Our 14-day adventure through New Zealand was a dream come true for Lord of the Rings fans and nature lovers alike. Starting in Auckland, we explored volcanic parks, cultural treasures, and both Weta workshops before diving into a Middle-earth journey through lush farmlands, glowworm caves, and the iconic Hobbiton Movie Set. From geysers and geothermal pools in Rotorua to the epic Tongariro Alpine Crossing (a real-life Mordor), each day was packed with unforgettable landscapes and film locations. We wandered through Rivendell, stood atop Edoras, and even soared by helicopter into the glacial valleys of Earnslaw Burn. Queenstown capped off the trip with adrenaline-fueled bungy jumps and a jet boat ride on the Shotover. With stunning hikes, immersive film tours, and cozy lodges across both islands, this was a once-in-a-lifetime journey worthy of its own epic trilogy.
🏹 Two Week Middle-Earth Itinerary
Below is a summary of our 2024 adventure across New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Check out the linked blog posts for travel tips and highlights from each location, including GPS coordinates for LOTR filming sites. See our LOTR comparisons blog for all our side-by-side film location shots.
North Island
- 🌆 Auckland – 1.5 days (Jan 13 – 14 morning)
- 🏛️ Auckland Museum & Wintergardens
- 🌿 Auckland Domain + Mount Eden Sunset Crater Hike
- 🧙♂️ Weta Workshop Unleashed, Weta Cave and Intro to World Building
- 🏨 Quest Mt Eden
- 🌿 Matamata – 1.5 days (Jan 14 afternoon – Jan 15)
- 🏡 Hobbiton Movie Set (3 Tours + Evening Banquet at Green Dragon)
- 🌸 Hamilton Gardens Picnic
- 🏨 Applecross Sanctuary
- 🧙 Waitomo – 1 day (Jan 16)
- 🌋 Rotorua + Taupō – 1 day en route to Tongariro (Jan 17)
- 🌋 Te Puia Geysers + Haka + Kiwi Bird Experience
- 🍽️ Buffet at Pātaka Kai
- 🧪 Wai-O-Tapu Champagne Pool + Geothermal Hikes
- 💦 Huka Falls
- ✈️ McDonalds in an Airplane
- 🔥 Tongariro – 1.5 days (Jan 17 night – Jan 19 morning)
- 🥾 Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Mt Doom, Mordor)
- 🌄 Mead’s Wall
- 🌊 Tawhai Falls (Gollum’s Pool)
- 🐟 Mangawhero Falls (Smeagol Catches a Fish)
- 🏨 Skotel Alpine Resort
- 🏞️ Upper Hutt – 1.5 day (Jan 19 afternoon – Jan 20 morning)
- 🌳 Waitarere Forest (Trollshaw Forest and Osgiliath Wood)
- 🌄 Queen Elizabeth Park (Pelennor Fields close-ups)
- 🌳 Harcourt Park (Isengard Gardens)
- 🧝♀️ Kaitoke Regional Park (Rivendell)
- 🚣 Hutt River (River Anduin, Fords of Isen, Rohan River)
- 🏞️ Optional: Rangitikei River Gorge (River Anduin), Otaki Gorge (Leaving the Shire)
- 🏡 A Rural Self Contained Escape Airbnb
- 🏙️ Wellington – Half day (Jan 20 afternoon)
South Island
- 🏔️ Christchurch & Mount Sunday – 1 day (Jan 21)
- 🪨 Castle Hill (Narnia)
- ⛰️ Mount Sunday Hike (Edoras, Golden Hall, Helm’s Deep)
- 🏨 Mt Pott’s Lodge
- 🏞️ Lakes, Mount Cook & Twizel – 1 day (Jan 22)
- 🏔️ Queenstown – 4 days (Jan 23-26)
- 🌳 Wanaka Tree & Tarras (Great East Road)
- 🧝 Gibbston Valley Wineries (Argonath views)
- 🪂 Bungy Jumping at Kawarau Bridge
- 🧝♂️ Pure Glenorchy LOTR Scenic Tour (Arcadia Station [Paradise] – Isengard and Lothlórien)
- 🥔 12 Mile Delta – Bob’s Cove Track, Mount Creighton (Ithilien Camp and Amon Hen)
- 🚁 Earnslaw Burn Helicopter Tour (Khazad-dûm + alpine landing)
- 🏹 Arrow River Bridges Trail in Arrowtown (Gladden Fields)
- ✈️ Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly
- ⛰️ Lake Alta Track (The Remarkables – Dimrill Dale, Mines of Moria exit)
- 🦌 Deer Park Heights (7 LOTR locations – Rohan, Paths of the Dead)
- 🚤 Skippers Canyon Road and Jet Boat (Shotover River – Ford of Bruinen)
- 🏞️ Optional: Wye Creek (Rings of Power ice wall)
- 🏨 Heartland Hotel / Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park
💡 New Zealand Tips
General
- 🌦️ Expect rapidly changing weather – Pack layers, rain jackets, and quick-dry clothes for all outdoor activities. Plan flex time / activities for major excursions like Hobbiton and Tongariro. We had to cut out Port Waikato (Weathertop) to enable us to book an extra Hobbiton tour on a sunny day. Unfortunately, we didn’t have an additional flex day for Tongariro Alpine Crossing and had to hike it in the rain with no views of Mount Doom. This was all during “the best time to go to New Zealand,” mind you…
- 🚗 Allow extra drive time – Winding roads, one-lane bridges, and scenic pull-offs slow things down.
- 📍 Book key experiences early – Hobbiton Evening Banquet, glowworm caves, Earnslaw Burn helicopter tour, Milford flights, and Glenorchy tours sell out months ahead.
- 📶 Download offline maps – Especially for Tongariro, Mount Sunday, Glenorchy, and Twizel. Have all your GPS locations for filming locations saved as service can be spotty and most are not well-marked.
- 🥪 Carry snacks and water – Many filming locations and remote walks have zero food options. Lembas bread is a filling Middle-Earth snack 🙂
North Island
- 🧙♂️ Hobbiton – Evening Banquet is a must; book backup tours for weather flexibility.
- ✨ Hairy Feet + Spellbound – One of the best LOTR + glowworm combos with small groups and great storytelling.
- 🌋 Rotorua – Te Puia is the best place for kiwi birds, geysers, and an authentic haka in one stop.
- 💦 Huka Falls + Airplane McDonald’s – Perfect quick detours on the Rotorua → Tongariro drive.
- 🥾 Tongariro Crossing – Start early and only go if wind levels are safe and views aren’t obstructed – have a flex day built in for weather. Add Mead’s Wall & Gollum’s Pool for easy LOTR stops with few crowds.
- 🧝♀️ Upper Hutt LOTR – Rivendell, Isengard Gardens, Anduin riverbanks, and the Outer Shire can all be visited in one day.
- 🪄 Wellington’s Mount Victoria – Outer Shire scenes are close together – budget 1-2 hours.
- 🎥 Wētā Recommendation – If you only choose one, go to Wētā Workshop in Wellington. It’s far more LOTR-focused and features props, armor, creatures, and filming secrets you won’t see at Auckland’s Unleashed experience.
South Island
- ⛰️ Castle Hill + Mt Sunday – Amazing back-to-back stops and most surprising scenic experiences of the trip; expect strong winds at Edoras (great for dramatic photos).
- 🌊 Tekapo & Pukaki – Make multiple stops; Pukaki is the bluest lake on the South Island.
- ⚔️ Twizel (Pelennor Fields) – Explore Dusky Trail for the best Rohan scenery if you are unable to do the private tour.
- 🏔️ Queenstown as a base – Stay 3-4 nights minimum; choose lodging with parking to avoid downtown congestion and move hotels for convenience/budget. We stayed at a hotel in downtown and near the airport based on our itinerary and to use free points.
- 🍷 Gibbston Valley Wineries – Pinot Noir specialties with Argonath views; drive slowly on narrow Chard Farm Road.
- 🪂 Kawarau Bungy – Amazing first jump + LOTR river setting (Anduin/Argonath).
- 🧙 Lord of the Rings Tour – Pure Glenorchy LOTR tour hits exclusive Arcadia Station (Isengard, Beorn’s house), Ithilien, and Lothlórien with props for photos.
- 🥔 12 Mile Delta – Easy-to-find Ithilien camp (taters + oliphants scenes) to access on your own outside a tour
- 🚁 Earnslaw Burn Heliworks Tour – One of NZ’s top experiences with glacier landing + LOTR waterfalls; otherwise, long hike required to reach Earnslaw Burn.
- ✈️ Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly – Saves 8+ hours versus the bus. Pick tour with airplane window seats for all with a longer cruise that goes to the Tasman Sea. Some of the best photos from the entire trip were from this plane!
- 🧗 Lake Alta Track – Short but steep; incredible views of The Remarkables/Dimrill Dale.
- 🦌 Deer Park Heights – Multiple Rohan scenes in one spot; bring screenshots for perfect recreations.
- 🚤 Skippers Canyon Jet – Let the experienced guides drive the dangerous road; thrilling drive and jet boat to remote Ford of Bruinen filming location.
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