Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour from Queenstown (half day)
Description
An adventure safari packed with breathtaking scenery, thrilling 4WD action whilst discovering LOTR filming locations. Visit the filming locations of Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), Gladden Fields, the Ford of Bruinen and more. Travel an historic gold mining road, following the Arrow River, stop for an opportunity to try your hand at gold panning. Take in the spectacular panoramic views over the Wakatipu Basin.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travelling part way up Queenstown hill you get a birds eye view onto Lake Wakatipu and Deer Park Heights, which was used for the refugees of Rohan and the Battle of the Wargs scenes.
Head to the Kawarau Gorge where the filming took place for the Argonath, or Pillars of the Kings.
Following a historic gold mining road up the Arrow River you will cross the river many times to get to the Ford of Bruinen. At this point you can indulge in morning or afternoon tea and try your hand at a spot of gold panning.
Travel to the entrance of Skippers Canyon where you will be offered spectacular panoramic views of the Wakatipu Basin and into Skippers Canyon.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- min 2 per tour for confirmed departure, min 4 on NZ public holidays
Reviews(327)
We had such a phenomenal tour with Dan as our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable about the Lord of the Rings and was able to tell us many facts about things that happened behind the scenes as well. Dan was especially playful and patient with our two toddlers, even making them a little snowman and allowing them to throw snowballs at him. The hot chocolate and banana bread we got was also so delicious.
Great day with Roger our guide, morning tea beside the river and some panning for gold. Thank you Roger for good memories.
Great experience being driven through the valleys and mountains of Queenstown and the surrounding areas. Not as much lotr info/lore as i originally thought and was hoping for but driving through the rivers and visiting arrowtown kind of made up for it. 8/10 would go again, just wish there were more Lord of the Rings features.
This was a brilliant afternoon, with Kenny, starting with an awesome Queenstown lookout, exploring Skippers Canyon, driving up the Arrow River with some afternoon tea and a quick gold pan on the way. We visited a number of LOTR locations and finished the day with a drive up the Crown Range to see the sunset. Thank you for a fun afternoon. I think my favourite part was bouncing and wobbling our way up and down the Arrow River....so much fun!! 😁
Aithne, what a treat it is to hear about your adventure with Kenny! Bouncing along the Arrow River sounds like an absolute blast, and we're thrilled you enjoyed the stunning views and LOTR magic.
visit to the filming locations of the lord of the ring films, prospect for gold in the river, thomas was our guide . he s very professionnal and friendly
It's wonderful to hear about your adventure tracing the iconic paths of the Lord of the Rings with Thomas as your guide! His professionalism and friendliness surely added magic to the gold prospecting experience in the river. We're ready to welcome you back anytime for more epic stories and stunning landscapes in Queenstown!
This experience unforgettable, beautiful country nice people love it thank you for your hospitality
What a pleasure to hear that you found your experience with us unforgettable! 😊 The beauty of New Zealand and the warmth of its people truly create magic, don't they? We're so glad you felt the hospitality and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in our beautiful country!
Very competent driver and tour guide. Lots of historical tales from the area. Great referencing to places seen in LOTR. Beautiful country not seen from any other perspective. 4 wheel driving through rivers, up and down banks. Hang on, it can be a bumpy ride, oh but what fun!
Loved everything the ride, acting in the forest having a break,
Irene, it's wonderful to hear you loved every moment of your adventure with us! The ride, the forest antics, and those relaxing breaks truly make for a magical experience out here in Queenstown's enchanting landscapes.
Matt was our guide who was very friendly, knowledgeable and great company. We all felt very safe in the 4wd which is important given the type of roads we were on and the wet weather. Highly recommended!
Matt's guiding expertise and charming manner have clearly made your adventure stand out! It's wonderful to hear that you felt safe and well-cared for, even with the challenging roads and wet weather.
Fun tour of many sites used in the shooting of Lord of the Rings with a little bit of excitement mixed in.
