Express Lord of The Rings Hiking Trail & Adventure Tour
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Explore Iconic Lord of the Rings Trails Across New Zealand
Are you looking for a unique experience that will take you through the magical world created by J.R.R Tolkien? Look no further! We are excited to announce our New Zealand-wide express Lord of the Rings tour – with more of a focus on nature and the outdoors.
This tour is designed to give visitors an immersive and unforgettable experience traveling through some of New Zealand’s most beautiful landscapes where some of your favourite scenes from the movies were filmed. You will get to explore forests, rivers, lakes, and mountains as part of your journey into Middle-earth. Get closer to nature, explore your favourite places from the books and movies, and immerse yourself in Tolkien’s incredible world!
This tour is optimally enjoyed with a private guide, but for self-drivers we provide comprehensive travel guides, complete with GPS coordinates to find these iconic filming locations. This allows you the freedom to explore them at your own pace on a self-drive tour if you prefer. Rest assured, all our offerings are fully customisable and tailored to meet your specific preferences. Feel free to ask us to modify this itinerary to create the journey of your dreams!
Go off-the-beaten-path and experience nature as never before.
Customise Your Lord of the Rings Tour
These activities are just a taste of what’s possible! We specialize in crafting bespoke Lord of the Rings holiday experiences tailored to your interests and preferences. If you have specific hiking trails or filming locations in mind for your Lord of The Rings tour, let us know, and we’ll craft a custom itinerary just for you. Every Lord of the Rings holiday is one of a kind, and we’re here to make yours truly unforgettable. Dream big – your adventure is waiting.
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Top attractions in this Lord of the Rings tour
Your 14-day LOTR itinerary
14-day journey exploring 10 key Lord of the Rings destinations across New Zealand's diverse landscapes.
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DAY 1
- Auckland Arrival
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DAY 2
- Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton
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DAY 3
- Rotorua
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DAY 4
- Rotorua to Christchurch (Flight)
What’s included in The Lord of the Rings tour?
Detailed Lord of the Rings travel guides & GPS Co-ordinates to take you to the filming locations
Your choice of accommodations. Silver, gold or platinum/luxury options
A choice of self-drive and privately guided transport
In-depth and detailed custom travel app
Custom tour creation with one of our travel experts
Listed activities (these are fully customisable)
Full insurance coverage on rented vehicles and parking
What’s not included?
Return international flights
Personal travel insurance
Some lunches and dinners
Individual shopping and souvenirs
Extra, optional activities
Why book a privately guided road trip
Bespoke Itineraries
Bespoke Itineraries
Personalised tours tailored to your preferences
Authentic Kiwi Experiences
Authentic Kiwi Experiences
Genuine insights into New Zealand's culture
Flexible Bookings
Flexible Bookings
Secure and adaptable travel arrangements
Private Travel Safety
Private Travel Safety
Safe, crowd-free, intimate exploration
Local Expertise
Local Expertise
In-depth knowledge from a Kiwi-owned business
New Zealand's Top Awarded Tours
New Zealand's Top Awarded Tours
Winner of Tripadvisor’s ‘Travelers choice’ over multiple years & our 100+ 5 star reviews
I've encountered a lot of Lord of the Rings fans while guiding tours who tell me that part of the excitement for them is not just that they get to see where the trilogy was filmed, but the landscapes just happen to be breathtaking too, so they want to enjoy the natural scenery along the way also. I love knowing at the end of a tour that my clients have truly made the most of every minute on their journey!
Alex
General Manager
Express Lord of the Rings Tour FAQs:
How will I know which locations were filmed where?
If you choose a guided tour, our expert guides will provide detailed information about each filming location. For self-drive tours, we offer very detailed, self-made route notes with GPS coordinates and explanations. This ensures you won’t miss any important sites and will fully understand the significance of each location.
What if group/Bus tours are full? Do you still have availability?
Yes, we specialize in bespoke tours, so we can create customized experiences even if group tours are full. Our flexibility allows us to tailor-make a tour to fit your schedule and preferences, ensuring you still get to enjoy an unforgettable journey. Just let us know your needs, and we’ll make it work.
Can we make The Lord of the Rings tour longer or shorter?
Yes, we can customize the tour duration to fit your schedule. Whether you want a shorter adventure or a more extended journey, we can adjust the itinerary to meet your needs. Just let us know your preferences.
What if I want fewer Lord of the Rings activities?
No problem! We can customize your itinerary to include fewer Lord of the Rings activities and incorporate other interests. Whether you want to explore local culture, nature, adventure sports, or other attractions, we’ll tailor the tour to suit your preferences.
Real and Independent Traveller Feedback
Read reviews on Tripadvisor
Great trip to Australia
These guys are good! They put our itinerary together based on a mutual discussion(s) and di a very good job. The highlight was the end of the Trip in Port Douglas, a GREAT hotel-The Peninsula, and two great tours, the Daintree Rain Forest , Far North Escapes, where the guide-Jason was amazing and then The Great Barrier Reef with Wavelength for snorkeling-AMZING and the crew were fantastic. Highly recommend these guys.
By the way Yamilla is fantastic as well.
Stephen S
Apr 2025
Fantastic
Our trip was amazing, everything happened just as it was supposed to! I really appreciate Yamila’s efforts to plan our trip just as we asked, everything was well organized. From our transportation arrangements to our private guide Glenn who took us to the Blue mountains, the personnel were excellent. We packed a lot in 3 days each Sydney and Ayers Rock.
C B
Mar 2025
Sydney-Gold Coast Self-Drive Road Trip
Dear Yamila & The Road Trip Team
Thank you for your making my Sydney-Gold Coast Road Trip a smooth one. I would say there wasn't any hiccup along the trip. Everything well taken care of; from airport transfer to hotel bookings to rental car and some tour bookings. My family really enjoyed the holiday. What I really love was the freedom to drive anywhere with recommendations to go. It was very comprehensive. My kids loved the hotels you booked for us, especially the Anchorage and Pepper Soul! You made our maiden road drive in Australia to a new level. It is definitely an memorable experience. We are already thinking of another road trip in Australia!
Thank you once again!
Flyer786747
Jun 2024
21-Day Australia Trip
21-day Australia trip was fabulous. We didn't want to drive the Australian roads, so The Road Trip organized all of the hotels, transportation and guided tours. The Road Trip team, especially Yamila, had everything planned and they even helped make changes as new opportunities came up. The trip itinerary appealed to everyone as there was the perfect combination of beach, sightseeing, tours, downtime, and outdoor activities. Our favorites included: penguin parade, full-day snorkel tour, night walk tour in the rainforest, and the canyon hike through the Blue Mountain National Park. All six of us agreed that we couldn't have seen or done as much as we did if it wasn't for The Road Trip team. We will be contacting you again for our next trip!
Linda E
Mar 2024
They do all the work, you have all the fun!
I want to thank Road Trip Australia for planning and coordinating such a great itinerary. I wouldn’t have known where to start doing it on my own. They made it easy. The packet they provided was full of good information and allowed me to maximize the time that I had to tour. I definitely recommend them to plan your trip.
Elizabeth B
Nov 2020
21 Day Self Driving/Guided Australian Holiday
The Road Trip put together our recently completed self-driving tour of Australia. They were easy to work with and did an outstanding job of arranging our accommodations and travel in country (both driving and flying). We started in Melbourne with an excellent tour of the central city. We then heading over to the Yarra Valley for two nights. It’s an area known for its vineyards and wine making. Then it was off to the Great Ocean Road for two days of beautiful beaches and great stops recommended by The Road Trip. We spent two days in charming Port Fairy at a great boutique hotel. Then it was back to Melbourne to head to Sydney. Some weather issues prevented us from traveling as planned but we did spend a day and a half in Sydney with the highlight being a climb to the top of the Harbor Bridge. After Sydney we spent two days in the Blue Mountains. Our plans were limited by the recent fires which was disappointing. We spent one day in the Hunter Valley and if you are into wine another day would be appropriate. Then back to Sydney to fly up to the Great Barrier Reef. The rainforests and reef were magical. Wavelength did a great job with the reef snorkeling tour. It was then back to Melbourne for the Australian Open which was a blast. Then finally a trip to Phillip Island to watch the penguins come back to their burrows after a busy day in the sea. Overall a memorable trip and it was logistically very easy with The Road Trip.
JEPAZ
Feb 2020
