- 1Wikipedia says X-Men Origins: Wolverine was mostly shot in Australia and New Zealand, that principal photography began in New Zealand in January 2008, and that most of the shooting was done at Fox Studios in Sydney.
- 2The New Zealand leg was reported in 2008 as covering the Queenstown area, the wider southern lakes and Dunedin, and the Otago Daily Times reported sets near Lake Mahinerangi and at Burnside in Dunedin.
- 3The Dominion Post reported before filming began that most filming would be at Glenorchy, but that was a pre-shoot report and the production would not confirm locations.
- 4A RealNZ blog names Stirling Falls and Deer Park Heights, and we found no second source for either, so treat them as unconfirmed.
01 / Short answer
Mostly Sydney, with a New Zealand leg that the reports place around Queenstown and Dunedin
The honest answer to where X-Men Origins: Wolverine was filmed is that most of the shooting was done at Fox Studios in Sydney, according to Wikipedia, with the New Zealand leg a smaller part. Wikipedia says the film was mostly shot in Australia and New Zealand, with Canada also serving as a location. It also says principal photography began in January 2008 in New Zealand, and that Dunedin was one of the selected locations. The New Zealand Herald reported on 24 January 2008 that the feature was being partially filmed around Queenstown, the wider southern lakes area and Dunedin, with about 250 people employed for the New Zealand leg. This guide is independent and not affiliated with the film or its makers.
02 / The 2008 reports
What the news reports of the time say
These are the main 2008 reports. The production would not confirm locations to reporters, so each point is the outlet's account, not an official list.
- New Zealand Herald, 24 January 2008
It said the feature was being partially filmed around Queenstown, the wider southern lakes area and Dunedin, that sets had been spotted going up, that the Herald understood the New Zealand shoot would take six to seven weeks, and that other parts were being made in Australia and New Orleans.
- The Dominion Post, 22 January 2008
It said a crew of more than 200 was being assembled in Queenstown and that most filming would be at Glenorchy (the report cited industry sources for the start date), with Dunedin locations to follow the next month. The report was written before filming began.
- Otago Daily Times, 13 February 2008
It said the movie was being filmed on sets near Lake Mahinerangi and at Burnside in Dunedin over the next two weeks, that filming had taken place in the Queenstown area since January and was expected to continue until April, and that the production publicist declined to confirm details of the Dunedin filming.
- Wikipedia
It says the second unit continued filming in New Zealand until 23 March, and that the Queenstown Lakes District Council disputed a decision to let the studio store explosives in the local ice skating rink, after which some explosives were moved elsewhere.
03 / By place
Place by place: what is reported and what is not
| Place | What the sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fox Studios, Sydney | Preliminary shooting took place there in late 2007, and most of the shooting was done there. | Wikipedia |
| Cockatoo Island, Sydney | Used for the villain's facility, because its large buildings saved the cost of digitally expanding a set. | Wikipedia |
| Queenstown area | Reported as part of the New Zealand leg from January 2008, with filming expected to continue until April. None of the reports below name exact sites. | New Zealand Herald; Otago Daily Times |
| Glenorchy | A pre-shoot report said most New Zealand filming would be here. We found no later news report confirming it; Wikipedia's Glenorchy page lists the film without a citation. | The Dominion Post |
| Lake Mahinerangi and Burnside, Dunedin | Reported as sets for about two weeks from mid February 2008, with outdoor filming over three nights understood to be planned at the old Milburn cement works site. | Otago Daily Times |
| Stirling Falls and Deer Park Heights | Named by a RealNZ blog, which says Deer Park Heights is private land that can be visited by buying a ticket for your vehicle. We found no second source for either. | RealNZ |
04 / Unconfirmed names
Unconfirmed names you may see elsewhere
Some travel sites list specific spots for this film. A RealNZ blog says the film shot in Otago and Milford Sound, and names Stirling Falls and Deer Park Heights as locations to visit. We could not find a second source that places the production at either one, and the 2008 news reports do not name them. A place named by only one commercial site is a lead worth checking, not a fact to plan a trip around. The Otago Daily Times also said a set called Cassidy's Bar is thought to have been built inside a shed at the old cement works, for a fight scene. The paper itself only says "thought to", so treat it as unconfirmed. No report we know of says any set remains, so do not count on seeing anything on the ground.
05 / Getting there
Getting to the places the reports name
Destination Queenstown gives the drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy as 45 kilometres and about 45 minutes, and Wikipedia describes Glenorchy as a small settlement at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, about 45 kilometres by road or boat from Queenstown. Wikipedia places Lake Mahinerangi 35 kilometres west of Dunedin. We found no source on public access to the Burnside site, so do not assume you can go there, and we found no source on access to Deer Park Heights beyond the RealNZ note that it is private land. Check any route with the landowner or local authority before you go.
06 / Before you go
A sensible way to use this guide
- 01Decide what you are after
If you want certainty about a screen location, this guide cannot give it, because the available reports name regions and a few places rather than exact sites.
- 02Treat Glenorchy as a scenic day, not a set visit
The Dominion Post report on Glenorchy was written before filming began. Glenorchy is worth visiting for the lake road and the scenery, whether or not a scene was shot there.
- 03Check conditions and access yourself
Road, weather and access conditions change, and private land stays private. Check with the landowner, the council or the operator before you travel.
- 04Use official sources for booking details
Where we link listings below, read the duration, inclusions and cancellation terms on the booking page.