Meeting the People Behind the Scenery - Erica's guide to TV & movie locations

Meeting the People Behind the Scenery 

We’ve pulled back the curtain so you can peek at how things work behind the scenes here at Macs HQ. Get to know some of our experts, specialists, fellow walking enthusiasts and small business owners who meticulously plan your trips, do all the logistical legwork and provide 24/7 support, so you can have a memorable, stress-free trip. 

Spotlight on Erica, Adventure Sale Specialist 

This week we chatted with Erica, an Adventure Sales Specialist from the USA office who has a love for snowboarding and cycling. She recently completed the Cycling in the Heart of the Cotswolds trip, where she biked through charming villages of limestone cottages, vibrant countryside and ate delicious pub food. 

Erica has a keen interest in TV and film and a university minor in the subject under her belt.  

She has done some digging and found which of our trips stop at or near the filming spots of some of our favourite shows and films, so you can have your own adventure in the same locations as the stars! 

Where was Lord of the Rings filmed? 

The epic fantasy-adventure trilogy was filmed in the otherworldly landscapes of New Zealand, where active volcanoes meet lush green vistas and deep teal fjords.  

Besides these routes being absolutely stunning, our Best of New Zealand and Highlights of New Zealand adventures take you on your own quest navigating through some familiar sites.  

• Make a short detour through Matamata to explore the rolling pastures of magical Hobbiton, where you’ll perhaps bump into Frodo and friends. 
  

• Avoid the gaze of the Great Eye as you journey south through Tongariro National Park, used as the location for Mordor. Look for views of the towering Mount Ngauruhoe – known as Mount Doom in the movies, where the rings were forged!
  

• Wander into Kaitoke National Park, aka, the magical Elvish realm of Rivendell. Just down the road is the plush and vibrant Harcourt Park, which was transformed into the Gardens of Isengard. And hide from the Black Riders in the forested areas of Mount Victoria in Wellington Woods.
  

• On day 9 of the Best of New Zealand trip, make your way to the eerie Putangirua Pinnacles, a geological formation that featured in the ‘Paths of the Dead’ scene in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’.
  

• When in Arrowtown, divert to Queenstown and walk to the Ford of Bruinen on the Arrow River and to Wilcox Green, where the Gladden Fields scenes were filmed.
  

• A short way from Arrowtown is Chard Farm winery where you can see a spectacular view of the Anduin and Argonath (Pillar of Kings). The Pillars were computer-generated, but the views are very real.
  

• Drive over the Crown Range Road to arrive in Cardrona Valley. From here you can drive to the summit of the Crown Range for a panoramic view of Middle‑earth.  

 Where was White Lotus season 2 filmed? 

Sicily, known for its impeccable architecture, zinging citrus fruits and unbeatable gelato, has more recently been plunged into the spotlight as the primary setting of the second season of the exhilarating drama, White Lotus.  

Our Trails of Western Sicily and Cycle Sicily’s South trips whisk you away to some of the locations that caught your eye. 

• Cycle through the luscious coastal scenery of southern Sicily on our easy-going cycling tour. Cyclists can witness the same infamous view of Mount Etna as the cast from the city of Taormina, which is also the location of San Domenico Palace hotel where the series took place. 
  

• Pedal to the renowned city of Noto where characters Daphne and Harper admired the limestone piazza, immense cathedral and baroque architecture. As they say in the series, “You gotta go to Noto!”
  

• On their trip to Noto, the ladies stayed at a magnificent palazzo called Villa Tasca. In reality, the hotel is actually in Palermo, Sicily’s capital, which you can visit on our Trails of Western Sicily trip.  

 Where was Andor and Star Wars filmed? 

If you find yourself wandering through the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands wondering if you’re on another planet, that’s because you would be, if you’re taking on the Empire in the Star Wars universe!  

• Our Walking in the Scottish Highlands trips venture into the town of Blair Atholl. Just north of there is Glen Tilt, a tree-edged ravine which was transformed into the planet Aldhani in Star Wars’ most recent series Andor was set. 
  

• An epic battle between the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance and the Empire took place not in a galaxy far, far away, but actually very close to the Macs Adventure UK office in Glasgow. Start out your West Highland Way trip by going to see the filming site for yourself before staying in cosy accommodation and being immersed in rich Highland history and culture. 

 Where was The Sound of Music filmed? 

The hills are indeed alive with the sound of music in Austria, and you can revisit the same spots as the Von Trapp’s on our Slower Adventure, Walking the Salzburg Lakes. You’ll spend the night in St Gilgen and St Wolfgang, both providing the incredible alpine scenery The Sound of Music is known for. Go ahead and twirl in the valley like Maria and let out your best yodel with no one else around- except maybe a cow on the trail! 

 Where was Game of Thrones filmed? 

• If you’ve had your eyes set on the Iron Throne, visit Dubrovnik, the real-life King’s Landing and take it up with Queen Cersei and the Lannister's on our Dubrovnik, Vineyards & the Dalmatian Coast trip.  

• If you’re a supporter of Daenerys Targaryen’s journey to claim the crown, visit the city of Split on Split and the Dalmatian Coast, and pay a visit to Khaleesi’s regal city of Mereen at Klis Fortress.  

• You can also test your own success with dragon taming at Diocletian’s Palace, where the Mother of Dragons kept her children in the series. 

Where was Bridgerton filmed?

Dearest reader, the time has come for you to make your debut in front of the Queen along one of England’s most regal walking trails! The Thames Path will take you through many of the scandalous series’ locales, with stops in royally renowned cities like Oxford, Windsor, and London.  

• While in Windsor, stroll the same lavish grounds as ‘the ton’ at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, where the lords and ladies attend their races in the series. 

• Wander the Windsor Great Park near Windsor Castle, the filming location for the infamous scene in season 2 where Kate falls off her horse.  

• As you make your walk into London, you’ll pass by Hampton Court Palace, an actual royal home also used as the filming location for Anthony and Edwina’s wedding reception.  

• Make sure to book some extra nights in London, as there are many Bridgerton sites to see. From the Ranger’s House in Greenwich, which you might also recognize as the Bridgerton home, to St James Church, where Edwina and Anthony almost get married before drama unfolds!