Terms and Conditions
Prices & Currency
All prices referred to on this website are in New Zealand dollars and are inclusive of Tax/GST (15% Goods & Services NZ Tax).
Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of NZ$1,000 per person is required when confirming a booking. This covers the admin and processing required to secure your place on a tour. Please note although deposits are non-refundable they may be transferred to another tour month without penalty if you provide us with at least 3 months notice. The date Tours can be transferred to is a maximum of 18 months from the date of the cancellation notice.
Payment & Costs
Full payment is due 3 months before the commencement of the tour, on the 1st of the month. For example, if your Tour is on the 6th of March, your Tour Balance will be due in full on the 1st of December. All Tour inclusions such as activities, meals, accommodation and transport are detailed on our website. All other expenses such as refreshments, unspecified meals, excess luggage charges, optional extra activities, laundry, telephone & communications costs, flights and taxi fares are at your own expense.
Payment of your tour can be made by Credit Card (MasterCard or Visa with a flat 2.5% credit card fee) through our Secure Form or by electronic Bank Transfer with a bank charge of NZ$30 (details upon asking). Please make sure when paying via Bank transfer, that your Tour payment will arrive in time for the balance due date.
Price Variations
All prices are subject to change. In the event of alterations or fluctuations in fares, tariffs, taxes or other items forming part of your tour costs, we will advise of any changes as soon as possible.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your booking with us and do not wish to transfer to another month, the following applies:
2024 - 2025 Tour Cancellation Fees:
- Up to 90 days before your tour, a cancellation fee of $500 per person will apply on top of your deposit.
- Between 89 and 60 days before your tour, 25% of the total price will apply.
- Between 59 and 40 days before your tour, 50% of the total price will apply.
- Within 39 days of your travel departure date, 100% of the total price will apply.
2026 Tour Cancellation Fees:
- Up to 90 days before your tour, a cancellation fee of $500 per person will apply on top of your deposit.
- Between 89 and 45 days before your tour, 25% of the total price will apply.
- Between 44 and 30 days before your tour, 50% of the total price will apply.
- Within 29 days of your travel departure date, 100% of the total price will apply.
Itineraries
Finalised itineraries are confirmed and emailed 4 weeks before a tour. Details can vary from month to month according to availability of movie guests, access to locations due to weather conditions, accommodation and new information on the sites we visit. Any variations will be within the given tour dates.
COVID-19
Our COVID-19 policy and procedures:
Red Carpet Tours has taken precautions to ensure the safety of its passengers and earned its ‘COVID Ready’ badge from the Tourism Export Council. All guides and drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel on the tour.
Mask-wearing on the coach and indoors (areas of close contact) may be recommended at times during the tour. Hand sanitizer will be made available each day on the coach and we highly recommend you bring your own hand sanitizer for your personal daily use. Please bring plenty of additional disposable medical-grade masks with you for the duration of your tour and time spent in New Zealand.
If you become unwell during your tour, you must advise your guide immediately. If required they can organize a medical appointment for you (at your own cost) and follow up with any assistance required.
If you should test positive for COVID-19 before or during the tour there are currently no requirements by our government to isolate, but we would require you to wear a mask on the coach for other passengers safety.
We highly recommend you purchase your Travel Insurance at the time you purchase your airfares and make sure it has COVID-19-related protection as part of the policy.
Wearing a face covering helps keep you and others safe. Face coverings are particularly useful in poorly ventilated indoor spaces and when physical distancing is hard. They stop droplets from spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes. This includes someone who has COVID-19 but feels well or has no obvious symptoms.
We expect everyone to be responsible for their own hygiene and health and monitor themselves for any symptoms. Our goal is for everyone to have an enjoyable and happy tour experience in beautiful New Zealand.
Liability
Red Carpet Tours is not in any way liable for any loss or damage from alterations, delay, or changes arising from unusual or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, such as COVID-19 (and its variants), threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist act, industrial dispute, natural or man-made disaster, fire, adverse weather, technical problems with transport or congestion of airports.
Compensation will not be payable if we need to cancel or amend tour arrangements due to any of the above circumstances.
Itineraries can be subject to changes if new exciting opportunities arise or unexpected events occur.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you take out adequate travel insurance to cover personal accidents, baggage, cancellation fees, delays or missed flights, sickness (including COVID-19-related illness and disruption) and medical expenses.
What people have said
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
From first contact with the James family, and the Lord of the Rings-Red Carpet Tours, you are in the best of hands. You expect so much on the tour but you receive so much more. I came back from my first tour believing I'd never have a better, truly satisfying experience, and they could...
Barbara S
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
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
This is the best and ONLY way for a LOtR/Hobbit fan to experience New Zealand. Julie and her team are fantastic, knowledgeable people who, you can tell, put so much time and effort into making sure your experience with them is an amazing one! You will not regret choosing them as your guides...
Stephanie B
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
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
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