This journey into Middle Earth is packed with all of the Lord of the Rings highlights you can think of. Suitable for film enthusiasts with limited time, you will experience some exciting and thrilling activities, while visiting The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings film locations.
Highlights: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour & Banquet, Maori Hangi & Cultural Show, Chetwood Forest Tour, Edoras Tour, One Ring Tour, Dart River Jet and 4WD Wakatipu Trip.
On your arrival into Auckland, you will be met and transferred to your city hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore.
Auckland city centre offers world-class shopping, restaurants, bars and galleries which are encircled by wine regions, stunning beaches, pristine rainforest and the magnificent Hauraki Gulf.
Accommodation:
Auckland City Hotel, Deluxe Room with Full Breakfast *
Erected in 1912, the building has been extended and transformed into a captivating boutique Hotel. Retaining its iconic facade with its ideal combination of inventive design and traditional efficiency, Auckland City Hotel has retained the character and charm of its past enhanced with a relaxing contemporary decor.
*If you are arriving early from an International Flight, please see our team about pre-registering your room for guaranteed access on your arrival. (at additional cost)
Sailing on Auckland Harbour
Today is at leisure.
Optional Activities:
Choose from a range of activities in the ‘City of Sail’s from Harbour Cruises, winery tours and zip lining on Waiheke Island or take a gentle cycle along the waterfront.
Accommodation:
Auckland City Hotel, Deluxe Room with Full Breakfast
Zip Line, Waiheke Island
Today’s Drive Time & Distance: – Auckland/Matamata: 2 hours, 160km’s (99 miles)
Collect your Intermediate Sedan rental vehicle (Holden Cruze or similar) with all-inclusive insurance
Passengers: 5 Bags: 2 x Large
Key Features: Automatic Transmission, 4 Door Sedan, Air Conditioning and Dual Airbags
Please contact us if you would like to upgrade your vehicle type to a larger vehicle or SUV/4WD (at additional cost).
The ultimate day of Lord of the Rings highlights! Travel to Matamata, where the town’s main attraction comes from the film industry after the Alexander brothers farm became the Shire in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
Today you will experience Middle Earth with a two hour tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, you will be guided around the set, past Hobbit Holes, the Mill and into the famous Green Dragon dining room for a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit.
The tables will be heaving with traditional Hobbit fayre and, as is the tradition in the Shire, second helpings are encouraged. After dinner, re-join your guide and make your way back through The Shire breathtakingly lit up, with Hobbit Hole chimneys smoking and lanterns glowing in the dark.
Please note: Evening Banquet Tours take place twice a week on a Wednesday & Sunday evening all year round. Monday, Tuesdays and Thursday Evening Banquet tours may begin for a limited time period over summer. Limited numbers, bookings are essential.
Accommodation:
Local Country/Farm Stay, Room with Breakfast
Enjoy an authentic overnight experience with a New Zealand family on a Country / Farm stay in Matamata. We have a range of farmstays available in Matamata, typically dairy farms, mixed farms eg. cattle and sheep, and also Horse Studs.
Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
Green Dragon, Hobbiton Movie Set.
Today’s Drive Time & Distance: – Matamata/Rotorua: 1 hour, 67km’s (42 miles)
Continue to Rotorua, a volcanic wonderland and a place that is rich in Maori culture and history.
This evening, experience a challenge by Maori warriors, a karanga (call) from the women welcoming you onto the marae, and a whaikorero (welcome speech). Following the formal elements of this ceremony, relax and enjoy the beautiful waiata (songs), the world-renowned haka (challenge), and the elegant poi dance. You will have a chance to participate before sitting down to enjoy traditional and indigenous hangi dinner (earth oven cooked meal). Following dessert, return into the park and enjoy inspired delicacies and a hot drink beside the Pohutu geyser.
Accommodation:
Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua, Superior Room with Full Breakfast
Set on the shores of Lake Rotorua, adjacent to the Polynesian Spa complex, Government Gardens and only a five-minute stroll to the city centre. Offering 248 well appointed rooms, many with superb views of Lake Rotorua and a 3.5 star Qualmark Hotel grading.
Te Puia, Rotorua
Fly to Nelson (flight not included).
The Christ Church Cathedral looks over the city streets where you will find boutique shops, art galleries and alfresco dining. Along Wakefield Quay, Nelson’s picturesque waterfront, you will find several restaurants with views across the harbour to the mountains.
Accommodation:
Rutherford Hotel, Premium Room with Full Breakfast
The hotel boasts a prime spot only minutes walk from Nelson’s landmark cathedral and main shopping district (including just a block away from Jens Hansen Goldsmiths, creators of the ring in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy). Explore the great indoors and soak up the comforts of the hotel: enjoy a leisurely lap in the pool, relax in the steamy sauna, or workout in the gymnasium.
Nelson City
Join today’s guide for your Chetwood Forest (Hobbit’s Holiday) Tour. Travel through ever changing and diverse landscapes of Upper Moutere, Riwaka to Marble Mountain.
At Marble mountain, enjoy magnificent views from Hawkes lookout, looking down the Riwaka Valley, across Tasman Bay towards Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds. Gain an understanding of the plumbing of the mountain and its unique and ancient geology which created the fascinating rock shapes that inspired the film makers of The Hobbit trilogy. Exploration of the mountain would not be complete without a visit into middle earth via the Ngarua Caves which exit into clusters of strange rock formations. Continue to where the Hobbits, lead by Aragorn, fled from Bree and the Black Riders into Chetwood Forest and pause to enjoy a Hobbit feast and washed down with middle earth refreshments. A nearby beech forest walk will enliven the afternoon and have your imagination working overtime until you reach Harwoods Hole – the deepest known vertical shaft in New Zealand!
Accommodation:
Rutherford Hotel, Premium Room with Full Breakfast
Hobbits Holiday, Nelson
Chetwood Forest, Nelson
Today’s Drive Time & Distance: 5.5 hours, 415 km’s (258 miles)
Following the 2010-2011 earthquakes, Christchurch has re-emerged as a vibrant and ever-changing city.
Accommodation:
Chateau on the Park, Guest Room with Full Breakfast
Set amongst five acres of tranquil surroundings and amongst gorgeous gardens the Chateau on the Park hotel offers a welcome retreat for both leisure and corporate guests. The hotel is well located just minutes away from Westfield Riccarton Mall, the CBS Arena, Addington Business District, Hagley Park and the Christchurch Railway Station.
New Regent Street, Christchurch City
Join your Edoras, Lord of the Rings Tour and journey to the filming location of Mount Sunday, remotely located at Mt Potts high country station. See how this peaceful mountain was transformed into Edoras, the capital city of the Rohan and home to Meduseld, the hall of King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Take in the natural, unspoilt beauty of this breath-taking area with sparkling clear lakes, glistening blue rivers and fresh mountain air.
Accommodation:
Chateau on the Park, Guest Room with Full Breakfast
Edoras
Today’s Drive Time & Distance: 6 hours, 555 km’s (345 miles)
Travel south through the Mackenzie Country to Twizel for your visit to Pelennor Fields. This two hour classic tour will have you learning more about movie making, finding locations in and around Twizel, setting up stunts, visual effects, and finding extras for large armies! You will also have the chance to use official Lord of the Rings replica swords and wear a limited edition Gondorian helmet.
Continue to Queenstown, the backdrop for several Lord of the Rings movie sites.
Accommodation:
Heartland Hotel Queenstown, Standard Room with Full Breakfast
Your Swiss-style chalet in the hills. Perched above the town centre, the Hotel has a distinctive A-frame architecture which helps to create a traditional alpine atmosphere. Situated on Stanley Street, the Hotel is the ideal place to stay if you want to be close to all the action of Queenstown’s main centre, yet be elevated enough to take advantage of the spectacular views over lake Wakatipu to the mountains.
MacKenzie Country (click on image for panoramic view)
Board your four wheel drive for an exciting off road adventure and discover Lord of the Rings film locations. This morning, take in the Wakatipu Basin tour taking you to The Remarkables, which were used as various mountains throughout the trilogy including the Misty Mountains. Travelling part way up this beautiful mountain range, view Deer Park Heights used for the refugees of Rohan and the Battle of the Wargs scenes.
Travel through to Glenorchy to join your Wilderness Safari, which allows you to discover and explore every aspect of this magnificent area through a combination of exciting jet boating, informative guided walk, picturesque back road drive and spectacular scenery that has formed the epic backdrop for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies.
Highlights:
Accommodation:
Heartland Hotel Queenstown, Standard Room with Full Breakfast
Four Wheel Drive Tour, Skippers Canyon
Dart River Wilderness Jet, Queenstown
Today is at leisure – we suggest exploring Milford Sound’s stunning fiord from the air and on the water. This optional tour (at additional cost) departs Queenstown and has you flying over land where many parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit was filmed and have the possibility of being piloted by Alfie, who did the aerial filming for the movies (request only). Once in Milford, cruise past sheer cliffs, gushing waterfalls and perhaps even spot dolphins, seals and penguins. Return to Queenstown, flying past spectacular rivers, valleys and mountains and landing upon Mt Tutoko glacier.
Accommodation:
Heartland Hotel Queenstown, Standard Room with Full Breakfast
Milford Sound Helicopter Flight
Tutoko Plateau, Fiordland
Your Lord of the Rings Film Locations holiday concludes today with the return of your rental vehicle.
Connect with your onwards flights (flight not included).
Middle Earth
Lord of the Rings Highlights
Booking Terms & Conditions:
Currency
All pricing is in New Zealand Dollars and includes 15% GST (Goods & Services Tax).
Pricing
Pricing is subject to availability and confirmation of the stated itinerary at time of booking. If we are unable to confirm the stated hotels and services, we will endeavour to confirm substitutes at similar rates, however additional costs may apply.
Rental Car Terms & Conditions:
Inclusions: unlimited kilometres, airport/ferry collection fee, full insurance (subject to reduced excess), front windscreen cover, personal accident insurance, guaranteed replacement vehicle in case of accident.
Exclusions: insurance excess reduction of $345.00 including GST (note, standard insurance excess is $3,450.00 including GST), bond, petrol costs, one way fee ($57.50), optional extras, (all additional expenses to be paid direct)
Payment Policy
We do require a non-refundable deposit of NZD$250.00 per person before we go ahead with securing any reservations.
In addition, some of our suppliers may require further deposits to cover their strict cancellation policies, in this case we would advise you at the time of quoting and confirming your itinerary.
The balance of your booking would be required 45 days prior to your travel date. If you book inside 45 days, full payment would be required at time of booking.
Payment can be made by electronic wire transfer and should include the additional NZD $25.00 bank fee. We also accept Visa and Mastercard at an additional fee of 3.1%.
Bank Account Details
Bank Name & Address: Westpac Bank, Mid City Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Account Name: Inspired New Zealand Travel
BSB Number: 03-0296
Account Number: 0011146-000
Swift/Routing Code: WPACNZ2W
Amendments
We are happy to amend your itinerary and dates, however please keep in mind that some of the original services may not be available for your new dates, which may incur additional costs for substituted services. Amendment fees may apply with multiple changes.
Cancellation Fees
Once Confirmed Non-refundable Deposit of NZD $250.00 per person
Inside 45 – 21 Days A Cancellation fee of 30% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.
Inside 20 – 8 days A Cancellation fee of 50% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.
Inside 7 Days Full Cancellations, 100% charge
We will however do our very best to recover and minimise these cancellation fees but recommend that you purchase Travel Insurance to cover yourself.
