The new adaptation of the celebrated John Steinbeck novel arriving on Netflix on October 1, 2026 is ready to carry viewers into early 20th‑century California, weaving together family rivalry, passionate loves, sweeping political upheavals and international conflicts, and, above all, the stubborn attempts by the characters to break free from a destiny that seems preordained.
The shooting locations chosen for East of Eden (the original title) were selected to recreate as faithfully as possible the spirit of the era and the major upheavals that swirl around and shape the lives of the protagonists. The result? They are anything but predictable.
What it’s about
Written by Zoe Kazan, the series follows the saga of two rival families—the Hamiltons and the Trasks. The seven episodes available on Netflix focus in particular on the brothers Adam and Charles Trask; their fraught relationship is intensified by the arrival in town of Cathy Ames, a captivating and enigmatic woman portrayed by Florence Pugh, who unsettles the already delicate family balance and sets off a sequence of events whose consequences ripple through the next two generations.
Directed by Garth Davis (for the first four episodes) and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (for the remaining three), the Netflix miniseries tackles universal themes such as love, jealousy, family bonds, and the eternal conflict between good and evil.
Where the series was filmed
The new Netflix series adapted from John Steinbeck’s novel is set in the Salinas Valley in California, spanning the late 1800s to the early 1900s. As the showrunner explained to Vanity Fair, however, filming in California would have been logistically and, above all, financially prohibitive: that’s why all the locations for East of Eden are in New Zealand.
Central Otago
The central Otago region was utilized, for instance, to recreate what were once the vast Californian valleys—the source of the title—and the more rural backdrops. Filming took place here particularly near the Oteake Conservation Park, a protected area spanning over 65,000 hectares, dominated by the flat-topped profiles of the Hawkdun Range, once inhabited by Indigenous peoples and later playing a central role in the late 19th‑century gold rush.
Ōamaru
In the Victorian quarter of Ōamaru, the Waitaki district hub famed for its blue penguins and steam trains, the majority of the city scenes were shot. Among the most recognizable locations are, besides the harbor, the station and the Ōamaru Steam and Rail depot.
Dunedin
Nearby Dunedin was also chosen to portray on screen the California of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thanks to its stone buildings and abundant Victorian architecture that evokes the era. Among the main sets, used for outdoor scenes and exteriors, is Queen’s Garden, one of the city’s oldest public parks. Filming also took place on streets and inside busy shopping districts. The most recognizable East of Eden location in Dunedin is undoubtedly the railway station: with its stone-rich façade, mosaic floors, and the surrounding manicured gardens, it is officially one of New Zealand’s most photographed attractions and frequently appears on screen.
North Island
Other locations for the Netflix series adaptation of Steinbeck’s work are found on the North Island. The tranquil seaside suburb of Devonport, in Auckland, served to recreate the beaches and coastline of California. Some scenes were shot in the picturesque center of Thames, where time seems to have stood still since the Gold Rush era.
