Private Lord of the Rings Half Day Tour
Description
Epic Adventures to the Real Middle Earth and Back Again! Join our Lord of the Rings “Nerds” aka tour guides who have superior knowledge on all things “Rings”. We’ll take you to the original film locations and put YOU in the scene while narrating humorous and intriguing tales from the time of filming. Join us for your personalised journey through the real Middle Earth. Our scenic Half Day Tour includes visiting Skippers Canyon Lookout (weather permitting), Arrowtown, The Gibbston Valley and Lake Hayes. You will be able to enjoy Lord Of The Rings locations such as The Ford of Bruinen, The Gladden Fields, The Pillars of the Kings and More! This tour includes Morning or Afternoon Tea, Photos with Authentic Props as we have the largest selection of Authentic Licensed replica props! We also have copies of the original movie scripts and production call sheets, adding so much more depth to your Middle Earth experience!
Tour Options
Itinerary
We head to the Skippers Canyon Lookout to view New Zealand's "Most Dangerous Road". Not only a spectacular view but also a Lord of the Rings Filming location located further within the Canyon. We stop afterwards at the nearby Coronet Viewpoint to taking in the surrounding views of the Wakatipu Basin and navigate our journeys plan from a birds eye perspective. (These stops are weather permitting)
Awarded New Zealand's 'Most Beautiful Small Town' award in 2020 and 2023. We learn about the gold rush history of this rustic yet charming village the seems to appear right out of the 1800's. We explore 2 Lord of the Rings filming locations a short walk from town, followed by morning or afternoon tea in this quaint village.
Central Otago's Premier Wine Region. Here we visit an epic Lord of the Rings filming location learning stories of the production along with the winegrowing history. Here we also witness dare devils jumping from the world's first commercial bungee jump from the Historic Kawarau Bridge.
We head to this picturesque serene lake, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains right out of Middle Earth. We spend some time here soaking in the serenity and playing with our Authentic Replica Props. Dress up as you favourite LOTR characters and weild lifelike swords, daggers, axes and helmets from your favourite fantasy trilogy!
We head to the breathtaking Wakatipu Lookout where beneath the towering Remarkables Mountains we have one last look upon this spectacular landscape that inspired the filming of the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. We point out several filming locations and take photo's from the locals best kept secret lookout, towering over the resort town of Queenstown.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time between locations was included on the total tour duration.
- Maximum 9 people on Tour
- Children 6 years and under require a child seat by NZ law. Please let us know if you have your own or would like to rent one from us (fees apply).
- Not recommended for travelers who cannot walk more than 20mins on uneven ground. There is 1 walk where people unable to walk may have to wait for up to 20 mins.
Reviews(6)
Everything was awesome until we got charged $500 nzl for basic non aggressive sword play with my 8 year old son .. claiming we damaged their property… I feel sorry for our driver
It’s disappointing to read this, as it doesn’t reflect what actually occurred on the day. Our guide clearly explained that the swords are limited-edition display props, intended for photos only, not for contact or striking. Despite this, they were used in repeated, forceful contact that resulted in significant damage to a stainless steel blade, something that simply doesn’t happen with “basic, non-aggressive play.” This is also the first time we’ve ever had an item damaged like this on any of our tours. For safety reasons, the guide stepped in immediately and removed the props. The level of force involved was concerning, particularly around a child, as the same impact could have caused real injury. After being shown clear photos of the damage, you acknowledged the situation and agreed to cover the NZD $500 insurance excess for an item worth double. Like you, we’re not happy about having to make a claim or replace a rare, collectible item, and we take great care to protect both our guests and our equipment. We stand by our guide’s actions on the day, both in prioritising safety and handling the situation professionally.
A fantastic adventure with our own driver, Benji. A journey into Glenorchy with magnificent Mountain View’s, great LOTR’s content and bags of fun.A generous half day, with coffee stops, off the beaten track with super interaction as fun with our guide and driver Benji.
Thanks so much for the kind words, sounds like Benji led you on a proper Middle earth adventure, Glenorchy always delivers those epic views. Glad you enjoyed the coffee stop and fun along the way, we will pass this on to him, safe travels
Had a great time with the whole family. It was very informative and great to see the real places from the movies. Ian our tour guide was great and funny. Would recommend to anyone even if you haven’t watched the franchise.
Thanks for spending the day with us and for the 10 out of 10. We are glad the whole family had a great time and that Ian kept things fun while showing you those real movie locations, even newcomers get swept up in a little Middle earth magic.
Amazing experience through different locations from LOTR. They even have props so it's amazing to dress up and take pictures. Must do for LOTR fans. Our guide was also amazing.
Amazing tour guide who had a ton of Lord Of The Rings knowledge to share but also had a wealth of knowledge about the surroundings areas. Definitely a super enjoyable experience that can be recommended for anyone.
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the blend of LOTR insights and local knowledge. It’s wonderful to hear you had such a great experience—thank you for recommending us!
One the bests tours in NZ! We love it! Our guide Shane knows all about Lord of the Rings, from the scene locations to the scripts. And oh the swords! They are all authentic.
Your kind words mean so much to us! It was a pleasure sharing my passion for Lord of the Rings with you. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the tour and the authentic licensed replica swords. Your enthusiasm makes guiding such a rewarding experience. Hope to see you on another adventure soon!
