. A local filmmaker has really created a magnet for world production.”

Looking for more?

An iconic scene from the Lord of the Rings Film where Frodo Baggins is lying on the ground, reaching upward and the ring is falling onto his finger.

‘Lord of the Rings’ — creating the impossible

Sir Peter Jackson’s blockbuster trilogy ‘The Lord of the Rings’ put Wellington on the map as a major film-making destination.

A still from the ‘Mortal Engines’ movie. Three of the engines in a row, the middle engine has the Union Jack on the front.

‘Mortal Engines’: Made in Wellington

You’d never suspect that a film of the epic scale of post-apocalyptic adventure ‘Mortal Engines’ was filmed and produced entirely in Wellington, New Zealand.

Charlie Faulks, animator of 'Bloke of the Apocolypse' wears a brown tee-shirt, jacket and khaki pants, smiles and sits on a living room couch.

Dreams become reality for young Wellington animator

Charlie Faulks is a self-taught Wellington animator and has received $500,000 in funding to produce his own web series.

Head and shoulders of actress/director/writer Awa Puna. She is looking directly at the camera and posing against a plain brown background.

Screen siren – in front of and behind the camera

The lure of film has been strong since childhood for Awa Puna. Whether editing, directing, or acting it feeds her need to tell stories. One such story is showing at the 2024 Māoriland Film Festival.

Accelerator Project’s Jon Kroll and Melissa Conway are behind the scenes with ‘Extreme Cake Sports’ producer Bevin Linkhorn.

Screen project launches producer onto international stage

As part of Wellington’s Screen Accelerator Project, ‘Extreme Cake Sports’ producer Bevin Linkhorn has interest from a Hollywood producer.

Four people standing at a podium on stage at the New Zealand Youth Film Festival.

Wellington celebrates creative screen talent

Wellington is living up to its coveted title as a UNESCO City of Film hosting a celebration of creative screen talent at the New Zealand Youth Film Festival awards.

A production still from the series After the Party filmed in Wellington. Penny (played by Robyn Malcolm), wearing a helmet and a beige blouse, rides a bicycle on a road with a blurry seagull taking flight in the foreground.

Wellington impresses ‘After the Party’ producer

New Zealand’s latest drama ‘After The Party’ is the very first series leading Australian producer Helen Bowden has made in Wellington.

A still from the film 'Avatar' from 2009.

‘Avatar’ — a technological revolution

James Cameron’s film ‘Avatar’ — the highest-grossing of all time — was largely created in Wellington’s world-class facilities.

A still from the movie ‘King Kong’. The giant black gorilla opens its mouth in a roar.

‘King Kong’: Where versatility is key

From 1930s New York to Skull Island, Wellington stood in for virtually every location in ‘King Kong’. The range and versatility of the region’s locations, plus the world-class special effects facilities made Wellington an ideal base for the production.

Two preteens sit in a blanket fort in the middle of a wood-panneled room looking at each other and another person sits in a chair cross-legged to the right of the fort.

New Kiwi kids’ series a first for rainbow community

Supernatural comedy ‘Little Apocalypse’ is New Zealand’s first scripted children’s series by, for and about rainbow young people.