Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday and our latest Xena entry! In this month’s post, I’m sharing pictures from my March trip to New Zealand, where I visited a handful of the outdoor filming locations used by both Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. This post highlights a few individual locations (with my pictures) alongside notable scenes shot there.

The Sturges Lot

Sturges was the company’s backlot from 1995 until 1998-ish. There were castles and villages and footpaths — along with a lake (Panorama Lake) that’s still around. Today, the area is a housing development, but street names like Xena Way and Hercules Drive honor the site’s history.

Hercules, S03E14: “When A Man Loves A Woman”

Hercules, S03E15: “Judgment Day”

Xena, S03E03: “The Dirty Half Dozen”

Xena, S04E05: “A Good Day”

Bethells Beach

About 90% of all beach scenes were shot here at Bethells. The distinctive rock, black sand, and infamous cave (used as Callisto’s lair in “Return Of Callisto”) make it an unforgettable spot.

Hercules, S01E08: “The March To Freedom”

Hercules, S02E17: “The Apple”

Hercules, S02E22: “The Power”

Xena, S02E05: “Return Of Callisto”

Xena, S02E08: “Ten Little Warlords”

Xena, S02E11: “Here She Comes… Miss Amphipolis”

Xena, S02E12: “Destiny”

Xena, S02E19: “Ulysses”

Hercules, S04E02: “Hero’s Heart”

Hercules, S04E19: “War Wounds”

Xena, S03E19: “Tsunami”

Hercules, S05E03: “Resurrection”

Xena, S05E08: “Little Problems”

Xena, S05E22: “Motherhood”

Xena, S06E15: “To Helicon And Back”

Wainamu Dunes/Stream

Located near the beach, these gorgeous black sand dunes, with a little stream at the bottom, are some of the most breathtaking locations ever used. You’ll recognize lots of scenes here.

Hercules, S01E02: “Eye Of The Beholder”

Xena, S01E02: “Chariots Of War”

Xena, S01E22: “Callisto”

Hercules, S03E01: “Mercenary”

Xena, S02E05: “Return Of Callisto”

Xena, S03E04: “The Deliverer”

Hercules, S04E19: “War Wounds”

Xena, S03E21: “Sacrifice (I)”

Hercules, S05E01: “Faith”

Xena, S04E01: “Adventures In The Sin Trade (I)”

Hercules, S05E22: “Revelations”

Hercules, S06E08: “Full Circle”

Xena, S05E09: “Seeds Of Faith”

Xena, S05E13: “Eternal Bonds”

Xena, S06E15: “To Helicon And Back”

Wainamu Lake

Beyond the dunes rests a gorgeous hidden lake — the one from which Xena fished in “Fins, Femmes, And Gems” and went down to Hades in “Mortal Beloved.”

Xena, S01E16: “Mortal Beloved”

Hercules, S03E05: “Not Fade Away”

Xena, S03E18: “Fins, Femmes, And Gems”

Xena, S03E21: “Sacrifice (I)”

Hercules, S05E19: “Once Upon A Future King”

Hercules, S06E08: “Full Circle”

Maori Bay

This is a popular surf beach, so it was only used (to my knowledge) once — for the fake wagon crash sequence in Xena‘s “Looking Death In The Eye.”

Xena, S05E19: “Looking Death In The Eye”

Cable Road

Woodhill Forest, located near Moari Bay, is a location both shows used for many of their wooded scenes — lots of Amazon episodes were shot in this area. One particular trail, Cable Road, a path now overgrown and trodden mostly by horses, features several identifiable sights.

Xena, S04E02: “Adventures In The Sin Trade (II)”

Hercules, S05E14: “Just Passing Through”

Xena, S04E20: “Endgame”

Xena, S05E05: “Them Bones, Them Bones”

Xena, S06E01: “Coming Home”

Mangere Domain

Not far from Downtown Auckland is the gorgeous Mangere Domain, which has Mangere Mountain, a large volcanic cone with a series of accompanying craters. This awe-inspiring location looks more Greek than some others — and was used often in the early years.