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fun stuff:
movie locations
· quotes
· trivia
· street signs
· screensavers
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Narnia was created in the early 1950s by English author CS Lewis
as the mythical land for his books, The Chronicles of Narnia. Loved by
children of all ages, this world of fauns, satyrs and centaurs was brought to
the big screen by Andrew Adamson's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
New Zealand director Andrew Adamson first read the Chronicles as a child
and was captured by the excitement and adventure of the new world that Lewis portrayed.
Released in December 2005, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was almost
entirely filmed in Adamson's native country.
Although many scenes were filmed behind stage doors in Auckland, there are also a number of locations in New Zealand that have now become part of Narnia Aotearoa.
The White Witch's Camp - Woodhill Forest
An hour north-west of Auckland, the dark trees of Woodhill Forest were transformed into the dreaded camp of the White Witch of Narnia. The general area can be found by turning left onto Rimmer Road (signposted off State Highway 16 before Helensville) and travelling into the forest. The forest also has a network of mountain bike trails for riders of all levels.
Whilst in the area, a visit to Muriwai Beach is well worth the 30 minute diversion. The black sand and waves from the Tasman Sea are a favourite with surfers and holidaymakers. Otakamiro Point, at the southern end of the beach, is home to one of New Zealand's few mainland gannet breeding colonies.
If sampling New Zealand wine is more of a priority, the west Auckland area is home to a number of vineyards.
The Great Battle - Flock Hill
High in the Southern Alps of the South Island is an area of tortured rocks and dramatic valleys known as Flock Hill. It was here that director Andrew Adamson created the scenes for the great battle for Narnia. Fans can explore the battle area with Canterbury Sightseeing.
Flock Hill is situated 90 minutes from Christchurch on the Arthur's Pass Highway
to Greymouth. Leaving Christchurch,
the South Island's largest city, the road crosses the flat expanse of the Canterbury
Plains through the small towns of Darfield and Sheffield. At Springfield the
mountain peaks tower over the village and the road climbs dramatically to Porters
Pass (942m). One of the highest passes in New
Zealand, the road can be affected by snow in winter. Lake Lyndon, surrounded
by brown tussock hills, is well worth a stop before continuing past Castle Hill
to Flock Hill.
Stop at Cave Stream Scenic Reserve by Broken River. The topography of limestone rocks seen from here and across Cave Stream are typical of the landscape used to portray Narnia.
There are two walking tracks from the car park. One leads to the upstream entrance to Cave Stream before entering the 362m water-filled tunnel. The other track leads to a view of the outfall.
Accommodation is available at Flock Hill Station, a further 10 minute drive. Other activities available in the area include abseiling, rock climbing, tramping and canyoning. In winter, skiing and snowboarding abounds at the nearby Broken River, Craigieburn, Mt Cheeseman, Porter Heights and Temple Basin ski fields.
Aslan's Camp - Elephant Rocks
The ancient Elephant Rocks that sprout from the rolling hills in the Waitaki district of the South Island were transformed in 2004 into Aslan's Camp.
The historic town of Oamaru is the ideal base
for exploring the area. Here Victorian buildings crafted from the local white
limestone still stand as a reminder of times gone by. Originally built as warehouses
and storage areas for the nearby port, the Harbour/Tyne area is now home to antique
shops, gift stores, restaurants and craftsmen.
Close by is the Oamaru blue penguin colony. The smallest of their kind in the world, the blue penguins nest beside Oamaru Harbour and can be viewed in their natural habitat.
Oamaru is also home to the award winning Whitestone Cheese, the factory has an onsite caf� and shop allowing visitors to sample local produce and wine.
Elephant Rocks are situated near Duntroon,
a 40 minute drive from Oamaru on State Highway 83. Over 24 million years ago this
whole area was under the sea. Whales and other marine life sunk into the soft
sand which then rose to the surface during the last few million years. The result
is an intriguing area of fossils and dramatic limestone outcrops. The Vanished
World visitor centre in Duntroon houses interpretive displays on the area�s geological
past. Trail maps are available with directions to Elephant Rocks.
Cair Paravel - Purakaunui Bay
The great castle of Cair Paravel on the Eastern Sea of Narnia was created by computer
generated imagery onto the cliff tops of Purakaunui Bay in the Catlins,
an area of spectacular coastal scenery.
South of Dunedin, the Catlins coast road from Balclutha
towards Invercargill is a journey through
dense rain forest and dramatic seascapes. Although the entire trip only takes
a few hours, spreading the journey over a few days allows for a leisurely exploration
of an area abundant in native flora and fauna.
- Courtesy New Zealand Tourism
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