The Lord of the Rings · Filming location
Mavora Lakes
In the story · The Fellowship of the Ring (leaving Lothlórien, Nen Hithoel); The Two Towers (edge of Fangorn)
Three moments of the trilogy were filmed around these two lakes. North Mavora Lake is Nen Hithoel, where the Fellowship (the nine companions guarding the Ring) pulls the boats ashore at the end of the river journey and the hobbits hide from the Uruk-hai, Saruman's orc soldiers. The Mararoa River by the swing bridge at the south lake played the Silverlode as the Fellowship leaves Lothlórien, and the forest edge nearby is where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli find a burnt pile of orc bodies.
Where to stay nearby
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More to do here
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More The Lord of the Rings places nearby
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Where to stand for the photo
From the shore of North Mavora Lake, frame the calm water with the beech forest and the bare mountains behind it.
Getting there
- Address: Mavora Lakes Road, Mavora Lakes Conservation Park, Southland
- Transport
- By car, about 2 to 2.5 hours from Queenstown or about 1.5 hours from Te Anau, the last part on gravel.
- Access
- Public conservation park with a DOC campsite (fee). The road in is long and mostly gravel, with no shops or fuel: bring what you need. The swing bridge over the Mararoa River is at the south lake. Check the DOC page before you go.
Public sources (1)
Sources found on October 21, 2026.
Every place checked against public sources
Production · film commissions · tourist boards · guides
We always say if it is:
- The real filming location
- A place standing in for it
- Inspired by the story
Every place checked against public sources
Production · film commissions · tourist boards · guides
We always say if it is:
- The real filming location
- A place standing in for it
- Inspired by the story
Every place checked against public sources
Production · film commissions · tourist boards · guides
We always say if it is:
- The real filming location
- A place standing in for it
- Inspired by the story