More location filming.......

I'm not really familiar with Nelson, but judging by some pictures, it appears to be a more tropical area of NZ. Very pretty, but I wonder what they could be possibly filming there? Maybe some of our TORn kiwis can chime in with their thoughts? [:)]
At any rate, I'm glad we're hearing about more and more locations, November and December sound like very busy months for location shoots.

I should also note, 400-500 people seems rather enormous, I had no idea so many crewman worked on sets and on location like that. Maybe that includes builders, stunt people, etc?
 
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but I think it gets more annual hours of sunshine than any other part of NZ.
I'm assuming that it won't be the actual location of the filming but the most likely place to find a lot of accommodation.
Some pretty spectacular scenery to the west, Takaka limestone country and caves.
If you want a better overview than Google maps, you can download (for free) official NZ topographical maps.
http://www.linz.govt.nz/topography/topo-maps/map-chooser
 
It is the name of a town as well as a region situated at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. One of the reasons they may have chosen Nelson is due to the fact that three of New Zealand's national parks are located in this region. On offer in these parks are lakes, alpine mountains, bush/track walks, forests, coastlines all the assets required for The Hobbit. [laugh]
 
Abel Tasman national park is on the doorstep of Nelson but I'm not really seeing any location in the Hobbit that matches it well, sunkist beaches and low rocky forrest coastline.

Kahurangi National Park definately seems like somewhere that could be useble for the Hobbit's wilder locations but if they were filming there then you'd expect the crew to be based in Golden Bay rather than Nelson.

As you say Takaka Hill between Nelson and Golden Bay does have some very interesting limestone scenery(rocky outcrops, sinkholes etc) with relatively easy access. Added to that it seems like a good area for shooting scenes with alot of lush lower vegitation, Takaka hill is pretty high(and flat at the top) which means it tends to be less tropical and more inline with middle earth than many similar areas in NZ.

Theres alot of nice farmland in that area aswell if memory serves me correctly with a good deal of european looking forrets mixed in.
 
I was looking at this story yesterday and found some beautiful pictures of the National Parks and lakes around the Nelson area. I was wondering if they may be using some of the lakes or rivers for outdoor shots ?
 
Are you thinking there might be a change of location from Piopio?
Could be more accommodation available in the Nelson district.
 
An invasion of excitement, revenue, and history being made :D I really wish I could be there in town just sitting on a bench and enjoying the parade :)

Thanks for this, Moahunter!!! *twitch* I love this stuff!
 
Wasnt that the rumoured location for the eagle scene? theres an area of limestone outcrops right at the top of Takaka hill with a great view down into the valley and easy access from the road that could be useble for that.

Harwoods Hole is in that area aswell, largest sinkhole in NZ I believe, nothign stands out in the story as needing it but with so many caves featured in the story I wouldnt be supprized if it was used as an enterance.
 
They won't change locations after they've been announced. It's just that if it's the limestone country in both areas they're interested in, then I wonder why the filming would be split between the two. Which makes me think that one location was chosen for reasons other than the limestone formations. (Although we're guessing about the limestone areas being used at all, of course!)
 
New Zealand has 2 big islands; Nelson is in South Island and Piopio in North Island.

To confuse you further, the names used to be N. Island, Middle Island (now S. Island) and South Island (now Stewart Island).
 
One area for example may provide the better large vista's and more landscape for walkthough shots but does not have a location with the correct landform/access to a specific scene.

I'm no expert on crew numbers but 500 to me makes it sound like this is going to be a location that is going to feature a significant amount of work with possible some sets?

As has been mentioned there is the Nelson Lakes national park to the south aswell although its a fair way from Nelson itself. I got the impression that Lake Punakaiki was being considered for the Long Lake although I spose that could just be the "smaug end" of it and one of the more forrested Nelson lakes could be the more fertile Mirkwood end. Perhaps one of them could be the Mirrormere?
 
to shot the dwarf/spiders scenes and have Bilbo scrambling up a tree as well as chucking a few barrels in the stream for good measure .[:)]
 
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