Bangkok--Oct 28--Tourism New Zealand
Loved by children of all ages for the past five decades, "The Chronicles of NARNIA: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" will definitely be loved by the readers and movie goers soon. The world of fauns, satyrs and centaurs in the novel created by English author CS Lewis in the early 1950s will soon become real, and you won't need a wardrobe to find it.
Three decades after his first read, New Zealand director Andrew Adamson has finally chosen his native country to be the location of the mythical land in Narnia. The movie is to be released in Thailand by Walt Disney Pictures Studio and distributed by Buena Vista International on 29 December 2005.
With its different characters, New Zealand will be the perfect location for the excitement and adventure of the new world, portrayed by Lewis. Although many scenes were filmed behind stage doors in Auckland, there are also a number of locations in New Zealand that have become part of the film.
The film portrays four London children who are sent to a professor’s country home in order for protection during World War II. There they find a magic wardrobe which leads to a mystical land called Narnia, which is being ruled by an evil witch. To defeat the Witch, they must join forces with Aslan, the lion God of Narnia, and the great battle between good and evil.
Some of the main shooting locations in New Zealand where Narnia fans can follow the characters’ footprints are:
The White Witch's Camp — or 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 traveling into the forest. The forest also has a network of mountain bike trails for riders of all levels.
The Great Battle — or 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. The actual area where filming was undertaken is on private land, but tours will be available from January 2006 with Canterbury Sightseeing.
Aslan's Camp — or 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 cafe 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 — or 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. Backpacker, motel and farmstay accommodation is available, so relax and enjoy this unspoilt part of New Zealand.
For more information, visit www.newzealand.com, www.lionwitchwardrobetours.co.nz
For media information please contact,
Voranan Chakamanon — 0 4088 9210
Suwarat Sajamark — 0 1848 1213
PR Consultant for Tourism New Zealand
Tel: 0 2978 6660, 0 2978 6719
Fax: 0 2978 6661
Email: trupr@asianet.co.th or [email protected]
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