Movies offer us the ability to escape, learn, relax, laugh,
cry and dream in addition to experiencing many more emotions, all in the space
of around two hours. They can inspire us with captivating scenery or even spark
our curiosity to see more. So much so that a holiday to a particular
destination from a movie, or book for that matter, can bring our conceptions to
life and make those dreams a reality. We take a look at some of the movies
which over time have inspired many to holiday at the iconic locations
themselves!
“Top End Wedding” – Darwin, Australia
This brilliant movie coupled with the outstanding scenery can
convert almost anyone to take a trip to the tropical Top End of the Northern
Territory. The magical and stunning Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge shines in this
movie as does the vastness and sheer majesty of Kakadu National Park. Follow in
the footsteps of Lauren and Ned around the Darwin Waterfront area, for
cosmopolitan cafes and the enticing wave pool, the Darwin Ski Club - for a
relaxing meal as you watch a spectacular sunset show and finally a boat trip
out to the beautiful Tiwi Islands.
“Eat, Pray, Love” – Bali, Indonesia
Based on the novel written by Elizabeth Gilbert, the movie
adaption starring Julia Roberts takes us to Italy then India and concludes in
tropical Bali, in particular the town of Ubud, in the uplands of the island. Lush
terraced rice paddies and divine temples dominate the scenery as the journey of
self discovery takes place with the help of traditional Balinese healing. Eat,
Pray, Love tours are available and include visits to the colourful Ubud market,
lunch in Café Wayan and sunset watching over the Indian Ocean at Padang Padang
Beach.
“Notting Hill” – London, England
Over 20 years ago this romcom movie hit our screens and many of us were introduced to this eclectic neighbourhood of London by Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Notting Hill was certainly put on the map and added to many travellers lists of places to see, and still is! Quaint book shops, cute antique shops, trendy restaurants and the famous Portobello Road Market are just some of the reasons tourists flock here year upon year. The Caribbean inspired Notting Hill Carnival, held annually in August, is another major drawcard for visitors as the area comes alive with performers, parades, Calypso music and plenty of food filling the streets. You can even embark on the Notting Hill Film Tour which includes several of the film locations including that iconic blue door plus many other interesting places and locations of other movies such as The Italian Job and Love Actually.
“Lord of the Rings” Trilogy – New Zealand
This just has to make the list for famous movie
destinations, with the entire trilogy filmed here. Experience ‘Middle Earth’ as
you tour the village of Hobbiton in the North Island town of Matamata or Mount
Victoria in Wellington for the Hobbiton Woods experience whereby the hobbits
hid in the forested areas. With many other movie locations to visit, a journey
through New Zealand’s epic countryside and vibrant cities promises to be one of
fresh new adventure and ticks off the bucket list!
“The Sound of Music” – Salzburg, Austria
This movie transcends through generations and that iconic
Austrian mountainside last scene is enough to make anyone want to be there, and
maybe even sing! With many of the scenes filmed in World Heritage-Listed
Salzburg, this city of culture, and birthplace of Mozart, will be sure to enthral
you with its interesting history, outstanding scenery, incredible apple
strudel, world renowned festivals and twinkling Christmas markets. There is
also talk of an actual “Sound of Music” museum to be built, but in the meantime
fans of the movie can enjoy the ‘Sound of Salzburg Dinner Show’ for a night of
live music including some of the favourite hits.
“A Star is Born” – Los Angeles, USA
For the ultimate movie inspired holiday, Los Angeles (LA) offers
hundreds of movie locations of every genre spanning over decades of cinematic
history. One of the more recent ones being the 2018 version of A Star is
Born, starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The Virgil, a bar on Santa
Monica Boulevard, features early on as the two leading characters meet,
followed by The Short Stop, on Sunset Boulevard. The Greek Theatre in Griffith Park
is the location for the most famous part of the movie, the ‘Shallow” duet, and
the amphitheatre is well worth a visit being one of America’s most beloved and
recognized outdoor entertainment venues home to performances by industry legends
since 1930. LA is certainly the home of everything ‘movies’ and even home to
many stars themselves.
“Out of Africa”, Kenya
Another successful film adaption from the novel by Karen
Blixen, Out of Africa was filmed on location in Kenya and showcases that
famous and breathtaking scenery of the Shaba National Game Reserve where many
of the outdoor scenes were filmed. The setting for the movie poster picture was
the spectacular Maasai Mara National Reserve, on the Kenya-Tanzania border,
with many camps here now offering that authentic safari experience surrounded
by striking beauty every where you turn. Ample photo storage is going to be a
must.
Image credit: Unsplash
