Where Was "East of Eden "Filmed? All About the Netflix Adaptation's Real-Life Locations

Netflix’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 East of Eden is set in California’s Salinas Valley, but the miniseries was shot more than 6,000 miles away in New Zealand. Creators and production teams pointed to two main constraints: modern development has changed how Salinas Valley looks, and budget realities made filming in the U.S. impractical. Showrunner Zoe Kazan said production began in October 2024, and director and production designer Grant Major described New Zealand’s South Island as offering mountains, snow, lakes, rivers, and “Victorian architecture” plus a wider set of period locations. Scenes for the town of Salinas were filmed in Oamaru’s historic district. The adaptation is based on Steinbeck’s family saga spanning early 20th-century farming and betrayal.