Fly southwest before entering the Kahurangi National Park for a landing on Mt Owen. Filming was undertaken here for 10 days with the result being one of the most moving moments in the film.

It was here, distraught at the loss of Gandalf, the remaining members of the Fellowship escaped the mines and threw themselves to the ground in their grief.

Mt Owen showcases some of the oldest rock in New Zealand and has priceless geological properties. As you ascend, a landscape of glaciated marble karst is exposed and you appreciate the challenges for film crew working within the harsh alpine environment.