The film "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" was filmed in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Filming Locations:

River

In the Movie

The scene where the hobbits, after meeting the Elvenking Thranduil, escape from his captivity. To escape, they decide to hide in wine barrels and float down a mountain river.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the Te Hoiere River, which flows through the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve on the South Island of New Zealand. The river was chosen for its picturesque views, rocky banks, and quite turbulent current; these details match the description of the river in the book.