Are you a Lord of the Rings Fan? Did you miss the Movies?
Check out our Self Drive Lord of the Rings Tour:
$1720 CAD per person Land ONLY (Flights available from across Canada and the US). Various departure dates
Call us at 1-604-746-0406 or email vacations@oceanbreezeholidays.com
BC REG 36168
New Zealand has become famous as the filming location for many movies in recent years, but none more so than The Lord of the Rings. This magical 14 day, self-drive quest takes you to all the country’s most breathtaking sights, along with many of the trilogy’s key locations.
Arrive early to enjoy cosmopolitan Auckland before visiting the rolling hills of Waikato, which shot to fame as ‘The Shire’. Though the furry-footed hobbits have wandered on, Hobbiton remains, along with a fascinating commentary about the filming. Then, drive on to meet two even bigger stars, spectacular Waitomo Caves (we can’t promise an encounter with the Balrog, but the adrenaline rush created by underground ‘black water’ rafting is pretty close) and bubbling Rotorua, which shows off geothermal New Zealand at its finest.
The volcanic landscapes of the North Island are beautiful, dramatic, and strangely eerie – in other words, the perfect real-world rendering of Tolkien’s world. Visit Lake Taupo and Tongariro, for scenery that’s as accessible as it is foreboding – you may wish to try skiing on the slopes of an active volcano, for instance. Spend a day exploring the charming capital of Wellington. Base camp for the entire Lord of the Rings production, it’s also home to many of New Zealand’s best museums, galleries and wine regions. Intrepid fans can even track down the sites of Minas Tirith, Helms Deep, Rivendell and Isengard.
After a free day in Wellington, cross Cook Strait to Nelson, the South Island’s oldest settled city and home to many of the artists who made props for Lord of the Rings. Shop for your own mementos or visit one of a multitude of national parks, including the vehicle-free Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Continue on to see natural wonders including the Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki and Franz Josef Glacier before arriving in the adventure capital of Queenstown. Try bungee jumping, white water rafting, or ride the famous Shotover jetboat.
Back on the hobbits’ trail, wade into the Ford of Bruinen, and visit Fangorn Forest, right in the heart of the South Island’s breathtaking Fiordland. Then go on to the River Anduin, home to the Pillars of Argonath and Dimrill Dale. Consider an optional, guided 4WD tour off road, which covers all the key filming locations.
