Located in the Hakatere Conservation Park, Mount Sunday is famous as the filming location for Edoras in LOTR. The hill is in a stunning river valley, surrounded by the Southern Alps and braided rivers. Mount Sunday is a must-visit for LOTR fans and outdoor lovers.

To reach Mount Sunday, you follow a narrow gravel road for several kilometres, among the incredible landscape. From the car park, there is a marked track to the Mount Sunday summit, traversing across grasslands, with a few bridges to cross. It takes approximately 1 hour return and there may also be grazing cattle in the surrounding area. It is a steady incline and then a steep climb towards the summit.

Remember: Take care on the narrow gravel roads and allow other users to pass when it is safe to do so.

Personal tip: This spot surprised me, I wasn’t expecting much, but the views are incredible for such a short hike, and the journey to get there is part of the adventure too. Take appropriate clothing as the track is exposed to the elements.

Pronunciation: Hakatere: haa-kaa-teh-reh

For more info, listen to Episode 054 of the Aotearoa Adventures podcast.