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Explore Deer Park Heights

Use the map filter to switch between film locations or animals and click on a marker to learn more about what is at that location.

Key

  • Toilets
    Toilet
  • Picnic Area
    Picnic Area
  • Feed Station
    Feed Station
  • Animals
    Animals
  • Film Locations
    Film Locations

Explore Deer Park Heights

Click on a marker to learn more about what is at that location.

Key

  • Toilets
    Toilet
  • Picnic Area
    Picnic Area
  • Feed Station
    Feed Station
  • Animals
    Animals
  • Film Locations
    Film Locations

LOTR 07

PATHS OF THE DEAD | THE TWO TOWERS

Continue backup up the road, and you will find yourself at location LOTR 7. They filmed the exit from the Paths of the Dead for The Return of the King. From here, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli see the corsair ships come in on the river.

Alpacas

Alpacas at first glance may resemble their larger cousin the lama but they are quite different! Alpacas have short spear shared ears and small blunt faces. Alpacas shaggy hair is used for fleece production, the wool is soft and durable, similar to sheep wool. To the Incas, Alpaca wool is known as the ‘fibre of the gods’. 

Goats

The feral goats ( the colours ones) have been domesticated for over 8000 years in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Goats are agile animals, able to exploit steep hill slope areas unsuitable to other animals. Most of these goats originated from young captured in the Skippers Canyon area. Gold miners brought these goats to the region to provide a source of milk and meat. These gregarious animals mate throughout the year, with a gestation of 5 months they often have twins. 

Red Deer

The red deer is one of the largest deer species. First introduced from Scotland in 1851 to New Zealand, red deer is the most commonly hunted deer in New Zealand. The red deer in Deer Park Heights, are used for breeding young stock to finish for export meat. The male red deer produce velvet which is used for medicinal purposes all over the world. You will see red deer scattered throughout the farm, they’re very timid and can be frightened easily. Please do not get out of your car to feed the deer as some can be aggressive.  

Himalayan Tahr

These agile goat-like animals originate from the Himalayas and prefer rocky bluffs and steep faces. The Himalayan Tahr was released into the Southern Alps in 1904 from the UK. This herd was bred up from young ones captured in the wild. They mate between June to August with the young born in Dec – Jan.

Kunekune Pigs

The Kunekune is a small breed of domestic pig from New Zealand. Kunekune are hairy with a rotund build and love their food! The black-spotted one is Button and the Ginger toned pig is called Ginger! These pigs love to play in the waterhole. If you call “Pig Pig Pig” and rattle the tin, they will come up to hand feed.

Miniature Horses

The Miniature Horses are a specific breed and must be no taller than 34” to 38”. Originally bred in Europe in the 1600’s as the pets of nobility and for use in coal mines. (In 1842 by law they replaced young children as mine workers.) They can be frisky, especially when it’s feeding time so please supervise all children.

Lamas

The Lamas are bigger than alpacas and have long banana shaped ears and a long face. Lamas were introduced to New Zealand in 1986 and are raised for their soft fleece which is lanolin-free! The Lamas at Deer Park were first brought in when it was originally opened in 1966 and have thrived in the environment. 

LOTR 03

LOTR 03 is the first LOTR site you will find up Deer Park Heights. Just past the third cattle stop, you will see the green sign. Park safely off the side of the road and head towards the double gate. Through the gate, 120m on the left is the rock wall where Hama (a Rider of Rohan) sees and is killed by the warg scout.

RIDER OF ROHAN | THE TWO TOWERS

LOTR 02

This part of the movie involved the Rohan refugees journey from Edoras to Helms Deep and their battle with the wargs and Orcs. The first scene was the beginning of the trek LOTR1 with the Rohans moving around the eastern side of the mountain tarn. They camp by the second tarn LOTR 2 where there is a humorous moment when Gimli falls off his horse.

REFUGEE CAMP | THE TWO TOWERS

LOTR 01

Near the top of Deer Park Heights on the walking track, you will find Location LOTR1. A beautiful mountain tarn where in the second movie, several scenes show the people of Rohan braving the road from Edoras to Helm’s Deep. One of these scenes leads to location LOTR 2 where Gimli falls off his horse.

RIDING TO MINAS TIRITH | RETURN OF THE KING

LOTR 04

Turn left at the second feeding station (Frankton lookout) and head down the hill to find location LOTR 4. Hike up the hill to find where Legolas comes to the rescue, kills the Warg and returns to the Rohans to warn them of the impending danger. The woman and children are left to continue to Helms deep, and the men move on to battle with the Wargs.

LEGOLAS KILLS THE WARG | THE TWO TOWERS

LOTR 05

At location LOTR 5, Legolas spots the wargs in the distance and fires arrows at them. From behind him, Rohan soldiers came over the ridge and Legolas leaps on to a horse.

LEGOLAS SPOTS WARGS | THE TWO TOWERS

LOTR 06

LOTR 6 is where you will find Aragorn’s cliff. They ride into the battle of the wargs and Aragorn gets dragged over the cliff. In a later scene in the movie, the Rohans look over the cliff at Location 6 to look for Aragorn. The Kawarau River is superimposed under the cliffs.

WARG ATTACK & ARAGORN'S CLIFF | THE TWO TOWERS

LOTR 07

Continue backup up the road, and you will find yourself at location LOTR 7. They filmed the exit from the Paths of the Dead for The Return of the King. From here, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli see the corsair ships come in on the river.

PATHS OF THE DEAD | THE TWO TOWERS

Fallow Deer

These timid deer were introduced to NZ from the UK in 1864. There is a herd of 100 in the fallow block on Deer Park Heights. You have to look closely to see these small deer as they flit amongst the tussocks. There are two species: Spanish Fallow and Black Fallow. The white ones you see are ‘albino like’ are Black Fallow Deer. The Hinds fawn in December, they are not commercially farmed here. Please do not get out of your car to feed the deer as some can be aggressive.

LOTR 06

WARG ATTACK & ARAGORN'S CLIFF | THE TWO TOWERS

LOTR 6 is where you will find Aragorn’s cliff. They ride into the battle of the wargs and Aragorn gets dragged over the cliff. In a later scene in the movie, the Rohans look over the cliff at Location 6 to look for Aragorn. The Kawarau River is superimposed under the cliffs.

Lamas

The Lamas are bigger than alpacas and have long banana shaped ears and a long face. Lamas were introduced to New Zealand in 1986 and are raised for their soft fleece which is lanolin-free! The Lamas at Deer Park were first brought in when it was originally opened in 1966 and have thrived in the environment. 

Alpaca

Alpacas at first glance may resemble their larger cousin the lama but they are quite different! Alpacas have short spear shared ears and small blunt faces. Alpacas shaggy hair is used for fleece production, the wool is soft and durable, similar to sheep wool. To the Incas, Alpaca wool is known as the ‘fibre of the gods’.

Donkeys

Donkeys are the friendliest of our mammals at Deer Park, they love sheep nuts and a scratch on the head. You may see a family of Donkeys as well as some larger horses which are Mules. The Mules are a mixture of a Miniature horse and Donkey, the perfect mix! Donkeys are known for their intelligence. A donkey will stop and assess a new situation and think about its choices before making a decision on what action to take. These Donkeys are very friendly and will let you feed them by hand.

Kunekune Pigs

The Kunekune is a small breed of domestic pig from New Zealand. Kunekune are hairy with a rotund build and love their food! The black-spotted one is Button and the Ginger toned pig is called Ginger! These pigs love to play in the waterhole. If you call “Pig Pig Pig” and rattle the tin, they will come up to hand feed.

Miniature Horses

The Miniature Horses are a specific breed and must be no taller than 34” to 38”. Originally bred in Europe in the 1600’s as the pets of nobility and for use in coal mines. (In 1842 by law they replaced young children as mine workers.) They can be frisky, especially when it’s feeding time so please supervise all children.

Red Deer

The red deer is one of the largest deer species. First introduced from Scotland in 1851 to New Zealand, red deer is the most commonly hunted deer in New Zealand. The red deer in Deer Park Heights, are used for breeding young stock to finish for export meat. The male red deer produce velvet which is used for medicinal purposes all over the world. You will see red deer scattered throughout the farm, they’re very timid and can be frightened easily. Please do not get out of your car to feed the deer as some can be aggressive.

Himalayan Tahr

These agile goat-like animals originate from the Himalayas and prefer rocky bluffs and steep faces. The Himalayan Tahr was released into the Southern Alps in 1904 from the UK. This herd was bred up from young ones captured in the wild. They mate between June to August with the young born in Dec – Jan.

Fallow Deer

These timid deer were introduced to NZ from the UK in 1864. There is a herd of 100 in the fallow block on Deer Park Heights. You have to look closely to see these small deer as they flit amongst the tussocks. There are two species: Spanish Fallow and Black Fallow. The white ones you see are ‘albino like’ are Black Fallow Deer. The Hinds fawn in December, they are not commercially farmed here. Please do not get out of your car to feed the deer as some can be aggressive. 

Goats

The feral goats ( the colours ones) have been domesticated for over 8000 years in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Goats are agile animals, able to exploit steep hill slope areas unsuitable to other animals. Most of these goats originated from young captured in the Skippers Canyon area. Gold miners brought these goats to the region to provide a source of milk and meat. These gregarious animals mate throughout the year, with a gestation of 5 months they often have twins. 

LOTR 01

RIDING TO MINAS TIRITH | RETURN OF THE KING

Near the top of Deer Park Heights on the walking track, you will find Location LOTR1. A beautiful mountain tarn where in the second movie, several scenes show the people of Rohan braving the road from Edoras to Helm’s Deep. One of these scenes leads to location LOTR 2 where Gimli falls off his horse.

LOTR 03

RIDER OF ROHAN | THE TWO TOWERS

LOTR 03 is the first LOTR site you will find up Deer Park Heights. Just past the third cattle stop, you will see the green sign. Park safely off the side of the road and head towards the double gate. Through the gate, 120m on the left is the rock wall where Hama (a Rider of Rohan) sees and is killed by the warg scout.

LOTR 02

REFUGEE CAMP | THE TWO TOWERS

This part of the movie involved the Rohan refugees journey from Edoras to Helms Deep and their battle with the wargs and Orcs. The first scene was the beginning of the trek LOTR 1 with the Rohans moving around the eastern side of the mountain tarn. They camp by the second tarn LOTR 2 where there is a humorous moment when Gimli falls off his horse.

LOTR 04

LEGOLAS KILLS THE WARG | THE TWO TOWERS

Turn left at the second feeding station (Frankton lookout) and head down the hill to find location LOTR 4. Hike up the hill to find where Legolas comes to the rescue, kills the Warg and returns to the Rohans to warn them of the impending danger. The woman and children are left to continue to Helms deep, and the men move on to battle with the Wargs.

LOTR 05

LEGOLAS SPOTS WARGS | THE TWO TOWERS

At location LOTR 5, Legolas spots the wargs in the distance and fires arrows at them. From behind him, Rohan soldiers came over the ridge and Legolas leaps on to a horse.

Donkeys

Donkeys are the friendliest of our mammals at Deer Park, they love sheep nuts and a scratch on the head. You may see a family of Donkeys as well as some larger horses which are Mules. The Mules are a mixture of a Miniature horse and Donkey, the perfect mix! Donkeys are known for their intelligence. A donkey will stop and assess a new situation and think about its choices before making a decision on what action to take. These Donkeys are very friendly and will let you feed them by hand.