Cathedral Cove and the Chronicles of Narnia.

This allows many sequences to be filmed on location. In other countries, the same sequence would have required to use a studio or a great deal of special effects. I attended a screening of the Chronicles of Narnia (the Prince Caspian) when I was living in Wellington. This heroic fantasy trilogy proved to be a worldwide success.

The New Zealand director Andrew Adamson naturally thought of his home country, to recreate the world imagined by C. S. Lewis.

At the very beginning of the film, the four heroes of the Pevensie family are transported into the world of Narnia.

Brothers and sisters are escaping the darkness of the London Underground, for an idyllic beach, near a gigantic arch carved in the rock.

My seatmate in cinema whispered these words: “It's Cathedral Cove!”.

New Zealand is the perfect setting for fantasy film shootings.

Perhaps this is due to its volcanic relief. Transcribed on the screen, the landscape is a character in itself.

If the beach in the film does indeed exist, I wondered if it would meet my expectations... The Production may have embellished reality with a lot of special effects! The only way to be sure is to go on location.

The gigantic limestone arch can't be reached by road.

There are several routes to reach the shore, where it is located. I opted for the hike, which starts from the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Arriving at the car park, early in the morning, I disturbed many Tuis (blue pigeons) sleeping on road signs.

The first observation deck allows to see the beach in the distance.

Even if the view is beautiful, the ark remains essentially hidden from here. But the beach is not so far and the hike is free, you only have to follow the path. It is announced forty minutes of walking in beautiful surroundings. However, I wonder who writes such information panels? In New Zealand, in most cases, one can often halve the travel time indicated.

It will take only 25 minutes to reach the beach of Mare's Leg Cove.

The path that leads to the beach is easy to follow, but hiking boots are required.

Do not follow my example and be careful! We are going to cross a field where sheeps have undermined the ground if you see what I mean...

We continue through a forest of pines and puriris which should delight you. With the morning dew there is a bewitching atmosphere.

One could almost expect to see an Elf from the “Lord of the Rings”, another famous movie filmed in the region.

The rest of the trail descends constantly, and the final step is a large wooden staircase. I love this type of construction!

Wooden stairs are still part of the forest. They blend into the vegetation, and even when we see them, they beautify the landscape. A thought for the film crew that has overcome this obstacle with the filming equipment!

The excitement is at its peak when reaching the shore. The first impression is fantastic!

The visit is even better during the early hours of the day: the rising sun creates a red glow on the limestone. The emerald ocean sparkles.

It is above all Cathedral Cove that catches the eye. With the Moeraki Boulders and the Pancake Rocks, this is one of the best geological curiosities of New Zealand.

Such a phenomenon is explained by a long erosion over thousands of years. Trees with bright-red leaves, the famous pohutukawas, grow at the top of the arch. You can cross it to reach the second beach, the very one that the film's heroes discover during their journey into the world of Narnia.

We must take off shoes before crossing barefoot in the water. Te Wanganui-A-Hei “the large bay of Hei”. This is the Maori name of Cathedral Cove and pronounced under the arch, it sounds like a magic spell. On the other side of the arch, we realize that we are all alone, just like in the movie.

We lay the first footprints on the fresh sand.

It is still early to go swimming like the heroes of the film. On the cliffs above the ocean, there is no castle, of course, as it is just a special effect.

The landscape fulfills my expectations and even exceeds them. Apart from the castle, the production of Narnia did not add anything to improve the beauty of the place. Upon my return, I found this quote from Anna Popplewell who plays the character of Susan Pevensie in the film:

I walk on the sand to a strange rock that throne in the middle of the beach

This majestic rock evokes the prow of a ship stranded on the beach, thousands years ago. Its base is dark and you feel small in front of it. Delicately carved by the wind, it bears the Maori name “Te Hoho” (the all mighty). A guardian who seems to guard the coast.

I stroll on the beach while drawing in the beautiful white sand. Drawings that will soon be erased by the tide, like thousands of others before them.

Suddenly I spot a blue penguin just in front of me. Probably as surprised as me, the cute animal attempts a comical escape toward the sea

Quietly, I return to the arch of Cathedral Cove. After all, we are not in the world of Narnia, but in a nature reserve.

A few yellow dots are approaching the shore. Until now, we had the whole sandy beach for ourselves, but it's time to share!

There are two guided tours in kayak each day. And the guides also bring cappuccinos and cookies for everyone. If you are not in a hurry, this is perhaps the best way to reach Cathedral Cove, especially when the weather is nice.

The kayak guided tour is a must, and this is indeed one of the best activities you may practice in New Zealand. This is an opportunity to explore the islands and sea caves before joining Cathedral Cove.

The only stage a little tricky is the boarding. Two passengers a kayak on this model, it is necessary that someone push at the beginning. But even beginners can succeed with the help of their guide.

Coming by kayak allows you to enjoy an unparalleled view of Cathedral Cove.

Otherwise you will need to reach a rock by swimming.

At 75 meters from the shore, it is an excellent platform to dive into the turquoise waters. In summer, the water temperature is just perfect to swim, especially after a hike.

Near the wooden staircase, a small waterfall falls from the cliff. The water is very fresh, but if you are brave enough, you may have a shower after swimming.

I planned the swimsuit, but not the snorkel and the palms. I hope you'll remember to bring them if you enjoy scuba. Going along the rocks, one can reach Gemstone Bay. An underwater trail was built surrounding fours floats with explanatory panels. Pink sea bream can be observed, and beautiful anemones, lobsters, and even stingrays!

It is an area protected by the Department of Conservation. You will find no shop on site, and that's a good decision. If you plan to stay and relax on the sand, do not forget your picnic and sunscreen! You will find a bit of shade under the trees that line the beach.

Gradually, the beach will begin to be more and more crowded. Other visitors arrive and discover the place with smiles on their faces.

It's time to leave, but I'm sure you will return one day by kayak.

To come to the beach, he had to go down constantly. Logically, the return in the opposite direction will be more difficult.

The viewpoints of the ocean and the beauty of the forest will keep you motivated. This is a great physical exercise, especially after so much time on the road in a car or camper-van.

Those who have more strength in the arms than in the legs will prefer to come by kayak. This is a great alternative, although it does not allow you to enjoy the beach as long as you may like because guided tours have a schedule to respect.

In summer, this little paradise on earth, tends to be crowded by tourists. Of course, you will enjoy the splendor of the arch and the singular beauty of the place. But you will lose the feeling of being at the end of the world. Another good reason to travel early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

The Chronicles of Narnia, as imagined by C. S. Lewis, is incarnated in New Zealand.

And the reality goes beyond fiction. A clear blue sky even improve the landscape, but cloudy skies should not dissuade you from coming.

We'll talk about cinema and New Zealand in a forthcoming article. You are probably aware thatPeter Jackson's Trilogies of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, were both filmed in the country. You are less likely to know that Tom Cruise's “Last Samurai” was recreated near Taranaki (a ski resort). The Mount Fuji that can be seen in the film is in fact a mountain of the North Island of New Zealand!

The beaches of "The Piano Lesson" by Jane Campion and the village of Hobbiton are both located on the North Island.

Meanwhile, the next wonder that I will show you is called Hot Water Beach. A name that should arouse your curiosity ... It is a few minutes by road from Cathedral Cove and a must-do.

On Kiwipal we will publish your best photos. So, you know what you have to do!

Our guide Ben Kiwi just join us and he is unbeatable about New Zealand. You have a question? He has the answer! He may be stubborn sometime, but he loves to help people to plan a trip to his country.