Im going on an adventure!
This 14-day LOTR New Zealand adventure is our most popular tour. Take a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Middle-earth, travelling from Auckland to Queenstown via many exciting The Lord of the Rings filming locations, movie studios, and adventures.
This 14-day The Lord of the Rings Tour of New Zealand is our most popular tour. Take a once-in-a-lifetime journey through Middle-earth, travelling from Auckland to Queenstown via many exciting LOTR filming locations, movie studios, and experiences. This Tour is the ultimate adventure for an avid Tolkien fan!
You will also meet those involved in the making of the movies, and travel off the beaten track into the breathtaking landscapes and natural attractions New Zealand has to offer.
Along the way, there are opportunities for helicopter flights and landings on iconic mountains used in the films, blacksmithing workshops, kayaking down rivers in stunning The Lord of the Rings movie locations, bungee jumping or 4-wheel drive tours to amazing and remote film locations. All within a small fellowship of like-minded travelers, led by our passionate LOTR guides.
Highlights
- Climb the magnificent Edoras
- Visit the makers of the 'One Ring'
- Explore The Shire at Hobbiton!
- Meet people involved with both The Lord Of The Rings & The Hobbit Trilogies!
- Dine in The Green Dragon
- Behind-the-scenes Weta Workshop tour and exclusive discounts for Red Carpet Tours passengers!
- Movie guest presentations
- Relax and enjoy a scenic cruise ( 3.5 hours ) between the North and South Islands
- Explore Laketown and Trollshaw Forest
- Charge across the Pelennor Fields
- Visit Gollums Fishing Pool
- Experience the beautiful Queenstown - the fun and adventure capital of New Zealand
- Visit beautiful Rohan country
- Step inside Fangorn Forest
- Kayak down the same river as the Dwarves in Barrels scene from The Hobbit
Expand All
We gather this evening for our Welcome Dinner, to meet each other and prepare for our early start tomorrow. Winter months include a special movie guest. Accommodation: Auckland hotel.
Be ready to depart at 7.45am ~ Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton. (A full cooked Breakfast is included from Day 2 to 14.) Prepare to be enchanted by Hobbiton - a very special site to visit. Have your camera batteries charged for photos of the tranquil Shire, Bag End, Sam & Rosie’s cottage, the Party Tree. Enjoy a cool drink at The Green Dragon followed by lunch in a Marquee beside The Green Dragon (included in tour cost). In Rotorua later today you will have the option of the beautiful Polynesian Spa and / or a fantastic Maori Cultural evening, dinner and show ( cost additional). Overnight Rotorua.
Rotorua to Trollshaw Forest and a wonderful guided tour of this Hobbit location - stunning scenery. We will enjoy a picnic lunch (included) on our way to the majestic Huka Falls and the geothermal capital of New Zealand; Taupo. Overnight -Lakeside Taupo accomodation.
This morning a Hobbit location of the Secret Entrance to Erebor and Lotr location of Gollum’s fishing pool, where Andy Serkis was careful not to plunge over the waterfall! Then, it's on to Wellywood ~ Wellington City. Tonight you may like to dine at “The Green Parrot Restaurant” (Optional) - said to be a favourite of Viggo’s. Accommodation: Wellington, for the next 3 nights.
Wellywood Day, Miramar - New Zealand's movie capital! Weta Workshop extended tour, Weta Cave, The beautiful Roxy Theatre for lunch ~ included in the tour. Later today we check out the 'Get off the road!' location from Fellowship Of The Ring, overlooking the city. Dinner tonight? So many choices, your Guide will help you. Visit the Embassy Theatre, where the ROTK and The Hobbit World Premiere were held.
Presentation day with LOTR / Hobbit Calligrapher and Cartographer Daniel Reeve. He will blow you away with amazing talents! This is your opportunity to purchase some very special souvenirs. In Winter months we add a special movie guest presentation. Later today is yours to explore Te Papa Museum / see a movie at the special Embassy Theatre / or visit other Wellington places of interest.
Our North Island Adventure concludes and our South Island Adventure begins! We catch the Inter-Island ferry from Wellington, sail to Picton in the South Island (approx. 3.5 hrs). After lunch, on our way to Nelson, stopping along the way to view the famous river, where the Dwarfs escaped from the Elves, in barrels! How about a fantastic 1 hour easy kayak down this amazing river and movie location with experienced local guides!! (optional extra) Accommodation tonight: Nelson.
Nelson day: This morning we meet and chat with the makers of the "One Ring". There, we meet Jens Hansen's son, Halfdan Hansen and see the wonderful range Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit jewellery. From lunchtime, weather permitting, there is a two hour ‘optional extra’ helicopter ride to the LOTR sites of 'South of Rivendell' and 'Dimrill Dale'. More than highly recommended! Accommodation tonight: Nelson
An early start south through the very scenic South Island, stopping along the way for second breakfast, viewing of the Fur Seal colony and lunch via the beautiful wild Kaikoura Coast. Time for our coach quiz! We then travel south to Christchurch. An early night tonight for a big day tomorrow. Accommodation: Christchurch.
It's time to head for the magnificence that is EDORAS - a very spiritual experience! It’s a 35-minute trek to reach the summit. The 360-degree views are breathtaking! You will stand where the Golden Hall once stood and survey the mountain panorama all around you as you fly the Rohan flag! You will be reluctant to leave. Refreshment awaits us in the township of Geraldine, before we drive south past the stunning Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki. Keep a lookout for our highest mountain; Aoraki, Mt Cook – the Cloud Piercer of 12,500 feet. Overnight; Twizel. (Buffet Dinner included tonight.) This is a great place to study the night sky - and see the Southern Cross. Special Guest a local Hobbit inspired seamstress - you may like to buy your own cloak.
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 visit the stunning location of Laketown and enjoy a guided tour there. Time to try your archery skills - perhaps we have a budding Bard or Tauriel amongst us? Then head to Omarama for lunch. This afternoon a special visit to Mrs Jones's orchard. Overnight - Cromwell. The Harvest Hotel.
This morning there are opportunities to Bungy at the famous Kawarau AJ Hackett Bungy bridge. Keen to jump above the river Anduin? Then onto Queenstown to enjoy this beautiful location, here we have time to pay for our Sunday activities and buy some lunch to take with us tomorrow on our big locations day. Our last 3 nights are in picturesque Queenstown, many great restaurants to explore.
The breaking of the Fellowship. Buy a picnic lunch today to take to Mavora Lakes, where we visit several Lord of The Rings NZ sites - The calling up of Shadowfax - The Silverlode bridge - The Orc funeral pyre - Fangorn Forest - Nen Hithoel - The log which concealed Merry & Pippin before Frodo left the fellowship - And where Sam and Frodo paddled away on the next stage of their journey. Stunning scenery! Tonight is our farewell dinner at our Hotel, feast like Hobbits ! Tomorrow is our Optional activity day in Queenstown.
Devote today to optional activities! A guided walk on the Routeburn Track? -A Nomad Safari 4 Wheel drive half day tour ! - A relaxing Wine and Food Tour. Perhaps a cruise on Lake Wakatipu. -A parasail over the lake. -A coach & cruise trip to Milford Sound. --An adrenalin Jet Boat ride or a Bungy jump? -Para-sailing? Para-gliding? White water rafting? A hot air balloon ride? Trout fishing? Relaxation at Onsen Hot Pools? -Or retail therapy ~ shopping in Queenstown. The list "goes ever on" and your Guide will discuss the many options available and assist with bookings.
Alas ~ your journey through Middle Earth with Red Carpet Tours is at an end. Thank you for traveling with us ..... there and back again..... Haere ra ~ Good-bye from us all at Red Carpet Tours. "Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel i Valar tielyanna nu vilya: May the Valar protect you on your path under the sky." On departure day you will need a domestic airfare from Queenstown to Auckland and then your international flight home from Auckland. We can recommend Air New Zealand for this domestic flight: www.airnewzealand.co.nz
- Private bus transportation
- Welcome pack for direct bookings
- All guiding services
- Hotel Accommodation
- 14 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 3 buffet Dinners
- Entry Fees to private The Lord Of The Rings New Zealand sites
- Department of Conservation fees
- Entry fees for Hobbiton and festive feast lunch in the Green Dragon Marquee
- Tour fees at Trollshaws
- Weta Workshop extended Tour and workshop
- Inter-Island Ferry (3.5-hour cruise) Wellington - Picton
- Special presentation guest from the films
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, our seasons here in New Zealand may be at different times of the year to yours (depending on where you live). Therefore, we have found it necessary to have seasonal itineraries to enhance your experience of Middle Earth. These comprise of the following months:
2024 Dates
2025 Dates: Fully Booked
2026 Dates: Fully Booked - Email to join waitlist
What people have said
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
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
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
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
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
"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
Just returned as part of the February 2023 Fellowship with Red Carpet Tours and it was one of the best trips of my life. I've been wanting to do this for years and was worried my expectations might be too high, but it was amazing and I wish it didn't have to end! Love the family...
Emily V
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
Amazing and so well worth it! Days in a row of just being excited for something alone was something special to me but also meeting like-minded people who were so accepting and fun was fantastic! Julie James is a treasure - handles everything with grace and was just everything you want in a tour...
Tracy E
Everything about this tour was amazing! Our tour guide Julie is a true LOTR fan, and made sure everybody was looked after. The locations were well researched and meaningful. Even after the tour ended, Julie has kept in touch as we all went our separate ways and travelled home to various parts of...
Jody R