Remember the LotR movies, and the fever that they sparked off? That has made New Zealand, once a remote and shadowy realm on the other side of the globe, a familiar picture-postcard landscape as well as a popular holiday destination.

Who hasn’t at some point dreamed about running away to their favourite fantasy land? (I did, and indeed sometimes even now, I still do). And although in the literal sense a girly weekend in Westeros, complete with an obligatory shopping pilgrimage to several of Khaleesi Daenerys’ favourite boutiques may not be a possibility (sadly!), a girl still can dream of booking a well-deserved break to one of the destinations where GoT was filmed, as sheer ersatz escapism.

The Daily Telegraph has got a neat little guidebook, should we crave a slice of Westeros rather than pure and simple Ibiza. Apparently, Winterfell (which would be my personal must-visit location), is known in real life as Castle Ward in Belfast, Northern Ireland. And King’s Landing is really Malta…

Feeling inspired to book your next vacation? Read here.

About the Contributing Reporter: Olga A.
Hailing from the swirling mists of London, I am a freelance journalist in my free time, and a huge fan of J R Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” as well as an admirer of the “Game of Thrones,” a worshipper of H P Lovecraft, a follower of R. Howard, a Star Wars aficionado and an Ursula Le Guin enthusiast. My other favourite things include Middle Eastern dance (sometimes somewhat discourteously referred to as “belly” dancing), Yoga, sunsets over the dreaming spires of Oxford and plush owls. Oh, and green tea too.

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