Lord of the Rings Back in Nelson
Brandon Sparrow

The multi-million-dollar film extravaganza Lord of the Rings is returning to Nelson to shoot scenes on a barren mountain-top in the Kahurangi National Park.

The company filming the $360 million trilogy has been looking for new locations after heavy snow put paid to filming in southern parts of the South Island.

Members of the Lord of the Rings cast include actors Cate Blanchett, Sir Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Liv Tyler and Elijah Wood.

The movie, based on JR Tolkien's classic trilogy of the same name, is being directed by New Zealander Peter Jackson.

The Department of Conservation's community relations officer in Nelson, Trish Grant, confirmed on Monday that the company had applied for a concession to operate in the national park.

It's understood the location to be used will be remote 1700m-high Mt Olympus in the Aorere Valley, near the northern end of the Heaphy Track.

The mountain currently has no snow on it.

Ms Grant said a DOC officer would be present during filming to monitor things, but there were no serious conservation concerns about the company using the site.

The film crew shot scenes further south in the national park, at Mt Owen, last November.

Golden Bay accommodation owners have signed confidentiality agreements with the film company.