GENERAL INFORMATION

MORE SELF DRIVE

All three films in the "Lord of the Rings" series were filmed on location in New Zealand over a fifteen month period. "The Fellowship of the Ring" ... the first in the trilogy, was released in December of 2001.

Based on the books of J. R. Tolkien, mythological "Middle Earth" was set in a number of different locations throughout the country.

You can now visit many of these locations by taking our recommended self-drive tour.

New Zealand

SELF DRIVE IDEA

LORD OF THE RINGS

14 days

(Tour also operates in reverse)

Lord of the Rings banner

New Zealand must be the luckiest tourist country in the world, with its spectacular mountains, active volcanoes, deep fiords and rugged coastline, picturesque lakes, streams and beaches, bubbling mud pools and geysers, its unique Maori culture and warm hospitality.

Enjoy New Zealand on your self-drive tour. Experience the magic of breathtaking scenery and majestic vistas while perhaps taking in the sites where the movie "Lord of the Rings" was filmed.

Click the map above

for the set location names.

YOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 : Arrive Auckland. Welcome to Auckland. After collecting your rental car, drive into the city. Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, is situated between two enormous harbours and dotted with 48 extinct volcanic cones. It's a place to enjoy marine adventures, wine trails, forest walks and urban sophistication.

We suggest a harbour cruise or sailing trip this afternoon (optional).

Scenic Circle Airedale Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Aachen House.

Day 2 : Auckland Via Mata Mata / Rotorua

(237 km/148 miles, travelling time 3 hours)

As you cruise down the highway, suburban scenery gradually gives way to the farmland of South Auckland. A couple of hours south of Auckland lies the lush farmland of the Waikato. Famous for dairying and fine thoroughbred horses, it's easy to see why these green pastures and rolling hills were chosen to portray Hobbiton and The Shire. Although much of the set was deconstructed post filming, hobbit fans can still visit Hobbiton, wander among the hobbit holes and listen to the fascinating commentary about how it was all created. Got a taste for bigger caverns? Check out Waikato's massive Waitomo Caves for dramatic stalactites, stalagmites and zillions of sparkling glow-worms. You can glide through on a barge, take a black water rafting trip, or even abseil (rappel) down into the abyss!

Next stop is Rotorua, which sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so volcanic activity is part of the city's past and present. Explore the geothermal areas and discover the unique culture of New Zealand's Maori people.

This evening we suggest you enjoy a traditional Maori concert and hangi at the Maori village of Te Tawa Ngahere Marae Pa. (We recommend you pre-book this tour – see below for costs).

Sudima Hotel, Rydges, Kawaha Point Lodge.

Day 3 : Rotorua via Lake Taupo to Tongariro / Mt Ruapehu. Today travel down past Lake Taupo and onto the volcanic central plateau where your destination is the foot of Mt Ruapehu, the largest mountain in the North Island in the heart of the Tongariro National Park.

The road to Taupo will keep you entertained with its unusual, volcanic geography. You'll also drive through large tracts of plantation pine forest. Lake Taupo is famous for its trout, year-round water sports and stunning views across the water towards those mystical Middle-earth volcanoes.

Take a side road to a geothermal park, where you'll discover geysers, silica terraces and craters of boiling mud.

From Lake Taupo, drive to National Park Village, which follows the edge of the Tongariro National Park. National Park Village is well positioned to explore the Tongariro National Park. The volcanic peaks of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro can be seen from here. The park was gifted to the New Zealand people in 1887 by the Ngati Tuwaretoa tribe and is now a World Heritage area.

Skotel Alpine Resort, Bayview Chateau Tongariro, Tongariro Lodge

Day 4 : Tongariro/ Mt Ruapehu Day at Leisure. The Tongariro World Heritage National Park in the central North Island's Volcanic Plateau isn't just legendary for its dramatic and eerie scenery. What makes the area especially unique is its accessibility - you can ski on an active volcano or take a one-day hike from alpine meadow to mountain summit, with stunning volcanic landscapes along the way. Thanks to a geologically turbulent past, the area provided The Lord of the Rings crew with the perfect raw materials to create vivid scenes of Mordor, Emyn Muil, Mount Doom and the Plains of Gorgoroth.

The Tongariro Crossing is regarded as one of the best one-day walks in the world.

Day 5 : Mt Ruapehu via Ohakune / Wellington. Just a short drive from Mt Ruapehu is Ohakune, home to Ithilien camp, which was filmed in the nearby bush; continue on towards Wellington, the capital of New Zealand and film base for Lord of the Rings.

Continue through the central North Island and along the Kapiti coast where you can visit Waitarere Forest, which was the location for Trollshaw Forest and Osgiliath Wood. We also suggest a visit to Kapiti Cheeses before arriving in the capital city.

As the terrified hobbits hide from the approaching Ringwraiths, you'd never know they were only minutes away from great coffee! But such contrasts are typical of Wellington. In this compact, vibrant and cosmopolitan capital, a forested green belt runs right through the city centre and you can be windsurfing or mountain biking minutes after you've finished work. Cafes, bars restaurants and a thriving arts scene will keep you busy downtown - explore by foot or hop on a City Circular bus. Home of Peter Jackson and production company Weta Studios, Wellington provided lots of scope for locations. Bree was built on an old army base, and only minutes away by car were Minas Tirith, the fortifications of Helms Deep and Isengard. On your way over to the wine district of Martinborough (just over an hour's drive) you'll pass the Hutt River (where hobbits launched their boats numerous times) and Kaitoke Regional Park, home to scenes from Rivendell and the Fords of Isen.

West Plaza, The Duxton, Lambton Heights B&B.

Day 6 : Wellington. A day to relax in Wellington, although there is plenty to do. We recommend a visit to Parliament Buildings, Te Papa - New Zealand's new national museum or a ride up the cable car for great views over Wellington.

Day 7 : Wellington/Nelson

(243 km/152 miles traveling time 3 a half hours)

Drop off your vehicle at the Wellington Ferry Terminal this morning. Board your ferry bound for the South Island and Picton. The passage across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds is one of the most scenic ferry trips in the world. The fast ferry makes the trip in just over 2 hours, the cruise-style ferry takes 3 hours. Both types of vessel can transport vehicles. Highlights along the way include the Red Rocks seal colony, Tory Channel, Cook's Lookout and the beautiful coves of the sounds.

The picturesque seaside town of Picton is the gateway to the marine, forest and island attractions of the Marlborough Sounds. Museums and interesting walks will keep you entertained while you're here.

Collect your new vehicle in Pincton and drive to Nelson which takes you through the town of Havelock, which is known as the Green Shell Mussel Capital of the World. Nearby Canvastown is a place to explore old gold mining fields – thousands tried to get rich here in the 1860s. At Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve you can enjoy a bush walk or a swim, depending on the time of the year. And if you'd like a glimpse of local life in 1890, Rai Valley has a beautifully preserved cottage museum.

The city of Nelson is home to a fascinating community of beach, bush and art lovers. From here you can organise yourself an eco-adventure or become immersed in the local creative culture. Every year the city hosts the Montana New Zealand Wearable Art Awards, where art comes off the wall and onto the body.

Bella Vista Motel, Monoco Hotel & Resort, Bronte Lodge

Day 8 : Nelson. With three National Parks, a fascinating arts and crafts community and renowned high sunshine hours, you'll be sure to have loads of fun exploring around Nelson and Motueka.

Start with the art and craft trail where the characters are as colourful as their vibrant works. 'The One Ring' was made by a Nelson jeweller and many local artisans worked on props for The Lord of the Rings movies. Drive over Takaka Hill (Chetwood Forest) for stunning views of Golden Bay and access to the famous Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Take a helicopter tour for a spectacular bird's eye view of the remote site where the Fellowship hid from Saruman's black crows, and Dimrill Dale (Mount Olympus and Mount Owen in Kahurangi National Park). At the end of the day, pop into Harrington's brewery in Richmond, makers of the stout served over the bar in The Prancing Pony!

Day 9 : Nelson via Nelson Lakes to Punakaiki.

(275 km/180 miles traveling time 5 hours)

From Nelson journey through scenic reserves to Westport. Westport is a historic coal-mining settlement; the coal town museum has historical exhibitions and photographic displays. Visit the seal colony before continuing on to Punakaiki.

Punakaki Rocks Hotel

Day 10 : Punakaki/Franz Josef.

(227 km/135 miles traveling time 3 hours and 50mins)

Make your way to the South Island's West Coast. We suggest a stop at the Punakaiki pancake rocks before heading down to Franz Josef and the mighty Franz Josef Glacier which descends from the Southern Alps into temperate rainforest. We suggest an optional scenic flight or for the more adventurous a Heli-Hike.

Glacier View Motel, Punga Grove, Westwood Lodge (including breakfast)

Day 11 : Franz Josef/Queenstown.

(404 km/251 miles traveling time 6 hours)

Travel through the scenic wilderness of Haast pass, stopping along the way to take advantage of many short nature walks and picnic spots before continuing to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Take your pick from a selection, jet-boating, white water rafting, bungee jumping or scenic helicopter flights.

A-Line Resort, Heritage, Mount Vista

Day 12 and 13 : Queenstown at leisure. In historic Queenstown and Arrowtown you can get really close to the hobbits' journey - float on a raft down the same river as Frodo, bungee jump into it or wade into the Ford of Bruinen. Or take a drive out to the beautiful beech trees of Fangorn Forest, near Te Anau, situated on Takaro Road. You won't regret a side trip to the stunning Lake Wanaka and the memorable drive through the golden Cardrona Valley - savour the views of the River Anduin, site of the Pillars of the Argonath and Dimrill Dale. And of course, no visit 'down South' would be complete without taking in the unspoiled beauty of Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound in the Fiordland National Park.

We Suggest pre-booking a special 4WD half or full daytour which will take you off road and into the filming locations for Lord of the Rings, your expert guide will share his stories with you. See below for details of cost.

Day 14 : Depart Queenstown. Today is at leisure until you make your way to the airport for your departure. Please drop off your rental car.

PRICE INCLUDES:

14 day full size Hertz Group E car rental, 13 nights accommodation (based on properties listed), Inter-Island ferry crossing for passengers.

PRICE EXCLUDES:

Hertz: Airport/Ferry Concession Fee Recovery (ACFR) – paid direct $28.13 per recovery fee includes GST

Lord of the Rings location in New Zealand