Previous Comments

Country: USA
E-mail: hollynagata@aol.com

Comments: Well, I had to go back a second time! What a wonderful trip. Even though I had gone on a tour 2 years ago, this one was slightly different and I once again loved every minute of it and New Zealand. I think if you are considering this tour, don't think about it anymore, book it.

From: Catriona
Country: Scotland
E-mail: fotr2001@yahoo.co.uk

Comments: "The views continued to stun as rolling hill after rolling hill of the greenest green swept past. We had arrived at Hobbiton and Mother Nature, it seemed, had welcomed us with a wash day! She had scrubbed what few clouds there were pure white and fluffed them up, ironed the sky a smooth blue and freshened the grass with a new velvet spring green. Even the sheep and lambs looked like they had been shampooed and set for the occasion. And despite the fact that much of the set has gone, the Hobbit Holes are there, Bagend sits in all it's glory up on the hill, the Party Tree watches over, proud of the beauty that is The Shire." I went in October 2004 and it is still truly the most incredible thing I have ever done.

From: Lidia Summerflower
Country: Sweden
E-mail: lidia_summerflower@yahoo.com

Comments:

My dear fellowship,

We went there and back again. For me...life will never be the same. My heart is full of joy to have met such kind and loving people. I'm very proud and thankful to have been by your side during your precious moments and courageous times.

Momma and Poppa Ringers - Your passion for the stories and those that love them shines through ever so brightly. Day...night...rain or sunshine, nothing would ever stop you from taking us to higher grounds than we ever could imagine to be possible. We now see the world through diffrent eyes. You'll always have a special place in my heart.

Like branches of a tree we grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a special part of the other's.

Don't say, we have come now to the end. White shores are calling.You and I will meet again.

Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'

Your elven friend,
Lidia

From: Anrica Mills
Country: South Africa
E-mail: pendragon@dfx.co.za

Comments:  There is only one way to see Middle Earth and that is with RCT. I have just come back from the November '06 tour and it was the best experience ever! You meet the most wonderful people and to see the sites from the films is an experience you will never forget! Vic and Raewyn are the most professional tour guides I have ever met in all my travels.

From: Nick Roper

Comments:  I wanted to email you and say thanks for the wonderful November tour that we all just did together, it was an amazing experience that I will never forget, you truly made a rings fan dream come true.

Thanks once again.

From: Thomas Arlowe
Country: USA
E-mail: Crypt5126@aol.com

Comments:  This was the greatest journey of a lifetime. Vic and Raewyn were the greatest tour guides in the world. They treated us so well. Thanks Vic and Raewyn.

From: Rodney and Beth Horikawa
Country: USA
E-mail: horikawa@tds.net

Comments: We've been home from our November tour for six weeks and we're still adjusting. Our bodies are here in Wisconsin, USA, but our hearts are in Middle Earth with our November Fellowship and with Vic and Raewyn. What an astonishing adventure. It feels almost dreamlike and surreal, so our plan is to re-unite with our Fellowship and do it all again! :-) To say we recommend this trip is so totally understated. If you can do one adventure in your life, do this! Beth and Rodney

From: Florbela Pereira
Country: Portugal
E-mail: flor_pereira@hotmail.com

Comments:  Wow! I was on the March 2006 tour. This was a trip of a lifetime, a truly wonderful and magical experience. Thank you so much Vic,Raewyn and Erika, for just being who you are, and provide us with this amazing and unforgetable experience. wait for me, " the most second breakfasts" will be back.

From: Amanda Williams
Country: USA
E-mail: FancierOfHobbits@aol.com

Comments:  It's about time that I commented here! I was on the July 2005 tour last summer, and as the anniversary of my great adventure approaches, I can't stop thinking about what an amazing time I had in Middle-Earth. Nearly a year later, and I am still talking about the trip, still amazed by all the pictures that I still routinely look at, and still in touch with most of my tourmates. A Red Carpet Tour really is the experience of a lifetime, and it is something I will probably label "one of the best things I've ever done" forever. Anyone with the chance to go on this tour, I would say take it! You will not meet kinder, more knowledgeable and fun-loving people than Vic and Raewyn, and you will leave New Zealand with some lifelong friends, and some stories that you'll be telling until the day you die. I cannot express enough thanks to everyone involved on my tour, and I'm here to say that I WILL be making a return trip in the future! I can't wait to go back!

From: Gemma Kendrick
Country: England
E-mail: rivergemsa@yahoo.com

Comments:  Hi all, I was on the first tour for TTT premiere some years ago. It was the most wonderful trip I have ever had and one I will never forget. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to explore the most beautiful parts of a gorgeous country. Hi to all at red carpet, hope you are keeping well. All the best Gem x

From: Malin
Country: Sweden
E-mail: malinselaro@tele2.se

Comments:  I can only say WOOOOOW. Thank you soo mutch vic and raewyn for the best time of my life. I was on the okt-tour 2005 and I allready want to go back.

From: Jacqueline Peacock
Country: England
E-mail: peacockrm@aol.com

Comments:  A wonderful, magical experience - I am just back from the March 2006 tour and have a mind full of fantastic memories and an e-mail address book full of new friends. With Victor and Raewyn (2 of the nicest people you could hope to meet) to guide you you really do become a member of a very special fellowship. So if you're thinking of taking part, go ahead and have the experience of a lifeline. All age ranges take part - our group went from 66 to 17 - and had a great time. Anyone who wants to pick my brains is welcome to do so - I did the same before and got so much useful advice. I envy those who will follow me. Kia ora to you all, and huge thanks to Victor, Raewyn and all the wonderful people we met en route.

From: Anthony
Country: UK
E-mail: iamweaver2@tiscali.co.uk

Comments:  Wow! That's all I can say after returning from the March 06 tour! I cannot recommend this tour enough to anyone considering it. From Day 1 you truly realise you are in for a magical experience. I can't even name one single highlight as there were just so many. From Hobbiton, to Edoras, Chocolate Fish to Bubbling Mud! I'd like to thank Vic and Raewyn for truly providing the experience of a lifetime! I will be back!

From: Cerys Morey
Country: England
E-mail: meledhel2003@hotmail.com

Comments:  Wow, what can I say!! I went on the 2005 October Red Carpet Tour. Ever since the Fellowship of the Ring came out I swore to myself I would go to New Zealand. Being only 19, I was quite scared about venturing so far away from home, but I had nothing to worry about!! On arrival Vic, Raewen, and the kids, made me feel so welcome. They are an amazing team. Not forgetting Anwen and Gandalf on the south island, which added to an even more magical experience. The sights and sounds were exactly what I was looking for in my life. I also made some wonderful friends. I couldnt even try to put my Red Carpet Tour into words, but to this day it remains the best experience I've had. Thank you so much Vic, Raewen and Anwen for making my dreams come true. I can assure you, I will be back!

From: Vicki Keefer
Country: USA
E-mail: lvvince@netzero.net

Comments:  This was truly a trip of a lifetime! Can't tell you how much I wish I could come back to New Zealand. Vic and Raewyn were absolutely wonderful.

From: Sean and Diane Takaki
Country: USA
E-mail: jedichef@sbcglobal.net

Comments:  We recently returned from our 12 day tour of Middle Earth with Vic, Raewyn, and Anwen. We're still flying high on the memories and pictures. We couldn't have asked for a better honeymoon. I even got tattooed!

Thanks Vic, Raewyn, Anwen, Grandalf, and Mrs Grandalf! We'll be back, for sure.

From: Carol Reed
Country: USA (Arizona)
E-mail: kyrli@netzero.net

Comments:  I was on the December 2004 tour. When I returned (and still to this day) I describe it as "The Vacation of a Lifetime". New Zealand is beautiful beyond description. The staff of Red Carpet are all quite friendly and their knowledge of both their land and the movies is beyond compare. I made friends that I still keep in touch with and hope to remain friends with to the end of my days. We all spoke of a reunion tour and I hope we actually make that happen someday. Either way, I will be back!

From: Jacqueline Peacock
Country: England
E-mail: peacockrm@aol.com\

Comments:  Have been busy planning a trip to New Zealand, which started with an article in a movie magazine and escalated to an enormous number of e-mails to the Red Carpet crew, more patient and helpful replies from Raewyn than I can number, a booking for the March 2006 tour, a week and a bit planned in Australia (my daughter said that we couldn't go to NZ and not see Australia), and an extra week and a bit in South Island at the end. We are so looking forward to our time in both countries. I am also so grateful to all the Red Carpet oldhands who replied to my queries with help and advice, and each managed to give me at least one fresh piece of useful advice. I now feel that I have a whole crowd of new friends, many of whom I wil never see. Thank you all. Jacqueline

From: Avril Cambray
Country: Wales, UK
E-mail: avrilas@mirkwood.wanadoo.co.uk

Comments:  This has been a long time coming but I've been busy!! I was on the Nov 2004 tour and just had to add a comment here. I LOVED the tour, I can't wait to go back, I'm still thinking about it!! About 8 of us will return in 2008 (any suggested dates yet Vic??). Vic and Raewyn are two of the warmest, coolest people we met out there (and that says a lot - Kiwi's rule!) as too is Anwen and if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have known the joy of the Nevis (everyone here's so impressed!!). I also just had to mention Craig, whose local knowledge and banter was second to none and also Darren, the Maori who took us to the concert in Rotorua; what a nutter!! We had the best time and just had to say thanks - to you all, you know New Zealand and you know Tolkien - what a perfect combination!!!

From: Leah Sharp
Country: Australia
E-mail: leahsharp@bigpond.com.au

Comments:  This is the most fantastic tour i have ever been on, The people i met are amazing (and as big LOTR fans as myself) Vic and Raewyn (and Wayne) did everything to make our trip enjoyable and memorable nothing was too hard. The powderhorn Chateau is awesome (sorry bout the noise in the hallways guys but it was LOTR stars rooms) Fernside is beautiful plus all the extra "goodies" along the way.... Not to mention NZ hokey pokey icecream (Hi Elise) and i love Hobbiton!!!!!! I'll definately be back to do the South Island, Legolas and i enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and are the envy of all in our matching elven cloaks. See you all again soon Leah & Legolas

From: Josephine Huang
Country: Taiwan
E-mail: ariesjfh@pchome.com.tw

Comments:  I just came back from the July tour yesterday. Before this journey, I often felt lonely as a LOTR fan, because people surrounding me were not fascinated by LOTR that much. Now I know I'm not alone. I got companions, I viewed the locations, and I got wonderful life experience. Thanks Vic, Raewyn for creating this tour, and thanks the fellowship of this tour--Elise, Amanda, Kathy, Ned, Leah, Jacque, Lauren, Claire, and Sandra. Especially thanks for all the people we met during this journey--Chris, Daniel, Mike, Drek, Sue... Love all of you forever!

From: Diane Rooney
Country: San Francisco, CA USA
E-mail: dianeroone@aol.com
Date: 3 July 2005

Comments:  New Zealand is magical beyond belief. One of those places where the landscapes are so gorgeous you can't take a bad picture. And it really, really IS Middle Earth. Go, come back, watch the films again and you will have new insight and appreciation of how Tolkien's epic was brought to life. Red Carpet Tours offers small, friendly groups, great organization and service, and excellent guiding. But what really sets them apart are the special people you will meet who were involved with the film and whose lives have been changed by it - people like horse trainer Chris Rutten, calligrapher and mapmaker Daniel Reeve, the weavers at Stansborough Fibres, location book author Ian Brodie, and the many ranch owners whose property became Rohan or the Pellenor Fields. Other than lunch with Peter Jackson at the Chocolate Fish Cafe, this is about as up close and personal as it gets!

From: Holly Nagata
Country: USA
E-mail: hollynagata@aol.com
Date: 24 June 2005

Comments:  This was a trip of a lifetime. I look forward to the time that I may return to "Middle Earth" as it so sketched in my mind. Our May trip was great. So nice to get to know such wonderful people such as Vic & Raewyn, and Anwen. Also all who were on our tour who I still keep in contact with. Thank You!

From: Robin Horvath
E-mail: robin_horvath@hotmail.com
Date: 22 June 2005

Comments: I feel as if I have stepped out of a dream! Our two weeks in Middle Earth are still indescribable - the joy is too near (to paraphrase Legolas). Thank you so very, very much. Of all the wonders of New Zealand, the ones closest to my heart are Vic, Raewyn, Anwen (and Bryce).

From: George D (USA)
Date: 22 June 2005

Comments: The tour was an experience I will not soon forget. Even though I lived in New Zealand from '89 to'91, I saw places I never knew existed. And this tour does not just drive by the film sites so you can look out the coach windows to see them...you get to hike to locations and even ford a stream or three in the process! I want to thank Vic and Raewyn and Anwyn for a great tour that was over far too soon.

From: Christie A. Wood
E-mail: ArtGlassEnsemble@cs.com
Date: 19 June 2005

Comments: Thank you, Vic, Rae, Anwen and all the wonderful people behind the scenes at Red Carpet Tours for a magical tour! George and I cannot express how delighted we were with the entire tour! It went far beyound what either of us could have imagined. Most magical moments:

• Edoras!!! Gad. Fording the cold mountains streams and clambering up rocky hills in the mists and having those out-of-this-world mists evaporate to reviel the land of Rohan was pure magic.
• Hobbiton!!! What a way to start a tour! Close second to Edoras.
• The Orc Gully! George's favorite. Especially hiking up through the hoarfrost and climbing along the frozen creekbed and tussock. Listening to the wierd music of rocks singing when "skipped" across the frozen lake's surface.
• Chocolate Fish Cafe. Couldn't have happened anywhere but Wellington. Where else would a tour group from the USA run into Barry Osborne talking scripts with the author of "The Lovely Bones" ????

Thanks again for a lovely tour.

From: Graham Marriott and Nikki Caplin (UK)
Date: 20 May 2005

Comments: Just got back from the April Tour. Had an awesome time. Can't recommend It enough!! An excellent way to combine a tour of NZ with some Lord of the Rings sites.

From: Carol Allen
Date: 30 January 2005

Comments: I apologise for the delay in writing to say how much I enjoyed my LOTR tour in December. I had a wonderful time remembering that being an adult does not necessarily mean you are too old to play! Anwen was both an effiicient tour leader and a fun one as well. She also had a talent for seeking out the best of NZ food.When I first visited NZ in1972 it could not have then been described as a great destination for gourmet eating but the situation has changed dramatically. I teach in a college that specialises in the hospitality industry so know that the hotels and eateries we visited were of a very high standard. I especially loved Olivers! Thank you for organising such a greatholiday, is there any chance of an extended version taking in sites around Nelson? Also, does Red Carpet offer any other holiday packages?

Many of the people I have talked to are envious of my experiences and I have been happy to reccomend Red Carpet Tours to them.

From: Jill Scheppler
Date: 31 January 2005

Comments: To quote Sam, "Well, I'm back." Saying goodbye to New Zealand was nearly as hard for me as saying goodbye to Frodo was for Sam. I had the time of my life! I realize now that there are vacations and there are experiences that change your life. My tour of Middle Earth/New Zealand definitely qualifies as the latter. The physical challenges were tough, but with the help
of Fellowship 01/05, I met them all. By the time I reached the South Island I was seeking them out! I went horseback riding, jet boating, helicoptering, and paragliding!

Thank you so much for putting together the ultimate tour. As a Lord of the Rings fan, I couldn't be more satisfied. I loved every minute of it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

From: Louise Massie
Country: Scotland
email: frodobaggins_iz@hotmail.com

Comments:  I have just come back from the October tour and I had the best time of my life. Thankyou to Vic, Raewyn and Anwen for taking us to those magical locations and letting us see your beautiful country I will definately be coming back to live one day and to do more tours, and thankyou for making my holiday not just the best holiday ever but the best birthday ever aswell because not only did i get to meet Richard Taylor and go inside the Weta workshop, I also did the same bungy jump that Orlando Bloom did on my birthday and I also got his room at the powderhorn chateau so thankyou very much for that I really had a brilliant time on both islands. Thankyou Louise Massie

From: Amba and Stan Wade
Country: England, UK
email: amba.wade@bigfoot.com

Comments:  We have just got back home from the best holiday of our lives! What better way to spend our honeymoon than on a LOTR tour. You surpassed all our expectations! The tour was superb and we couldn't have asked for more! Not only were the locations themselves exciting to see, (and what an unexpected gift to be able to meet Richard Taylor and go inside Weta!) but you took such great care of us all the way through and gave us so much personal attention that we felt really special. We missed you a lot after we left! For us, our warmest memories of New Zealand will be bound up with Red Carpet Tours forever! We definitely intend to return to your magical country one day and hope we can meet you all again too. Love to Vic, Raewyn and Anwen and grateful thanks to you all for making this the holiday of a lifetime!

Amba and Stan

The Homecoming

With racing pulse and quickening pace
We boarded our chariot of fire
And sped through the heavens with increasing haste
Towards the land of our desire.

To peep in hobbit holes and seek out their land
To tarry in Middle Earth
With friends yet unknown, but close at hand
To share our joy and mirth.

We trod where elves are seldom found
Scaled mountains and forded streams
In search of the Golden Hall, now long laid down
In memories of waking dreams.

Did we meet Gandalf along the way
In secret valleys hidden from sight
O was it just a shadow we passed that day
A shimmering white vision fading from sight?

Have Elrond, Galadriel and Celeborn vanished
From this place without a trace or sound
Into a world long now since banished
From us, never once again to be found?

Too soon our journey's time was spent
As ripples upon a mere
But we have been blessed with memories lent
To us, to hold forever in our hearts clear.

Linda Tranfield
England

From: Tina Jones
Country: Germany (via Wales)
Email: nina_glyndwr@hotmail.com

Comments: Just picked up the last four sets of photos about two weeks ago - I think that took about four months from taking the photos to getting them all developed. In this way I was able to prolong the holiday as much as possible. I still can't quite believe that I was in New Zealand. It really was the holiday of a lifetime and the memories will last me a lifetime, too. Whenever I see the copy of the TV coverage of Premiere Day which Anwen made me I still get all excited and emotional. It was an incredible day. Even my students and my Danish teacher loved the photos I took and get excited all over again when they watch their DVDs of Lord of the Rings because they have now seen the photos of where the scenes were shot. So as you can see - the holiday has affected more than just me, the person who actually went on holiday. And from time to time, I make snaps of the photos using my webcam and send them off to other LOTR fans who enthuse about them too - and they also say they'd like to do the tour one day. Keep on feeding our dreams. Very best wishes.

From: Lill Ann J. Kvalvik
Country: Norway
Email: mellon_85@hotmail.com

Comments: Hi! I just wanted to say thank you (again) for the wonderful experience and journey I had on the Premiere tour in 2003. I never could have experienced NZ the way I did without you! I have never experienced anything of the like, and I have travelled a great deal in my lifetime. Keep up the wonderful work! You guys are awesome!

From: Michele
Country: United States
Email: FrodoAragornLegolas@msn.com

Comments: Hello, I was on the ROTK premiere tour in November 2003 and loved it so much I am returning again in November 2004. I would be glad to answer any questions you might have about packing, clothing, and other things of that nature. Make sure you get in shape - lots of walking and climbing! Well worth it.

Name: Tim Arlowe
Country: United States
Email: mailto:Avp512@aol.com

Comments: This adventure has given me many stories to tell to my friends and family.  The memories will always stay with me for the rest of my life. Vic and Raewyn were the greatest people that anyone can meet.

From: Linda & Nick Tranfield
Country: United Kingdom
email: ltranfield@wortleybyers.co.uk

Comments: Having just come back from the April tour with my son, aged 15, I would like to share with you my joy at not only being in such a fantastic place as New Zealand, but being able to share my love of Tolkien with the other members of my own "Fellowship" from Australia, USA, Belgium and ourselves from the UK. It was truly an awe inspiring journey, made even better by the attention to detail that Vic (on North Island) and Anwen (on South Island) gave to us, with their insight into the film sites, their knowledge of the country and their enthusism for the films. Thank you both.

For those of you with teenage children do not be put off coming. My son had a good a time as I did, perhaps even better being able to do the "Flying Fox" at Gravity Canyon - one of the highlights for him. Also being able to sleep in the same bedroom as used by Orlando Bloom at Ohakune! Lastly thank you to all my fellow April "Ringers". We have made lifelong friends all over the world. It was our great pleasure. The hotels were beyond expectation and the food to die for.

From: Robin
E-mail: robin_horvath@hotmail.com

Comments: As the credits of Fellowship of the Ring rolled up the screen, my husband whispered "I would really love to see those mountains with my own eyes" but I thought "How can it be possible?" How could we afford such a trip? How could we even find those places once we got there?

Red Carpet Tours was our Strider rising from the chimney corner. Not only do they know and include all the places we craved, they are insuring that we will see them in comfort and in the company of other "Ringers", and it costs less than a comparable period of time in Disney World (though the airfare will be considerably more, the distance from Maine to New Zealand being considerably greater than the distance from Maine to Florida!).

Moreover, Vic has made me feel like I am truly amongst friends, not just a "customer". He understands that those who seek "Middle Earth New Zealand" are looking for more than scenery. I am looking forward to meeting him and all of the people who make Red Carpet Tours possible - who are making my husband's dream a reality.