AI illustrationThe Lord of the Rings · Filming location
Meads Wall (Whakapapa)
In the story · The Two Towers (Emyn Muil, Gollum is caught); The Fellowship of the Ring (prologue)
Emyn Muil, the maze of rocks where Frodo and Sam get lost on the way to Mordor and first catch Gollum, the creature who owned the Ring for centuries. The Whakapapa ski area around it was also used for the opening battle, where Isildur cuts the Ring from the hand of Sauron, the Dark Lord.
Where to stay nearby
Book a hotel hereMap with prices from several sites
or on Booking.com- With this place
- Day by day
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Are you here?
More to do here
Things to doParis: all activities on GetYourGuide
The link opens the destination's catalogue, not a tour made for the story →
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More The Lord of the Rings places nearby
All 28 places of The Lord of the Rings →
Famous places nearby
Not places of the story, but worth seeing in the area.
Whakapapa Village
4 kmThe park's alpine village, with a visitor centre and short walks such as the Silica Rapids.
Hapuawhenua Viaduct (Old Coach Road)
21.8 kmWalk across the old railway viaduct on the Old Coach Road, next to the newer one.
Ohakune
24.8 kmA small ski town with cafés, a giant carrot statue and a historic railway station.
Where to stand for the photo
Frame the dark, jagged lava rocks up close, with no ski lifts or buildings in view.
Getting there
- Address: Top of Bruce Road, Whakapapa Ski Area, Mount Ruapehu
- Transport
- By car, about 15 minutes up Bruce Road from Whakapapa Village; about 4 hours from Auckland or Wellington.
- Access
- Public, inside Tongariro National Park. Outside the winter months, it is about a 30-minute walk from the car park at the top of Bruce Road, past the bottom of the Sky Waka gondola. Mountain weather changes fast: check 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
Part of the trip
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