In case you didn’t know by now (who am I kidding? Of course you do), New Zealand was the backdrop for Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. There are more than 150 filming locations across both islands, and one of the most stunning is just north of Glenorchy.

The Dart Valley was transformed into Isengard, the fortress of Saruman the White and was chosen for its untamed, dramatic beauty. The river is surrounded by craggy mountains that seem to create their own weather system. One minute, you’ll see clear blue skies; the next, mist rolls in, giving the place a mystical, almost eerie atmosphere.

If you do visit Dart River, I’d highly recommend bringing your lunch and eating it by the riverside! If you have a 4WD, you can drive a short way down onto the riverbed and eat right by the water's edge. It's 100% worth coming here no matter whether you’re a LOTR fan or not!