Mount Sunday, also known as Edoras to Lord of the Ring Fans, is a remote hill in the Hakatere Conservation Park in Cantebury, New Zealand. It was the filming location for the capital of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings. While this was the actual filming location, the set was completely removed after filming (which is a shame – it would have been awesome to walk the fictional streets).

Part of the experience is getting there – always take the scenic route. From Christchurch, it is about 2-2.5 hours drive – mostly on sealed roads (although virtually no cars were traveling the same roads once turning off State Highway 1 in Rakaia … so generally it’s a peaceful drive), with the last half hour on gravel roads (again with very little traffic – but be careful if you’re not used to driving on gravel roads). The first glimpse of Edoras is shown above – but note that photos never do justice to the scale or sense of place.

Mount Sunday is located on private land, and it’s a relatively easy walk from the parking area on the side of the road. It is open for private individuals, but not tour groups, so we’ve never seen that many people there on our various visits. There’s a lovely river to cross on your walk, and it’s very peaceful. The hill is a bit of a climb, and relatively steep in places, but it’s not a race – so take your time. Its so beautiful and feels like you are in ‘middle earth’. Plan for approximately 45 minute return trip, which includes crossing a swinging bridge.

At the top, the views are amazing (an understatement) … but it can be very windy (so a wind-breaker is highly recommended). We always took a picnic lunch, and it’s best to have both a hot and cold drink on hand … depending on how long you decide to stay up the hill. We liked to linger, as the experience is so enjoyable (don’t just snap a few photos then leave). There’s a glimpse of The Southern Alps in the background.

You’ll see that Luke and Anna-Kate decided to be colour coordinated … and we just love these photos of them, with the dramatic background and remote location making the images distinctly unique. This visit was in May and we lucked out with picture perfect weather. Summer or (Dec., Jan. and February) are probably the best months to visit.

Colette’s Recommendations – Plan for adventures and take advantage of beautiful, sunny days! We learned to ‘Seize the day’ while living in New Zealand for 10 years. We have visited a lot of special places throughout New Zealand and this is definitely one of our family’s favorites, a Top Ten location! There are other day hikes and overnight hikes in the area. Warren and the boys have also spent a weekend hiking to the Woolshed hut.

Travel Tip: Take a windbreaker a hat and/or warm jacket and a picnic lunch. Make sure your car is full of Petrol (gas) before you leave on your adventure. Check for road conditions (Ashburton District Council) as the unsealed road can be affected by rain or snow. Note: There is no accommodation at this site itself, but nearby options includes camping at Lake Clearwater or the more comfortable Mount Potts Lodge.