This month marks the one-year anniversary of the release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the latest chapter in the legendary sci-fi franchise. The film captivated audiences and much of that cinematic magic was made right here in New South Wales (NSW). The film also earned an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, recognising the extraordinary work of the VFX team who not only brought the Apes to life, but also detailed the films post-apocalyptic world, from vast overgrown cities to sweeping, digitally enhanced landscapes.

Disney Studios Australia was proud to serve as the production’s home base. With state-of-the-art sound stages, workshops, and back-of-house facilities, the studio provided a versatile foundation for the film’s production needs. A fun behind-the-scenes detail: one of our very own workshops was transformed into a film set, appearing on-screen as an abandoned school, a perfect fit for the production’s post-apocalyptic environments.

And Apes wasn’t confined to the studio lot. The filmmakers took full advantage of New South Wales’ incredibly diverse and other-worldly landscapes to bring their vision to life. A number of iconic locations played a pivotal role in the storytelling.

Helensburgh, located 45 km (28 miles) south of Disney Studios Australia, was used for its abandoned train tunnel that provided a backdrop that fit the movie’s desolate tone and the sense of a world long abandoned by civilisation. Yellow Rock, located near Wollongong on the NSW South Coast, only 100 km (60 miles) from the studio lot, was the ideal location for the eagle clan village, with sets constructed to bring the apes’ home to life against a backdrop of dense bushland and dramatic cliffs.

Moore Park, home to Disney Studios, contributed to the film’s visual richness; the surrounding 360 hectares (890 acres) of film friendly urban parklands were used for various location shoots, allowing the production to capture a wide range of environments without venturing far from its central hub.

Sydney is also home to a key backlot, the former Sydney Water Reservoir at Potts Hill. Located 15 kilometers (9 miles) south-west of the city, the reservoir site was used to construct a large tank for the productions water scenes.

The use of studio facilities and locations is a testament to Disney Studios and New South Wales’ reputation as a world-class filming destination.