Where Was ‘East of Eden’ Filmed? All About the Real-Life Locations

Netflix’s television adaptation of East of Eden bypassed its historical setting in the Salinas Valley of California because modern development and financial limitations made local production impractical. Instead, the miniseries was filmed across New Zealand, utilizing the pristine landscape of the South Island’s Hawkdun Range to replicate the expansive Trask family farm. Production designer Grant Major also leveraged the well-preserved Victorian architecture in the town of Oamaru to successfully substitute for early-twentieth-century California. Although certain adjustments were required, such as constructing the main farmhouse from scratch and building indoor sets in Auckland, the foreign location provided an ideal aesthetic backdrop. Ultimately, the international shooting experience left a lasting impression on the cast, with star Florence Pugh even considering relocating to the country permanently.

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