Brief
Netflix’s ‘East of Eden’ filmed in New Zealand’s historic towns
Zoe Kazan’s series used Ōamaru’s limestone precinct and other South Island locations to recreate the novel’s setting.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Netflix’s seven‑part adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden was filmed in New Zealand, more than 6,000 miles from the California locations described in the novel, according to the Independent.
What happened
The production team chose the South Island town of Ōamaru in the Waitaki District of Otago as the primary backdrop. Ōamaru’s historic precinct retains late‑1800s limestone Victorian buildings, including Smiths Grain Store and The Criterion Hotel, which appear in the series. The town’s architecture and unspoiled landscape were selected to stand in for the Salinas Valley as it was known between the American Civil War and the end of the First World War.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that the series’ writer‑producer Zoe Kazan highlighted a “big influx of money because of a gold rush in the Victorian era in New Zealand,” which left a wealth of Victorian architecture intact. She said this made many locations available that would have been harder to find in the United States. The Waitaki tourism board has created a self‑guided walking tour of Ōamaru that lets visitors see the exact spots used in the show, including the interior of The Criterion Hotel, which still operates as a pub and hotel.
What was said
“The movie isn’t a super faithful adaptation of the small part of the book that it is adapting,” Kazan told Netflix’s Tudum, as reported by the Independent. She added, “What I felt was the whole epic story is an opportunity to explore, to fall in love with all these characters.”
How it came about
Earlier Felo News coverage documented the same filming locations, emphasizing Ōamaru’s Victorian precinct and the decision to film abroad to capture the novel’s pastoral feel. The series, starring Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames and featuring actors such as Mike Faist, Christopher Abbott and Ciarán Hinds, debuted on 1 October 2026.
Key facts
- Netflix’s East of Eden series was filmed in New Zealand, primarily in Ōamaru, Otago. (independent.co.uk)
- Ōamaru’s historic precinct retains late‑1800s limestone Victorian architecture used in the series. (independent.co.uk)
- Writer‑producer Zoe Kazan said the adaptation is not a super‑faithful version of the book. (independent.co.uk)
- The Waitaki tourism board offers a self‑guided walking tour of the town’s filming locations. (independent.co.uk)
- The series premiered on Netflix on 1 October 2026. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Where was East of Eden filmed? The New Zealand locations spotted in the film”
