New Zealand IS Middle Earth
Green velvet hills. Vast snow-capped mountain ranges that fade into purple mist at sunset. Lakes as deep as thought with silver surfaces reflecting wide skies, and forests as old as memory with their tall trees murmuring in the wind. Sun on clouds, mist rising on rivers, air so clear you can pick out the lichen on a rock at fifty paces. Cry of hawk scudding home. This is New Zealand. This is Middle Earth.
Ever since Peter Jackson made his astonishing film trilogy, this has become the place that millions recognize as the living reflection of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginary world. The vast, wild beauty of the landscape stars in the movies as much as it does in the books and has been billed by the New Zealand tourist officials as 'best supporting country'.
Middle Earth IS Red Carpet Tours
Many people have dreamed about Middle Earth. Red Carpet Tours can take you into the dream and it will become reality. Walk in the footsteps of Frodo and Sam from the lush green Shirelands into forests, across rivers and even to the twisted lava and ash fields of the Black Land itself. Along the way you'll easily recognize the sites of epic battles, and imagine you still hear the thudding of horses' hooves, the clash of swords.
Explore moss-shrouded forest glades surrounded by the snowcapped mountain peaks of the Southern Alps - or fly above them with the same people that flew the film crews over the Misty Mountains. Go whitewater rafting between the Pillars of the Argonath (chances are your guide there was once an orc!), and unwind later that evening in the same hotel where the stars stayed, swapping tales with a onetime Rider of Rohan.
Red Carpet Tours have been built for and by fans of The Lord of the Rings. We have unique access to privately owned property that was used in the filming of the trilogy. Our aim is to bring people from all over the world to experience the fellowship of a shared journey to the breathtaking landscapes we all know from the movies. Coming as strangers to this distant land, you will part as a band of companions who have shared a unique experience, exploring the length and breadth of the country that has become Middle Earth.
Life on the Tour
The tour is a great experience not only because of the natural beauties of the movie locations. You will also discover life in New Zealand. Safe, clean and incredibly entertaining.
Our chosen hotels include many where the stars stayed during filming and all have wonderful staff, clean comfortable rooms and some great buffets. New Zealand is justly famous for the pasture-fed beef and lamb which it exports to the world. You might try it out cooked at a traditional Maori 'hangi,' if you care to dive into the local culture. Or you can sample the various delicacies of Japanese, Chinese, and other Asiatic cuisines. Indulge yourself in the local fresh and abundant seafood specialties such as green-lipped mussels that can only be found in New Zealand. Take a shell home as a souvenir - if your pockets aren't already too full with smooth pebbles from the Great River or stones from the place where Edoras was built.
New Zealand's wine industry is the new kid on the block, producing wines that are a complement to any occasion. They're now even contending with France and Italy for world recognition. The beers are fantastic with over 60 breweries; try some on tap. In this land of dairy wealth cheeses abound, fresh or aged. Or you can try the wild, rich flavor of local honey. Did we mention coffee? New Zealand has re-defined the word! You'll know for yourself at your first good cup with a fernleaf delicately etched across the thick 'crema' on top. If you have a Hobbit's passion for fine eating, here is the cuisine to satisfy you, many and various.
If you are not in the mood for culinary adventures then go throw yourself off a bridge. Bungy jumping was invented here by A.J. Hackett at the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown. Go white water rafting or take a jet boat for the ride of your life. Just hang on for those 360 degree turns. Skydiving anyone?
Or just walk or take a hike. Watch the sun set in a glory of colour or watch it rise in the most delicate of hues. Take a deep breath. The air is free and as clean as can be. You can see the Southern Cross from here. Orion stands on his head.
Middle Earth comes alive
What can happen on the tour? Whatever you want to happen. Then again, New Zealand does tend to work its own magic on people. This comes from not only seeing but also physically experiencing the movie locations together, talking to people who worked on the films, and forming friendships with others on the tour. Then there is always that common denomitator here behind the scenes happily transcending time, place, language and race. The works of Prof. Tolkien.
Given the above, something incredible is bound to happen.
As a matter of fact, on the last tour to finish early in August, a group of five young people from various parts of the world had come together to form their own fellowship. What they had done and experienced during that time was so very special to them that they decided never to forget the moments they had shared. As a sign of this they all had the elvish symbol for 'five' tattooed on their bodies and then at the farewell dinner they presented their tattoos to the rest of the group. Everybody was just amazed. This act demonstrates the feeling of Fellowship that is created during the tours. Total strangers become friends. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from. You are a part of each other by the time you leave. The breaking of this Fellowship at tour's end is oftimes a very moving experience.
