Chasing Frodo: The River Anduin

Running between Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri,

There is a river. The Waiau.

The Takitimu mountains rise up on one side,

While the mountains of the Fiordlands rise up on the other.

This river is known to the world as the River Anduin.

Oh look! Another bridge!

The Waiau is crystal clear and very swiftly flowing.

The water is actually this color. It is incredible.

This is the river that carried Frodo and the Fellowship away from Lothlorien.

There is actually conflicting info on the web about which scenes were filmed where, but this is the official stance that NZ tourism lists. Though I think any number of rivers would do!

From the Southern Scenic Highway, there are several access points to reach the river.

We used the one at Rainbow Reach that hooks into the Keplar Track and did a wee bit of tramping. We have not done any of the overnight portions of the track. Yet.

Again with the ferns. They are spectacular.

Seas of them.

Does anyone remember the moss scene in Creepshow (The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill)? Meteor...(poop)! Minus the horror component, this might be the stuff. It grows on anything that hits the forest floor. When you step on it, you literally sink an inch or two, then it bounces right back.

While there may or may not be hobbits around, there are definitely trout. This is apparently a great fishing river. And birds, singing constantly, even if you may not see them.

There are kiwi here. And kakapo. And the elusive takahe. All flightless, ground dwelling birds, their numbers have been decimated by stoats and dogs. There are very clear signs everywhere, NO DOGS ALLOWED.

Sorry pooch.