16-day Lord of the Rings locations itinerary

Day by day

1. Day 1

   Auckland

   A private driver will meet you at the arrival gate at Auckland Airport for transfer and hotel check in.

   Stay: Grand Millennium Auckland (opens in a new tab)

   • Optional extraSky Tower
2. Day 2

   Rotorua

   Collect your car and drive south into the Waikato region (225 km, 140 miles, 3 hours). This area is famous for the Waitomo caves and the 'Hairy Feet Tour' where you'll get to see the actual locations shown in the first Hobbit Movie - a very authentic small group experience. If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, this is a must-do tour - the scenery is beautiful. In the afternoon continue travelling to Rotorua (140 km, 87 miles, 2 hours).

   Stay: Ngongotaha Lakeside Lodge (opens in a new tab)

   • HighlightHairy Feet (opens in a new tab)
3. Day 3

   Rotorua

   Rotorua is in the central North Island and is famous for bubbling mud pools and natural hot springs. Rotorua offers a spiritual journey into Maori culture with village and performance experiences. The Lord of the Rings Movie Set Tour is set on picturesque private farmland near Matamata, only an hours drive from Rotorua. The lush dairy farming landscape around the Waikato town of Matamata was used to portray the peaceful Shire region of Middle-earth.

4. Day 4

   Ohakune

   Travel south to the Tongariro National Park. On the way, visit some of New Zealand key thermal sites. Remember to stop at Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It's a reasonably short drive, but there is so much to see and do in this area.

   Stay: Manuka Lodge (opens in a new tab)

   • Optional extraOrakei Korako Geothermal Park & Cave (opens in a new tab)
   • Optional extraWai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
   • Optional extraWaimangu Volcanic Valley (opens in a new tab)
5. Day 5

   Ohakune

   Explore the Tongariro National Park today. In autumn 2000, the Tongariro National Park was home to the most sinister of the Lord of the Rings locations, Mordor, the stronghold of the dark Lord Sauron. Mordor, is actually the great volcanic plateau filled with geological wonders known as Gorgoroth. Much of Frodo and Sam's journey into the land of Sauron was filmed on and around the Tongariro National Park.

6. Day 6

   Wellington

   Travel further south via the Wanganui River region, Kapiti Coast and on to Wellington. Here you'll have two nights to explore the Wellington city and the surrounding areas. Wellington is home to the Weta Workshop, Weta Digital and the Miramar film empire which is central to The Hobbit Trilogy production. The movie business centre is off-limits to visitors, however Lord of the Rings fans can experience the Weta Cave.

   Stay: Novotel Wellington (opens in a new tab)

   • HighlightWellington
7. Day 7

   Wellington

   Join the Wellington Lord of the Rings Tour - a must-do for fans. Start with a visit to the lookout on Mount Victoria. Then visit the locations used in the Trilogy like the Outer Shire, Hobbiton Woods & Dunharrow. Drive out to the Hutt Valley to Kaitoke Regional park, the location of Rivendell. Along the way, visit Isengard, Fords of Isen and see where Helms Deep & Minas Tirith were filmed. This full day tour includes an Orc-sized picnic or cafe lunch plus a visit to the famous Weta Cave.

8. Day 8

   Abel Tasman National Park

   This morning, take the Interislander ferry to Picton on the South Island, arriving in the early afternoon. Continue travelling to Nelson, which is about 1.5 hours drive away. A good alternative route is via the Queen Charlotte Scenic Drive.

9. Day 9

   Abel Tasman National Park

   Nelson is home to Jens Hansen, the goldsmith that created the 40 different rings used in production. One of the original rings is on display and copies can be bought in 9 and 18ct gold. From Nelson drive west over Takaka Hill, the filming site for Chetwood Forest. Here the Ranger 'Strider' led the hobbits into the rough country east of Bree in an attempt to escape the Black Riders. You'll need to catch a helicopter to see where the fellowship hid from Saruman's black crows.

10. Day 10

    Christchurch

    Travel via the central island route to Christchurch, which takes about a 6 hours scenic drive. Alternatively you can take a domestic flight to save valuable time.

11. Day 11

    Christchurch

    Join the Lord of the Rings Tour from Christchurch and journey to another LOTR filming location - the remote and beautiful Mt Potts High Country station, home of Mt Sunday. See how this peaceful mountain was transformed into Edoras, the capital city of the Rohan people portrayed in the trilogy. Immerse yourself in the natural, unspoilt beauty of this breathtaking area with its sparkling clear lakes, glistening blue rivers and fresh, crisp mountain air.

    Stay: Eliza's Manor

    • HighlightLord
12. Day 12

    Queenstown

    Take the inland scenic route via Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook to Wanaka. This beautiful scenic drive will take about 6.5 hours. Near Twizel in the Mackenzie Country, Peter Jackson filmed the epic battle of the Pelennor Fields. Here, thousands of orcs bred by Sauron clashed with the men of Gondor and Rohan. The grassy fields that stretch to the foothills of the mountains look exactly as described in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

13. Day 13

    Queenstown

    The "southern lakes" region has key locations for the LOTR filming. From the village of Glenorchy, at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, you can see the north-western slopes of Mount Earnslaw, which featured in the opening sequence of The Two Towers. From Glenorchy, you'll also discover Lothlorien - the beech forest on the road to Paradise. Another memorable location is found near Queenstown at Arrowtown. Here you can walk to the Ford of Bruinen on the Arrow River.

14. Day 14

    Te Anau

    Drive via Queenstown to Te Anau next to the Fiordland National Park. The Waiau River between Te Anau and Manapouri represented the River Anduin as the Fellowship paddled south from Lothlórien. The surrounding high peaks were used to depict the rough country south of Rivendell. To discover Fanghorn Forest, ask for the directions to Takaro Road, which is near Te Anau.

15. Day 15

    Te Anau

    A 'must see' in the area is one of the fjords in the Fiordland National Park. Join a guided day tour from Manapouri into the Doubtful Sound. This fjord is also called the 'Sound of Silence' with an original landscape unchanged for millions of years.

    Stay: Dusky Ridges (opens in a new tab)

    • HighlightReal Journeys - Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise (opens in a new tab)
16. Day 16

    Southland

    Travel either the 'Southern Scenic Route' to Invercargill or back to Queenstown. Then fly out to Christchurch or Auckland and connect with your international flight. Also, you can extend your stay and add another location into your itinerary.

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