8 Day Lord of The Rings Tour

Lord of The Rings Tour

9 Day Small Group Premium Lord of The Rings Tour

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 - Auckland Arrival

Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will be holding a signboard with your name on it and will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day is free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you this evening for a tour briefing, followed by an optional dinner.

Stay - Airedale Boutique Suites or Similar (4 star)

Airport Transfers Included - Auckland Airport to Auckland City

Day 2 - Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton

250km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you farewell the ‘City of Sails’ and head south to Rotorua; a hot spot for Māori culture and geothermal activity. En route you will visit Hobbiton and The Shire’s Rest, the only remaining film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. You'll also enjoy a buffet style feast in the festive marquee next to the Green Dragon! 

Arrive in Rotorua in the late afternoon and perhaps explore Kuirau Park mud pool reserve and view the stunning government gardens and lakefront.

Stay - Regent of Rotorua (5-star hotel)

Experience - Hobbiton 2 Hour Guided Tour + Lunch (Festive Feast)

Breakfast & Lunch Included Today

Day 3 - Rotorua

This morning is free for you to explore Rotorua. Options include: 

-A restorative Journey at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa

-A scenic flight (helicopter or seaplane) to White Island or a landing on Mt. Tarawera 

-Rotorua Canopy Tours zipline through ancient native forest

-Agrodrome farm show + farm tour

-Skyline Rotorua Gondola & Luge

In the afternoon you will enjoy a scenic drive out to Lake Tarawera and the Blue and Green Lakes, taking in the volcanic wonders of the area. 

Following this, walk high up in the treetops of the Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest. Floating between 9-20 metres above the forest floor, this award-winning, eco-tourism walk is 700 metres long, spans across 28 suspension bridges and 27 platforms and takes about 40 minutes to complete.

This afternoon you will enjoy a guided walk around Te Puia where you will experience mud pools and geysers and visit the Māori Weaving School and Kiwi House. This is a chance to see our national bird up close. Following this, you will enjoy a Hangi (ground cooked traditional meal) and cultural performance which tells the stories of Aotearoa's native Māori people.

Stay - Regent of Rotorua (5-star hotel)

Experience - Redwoods Treewalk, Te Puia Te Pō Combo

Breakfast & Dinner Included Today

Day 4 - Rotorua to River Valley Lodge

242km, 3 hours driving

Your first stop for the day is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland- a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will visit New Zealand’s largest thermal mud pool, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours (included activity). 

Heading south and stopping at the mighty Huka Falls en route, you will reach Lake Taupō, New Zealand’s largest lake. You will wind your way south along Lake Taupō to the beautiful River Valley via the Tongariro National Park.  

Arrive in Tongariro National Park, where you may wish to enjoy a scenic hike. The Tongariro Natinal Park features the mighty Mount Doom (Mount Ngauruhoe) and many other LOTR filming locations. One of The Road Trip’s favourite hikes is 2 hours long featuring native bush, volcanic views and stunning waterfalls. In clear weather there is a great opportunity to spot 3 of New Zealand’s most active volcanoes - Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngaurauhoe (Mount Doom).

There will be plenty of time to explore LOTR filming locations today before continuing on to River Valley Loge, deep in the wilderness of the central North Island, on the banks of the Rangitikei River, which was one of four rivers used to portray River Anduin in The Lord of the Rings. Enjoy a complimentary dinner at the lodge tonight.

Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that can be visited today:

Mount Doom

Emyn Muil

Last Alliance Battle/Mordor

Gollum's Pool

Experience - River Valley Lodge Deluxe Rooms or Similar, Wai O Tapu Thermal Wonderland Entry (Includes Lady Knox Geyser Eruption)

Breakfast & Dinner Included Today

Day 5 - River Valley Lodge Scenic Rafting Trip

Today you will be taken on a full day scenic rafting trip down the Rangitikei River (grade 3 maximum rapids) which will see you drifting through dramatic landscapes which portrayed the stunning “River Anduin.” in the Lord of the Rings. This is not specifically a Lord of the Rings tour but is on the same river which filming was undertaken on and the scenery is breath-taking! This evening you will be staying overnight at River Valley Lodge. Enjoy a complimentary dinner at the lodge tonight. 

If rafting isn't your thing, you can instead explore River Valley by e-bike or horseback! We can provide several options.

Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that will be visited today:

River Anduin (Rangitikei River - one of several rivers used for filming)

Experience - River Valley Lodge Deluxe Rooms or Similar, River Valley Lodge Full Day Scenic Rafting Trip (Maximum Grade 3 Rapids)

Breakfast & Dinner Included Today

Day 6 - River Valley Lodge to Wellington via Putangirua Pinnacles - "Paths of the Dead"

307km, 4 hours 10 minutes driving

You will leave River Valley Lodge and head for Taihape - The gumboot throwing capital of the world! Give gumboot throwing a go at their specially designed gumboot throwing lane! Further down the road you will enjoy the picturesque drive through Martinborough and neighbouring towns in the Wairarapa, famous for it's wine production. Perhaps pop in to Poppie's for a delightful wine tasting! 

Next up, drive out to the Putangirua Pinnacles; a stunning yet unusual canyon like landscape surrounded by tall, thin pinnacle rock formations. Walk straight through the Pinnacles or take the walk up to the lookout and view this bizarre but beautiful landscape from above. These impressive weathered pillars of rock were used in the scenes for Dimholt Road where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli search for the Army of the Undead in The Return of the King. Heading over the Remutaka Ranges, you arrive in Wellington in the afternoon to discover New Zealand’s capital city where you can explore some LOTR filming sites on your own.

Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that can be visited today:

Paths of the Dead 

Nazgul Hobbits Tree

Frodo Reading Tree

Dunharrow

Stay - Bolton Hotel (5-star hotel)

Breakfast Included Today

Day 7 - Wellington Lord of the Rings Full Day Tour

Today you will be taken on a full day Lord of the Rings tour to see many filming locations in the greater Wellington area! Sites today include Dunharrow, the Outer Shire, parts of the Hutt River used to also portray The River Anduin, the Gardens of Isengard and the glorious Rivendell! You will also see where Helms Deep and Minas Tirith were filmed. Today’s tour also includes a tour through the Weta Cave at Weta Workshop where post production for LOTR and The Hobbit trilogies was completed.

Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that will be visited today:

• Rivendell

• Isengard Gardens

• Dunharrow

• The Outer Shire

• Helms Deep

• Minas Tirith

Stay - Bolton Hotel (5-star hotel)

Experience - Wētā Workshop Experience (90 Minutes)

Breakfast Included Today

Day 8 - Wellington Departure Day

Today you will transfer to Wellington Airport. We trust you have had a fantastic time in our beautiful country and wish you safe travels to your next destination.

Airport Transfer - Wellington City to Airport

Breakfast Included Today

No onward flights are included in this quote.