LOTR 2004 Day 8: Cromwell to Te Anau

We head off towards Mavora Lakes, where several scenes were filmed, including the breaking of the Fellowship. In the afternoon, we arrived at the lakeside town of Te Anau.

On the way to Mavora Lakes (Fangorn Forest)

Sunrise in Cromwell. “Blood has been spilled in the night.”

Garden next to a fruit shop on the way to Mavora Lakes.

Row of poplar trees with yellow leaves.

This is where Gandalf called for Shadowfax on the edge of Fangorn Forest.

If you look at his feet carefully you will notice he is wearing modern sports shoes.

“He sprang away, calling Shadowfax as he ran.”
“The great horse tossed his head. His flowing tail flicked in the moonlight. Then he leapt forward, spurning the earth, and was gone like the north wind from the mountains.”
(LOTR, Book III, Chapter XI, page 619)

This is the location of the funeral pyre where Éomer and the Riders of Rohan burnt the remains of the dead Orcs after their epic battle.

Gimli: We failed them.

“At last as the afternoon was waning they came to the eaves of the forest, and in an open glade among the first trees they found the place of the great burning: the ashes were still hot and smoking. Beside it was a great pile of helms and mail, cloven shields, and broken swords, bows and darts and other gear of war. Upon a stake in the middle was set a great goblin head; upon its shattered helm the white badge could still be seen. Further away, not far from the river, where it came streaming out from the edge of the wood, there was a mound. It was newly raised: the raw earth was covered with fresh cut turves: about it were planted fifteen spears.”
(LOTR, Book III, Chapter II, page 461)

Aragorn: A Hobbit lay here … and the other.

Aragorn: Tracks lead away from battle … into Fangorn Forest.

This is where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli encounter Gandalf the White.

“Aragorn looked and beheld a bent figure moving slowly. It was not far away. It looked like an old beggar-man, walking wearily, leaning on a rough staff. His head was bowed, and he did not look towards them. In other lands they would have greeted him with kind words; but now they stood silent, each feeling a strange expectancy: something was approaching that held a hidden power – or menace.”
(LOTR, Book III, Chapter V, page 513)