Under an hour north of Wellington City is Kaitoke Regional Park; a place of true Elvish tranquility. Nearly 2500 hectares of native rainforests and crystal clear river pools make up the pristine spot used to create the atmosphere that surrounded the house of Elrond. There's beauty at each turn: swimming in the tranquil rivers; taking in centuries-old beech, rimu, rata, hinau and kamahi trees: it's the closest you're gonna get to the Undying Lands in this age. It's said that Tolkien's inspiration for Rivendell may have been based upon the Lauterbrunnental, one of the biggest nature conservation areas in Switzerland, where he had hiked in 1911. The secluded valleys and waterfalls indubitably bear striking resemblance to the Elven outpost of Middle-Earth. If Peter Jackson could have ventured from New Zealand this would have been the perfect location, even without CGI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Q2M_uS-_Y
