Netflix’s ‘East of Eden’ Filming Locations in New Zealand Spark Fan Reactions

Steinbeck’s Salinas Valley is one of the most iconic landscapes in American literature, so it may come as a surprise to viewers that Netflix’s filming locations for ‘East of Eden’ are located on the other side of the globe. While the story is set in California’s Salinas Valley, the primary filming took place in Dunedin, Oamaru, and Auckland in New Zealand. This significant change raises eyebrows for a novel so closely tied to a specific place.

Fans eager to see the adaptation won’t have to wait much longer. Netflix has scheduled a premiere for the seven-part series on Thursday, October 1, featuring Florence Pugh in a leading role. Here’s a closer look at the filming locations and why they have sparked discussions among fans.

Filming commenced in New Zealand in mid-October and concluded by March of the following year, with Dunedin and Oamaru serving as key sites. Both locations are on the South Island and offer unique features that a Hollywood backlot struggles to replicate. The production team took full advantage of this authenticity.

Dunedin’s historic architecture, lush landscapes, and coastal views make it a fitting substitute for the early 20th-century Salinas Valley. One local storefront even received a makeover, transforming into the fictional ‘Costumers and Milliners’ shop featured in the series.

Oamaru stands out as a major highlight. The town’s Victorian Precinct was reimagined as early 1900s California during filming. According to the NZ Herald, locations manager Phil Turner described these sites as “incredibly unique locations,” noting that replicating the precinct would require building a set.

The production also ventured north, with a four-day shoot in Auckland’s Cheltenham at the end of February, following the work in Oamaru and Central Otago. This segment was filmed under the working title ‘Timshel,’ a reference to a significant theme from the novel.

The scale of the production was notable for a quiet suburban area, with up to 200 cast and crew members on set. Local streets were transformed to resemble California’s Salinas Valley in the early 1900s, with select houses painted in period-appropriate colors, including a notable villa built in 1906.

The street dressing extended beyond just paint. Parts of Cheltenham Road and nearby streets were covered in gravel, and vintage cars, horses, and extras in period costumes attracted crowds of onlookers. This attention to detail explains why the Auckland segment of the production became a hot topic among locals.

Residents were largely supportive of the project, praising the cast and crew for their creativity and communication. Not every production leaves such a positive impression.

The narrative of ‘East of Eden’ extends beyond California, encompassing parts of Massachusetts as well. This required the production to find landscapes and streets that could represent multiple time periods and locations.

New Zealand has a rich history of standing in for other worlds, with fans often enamored by locations like Matamata, Wellington, and the Putangirua Pinnacles from ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ Netflix’s series adds to a legacy of productions that have transformed Kiwi landscapes into entirely different settings.

The creative team behind the camera plays a crucial role as well. Garth Davis directed the first four episodes, while Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre took the helm for the final three. Pugh stars as Cathy, with Christopher Abbott portraying Adam and Mike Faist as Charles.

However, not all fans are pleased with the decision to film outside California. Some literature enthusiasts express frustration that a beloved California story was shot abroad, with one commenter noting it doesn’t feel like the same narrative. This reaction underscores the personal connection many readers have to Steinbeck’s setting.

This complaint is grounded in reality, as the novel is regarded as one of California’s defining literary works, intricately linked to the Salinas Valley and the state’s identity. The timing of the filming also raised eyebrows, as it wrapped in New Zealand before potential steep tariffs on films produced outside the U.S.

Additionally, there’s a family connection to consider. Zoe Kazan adapted the novel, which was previously made into a 1955 film directed by her grandfather, Elia Kazan. After witnessing Oamaru’s Victorian streets and Dunedin’s historic buildings stand in for Steinbeck’s California, do you think New Zealand captures the essence of the Trask family’s world, or does this story truly belong in the Golden State?