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| Where Was Netflix’s Apex Filmed? Inside the Wild Locations Behind Charlize Theron’s Survival Thriller. (Credits: Netflix) |
Netflix’s Apex does not waste time pretending to be a cosy studio-made thriller. The 2026 survival film throws viewers straight into cliffs, forests, rivers and rough terrain that look dangerous enough to make anyone reconsider weekend hiking plans.
Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton and Eric Bana, the film turns landscape into a major character, with vast wilderness locations doing half the dramatic work. If you watched and immediately searched “where was Apex filmed?”, you are very much not alone.
Not every filming location was publicly revealed while cameras were rolling, and that was likely deliberate. Big productions often keep certain spots quiet to avoid crowds, overexcited fans and people appearing in the background pretending to be casual walkers.
Ztill, enough details have emerged to map out the key places where Apex was brought to life, and some of them are absolutely worth adding to a travel wish list.
New South Wales, Australia served as the main production base, and it is easy to see why. The region offers dramatic coastlines, dense bushland, rugged cliffs and modern studio facilities in one package. It gave Apex the raw wilderness feel needed for Sasha’s desperate fight for survival.
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Reports also noted the production generated major local spending and jobs, proving once again that films bring glamour, chaos and temporary coffee shortages wherever they go.
Sydney became one of the central hubs for filming. While viewers may think only of the Opera House and harbour views, the city also provides access to rough natural landscapes just beyond the urban centre.
Production teams reportedly used Sydney for logistics, staging and nearby outdoor sequences. It is the sort of city where you can have breakfast in town and be dangling near a cliff by lunch, which sounds efficient if slightly stressful.
Royal National Park, near Sutherland in southern Sydney, reportedly hosted several forest and beach scenes. Known as one of the world’s oldest national parks, it offers bush tracks, sandstone cliffs and coastal lookouts.
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In Apex, it helps create the feeling that Sasha is miles away from help. For tourists, it is stunning. For movie characters being hunted, less ideal.
The Blue Mountains also feature heavily, bringing steep escarpments, waterfalls and cave systems to the screen. Located west of Sydney, the area is famous for dramatic scenery and eucalyptus haze.
Important cave scenes were reportedly shot in remote areas that required hiking and swimming access, with some equipment flown in by helicopter. In short, the cast went to work while most people complain about walking from the car park.
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Katoomba and Wentworth Falls are two related places travellers often pair with a Blue Mountains visit. Both offer lookouts, trails and waterfall scenery that match the same rugged atmosphere seen in the film. If you want the Apex vibe without being chased through the bush, start there.
Another striking backdrop came from Ginninderra Falls, in Wallaroo. The falls and surrounding countryside add a more isolated, raw visual style to Sasha’s escape sequences.
It is the kind of location that looks magical on screen and immediately reminds visitors to wear practical shoes rather than fashion trainers chosen through poor judgement.
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The production was also spotted around Glenbrook Gorge and Jellybean Pool, both popular nature spots in the lower Blue Mountains region.
These areas are known for rocky creeks, swimming holes and bush tracks. In the film, they help sell the harsh physical journey of survival. In real life, they are much better suited to a peaceful day trip than dramatic pursuit scenes.
Some controlled indoor work reportedly took place at Disney Studios Sydney in Moore Park. While wilderness shots grab attention, major productions still need sound stages for safer stunt setups, weather-proof scenes and technical sequences.
Movie magic often means one minute actors are in a remote gorge, the next they are inside a studio pretending to freeze while someone adjusts lighting.
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Outside Australia, Møre og Romsdal county, Norway handled additional filming. This western Norwegian region is famous for mountains, fjords and jaw-dropping natural drama.
If Australia gave Apex its survival core, Norway added a colder, sharper edge to the opening scenes. It looks spectacular, though not especially welcoming if you forgot gloves.
The standout Norwegian location was Troll Wall or Trollveggen, one of Europe’s tallest vertical rock faces. It appears near the beginning of the film and instantly sets the tone.
Sheer, intimidating and visually massive, it is exactly the sort of place directors choose when they want audiences to mutter, “Absolutely not.”
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Another destination is Åndalsnes, often called Norway’s outdoor adventure capital. Travellers visiting Troll Wall commonly stay there for hiking, scenic rail journeys and mountain views. It offers the same epic landscape energy, just with more cafés and fewer cinematic survival problems.
Fans online have reacted strongly to the locations, with many saying the scenery deserves top billing alongside the cast. Some praised how the natural backdrops made the tension feel real rather than computer-built.
Others joked that Apex works as a tourism advert disguised as a thriller. A few viewers admitted they wanted to visit these places right up until the first chase scene started.
Netizens were especially impressed by reports of Charlize Theron training in climbing and performing physically demanding scenes.
Meanwhile, Taron Egerton speaking openly about dealing with height fears earned praise from viewers who said it added authenticity to the performance. Nothing says commitment like hanging above the ground while trying to look calm for the camera.
So, where was Apex filmed? Mostly across the wild beauty of New South Wales, Australia, with extra high-impact sequences in Møre og Romsdal, Norway.
The result is a thriller that feels genuinely vast, dangerous and visually unforgettable. If you could visit one Apex location tomorrow, would you choose the cliffs of Norway or the forests of Australia?