Gandalf Country

Today we went to New Zealand’s Southern Alps, where the Lord of the Rings motion pictures were filmed. The terrain was magnificent. Director Peter Jackson wanted to find a place that corresponded to the description given in Tolkien’s books for the various sites, if such existed. Otherwise he would be forced to use a computer generated model of the fortress. The people of Rohan, the horse people, were said to live in a fortress on a high rock outcropping, surrounded by a broad plain, laced with streams and rivers. He had given up on finding an actual location with all three qualities when on an airline flight over the southern island of New Zealand, he happened to look down and see Mount Sunday west of Christchurch. It had all the necessary features. Eight months of construction preceded three weeks of filming, and the fortress of Edoras became a reality, at least on film. At the site of the fortress in the movie, Glenda Cook and I got to have our first sword fight. On our way to the Southern Alps, we drove through the farmland of the Canterbury Plains. Sheep and cattle graze in pastures sheltered by the mountains. Every part of New Zealand is stunningly beautiful. The community at Mount Somers welcomed us to a delicious lunch in their War Memorial Hall. The people are genuine, honest and warm. This is a special place, and this was a memorable day.Read more