FULL DAY TOUR LORD OF THE RINGS TOUR

This tour is more than visiting filming sites. Your guide will share fascinating little-known gems relating to the filming at each site, and you will want to watch the films all over again once you have done this informative tour.

From your hotel or i-Site pickup we make our way to the Hutt Valley. The first stop is the Dry Creek Quarry where you see the filming site of Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith.

A short drive will see us stop at the River Anduin (Hutt River) where the Fellowship travelled to Amon Hen, Sir Peter Jackson filmed Faramir’s premonition of his brother Boromir dying, and where Aragorn’s horse Brego saved him from drowning.

Then it is on to the site of Gardens of Isengard Harcourt Park) where Gandalf met Saruman the White to discuss the Ring, and it is also where Saruman’s Orc army destroy the gardens.

Next stop is Rivendell (Kaitoke Regional Park) the home of the Elves. Enjoy a walk through Rivendell and see the nearby river used for the scene where Éomer recovers the dying Théodred, son of King Théoden. More adventurous travellers may also cross the swing bridge over the Hutt River.

Now we are off to the Weta Workshop in Miramar. Here you have an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour (entry included in your tour price) where you see how props plus weaponry are made and probably meet artists at work making props.(*) In the next part of the tour you will see amazing sets from Thunderbirds.

At the Weta Cave you will be given the opportunity to purchase souvenirs and have photos with Gollum, Lurtz the Uruk-hai, Bilbo’s three Trolls, and characters from other movies that Weta has been involved in. We will arrange for you to act and pose (photo shoot) with the trolls and other props. This is fun and enjoyed by everyone.

At the conclusion of your Weta Workshop tour we have a table reserved at a popular local seaside cafe, where you can relax and enjoy some local kiwi cuisine from the menu (lunch cost is not included in the tour price),

After lunch you will head to Mount Victoria to the Hobbiton Woods where the filming of the epic trilogy began. This is the home of the Shortcut to Mushrooms scene; Sam and Frodo’s Second Breakfast; the location where the Hobbits hid from the Black Rider (“Get off the Road!”); the Race to the Buckleberry Ferry scene; and King Théoden’s Dunharrow Encampment. (This part of the tour has some limited wheelchair accessibility)

A little further on is the Mount Victoria Lookout and here you will see spectacular views of Wellington’s city and harbour. Have your cameras ready!

The tour concludes with a drive around the bays where you will enjoy the delights of a ‘Rivendell Ripple’ to cap off your memorable tour.

(*) Subject to Weta Workshop’s format. Weta Workshop may change details without notice, but will be approximately the same as described here.