The Lord of the Rings · Filming location
Putangirua Pinnacles
In the story · The Return of the King (the Dimholt Road)
The rock spires on the road to the Paths of the Dead, where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli go to call an army of ghosts to fight with them.
Where to stay nearby
Book a hotel hereMap with prices from several sites
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Are you here?
More to do here
Things to do
The Lord of the Rings: a tour linked to the story
Small-group tour by vehicle · from Wellington · about 6 h 30 min · Guide in English
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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.
Where to stand for the photo
From the lookout at the end of the Pinnacles Ridge Track, frame the grey spires rising out of the valley. Don't leave the track to get closer: there is no path to the foot of the spires.
Getting there
- Address: Cape Palliser Road, Wairarapa
- Transport
- By car, about 2 hours from Wellington.
- Access
- Public reserve of the Department of Conservation (DOC). The Pinnacles Ridge Track takes about 45 minutes each way: along the stream, then up to a ridge with a lookout. You see the spires from that lookout, not from among them as in the film: there is no track to their base or further up the stream. Stay on the track, as rockfalls and landslides happen, in the stream bed too. Don't cross the stream during or after heavy rain, bring water and check the DOC alerts before you go. Alert checked on 17 October 2026 (Destination Wairarapa): a slip has blocked the access road, and the track, campsite and car park are closed until the road is repaired. The plan leaves it out until then: check the DOC alerts 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