Wellington is home to a hub of world-class special effects and production facilities, as well as a host of talented filmmakers.

Miramar, a coastal suburb of Wellington, is home to a neighborhood of world-class applied science and film talent.

weta

Twin companies Wētā Workshop and Wētā Digital have helped create some of the world's most inventive and innovative film and television collections with the world's leading film studios. Legendary Hollywood director James Cameron chose Wellington to direct the Oscar-winning film Avatar because he decided he wanted to make a "groundbreaking" film. Other Hollywood blockbusters Wētā has worked on include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, The Avengers and Ghost Within the Shell.

Park Road Production

A world-class post-production facility created by filmmakers for filmmakers, Park Road houses a variety of resources to help filmmakers focus on the artistic process. Park Road has only taken on a handful of assignments a year, working on blockbusters like The Adventures of Tintin, District 9, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Last Samurai.

stone street studios

Offering a variety of production facilities including two huge custom soundstages, a wet stage and 4 adapter storage stages, Stone Street Studios is another useful world-class resource for filmmakers.

wellywood

Wellywood, as Wellington is affectionately known, offers guests a variety of opportunities to explore the city's film industry.

Wellington Movie Tours' experienced tour operators will take you to specific filming locations and show and explain which scenes were filmed there; you might even be guided to another movie from one of the many movies! Many of these tours head to Wētā Cave, a mini-museum that features movie props, collectibles, artwork, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Things to do for movie fans in Wellington

Wētā Workshop Experience - Your gateway to immersive film experiences in Wellington, New Zealand. Discover 20 years of creativity with the Wētā Workshop Experience(opens in new window): Thunderbirds Are Go, both packed with props, weapons, fashion, and costumes from movies and TV. Wētā Studio Tours may also be home to the famous Wētā Cave Shop, where you can browse amazing collectibles and watch a one-of-a-kind free behind-the-scenes documentary. Click here (opens in a new window) to find out what to expect at Wētā Studio Tours!

Embassy Theatre: This historic theater was built in 1926 and was the location where The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey premiered. Take a look at the name plates with the names of the actors and characters next to the leather seats.

Roxy Cinema – Owned by Wētā co-founders Tania Rodger and Jamie Selkirk, the fantastically redesigned Roxy Cinema blends the style of the Art Deco period with modern knowledge of 21st century cinema. Enjoy delicious local cuisine at the cinema's restaurant, CoCo at the Roxy, and the impressive works of art at the Wētā workshop, which are scattered throughout the building.

Mount Victoria - The first day of filming for The Lord of the Rings trilogy took place in the Mount Victoria metropolitan belt, the location where Hobbiton Forest was filmed. Mount Victoria also offers incredible views of the city of Wellington and the harbour.