The Lord of the Rings films showcased a number of magnificent locations in New Zealand.
One particular spot, Deer Park Heights, was the backdrop for many important scenes in the movies but has been closed to the public for over a decade.
After 11 years, though, the park is reopening to visitors wanting to explore the beauty of Middle-earth.
Located in Queenstown, the park has a history of being a popular tourist destination. It first opened in 1966 and visitors could embark on self-drive experience.
‘The 5 kilometre road takes you 550 meters above Queenstown, through a working deer farm of some 800 hectares. See and feed the tame animals, stroll walkways, picnic at scenic lookouts, and check out the locations of many significant movies filmed here,’ says the website.
The 1,976-acre landscape is a working farm, having operated as a deer farm for the duration of its closure according to Lonely Planet.
The farm is slowly welcoming visitors back but will continue its deer farming operations.
Visitors will have plenty to do, including looking for interesting animals, picnicking, and walks to viewpoints.
Other films that have filmed scenes here include Wolverine and Pete’s Dragon. There is an interactive digital map that will guide guests to points of interest.
Speaking to Lonely Planet, owner Mike Mee said: ‘It’s such an amazing location and it seems a shame to not share it. We want to welcome visitors to great fun, good value family day out for those who want to spend time in the outdoors and with our animals. To make it more family orientated we are limiting access to vehicles with up to seven seats, excluding buses, minivans, and commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, there’s no access for hikers or cyclists from the tollgate as they tend to scare the animals away, especially the deer.’
Those wanting to visit will need to complete an online booking form which will then send an access code as well as allocate a specific day to explore the park.
The end goal is to reopen and operate the park 7 days a week during the day while closing to visitors in the evening.
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