LOTR Pillars of the Kings

After the beautiful view from the top of Cardrona Valley, we continued till the end of Cardrona Valley Road and then instead of tunring left towards Queenstown, turned right back towards Wanaka. But only for a few kilometres, because there the River Anduin flows through a deep rock chasm on which sides giant rock carven statues have been erected. The Argonath or the Pillars of the Kings.

River Anduin

The Birdge

Kawarau Bridge

There is a bridge conveniently erected over River Anduin granting an astounding view of the river. However the bridge itself is an attraction in itself, as it is the first place on earth where commercial Bungee Jumping took place:

Commercial bungee jumping began with the New Zealander, A J Hackett, who made his first jump from Auckland's Greenhithe Bridge in 1986. During the following years Hackett performed a number of jumps from bridges and other structures (including the Eiffel Tower), building public interest in the sport, and opening the world's first permanent commercial bungee site; the Kawarau Bridge Bungy at Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand. Hackett remains one of the largest commercial operators, with concerns in several countries.

The Argonath 

The bridge now also grants a view of river Anduin. The exact place where the Pillars of the Kings stood can be seen if you walk along the path next to the bridge till you reach Chard Farm Vineyard . They were digital models being placed at that spot after the filming, but you can easily see them in your mind when looking from the bridge.