Photo of the week: Canaan Downs

Department of Conservation —  18/12/2013

Last week saw the theatrical release of the second instalment of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Filmed throughout New Zealand, these movies capture some of our most stunning landscapes.

Our photo of the week shows one of these landscapes: Canaan Downs, near the top of the Takaka Hill, in the Nelson region.

Canaan Downs, Golden Bay. Photo: Andy Maw (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Canaan Downs campsite is a popular place to stay in the area — perfect for a Hobbit holiday! It’s located near the entrances to a number of tracks in Abel Tasman National Park. Mountain biking, walking and tramping activities are all nearby.

This photo was taken by Andy Maw | CC BY-SA 2.0