FAQs
In the event we need to cancel a Tour due to closed borders or a community outbreak from Covid-19, or you need to cancel or postpone your travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions, the following applies:
Tour deposits are non-refundable, but are transferable to a future month within 18 months of your original Tour date. We will advise you as soon as possible with any changes to your Tour date and provide you information as per our Government's travel guidelines.
Red Carpet Tours has the following Covid-19 policies and protocols in place for the safety of our passengers, staff and community:
Contact Tracing -
Upon booking we are recording all passengers contact information and keeping this on file for contact tracing purposes during and shortly after the tour. This data is being handled with care and will be subsequently destroyed after the Tour month in line with Government guidelines. Our guide will have the NZ Covid Tracer App installed and available on their smart phone for scanning and signing in at each location visited by the Tour. All passengers will be encouraged to install the NZ Covid Tracer App and scan in to locations individually as well.
Sanitisation-
We have increased our coach cleaning practices, including sanitising high touch surfaces in the coach multiple times a day. We have installed hand sanitiser stations at the front and side doors of the coach for passengers to use when entering and exiting the bus.
Masks-
Passengers are required to wear masks when inside the coach and in restricted environments where 2 metre spacing is not available.
Symptoms-
Passengers will be notified to let our guide know if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms before or during the tour: dry cough, fever, loss of taste and smell, shortness of breath or chest pain. If passengers have any of these symptoms they will be assisted to seek medical advice and follow the New Zealand Government's Covid protocols.
New Zealand can be a long way to travel for most people, so why is it so many tourists make the trip and even return here to live??
Well, New Zealand is unlike many other places on Earth. It has a small population, stunning scenery and no predators! We have more sheep than people here but the 4.5 million people that are here are friendly and laid-back. People from New Zealand are known as ‘Kiwi’s’ after our beloved native flightless bird, the Kiwi. New Zealand embraces its native Maori culture as well as many other cultures from around the world due to the huge influx of tourists returning here to live; bringing with them a vast range of cultures and traditions. Its landscapes and scenery are breath-taking to say the least and the food is delicious -especially our signature coffee’s such as the 'Flat White'. After all, New Zealand is a dairy country and one of the world’s largest milk producers. The climate and land have been ideal for this multi Billion-dollar industry to flourish.
In short, our small population size and awe-inspiring scenery make New Zealand a magic place to travel and live in.
That hasn't been our experience, in fact far from it! People that accompany their partners on our tour who are not fans of the movies always enjoy the journey just as much as their fanatic partners! Its so much more than a LOTR tour, its also a great way to travel a beautiful country and make life-long friends.
"I was nervous because I'd never been on anything like this before; no roadshows, no conventions, no movie premiers and certainly no themed tours like this one was. I (naively) kind of expected the people on the tour to be all very similar and a lot like the stereotyped sci-fi or fantasy geeks. I'm very pleased to be able to report that I was proved very, very wrong." - Ben's Tour Diary
"Yet I think my personal highlight was to realize how close we all got within this short amount of time. In only four days, the group grew to be the 'Fellowship of the Tour'. And sitting in the hotel talking to everybody, realizing how much I'm going to miss all the people who stay behind, really added a great deal to the whole experience." - Tanja's Tour Diary
New Zealand™s weather is variable due to its diverse landscape. The North Island is typically warmer than the South Island due to its position relative to the equator. It can be as hot as 30ËšC (86ËšF) and as cold as -20C (-4F) but these temperatures are rare!
In Summer, New Zealand has an average temperature of 20 - 25C (68 - 77F)
In Autumn, it has an average temperature of 16 - 21C (60 - 72F)
In Winter, it has an average temperature of 8 - 15C (46 - 59F)
In Spring, it has an average temperature of 16 - 19C (61 - 66F)
In short, the weather is whatever the great Southern Ocean chooses to throw at us, and temperatures vary with your altitude. For instance, when scaling the location of Edoras we can often be surrounded by snow-capped mountains even in Summer.
The secret to moving comfortably around New Zealand is layering your clothes so you can take off or add-on according to the conditions. Should you arrive and find that you have nothing warm/cool/waterproof enough, there is an impressive array of locally-made clothes everywhere- they will be tempting you before you even leave the arrival lounge of the airport.
Tipping in New Zealand is not compulsory, however if you feel you have had very good service feel free to tip an amount of your choosing. Your Tour Leader and Driver would appreciate being tipped for good service and is common practice in the Tourism and Service industries.
The electrical power in New Zealand is 240 volts, we would recommend buying an adapter in your home country suitable for travelling in New Zealand.
There are swimming pools in 4 of the hotels we stay in, as well as the wonderful Polynesian spa (Hot Pools) in Rotorua.
Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted throughout New Zealand. It would be useful to have some New Zealand cash on you for smaller purchases. You can obtain this from your Airport before departure.
Your packing should include some standard items: Medication, toiletry, Jacket and good walking shoes.
The types of clothing you bring will depend on the season you Tour with us:
https://www.tourism.net.nz/weather/forecast-and-weather-map
Try this site for packing tips:
https://www.smartertravel.com/new-zealand-pack-clothing-supplies-tips/
Start by visiting your own country's Government website for passports and visas and make sure you have met their requirements in plenty of time before your travel.
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
From 1st October 2019, travellers must have an ETA to travel to New Zealand.
The cost of the ETA is NZD$9 for requests made via the mobile app and NZD$12 for requests made via the Immigration NZ website.
ETA requests will take 5-10 minutes to complete. Once issued , an ETA is valid for up to two years and can be used for multiple visits to New Zealand.
Travellers will pay their International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) at the same time they request their ETA. The International Visitor Levy is a way for travellers to contribute directly to the tourism infrastructure they use and help protect the natural environment, that you enjoy during your stay in New Zealand. The IVL costs NZD$35. Visitors only pay the IVL when they apply for a Visa or ETA.
Who needs an ETA?
Travellers from visa waiver countries.
Australian permanent residents.
All cruise ship passengers, regardless of nationality.
Questions? Contact: [email protected]
Visit this this link for information on obtaining a New Zealand travel visa.
New Zealand Visa Information
Internet coverage during your travels in New Zealand.
Most hotels will give you a minimum of 50mb up to 1GB, our coach (bus) will have unlimited WiFi, dependant on the wifi network. Not available in mountainous areas.
Travel Sim Cards and data travel plans.
If your phone is unlocked, you may like to purchase a NZ SIM card and data plan so you can upload photos and keep in touch with family.
These can be purchased on arrival at Auckland International Airport from providers Spark or Vodafone. Opposite Arrivals.
Range from NZ$29 - NZ$59 per plan, depending on data plan chosen.
https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile-plans/travel-pack/
https://www.vodafone.co.nz/travel-SIM
No, a lot of them were only enhanced in minor ways. You will instantly recognise where you are in the film, with the locations the Red Carpet visits.
In most cases yes they were with the exception of Hobbiton, which has been completely rebuilt including the Green Dragon and is a permanent set! In the cases of the other locations you will find that the landscape itself evokes the drama that took place there without the set. Many of the key landmarks that identify the spots are an integral part of the landscape itself.
Here are some reactions from those on previous fellowships -
"…everyone is a little nervous about walking towards the site itself which is still hidden over the brow of the hill. This is the first site we've been to, in theory the most recognisable of all of the filming locations and if this doesn't live up to expectations and it proves hard to recognise the place from the film then the whole tour will have a dark cloud looming over it."
"But, in keeping with the sunshine of the day, we're all knocked back as we come over the hill to gaze into Hobbiton itself. It's all there... Bag End, the Party tree, Bagshot row and over a dozen Hobbit holes still in the hillsides. Although there's none of the set dressing left, no gardens or frontages to the holes, there's still so much more than we were expecting." - Ben's Tour Diary.
" You need but little imagination to make it all come alive again." - Tanja's Tour Diary
And imagination is something that LOTR fans do not lack!
"Walking in there, you know exactly where you are. It's fantastic. I even took the opportunity to sit down where Bilbo and Gandalf had their smoke before the party and wrote in my journal for a minute. The experience of being there was…Well, you kinda had to be there." - Josh's Tour Diary.
"Among the most dramatic scenery in The Two Towers is the grassy mountain valley in which the Rohan capital of Edoras is built. Almost no computer graphics are used in the creation of the town…Sadly none of the buildings remain but you can make out the locations for the royal burial cairns and the path leading up to the gate. Exploring the site was a bit like doing some archaeology, having to try and locate clues to the existence of different structures and line up terrain features to the few photos and memories we all had. The hill itself was easily recognisable from every angle… Once we got to the base of the hill it's a steep hike up to the top but once you are there the adrenaline buzz is amazing as it's one of the most recognisable places we've been to. I must have used an entire roll of film in the couple of hours we were there." - Ben's Tour Diary.
We stay in 4 Star Hotels in most cities / towns and some very nice lodges and Inn's in country areas. The accommodation is comfortable, and in many cases the same accommodation that the cast and crew used.
"I got Elijah's room! That's right, I spent the night in Elijah Wood's bed…For six weeks Elijah slept in the bed that I am currently in. I mean, the entire crew, well, lived here." - Josh's Tour Diary
Use our own currency converter which can be found on various pages of our website or visit the link below
https://www.ofx.com/en-nz/currency-converter/
Inaccessible to most people! Red Carpet has exclusive contracts with the owners of the properties which allow our tour groups access; in many cases the owners saw and participated in months of filming and are happy to share their memories of the film project.
"Reach today's final destination at around 5:30 p.m.: Twizel, a.k.a the Pelennor Fields. Friendly greeting by owners of farm, Simon and Priscilla, as well as cute little dog. Learn Priscilla has been an orc-extra ("I'm one of the little, multiplied dots."). Extremely hard to believe! Must have been nicest orc in middle-earth… Learn film crew spent 4 weeks on farm, working with over 300 horses, 600 extras and a big blue screen in front of hill. Don't envy Rohan-Riders that much anymore, now knowing they spent up to 10 hours a day on horseback. In armour. False beards glued to their face. Do however envy Simon and Priscilla for experience of having more than one hundred horses galloping through their backyard at 40 km/h. Awesome!" - Tanja's Tour Diary
What people have said
This was a trip of a lifetime. I honestly couldn’t imagine seeing Middle Earth any other way. Julie is amazing and truly cultivated an experience that I will treasure forever. If you’re thinking about booking this trip—just do it. I promise that you will have the time of your life.
Brenna M
With Julie James as our guide (Feb. 2018) on the 14 day tour... it was excellent! She always took every effort and opportunity to see to everyone's requests. The hotels we stayed in were wonderful. The meals were delicious. But the tour itself??? Awesome!!! We had big LOTR and the Hobbit...
Katherine C
My second tour through Middle Earth (New Zealand) was just as wonderful as the first, the locations you are taken to are just amazing. Best suited for people with interest in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, you make so many friends throughout your journey that you become your own...
Lisa S
There is a reason that this company is the premier in its field. I’ve been home for almost a week now and I’m still struggling to comprehend how incredible my experience with Red Carpet Tours was. This was hands down one of the best things I ever have, and likely ever will do in my...
Taylor K
"Exceptional! Marvellous! Outstanding! Just a few of the words I could use to describe how fabulous the Red Carpet Tours winter Lord of the Rings tour was. The organisation from beginning to end couldn’t be faulted. Hotels were carefully selected for location and quality. The days...
Judith S
I don’t have enough good things to say about this incredible experience. Our guide Julie is so knowledgeable and fun about everything LOTR AND New Zealand in general! My husband and I went for our belated honeymoon and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. You’re fed like Hobbits...
Taylor & Nick L
Traveling New Zealand with RCT and Julie was amazing. It was the trip of a lifetime (but I hope to do it again!). It was very well put together and we got to see such amazing sites and do so many awesome things. I can't even name what my favorite part of the whole tour was because it was...
Lynn S
I went solo and am a bit of an introvert, but Julie and the rest of the tour members made this an unforgettable experience and made me feel right at home. This was number one on my bucket list and it exceeded my expectations across the board. If you're contemplating booking this tour, just...
Jordan M
This tour changed my life, Julie and Josh were amazing tour guides, everywhere we went was stunning. I could not have asked for anything more from them. Even where there were some hiccups outside of anyone’s control Julie and the team worked tirelessly to ensure we had the best experience...
Jon
Red Carpet Tours is a fabulous company - been with them 3 times. I agree with others posted here that it is the BEST way to see New Zealand, especially if you are a "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" fan - and even if you're not! From all the Magnificent New Zealand...
John N