Kaitoke Regional Park

Kaitoke Regional Park

Kaitoke Regional Park
4.5
Bodies of WaterParksScenic Walking Areas
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Step out of your car and immerse yourself in the ancient rainforest of Kaitoke Regional Park. With its' ideal location set amid the backdrop of ageless Rata and Rimu (some estimated to be over 1200 years old!) It's no wonder it was chosen as the home of the elves in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Less than an hour from the Wellington CBD, Kaitoke Regional Park is a family friendly location, open to all abilities. It boasts walking, swimming, picnicking, mountain biking and kayaking amid an iconic landscape. From the experienced hiker to the day tripper there are activities to suit all ages including tracks that are completely accessible and buggy friendly. Transport yourself to Middle Earth and picnic amongst the beauty of the 'Rivendell' film location from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Discover the Elvish Archway replica amid the home of the elves. Extend your stay with a relaxed evening in our campground surrounded by beautiful, natural bush to explore all that the Park can offer.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Top ways to experience Kaitoke Regional Park and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles69 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
21
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
1

CJF5498
Porirua, New Zealand116 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Couples
Beautiful spot only 30- 40 minutes from Wellington city. Even allowed to light a fire beside the river. Clean toilets, kitchen area. Bath in the river is invigorating. Very easy to pay with automatic machines.
Great for families and large groups or just on your own.
Written May 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bob H
Mississauga, Canada17,948 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
My wife and I were on a tour and visited this location. Unfortunately there was not much left of the Lord of The Rings movie set.

The nearby Kaitoke Regional Park was the filming location for exterior shots of Rivendell for the movie – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Written May 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leah S
Ararat, Australia54 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2018
I really only went to see the Rivendell sites from Lord of the Rings but it was a hot day and i discovered so much more there. Places to swim, picnic and chill out. The only downside was it was really hard to find parking as all the locals enjoy the spot too.
Written February 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John B
Bromsgrove, UK12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2018 • Friends
They say driving up to campsite in the daytime when the sun is shining is something to behold; try driving to the campsite as the sun is setting..

We camped here as part of our make-shift Lord of the Rings road trip, and well out of all the places we visited this was the place where New Zealand stole my heart.

As you explore from the camping area, you are confronted by the lush mountains, the river flowing with clear mountain water, and then hidden a little further up the trail is the location where Rivendale was constructed.

The place is so peaceful, birdsong, the breeze rustling the trees, and the camp ground isn't too bad either; nicely situated in the foreground to this monument of natural beauty.

Local amenities are located in the nearby towns that dot the Wine Trail, so you shouldn't run short of supplies.

One thing I will say, pack a head torch as it gets rather dark; and unless you set up camp on top of the toilet block, the trip there in the middle of the night becomes one hell of an adventure..

This place is made for exploring by yourself, with the family or friends, or with a mad dutch chap like I did..
Written July 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ann B
Christchurch, New Zealand28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Couples
We stayed here in April and thoroughly enjoyed it. The walk from the camping area to Rivendell was lovely, though quite a lot of up/down hill. The ranger is very friendly, and it feels safe with the gates closing at 6, and the ranger on site.
Written May 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MaureenF760
Paraparaumu, New Zealand53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2017 • Family
Extended family camped here in January 2017 and it was a great place to camp. I had not visited the Park for many years and was amazed at the development that had taken place. There were plenty of walks to take and as we explored we found a swimming spot away from the crowd which was great. Something for everyone. It can get a bit windy at times. We stayed for 3 nights. It is also where some of the Lord of the Rings scenes were filmed and you can walk around this area.
Written November 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anthony S
Coombabah, Australia1,172 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2017 • Solo
What a fantastic area!!!! A short easy drive from Wellington. Im a rare person who has never watched or will watch Lord of the Rings. And you don't have to be a fan to love this area. Everywhere you look it is beautiful scenery either walking or driving. Free entry for day trip visitors. Heaps of different walks to do which are mostly short ones with a low physical ability required. My favourite was the suspension bridge walk
Written May 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen C
Christchurch, New Zealand28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017 • Couples
Amazing place to visit if you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings. The setting for filming the scenes of Rivendell complete with markers explaining the spots that were used. Beautiful scenery that takes you right back to the movies.
Written April 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Duncan P
Burlington, Canada354 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2017 • Family
Actually, there is a well done monument to the filming of lotr. The day before, while on Mount Victoria in Wellington I heard someone complain that Rivendell (you did know that was mostly filmed here right?) Was just a couple of trees... well, I can sure you that it is slightly more than that, but not OTT (look it up). Some points of interest;
- Rivendell is signposted once you are I the forest (yep, not kidding)
- there are some amazing walks here
- this can be a part day outing if you have a vehicle - and it's worth the quick drive
- it was raining lightly when we did this and that was ok
- there are some am*zing trees here. Beautiful, old, wizened trees. Take a moment to slow down and thank them as you pass through the forest

Written January 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ron F
Houston, TX92 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2016 • Family
Loved the gorgeous scenery in this park. Visited the area which was the actual film location for Rivendell in Lord of the Rings. A wonderful experience!
Written December 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Kaitoke Regional Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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