Paradise, New Zealand

Paradise valley, Otago painted by Brent Trolle

Paradise is a rural locality in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It lies on the eastern side of the Dart River / Te Awa Whakatipu at the head of Lake Wakatipu, close to the settlement of Glenorchy.^[1]

The surrounding area is used for sheep and cattle farming.^{[citation needed]} The locality has also been used as a setting in films and television.

Art, entertainment, and media

Films

• The locality was used during filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, wherein it represented Parth Galen and parts of Lothlórien, specifically the area which the Fellowship first enters.
• It was also used in The Hobbit trilogy, for scenes of the exterior of Beorn's house.

Television

• The locality was used as the setting for much of the BBC miniseries Top of the Lake, although filming of the latter took place in the nearby town of Glenorchy.^{[citation needed]}

Origin of the name

A.W. Reed recorded that the locality was first known as Paradise Flat, and that a popular (but not universally accepted) view attributes the name to an abundance of paradise shelducks.^[2] Another contention, supported by Alfred Duncan's article, "Paradise and the Maori" in the Lake Wakatip Mail, in 1860, suggests that the area was named because of its beauty.^[2]

References

1. "3 Most Photographed Lord of the Rings Locations". Pure Glenorchy Scenic Film Location & Lord of the Rings Tours. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
2. Reed, A. W. (1975). Place names of New Zealand. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed. ISBN 0-589-00933-8., pp. 319-320.

44°44′S 168°22′E