Looking for a holiday reading project? (This one is especially for JimTim…)
TRM’s blog yesterday featuring Gollum’s Pool hit a spot with other tourists anxious to learn more about LOTR locations in the Tongariro National Park. SWMBO immediately appointed herself as TRM’s authority on all LOTR stuff to advise them.
Apology: I am not a LOTR fan so have pinched some of these more technical descriptions, aka answers, from other websites, to show off SWMBO’s wide knowledge. I hope I may have created some sort of LOTR record as being the only father to fall asleep during the film…
So to answer a few of the loaded questions:
Can tourists take a day trip to view many of dramatic Lord of the Rings locations in Tongariro?
The most obvious visual location is “Mt. Doom” (although I suspect we are not allowed to call it that anymore…) on the Tongariro Crossing can clearly be seen from SH 47 between Turangi and National Park (Opps sorry, I mean Waimarino).
Mt Ngāuruhoe (pronounciation ‘naa-ooroo-hway’), 1967 m high, is located in New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park.
This active volcano played an iconic role as Mordor’s Mount Doom in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
A brief 1 minute you-tube (TRM staff training video featuring Kiki a few years ago) illustrates the difficult climb and in particular demonstrates how quickly the nasty alpine weather can close in and adds one essential ingredient that all other trail brochures forget to mention… Can you guess what it is?.
SWMBO’s answers to inmates’ more techy questions demand cool groovy LOTR answers:
Can tourists simply walk into Mordor?
According to Boromir, “One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The great eye is ever watchful.” OK?
Why are there no guards at Mount Doom?
Sauron’s attempts to keep that weakness hidden means that any permanently stationed guards around Mount Doom could have attracted the attention of spies and exposed his true weakness. But most trekkie inmates knew that.
Did Isildur take the Ring to Mount Doom?
Isildur took up the hilt-shard of Narsil, Elendil’s sword, and cut the One Ring from the hand of Sauron. Despite the urging of Elrond and Círdan, Gil-galad’s lieutenants, Isildur did not throw the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. He made a scroll with a description of the Ring and a copy of its fading inscription.
So now you know…
Whakapapa
On the Whakapapa side of Mt Ruapehu are some more Mordor locations. Iwikau Village and the sharp volcanic rock, cliffs and ash behind Aorangi Lodge was the location of Emyn Muil. At this time of the year tourists can visit Whakapapa Ski Field in style, by sky waka – aka gondolas, to view the site where Isildur cuts off Sauron’s finger in the opening scenes of The Fellowship of the Ring and where Mordor’s armies leave Minas Morgul on the Orc Road. Got it?
Outside of the winter months, you can take the Meads Wall 30-minute walk also at the Whakapapa ski area.
Starting in the car park at the top of Bruce Road, head past the bottom of the Sky Waka gondola towards the wall – easy! More of the Emyn Muil scenes were shot here, specifically where Frodo and Sam get lost on their way to the Black Gates of Mordor and the first time they meet Gollum.
Rangipo Desert
The landscape appears to be a desert due to its poor soil quality from years of volcanic battering. The orc army scenes from LOTR were filmed in this remote area, which is east of the three volcanoes and west of the Kaimanawa Range and viewed from SH1 – Desert Road. In particular, the Rangipo Desert was filmed during the storming of the Black Gate where Gimili says: “Certainty of death, small chance of success.’
Are you prepared?
Then what are you waiting for…
