Ultimate Lord of the Rings

Our Ultimate Lord of the Rings Adventure will see you embarking on an incredible journey through Middle Earth, while enjoying the stunning scenery of the diverse lands of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Explore Hobbiton, raft down the mighty Anduin, stay overnight at the foot of Mount Doom, stroll through Rivendell, visit the Lothlorien Forest and more!

Welcome to The Road Trip – ‘Where Your Journey Begins’.

 

This tour can be enjoyed in two ways:

Self Drive: We plan the whole adventure and make all reservations for you, and away you go in your rental vehicle + GPS with a specially prepared travel guide to enjoy this adventure on your terms!

OR

Private Guided: We plan the whole adventure and make all the reservations for you, and we pair you up with one of our local expert driver/guides and you enjoy an entirely private & flexible chauffeur driven service for 16 days in paradise!

 

Day 1 – Arrival Auckland

Upon arrival at Auckland Airport you will be met by one of our friendly representatives who will give you your route notes and assist you with the collection of your rental vehicle and The Road Trip begins! Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead. Tonight you will enjoy dinner in Auckland’s spectacular Sugar Club restaurant.

Budget Family Accommodation: Nesuto Stadium Apartments or similar

Classic Accommodation: Cordis Auckland or similar

Dinner included today

 

Day 2 – Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton – 250km (3.5 hours)

Today you farewell the ‘City of Sails’ and head south to Rotorua; a hot spot for Maori culture and thermal activity. En route you will visit Hobbiton and The Shire’s Rest, the only remaining film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies (included activity). Arrive in Rotorua in the late afternoon and perhaps take a city tour featuring Kuirau Park mud pool reserve and view the stunning government gardens and lakefront. This afternoon/evening you could experience a relaxing soak in the thermal waters of the famous Polynesian Spa (optional – extra cost).

Budget Family Accommodation: Silver Fern Motel or similar

Classic Accommodation: Regent of Rotorua or similar

Breakfast included today

Day 3 – Rotorua

Today is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, a trip to Rotorua Agrodome to experience zorbing, a visit to a kiwifruit farm, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa or a walk through the redwood forest. This afternoon you will explore Te Puia to experience mud pools and geysers and visit the Maori Weaving School and Kiwi House. This is a chance to see our national bird up close. This evening you will enjoy a traditional Maori dinner (Hangi) and see a cultural performance.

Budget Family Accommodation: Silver Fern Motel or similar

Classic Accommodation: Regent of Rotorua or similar

Breakfast and dinner included today

 

Day 4 – Rotorua to Tongariro National Park – 178km (2.5 hours)

Your first stop for the day is Waimangu Volcanic Valley – a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will see the world’s largest hot spring, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours. You’ll also enjoy a cruise above the once famous Pink and White Terraces, buried by the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 (included activity).  Heading south and stopping at the mind-blowingly powerful Huka Falls en route, you will reach Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake where you may wish to stop for lunch. Winding your way around Lake Taupo, you will eventually reach Tongariro National Park where you may wish to take a hike in the National Park itself. One of The Road Trip’s favourites is 2 hours long featuring native bush, volcanic views and stunning waterfalls.In clear weather there is a great opportunity to spot New Zealand’s 3 most active volcanoes – Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngaurauhoe (also known as Mt Doom). Enjoy a 3 course dinner tonight in the elegant dining hall of Chateau Tongariro.

Budget Family/Classic Accommodation: Chateau Tongariro or similar (mountain view)

Breakfast and dinner included today

 

Day 5 – Tongariro National Park to River Valley Lodge – 143 km (2 hours)

Today you will drive to River Valley Lodge, where you will be taken on a full day scenic rafting trip down the Rangitikei River (grade 3 maximum rapids) which will see you drifting through dramatic landscapes which portrayed the stunning “River Anduin.” in the Lord of the Rings. This is not a Lord of the Rings tour but is on the same river which filming was undertaken on and the scenery is breath-taking! This evening you will be staying overnight at River Valley Lodge (availability dependent) before making your way south to New Zealand’s capital city tomorrow morning.

Budget Family/Classic Accommodation: River Valley Lodge or similar

Breakfast included today

 

Day 6 – River Valley Lodge to Wellington – 260km (3 hours 45 minutes)

You will leave River Valley Lodge and head for Taihape – The gumboot throwing capital of the world! Give gumboot throwing a go at their specially designed gumboot throwing lane! Heading south you arrive in Wellington in the afternoon to discover New Zealand’s capital city. You can take a city tour taking in sights such as Mt Victoria – Wellington’s most spectacular viewpoint with 360 degrees of the city, harbour and mountain ranges in the background or Te Papa – our national museum. In the evening perhaps have a wander through the bustling streets of Wellington where you can enjoy a meal on the waterfront (optional – extra cost).

Budget Family Accommodation: CityLife Wellington or similar

Classic Accommodation: Bolton Hotel or similar

Breakfast included today

 

Day 7 – Wellington Lord of the Rings Full Day Tour

Today you will be taken on a full day Lord of the Rings tour with Rover Rings Tours to see many filming locations in the greater Wellington area! Sites today include Dunharrow, the Outer Shire, parts of the Hutt River used to also portray The River Anduin, the Gardens of Isengard and the glorious Rivendell! You will also see where Helms Deep and Minas Tirith were filmed. Today’s tour also includes a 45 minute tour through the Weta Cave at Weta Workshop where post production for LOTR and The Hobbit trilogies was completed.

Budget Family Accommodation: CityLife Wellington or similar

Classic Accommodation: Bolton Hotel or similar

Breakfast included today

 

Day 8 – Wellington to Kaiteriteri/Abel Tasman National Park – 180km (3 hour ferry trip + 2.5 hours driving)

It’s time to journey over the Cook Strait and wave goodbye to the North Island today, as you sail toward the mainland of New Zealand; the South Island. The Northern coast of the South Island is simply beautiful and you will be able to take it all in as you sit back and relax on the ferry through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds. There is a possibility today of having lunch at a vineyard in the wine growing region of Marlborough (optional – extra cost), before you make your way to the beautiful beachfront holiday town of Kaiteriteri.

Budget Family/Classic Accommodation: Kimi Ora Eco Resort or similar (ocean view)

Breakfast included today

 

Day 9 – Kaiteriteri/Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman is New Zealand’s smallest National Park and is famous for its golden beaches, turquoise waters, native bush and spectacular scenery. Today you’ll explore the best of this region with a stunning half day kayaking trip that covers part of a marine reserve. Board a cruise to Medlands Beach where you can relax, swim and explore, then cruise back to Kaiteriteri to kayak in the shelter of one of of New Zealand’s most popular bays. Observe the marine reserve’s playful inhabitants – dolphins, fur seals, penguins and sea birds. The rest of the afternoon is free to spend at leisure.

Budget Family/Classic Accommodation: Kimi Ora Eco Resort or similar (ocean view)

Breakfast included today

 

Day 10 – Abel Tasman National Park to Punakaiki via Nile River Glowworm Caves – 278 km (4 hours)

This morning you farewell the sunny North Coast and head southwest, to the lush rainforest of the West Coast. En route you will stop in at Underworld Adventures in Charleston. Here they will kit you up for the trip of a lifetime through their glowworm caves. The journey starts with a trip on their rainforest train, a walk through the rainforest and a journey into their large limestone cave. Following this you will lie on a tube and drift under the light of thousands upon thousands of glow worms on the cave ceiling. This particular cave has more glowworms than any other cave in NZ and the experience is truly cathartic. Upon arrival in Punakaiki you have the option of enjoying a true blue New Zealand pub meal this evening before calling it a night (optional – extra cost).

Budget Family Accommodation: Paparoa Park Motel or similar

Classic Accommodation: Punakaiki Resort or similar (ocean view)

Breakfast included today

 

Day 11 – Punakaiki to Franz Josef – 217km (3 hours)

Heading south down the West Coast Road; known by many as the most picturesque road in New Zealand, you will see rainforest and the shores of the Tasman Sea side by side, along with cliffs, waterfalls and green paddocks. Check out the stunning Hokitika Gorge with its beautiful bright blue waters and surrounding native forest en route. At the end of all this, you will arrive at a Glacier! Franz Josef Glacier is unique in the fact that it terminates around 300m below sea level and the base is surrounded by rainforest. You can take a walk to the base of the glacier and look up to the rugged mountains where the Lighting of the Beacons took place. Tonight you have the opportunity to relax and unwind in the thermal pools located in native rainforest in Franz Josef Village. This afternoon or tomorrow morning you have the option of a helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with a snow landing or a 3 hour heli-hike experience which includes a helicopter landing and guided walk through the crevasses of the glacier! (Optional – extra cost)

Budget Family Accommodation: Punga Grove Motel or similar

Classic Accommodation: Aspen Court Franz Josef or similar

Breakfast included today

 

Day 12 – Franz Josef to Queenstown – 350km (4.5hours)

Today you will take a journey south through the beautiful native forests, streams and mountains of the Haast Pass, as well as the huge gleaming blue waters of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, toward New Zealand’s adventure capital; Queenstown. Along the way you’ll enjoy views of waterfalls and take in the sights and sounds of the centuries-old native forest.

Also along the way is the picturesque lakeside holiday town of Wanaka. Looking across the lake, you will see the backdrop used for Gandalf’s flight to Rohan with Gwaihir, after his rescue from Orthanc. You also have the option today of walking the Diamond Lake walking track to see this location up close.

Following this, conquer New Zealand’s highest altitude highway and possibly stop in at one of New Zealand’s oldest pubs; the Cardrona Hotel, for a drink. Make your descent down the mountain into Queenstown, you will be inescapably bombarded by familiar Lord of the Rings scenery, including the spectacular Remarkables Mountain Range, another of the unforgiving landscapes used to portray the journey through the slopes of Dimrill Dale.

Budget Family Accommodation: Alexis Motel or similar (lake view)

Classic Accommodation: The Rees Hotel or similar (lake view)

Breakfast included today

 

Day 13 – Queenstown Half Day Lord Of The Rings Tour

Today you’ll enjoy a Glenorchy 4WD 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 a result, there are stunning vistas and panoramic views of the Southern Alps. As well as visiting the filming locations for Isengard you will also discover the Ithilien Camp, Lothlorien & Fanghorn forest, Battle of Amon Hen and many more. After you return to Queenstown in the afternoon, the rest of the day is free to spend as you wish.

Budget Family Accommodation: Alexis Motel or similar (lake view)

Classic Accommodation: The Rees Hotel or similar (lake view)

Breakfast included today

 

Day 14 – Queenstown to Aoraki/Mt Cook – 263km (3 hours)

You leave Central Otago today through the Kawarau Gorge and Cromwell where you can make a stop en route and visit a local fruit shop for a chance to try real fruit ice cream and perhaps sample New Zealand famous manuka honey products. From there, cross the Lindis Pass (965m) to the Mackenzie Country, known for its Merino Sheep and wool industry. Weather permitting you can take a short walk at the foot of Mt Cook – New Zealand’s highest mountain. Spend the afternoon in Mount Cook Village, nestled in the Southern Alps. Here you can take one or several nature walks in the national park, or perhaps enjoy an 8 wheeler adventure to Tasman Glacier, or a boat ride in Tasman Lake around icebergs to the terminal face of the glacier (all activities optional – extra cost). On a clear night there will be the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour to the Observatory and marvel over the spectacular night sky (not included).

Budget Family Accommodation: Mt Cook Lodge & Motels or similar

Classic Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel or similar (Aoraki/Mt Cook view)

Breakfast included today

 

Day 15 – Aoraki/Mount Cook to Christchurch via Methven (Edoras)

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 tour, you will travel to Christchurch where you will spend one final evening.

Budget Family Accommodation: Colombo in the City Motel or similar

Classic Accommodation: Rydges Latimer Christchurch or similar

Breakfast included today

 

Day 16 – Christchurch Departure Day

Today you will transfer to your onward travel arrangements. We trust that you have enjoyed your epic journey through Middle Earth with us!