Harcourt Park
Isengard Gardens & the Orc Tree
ISENGARD GARDENS
The journey from Rivendell to Isengard, a daunting trek across rugged wild terrain spanning weeks, has been condensed to mere minutes in Upper Hutt. A serene enclave amidst the suburbs, Harcourt Park served as the backdrop for three distinct Isengard scenes. Nestled on Akatarawa Road, just off SH2 if returning from Kaitoke, the park is complemented by Harcourt Holiday Park accommodations conveniently located next door.
Within the park, an elevated portion was artfully transformed into the enchanting Isengard gardens. Here, Gandalf and Saruman's first meeting after the rediscovery of the ring in Hobbiton came to life. A leisurely stroll across a verdant lawn and a gentle ascent lead to a park bench at the summit. From this vantage point, you can glimpse two more filming sites, although little remains today to mark those spots.
During filming, this lawn was replaced with a gravel pathway, flanked by chain-link fences, effectively mirroring the entrance road to Isengard. After filming concluded, the pathway and fences vanished, and the lawn was reinstated. This act stands as a testament to the meticulous care and dedication of The Lord of the Rings crew.
THE ORC TREE
Harcourt Park harbors another fascinating feature: the iconic hinged trees of Isengard. In capturing the transformation of Saruman's sanctuary, scenes depicting trees being felled for fuel required multiple takes. To address this challenge, the set designers took an innovative approach. First, two trees were felled from a remote locale, then transported over 200 km (complete with their foliage) using numbered sections for reassembly.
Iron poles were driven into the ground after holes were dug, serving as anchors for the reassembled trees. Bolting all the branches together, they were effectively hinged and affixed to the iron poles. This engineering feat facilitated the trees' repeated "felling" and capture from diverse angles. Lacking sufficient leaves, a dedicated team spent two weeks affixing plastic foliage to the branches.
The outcome was nothing short of spectacular. Captured amidst the rain, the trees toppled on cue (after some initial hiccups). A week of filming yielded remarkable footage, digitally blended to portray Isengard's infamous transformation. Subsequently, the hinged trees were removed from the site.
Beyond its connections to The Lord of the Rings, Harcourt Park boasts an unrelated yet remarkable feature: one of New Zealand's finest examples of an earthquake fault line. The Wellington Fault traverses the park, marking the site of a significant 19th-century earthquake that uplifted the ground by around 5 meters and altered the course of the Hutt River. This fault, denoted by signage within the park and frequently visited by geology students, presents a captivating destination of its own merit.
The journey from Rivendell to Isengard, a daunting trek across rugged wild terrain spanning weeks, has been condensed to mere minutes in Upper Hutt. A serene enclave amidst the suburbs, Harcourt Park served as the backdrop for three distinct Isengard scenes. Nestled on Akatarawa Road, just off SH2 if returning from Kaitoke, the park is complemented by Harcourt Holiday Park accommodations conveniently located next door.
Within the park, an elevated portion was artfully transformed into the enchanting Isengard gardens. Here, Gandalf and Saruman's first meeting after the rediscovery of the ring in Hobbiton came to life. A leisurely stroll across a verdant lawn and a gentle ascent lead to a park bench at the summit. From this vantage point, you can glimpse two more filming sites, although little remains today to mark those spots.
During filming, this lawn was replaced with a gravel pathway, flanked by chain-link fences, effectively mirroring the entrance road to Isengard. After filming concluded, the pathway and fences vanished, and the lawn was reinstated. This act stands as a testament to the meticulous care and dedication of The Lord of the Rings crew.
THE ORC TREE
Harcourt Park harbors another fascinating feature: the iconic hinged trees of Isengard. In capturing the transformation of Saruman's sanctuary, scenes depicting trees being felled for fuel required multiple takes. To address this challenge, the set designers took an innovative approach. First, two trees were felled from a remote locale, then transported over 200 km (complete with their foliage) using numbered sections for reassembly.
Iron poles were driven into the ground after holes were dug, serving as anchors for the reassembled trees. Bolting all the branches together, they were effectively hinged and affixed to the iron poles. This engineering feat facilitated the trees' repeated "felling" and capture from diverse angles. Lacking sufficient leaves, a dedicated team spent two weeks affixing plastic foliage to the branches.
The outcome was nothing short of spectacular. Captured amidst the rain, the trees toppled on cue (after some initial hiccups). A week of filming yielded remarkable footage, digitally blended to portray Isengard's infamous transformation. Subsequently, the hinged trees were removed from the site.
Beyond its connections to The Lord of the Rings, Harcourt Park boasts an unrelated yet remarkable feature: one of New Zealand's finest examples of an earthquake fault line. The Wellington Fault traverses the park, marking the site of a significant 19th-century earthquake that uplifted the ground by around 5 meters and altered the course of the Hutt River. This fault, denoted by signage within the park and frequently visited by geology students, presents a captivating destination of its own merit.