New Zealand film and TV locations, for the trade.
Studios, sets and shooting locations, arranged through licensed operators.
Where can groups see New Zealand film and TV locations?
Wellington’s Miramar has the screen studios and a Wētā Workshop tour, Matamata has a guided film-set tour, and Auckland’s west coast and Glenorchy appear in well-known productions. Visits are arranged through licensed operators, and access varies by site.
Last updated: 9 October 2026
Why this theme sells.
Screen tourism lets a group stand in a place they know from a film or series, which gives a programme a clear hook. New Zealand has a long production history, and several locations work as a day out.
Many sites are private land, working farms or communities, so most visits are possible only on a guided tour or by arrangement. We arrange them through licensed operators and do not imply any tie-in with a production.
Places and experiences to know.
Wellington and Miramar
Wētā Workshop, a props and effects company founded in 1987, runs a guided tour of about 90 minutes from its Miramar base. It is a working studio, so guests view the workshop through windows and photography is restricted in some areas. Confirm the tour format and availability at quotation.
Destination guideHobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
A set built for Peter Jackson’s films on a working sheep and beef farm near Matamata. It can be visited only on a guided tour, which includes a short bus ride across the farm. Check the operator’s current notices for maintenance or restoration work.
Destination guideKarekare, west of Auckland
Karekare Beach is where the beach scenes of Jane Campion’s The Piano were shot in 1992, before its release in 1993. It sits on the exposed west coast, close to Piha, which is about an hour from Auckland.
Destination guideGlenorchy and Queenstown
Jane Campion’s series Top of the Lake was shot in 2012 around Glenorchy, which doubled as the fictional town of Laketop, and on Queenstown streets and in Skippers Canyon. Glenorchy is about 45 km from Queenstown, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road.
Destination guideWhāngārā, East Coast
The 2002 film Whale Rider was shot at Whāngārā, the coastal community where its story is set. It is a small community and not an attraction, so any visit should be arranged with the community through a licensed operator.
Destination guideProductions and permissions
Commercial filming on public conservation land generally needs a DOC concession, and drones follow a separate permit process. Our Film & production support service covers this for crews.
Read moreWhen it works.
Studio and set tours run through the year, but the outdoor locations depend on weather and daylight. Build a flexible day around Glenorchy or the west coast, and confirm tour times and any maintenance closures with each operator at quotation.
See the full seasonal calendar for lead times and school holidays.
What to check first.
- Most sites are private property. Entry is by guided tour or by arrangement, and photography can be restricted, as it is inside Wētā Workshop.
- We do not offer, and do not claim, any licence over a film, series or its imagery. Programmes use public locations and licensed operators.
- Drones need permission on public conservation land and are not a casual add-on. See the permissions note above.
Related services and programmes.
Services: Film & production support · Guides & driver-guides · FIT & tailor-made.
See itineraries and fixed departures for ready-made programmes.
What agents ask about this theme.
Can groups visit Hobbiton?
Yes, on a guided tour only. The set is on a working farm near Matamata, with a short bus ride across the farm. Check the operator’s current notices and confirm availability at quotation.
Is there a film studio tour in Wellington?
Wētā Workshop runs a guided tour of about 90 minutes from Miramar. Guests view the working studio through windows, and photography is restricted in some areas. Confirm the format at quotation.
Does filming in a national park need a permit?
Commercial filming on public conservation land generally needs a DOC concession, and drones follow a separate permit process. Our film and production support service covers this for crews.
Explera DMC New Zealand is the B2B New Zealand DMC for film and TV location programmes. We contract the accommodation, transfers, licensed guides and experiences at net rates, so you sell film and TV location programmes with one accountable ground partner and your own branding. Send the brief to our New Zealand DMC desk for a net programme quotation.
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