SAMPLE  RED CARPET TOURS 12 DAY CLASSIC  LOTR/HOBBIT  TOUR  ITINERARY.

 The following is a sample itinerary only, representing a typical monthly tour. 

Details may vary from month to month according to availability of key people, places and accommodation.  Final itineraries are confirmed and emailed 4 weeks prior.

"It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to."

DAY 1 ~  ARRIVAL DAY  in Auckland:

You are met on arrival at Auckland as arranged and transferred to your hotel, in preparation for the start of the tour. This evening we meet at 6-30 p.m. as a 'fellowship',  have a meal together locally (cost not included) and prepare for our early start tomorrow.  Accommodation:  Spencer on Byron Hotel.   Ph: 09 916 6111.

DAY 2  : (Breakfast included Day 2 to 11.)

Auckland to Rotorua via HOBBITON !   Be ready to depart at 8.00 a.m.  We take a 2 hour drive south of Auckland, through rolling farmland and small towns.  Hobbiton is situated on a working sheep farm - you will recognise the Shire immediately !  Rebuilding is now finished in preparation for filming 'The Hobbit'.  It's a great start to our tour of Middle-earth,  so let it enchant you !  Visit Bag End.  Take a stroll through Bagshot Row.  Take photos beneath the Party Tree where Bilbo celebrated his 111th Birthday  and the Hobbits set off fireworks !    Enjoy the many stories from your experienced guide - and why not have a dance on the  party field !! 

We return to the 'Shire's Rest' for lunch at the farm.

Later today, in Rotorua, we'll show you some geothermal activity and suggest optional activities ~ such as a riding a Zorb and / or enjoying a relaxing soak in a hot mineral Polynesian Spa Pool.  This evening, it's your chance to experience traditional Maori Culture at it's very best, with a Maori concert and  Hangi meal at Mitai Village. This is also an opportunity to see live Kiwi birds.

Overnight - The Millennium Hotel, Rotorua.

DAY 3 :  

From Rotorua to Ohakune today, via  bubbling mud pools and to where a segment of 'Hobbit'  filming has happened at Aratiatia Rapids.  Next, we' ll view the beautiful Huka Waterfalls at Lake Taupo.   Taupo is our stop for 'Second Breakfast'  and we' ll stop again to check out floating rocks on the lakeside, on our way to  Mt. Ruapehu. The sites of Mordor, Emyn Muil and Mt Doom are here. ( "I will take the ring to Mordor." )  You will see the spot where Sam and Frodo were lost amid volcanic lava flows and where they first met Gollum. ( Conditions on the mountain can occasionally restrict us, but hopefully 'not this day' ! )  Later we'll visit Gollum's fishing pool, where Andy Serkis was careful not to plunge over the waterfall !

Accommodation tonight - The Powderhorn Chateau ~ where the Stars stayed. 

DAY 4 :

Ohakune to Wellington. via a 'River Anduin' site, where there's  optional extra Flying Fox / Bungy / Canyon Swing activities for the mad and daring  ~  great viewing for the  rest of us !    Then it's onwards to Wellington City. Dinner tonight ? We've reserved a table at  "The Green Parrot" Restaurant - just because it's  a favourite of Viggo's !   Accommodation next 2 nights : The Amora Hotel, in Wellington. 

 DAY 5 : 

Be sure to have camera batteries fully charged today !!

At 8-30 a.m. we head out of town to check out the sites of Helm's Deep & Minis Tirith and  then the Gardens of Isengard.  We'll drive over the Rimutaka Hills, (weather permitting), to the township of Featherston, to visit the tranquil Leaving Lothlorien  site ~  "The heart of Elvendom on Earth." ~  and  where Smeagol strangled Deagol  !!  We retrace our steps and have lunch at the Kaitoke Cafe followed by a stop  to see the site of Rivendell.

If the Elven Cloak Factory is open for business, we will make a call in there on our way back into the city.

Dinner tonight ?  'Strawberry Fare' , a restaurant near the Embassy Theatre, where the ROTK Premiere was held  or the Roxy -  PJ's /Richard Taylor's latest acquisition ? 

DAY 6 : 

First on the programme today is the  "I think we should get off the road"  site  on Mt Victoria,  followed by a drive through "Wellywood!",  past Peter Jackson's studios in Stone Street and Park Rd,  and a stop off at Weta Workshop's  new 'Weta Cave'.  Time for souvenirs and viewing their  DVD ! By now you will be ready for lunch and the Roxy  might be an interesting choice - you never know who you might see there.

If we have time to spare before our flight south, we can spend some time at Te Papa Museum - highly recommended - before heading to the airport. 

At around 3 p.m. it's time to say goodbye to the North Island  and to those who are leaving 'the fellowship' in Wellington.    At 4 p.m. we fly out ( 45 minutes) to Christchurch in the South Island. 

Our North Island adventure concludes. Our South Island adventure begins !

Accommodation: The Lodge on Chertsey,  Methven.

DAY 7:

It's time to head for the site and magnificence that is ' EDORAS ' !

We buy a picnic lunch  before heading into this remote area.  We have three streams to cross on our way to the summit,  so for this adventure it will be useful to have a small backpack, with shorts or trousers that roll up to the knees,  a hand towel, sturdy footwear and a pair of aqua shoes that will grip on river stones. (No need to buy these - we have supplies donated from previous fellowships.)

Later we view the beautiful, mountain fed lakes - Tekapo and  Pukaki  and see N.Z's highest Mountain - Mt. Cook,  which is over 12,000 ft  high. 

Accommodation: Twizel's  McKenzie Country Inn. Ph: 03 435 0869. (A Buffet Dinner is included tonight.) This is a great place to study the night sky - have you seen the Southern Cross ?

DAY 8 :

We depart at around 9-00 a.m. for the Pelennor Fields ~ an area that once rang to the thunderous sound of 250 horses on the charge, as King Theoden's battle speech roused men to battle. 

Moving on, we'll take a 'Second Breakfast' break at Omarama,  marvel at the stark beauty of Lindis Pass,  check out the site of The Great Chase ~  and then go to scenic Lake Wanaka for lunch !   

After lunch it's time to try your archery skills - perhaps we have a budding Legolas amongst us ? 

We will also make a stop at Mrs Jones's excellent Fruit Stall. Does anyone fancy  an icecream  with pureed fresh berries ?

Overnight - Cromwell. The Golden Gate Lodge. Ph: 03 445 1777.

DAY 9 :

Another 'adventure day'.  We head out past Alexandra this morning, to the stark landscape of Poolburn and where the Rohan village was burned. "What business does an Elf, a Man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark ?"

We will find the canyon where the leaf brooch was dropped.    "Dwarves can be dangerous over short distances .!" "

After lunch (at Mt Difficulty Winery perhaps ?)  we head into Queenstown, where the remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore  ~  and/or do some optional activities.   Anyone for a Bungy Jump  or a helicopter ride to the Ford of Bruinen ??  Vic & Raewyn will discuss options with you.

Overnight - The Novotel Lakeside Hotel.  Ph: 03 442 7750

DAY 10 :  

Snow levels  permitting,  we take a picnic lunch to the  Mavora Lakes today as we visit:   Fangorn Forest, the Orc funeral pyre, the swing bridge at the Silverlode River,  the log which concealed Merry & Pippin before Frodo left the fellowship,  and the lakeside where Sam and Frodo paddled away on the next stage of their journey.  Stunning scenery !  "The forest is old, very old, and full of memory."

Later you may like to take a jet boat ride down the River Anduin ( 3 LOTR sites) and / or take a helicopter ride over the dead marshes  to P.J.'s favourite location.    There is also a Glow Worm Caves tour available this evening.

Overnight at the Luxmore Distinction Hotel in Te Anau. Ph: 249 7526

  "Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here."

DAY 11 :

You have the option of joining a coach & cruise trip to Milford Sound today  and catching up with the group in Queenstown this evening.   Vic & Raewyn  can advise you about this  -   OR -   alternatively,   on our way out of Te Anau we' ll stop briefly to show you some native birds ~  Takahe (thought to be extinct until recently),  Kea (clever mountain parrots)  and Native Wood Pigeon  and then we head to  Arrowtown  for lunch  ~ a charming old settlement, historically significant in the gold rush days of the 1860s.  It's also the location where Isildur was attacked by Orcs at Gladden Fields.

We arrive back in Queenstown  early afternoon.  You' ll  have time to pursue activities such as :

+Take a helicopter flight to the Ford of Bruinen. 

+ Perhaps a cruise  on Lake Wakatipu.

+ Or some retail therapy ~ shopping in Queenstown.

*Accommodation for these last 2 nights:  Novotel Lakeside Hotel, Queenstown,

Room Only this time - your chance to sample the many Cafes (within easy walking distance) e.g. 'Halos',  'Flavours',  'Patagonia', 'Joe's Garage'.... to fit in with your planned optional activity times."They do know about Second Breakfast don't they Merry ?"

DAY 12 :

The last day of our "Fellowship" so devote today to further optional activities and last minute shopping.  How about:

• Horse trekking with Dart Stables ? They still have some movie horses.

• A 4-wheel drive in Lothlorien country.

• A guided walk ~ or a day's hike ?

• A hot air balloon ride ?

• A Jet boat ride or Bungy jump  ?

• Para-sailing ? Para-gliding ?  White water rafting  ? Maybe trout fishing ?

The list ' goes ever on ' ......... Vic and Raewyn will discuss the many options available with you and assist or advise with bookings.

Tonight, we meet in the hotel lobby at 7-30 p.m., to ride the Skyline Gondola up for our Farewell Dinner at the Skyline Restaurant ( included in tour costs).

DAY  13  ~  DEPARTURE DAY :

Alas ~  the  fellowship is breaking up ~  your journey through Middle-earth with Red  Carpet Tours, is at an end.  We thank you for traveling with us  .....  there and back again.

Haere ra  ~  Good-bye from us all at Red Carpet Tours.

Vic & Raewyn and Julie James,

Red Carpet Tours.

Email <victorj@ihug.co.nz>

Web site <www.redcarpet-tours.com>

Ph: +64 9 410 6561  Fax:  +64 9 410 6591

Mobile: +64 21 964 398  or  +64 21 598 918.

P.O. Box 100-680, N.S.M.C.,  Auckland 0745,

New Zealand.

Check out our tour reviews on the Rankers site

http://www.rankers.co.nz/experiences/94-Red_Carpet_Tours

Award Winner - Bus and Van Tours - Auckland Region.

Nationwide Finalist.

2012 Tour Prices      

SUMMER RATES:  1st January to 31st March and 30th September to 28th December
WINTER RATES: 1st April to 30th September

Full Tour 2011:

North Island only:

South Island only:

Day tour to Hobbiton:

• NZ$245 per person (includes light lunch)
• Children 5 to 12 years NZ$135

Currency Convertor

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The price you pay includes:

• Coach transport
• All guiding services
• Meet and greet on arrival
• Hotel accommodation
• 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
• Entry fees to private LOTR sites
• Airfare Wellington to Christchurch

You will be responsible for:

• Organising and paying for your international flights to and from New Zealand. Try these websites:
  • http://www.airnz.com/
  • http://www.qantas.com/
• You pay for your meals not covered above
• You pay for any optional extra activities you choose to take part in. Your guide will make bookings for you as the tour progresses

Baggage

Please note:  Try to keep to one suitcase weighing around 20kgs and one carry on bag weighing no more than 7kgs. Otherwise you will have to pay an excess charge.

How to Book

Follow this link to our Registration Form as bookings are essential. Questions are welcome 24/7.