YOUR DAY
Guided: Upon arrival, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will take you to your accommodation. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.
Self Drive: Upon arrival you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal and make your way to your accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Tonight you will take a trip to the top of the Skyline Gondola to see Queenstown, the surrounding mountains and Lake Wakatipu from the best vantage point. You will enjoy a buffet dinner atop the hill in Stratosfare restaurant with breathtaking views over Lake Wakatipu across to The Remarkables.
YOUR DAY
Today you'll enjoy a safari packed with breathtaking Lord Of The Rings filming locations and thrilling 4WD action. Along this magical journey, you will travel along one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. As well as visiting the filming locations for Isengard, you will also discover the Ithilien Camp, Lothlorien & Fangorn forest, Battle of Amon Hen and many more. You will also travel the Skippers Canyon Road to Lighthouse Rock, gold pan in the Arrow River and have the opportunity to dress up and take photos in replica film props.
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that will be visited/viewed today:
Ithilien
Misty Mountains
Bruinen River
Amon Hen
Isengard
Argonath
Lothlorien
Dead Marshes
Beorn's House
Please note that if you choose a guided tour, today will be a full day off as legally required for your driver/guide and all transport will be provided by Nomad Safaris.
Please ensure you read the risk disclosure attached before agreeing to book this tour
*this tour can be made private on request
YOUR DAY
171km, 2 hours driving time
This morning you'll be taken on a thrilling jet boat ride down the beautiful Shotover River! Enjoy twists, turns and spins through this remarkable landscape.
The rest of the morning and early afternoon is free to explore Queenstown at leisure and take part in some of the fantastic activities that this ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ has to offer. Options for the adventurous include: skydiving, bungy jumping, a canyon swing, white water rafting, flyboarding or paragliding. You could visit Arrowtown; one of New Zealand’s most important towns in the gold rush to Central Otago in the 1860s. Perhaps spend time looking around the historic Chinese gold-mining settlement which played a key part in NZ’s first gold extraction from the Arrow River.
Late afternoon you will drive a further 2 hours to Te Anau, situated on the shores of New Zealand’s 2nd largest lake. Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Here you can wander around the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary to spot several of New Zealand's rarest birds in captivity, including the famous Takahe, which was once thought to be extinct.
YOUR DAY
240km, 4 hours driving
Be prepared for one of the jewels of the New Zealand landscape! The drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is one of the most spectacular in the world and certainly a highlight on any New Zealand tour. En route you will see spectacular valleys, breath taking mountains and hopefully spot the cheeky Kea (New Zealand’s mountain parrot).
Late morning you will experience all that the fjords have to offer with a 1 hour 45 minute boat cruise featuring pristine waterfalls and towering mountains plunging into the Tasman Sea.
Keep a look out for dolphins, seals and the Fiordland crested Penguin. On your trip back to Te Anau there is the opportunity to enjoy several short walks in the Fiordland National Park.
YOUR DAY
294km, 4.5 hours driving
This morning in Te Anau you will take a tour by boat across Lake Te Anau to the glow worm caves to view the shimmering light of thousands of luminous glow-worms in a 12,000 year old grotto.
Following this you will explore the secluded haven of the Mavora Lakes area, near Te Anau. Enjoy a visit to filming sites such as Dead Marshes, Fangorn Forest & The River Anduin.
Skirting your way around Lake Wakatipu makes for some stunning photography and you will be amazed by the Remarkables Mountain Range, one of the most famous back drops for Lord of the Rings. This afternoon is a chance to explore the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka. Options include: a walk up one of our favourite look out spots featuring 360 degree views of Lake Wanaka, Aspiring National Park and the Clutha River. There is also the option to take a skydive at 15,000ft, making a visit to some of the area’s fantastic wineries, a drive into the Matukituki valley to discover some hidden spots or even fishing on the lake to take a chance at catching fresh trout (all activities optional – extra cost).
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that can be visited today:
Nen Hithoel
Fangorn Forest
Dead Marshes
River Anduin
YOUR DAY
Today you will experience the best in adventure tourism with Wildwire’s adventures. The "Lord of the Rungs" is the world’s highest waterfall cable climb. Reaching the top will take you through 450m of vertical terrain. You'll attach yourself to a cable that is fixed to the rock and climb the path on a series of metal rungs, pegs and ladders. This enables those with no climbing experience to reach remote locations and enjoy places and sights that they might not otherwise be able to experience.
Following this, we also recommend a side trip to the Diamond Lake walk, which was used as the backdrop for Gandalf’s journey to Rohan with Gwaihir. Aside from this being an important filming location, the scenery on this walk is exceptional!
Tonight, relax in one of the many famous restaurants Wānaka has to offer.
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that can be visited today:
Backdrop for Gandalf's Flight to Rohan with Gwaihir
YOUR DAY
206 km, 2 hours 50 minutes driving
You leave Central Otago today and, cross the Lindis Pass to the Mackenzie Country and travel alongside the stunning turquoise Lake Pukaki towards Aoraki/Mt Cook Village. Spend the afternoon in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village, nestled in the Southern Alps. Here you can enjoy several nature walks in the national park such as the famous Hooker Valley track.
This afternoon you will enjoy a cruise around the Tasman Glacial Lake and experience the enormity of NZ's largest glacier. The towering ice wall is really quite incredible, with an astonishing history. On this tour you will explore and learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape as you journey across the terminal lake. Icebergs of every shape and size periodically tear away from the face of the glacier into the rapidly growing lake, making every day different to the next. This is a unique opportunity to truly feel small as the lateral moraines rear up almost 200m, reminding us of the scale and greatness that the glacier has reached in previous times.
Enjoy a buffet dinner tonight with spectacular views of Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Following dinner, take a mesmerising journey through the cosmos as you explore the wonders of the night sky; home to planets, stars and a whole other world we only dream about on a one hour guided stargazing tour.
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that can be visited today:
Minas Tirith Mountains
Lake Town
*Please note that the Pelennor Fields (near Twizel - en route today) is no longer accessible as tours here no longer operate and the site is on private land.
YOUR DAY
288km, 3.5 hours driving
Today you'll head to Terrace Downs from Mount Cook.
Today you head to our final destination on your epic journey through Middle Earth; Edoras! The filming location for Edoras is at the remote and beautiful Mt Potts High Country station, home of Mt Sunday. Hassle Free Tours will show you how this peaceful mountain was transformed into Edoras, the capital city of the Rohan people in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Immerse yourself in the natural, unspoilt beauty of this breathtaking area with its sparkling clear lakes, glistening blue rivers and fresh, crisp mountain air.
Following this, enjoy the beautiful grounds of Terrace Downs Resort, nestled against the glorious Southern Alps.
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit filming locations that will be visited today:
Edoras
Helms Deep Mountains
YOUR DAY
89km, 1 hour 10 minutes driving time
This morning you have the option to visit the glorious Washpen Falls for a tramp through a mixture of native and exotic forest, stunning waterfalls and excellent views over the Canterbury Plains.
Following this, you will head to Christchurch where you have the afternoon free to explore Christchurch and enjoy all that the city has to offer.
Stroll the shops of the Arts Centre, wander Riverside Market and the surrounding retail areas, newly developed Avon River banks, check out the stunning Margaret Mahy Playground, pause for a drink along beautiful New Regent Street, or check out the International Antarctic Centre! You will also have the chance to see the Christchurch Cathedral up close which is currently being restored following the 2011 earthquake. Wander a few streets away and visit the transitional cathedral also which is the Anglican Church's current place of worship. This impressive structure was designed by a renowned Japanese architect known for his disaster relief projects; Shigeru Ban. The building is made primarily of cardboard tubes, which have been reinforced with timber and steel to make them earthquake-resistant. This impressive structure was able to be built very quickly thanks to Shigeru Ban's choice of materials and innovative design techniques.
Today you will transfer to your onward travel arrangements. We trust you have had a fantastic time in our beautiful country and wish you safe travels to your next destination.
Onward flight is not included.