The film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings novels, directed by Peter Jackson, brought an ardent rush of tourism into New Zealand. When the first movie in the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, was released in movie theatres in 2001, it ignited a general interest in touring film locations. The three movies are filmed entirely in New Zealand, and acted as a silver screen tourism brochure for the country. People began flocking to the various filming locations, spread across the two main islands of the country, in an attempt to further enjoy the Academy Award winning films. One of the more popular of these locations is Mt. Sunday, the film location for the Golden Hall of Edoras.

Nestled in the mountains of Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand, Mt. Sunday was given its name by a group of farmers that gathered there every Sunday for worship, feasting and drinking. It's an unassuming hill, about 85 km away from the closest town of Methven, and is surrounded by mountains in the middle of a large plain that is used daily for ranching. It wasn't until an accidental flyover by one of the film’s crew members, that it gained its fame as the capital of the fictional kingdom of Rohan. Located on private land, only specific companies have authority to take Lord of the Rings’ enthusiasts on hiking tours of Mt. Sunday, the very hill that hosted the movie's cast and crew for almost a year.

What's not commonly known though, is that other scenes for the Lord of the Rings trilogy were also filmed in the area. With an educated eye for the films, it's easy to spot the filming locations for both of the exterior shots for Helm's Deep, as well as those for the Uruk-hai march through a valley to the fortress. The Mt. Sunday tour is an experience best done with a guide on hand to point out these locations, while standing on the same spot where the film’s heroes planned the early stages of the War of the Ring.

A common mistake is to believe that the interior scenes were shot on Mt. Sunday. They weren't. They were done in a soundstage while the exterior shots were all done on location, and with very little computer generation. The movie scenes can also be experienced here in person, and that's what makes this such a special experience. The mountaintop buildings used for the city of Rohan were built on location, taking approximately 11 months to complete, and only dismantled once the filming was compete. A global positioning system was then used to restore the area to exactly how it was previous to production, and this is what fans are able to experience now.

Even though the summer months can experience 30°C temperatures, the winter months can be cold. So, the best time of year to visit Mt. Sunday is in the summer, spring or fall months. And for anyone coming from the northern hemisphere, remember that these seasons are opposite of what you normally experience.

The conditions in the mountains can change in the blink of an eye. Make sure to take warm clothing or a jacket along, even in the summer months, as the temperature at Mt. Sunday can be drastically different from where you're staying. Sturdy shoes or boots to hike up the small hill are also useful as there's no paved path leading to the top.

Also, take it slow and go at your own pace. The elevation in the mountains can make breathing difficult, so take your time to get to the top. Part of the experience is enjoying the great view that surrounds the little hill, and that shouldn't be rushed.

Finally, make sure to wear sunscreen. Even if it's a cloudy day, the sun can peak through at these higher elevations. It's better to be prepared and wear some sunscreen and a hat of some kind, than to remember a wonderful experience like this with sunburn.