The Pelorus River was the filming location for the barrel rider scene in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It is located in the region of Marlborough on South Island, New Zealand. It is 25 miles long and flows from the Richmond Range into Pelorus Sound. Stephen Hunter, who played Bombur, said filming there was 'his favorite day on set'.[1]
It was originally called Te Hoeire by local Māori natives. It was changed to Pelorus when in 1838 Lieutenant Chetwode named both the river and the sound after his ship. In 2014 it was changed to Te Hoeire/Pelorus.
Between Blenheim and Nelson, where the Pelorus Bridge crosses the river, is a scenic reserve where tourists can walk, camp, swim, raft or kayak, et cetera.[2]