10 Day Mountains of Middle-Earth Guided Tour

The landscapes of New Zealand look so dramatic and vivid that it’s easy to assume Middle-Earth was the product of CGI. But the original Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed almost entirely on location, so when you visit New Zealand, you truly feel as if you’ve stepped into Middle-Earth.

And the South Island is where you’ll find the stunning mountains of Middle-Earth, showcased in all their glory in those sweeping aerial shots we love so much – hence the theme of this tour! From the mountain-ringed river basin where Edoras was built and then disassembled after filming, to the snow-capped peaks towering behind Isengard, this is Middle-Earth at its most awe-inspiring.

Here are a few of our suggestions to make the most of this Lord of the Rings tour:

• Let us know your level of obsession with Middle-Earth in advance! We can tailor this tour in a number of ways to match. The package tour as outlined below is perfect for anyone with an interest in Lord of the Rings and includes plenty of non-movie-specific New Zealand highlights in case you’re travelling in a mixed group of fans and non-fans. However, if you are super-fans, we recommend booking organised day tours around Queenstown (instead of just visiting filming locations with your private guide) so you can play around with licensed movie props and re-create the scenes with scripts and reference photos.
• If your group is interested in hiking, let us know, because there are several extra locations you can visit if you’re up for a short hike!
• We will match you with an LoTR expert guide if filming locations are the main focus of your New Zealand trip. Your guide will share behind-the-scenes filming stories and other fun facts that you can’t learn anywhere else.
• Ask your guide for recommendations of where to buy Lord of the Rings-themed souvenirs. There is official licensed jewellery available in Queenstown, or you can buy other themed souvenirs around town or from day tour operators in the region.
• The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook by Ian Brodie is a fun keepsake to help you remember everywhere you visited on your tour. Your guide can show you where to purchase this along the way.

Looking for something else?

• Hoping to see both islands? The 10 Day Lord of the Rings Guided Tour takes you to the highlights of both islands, from Hobbiton and Weta Workshop to Edoras and Isengard.
• Considering a longer tour? The 14 Day Lord of the Rings Guided Tour is our definitive Middle-Earth experience.
• Is Hobbiton a must-see? The 10 Day Hobbit Country Guided Tour visits North Island filming locations that include Hobbiton, Mordor, and Weta Workshop.

10 Day Mountains of Middle Earth Guided Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Christchurch

Arrive in Christchurch, where your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your central accommodation.

Before you visit your first Lord of the Rings filming destination tomorrow, it’s well worth taking the chance to explore downtown Christchurch. The city centre is compact and walkable, with historic architecture, notable street art, beautiful parks, art galleries and museums, and a thriving culinary scene. The Riverside Market is well worth a visit, or if you have more time, your guide can take you to the International Antarctic Centre or to Sumner Beach.

For a memorable first night in New Zealand, you can even add dinner aboard the heritage Christchurch Tram.

Stay 2 nights in Christchurch.

Day 2 Edoras Tour, Lord of the Rings Filming Locations

Venture into the remote Ashburton Lakes region today for a tour of Edoras, the awe-inspiring hilltop home of the Rohan people in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

As you travel by 4WD vehicle, discover how the film crew transformed Mount Sunday into Edoras, with replica swords and flags to use as photo props. The journey takes you past tumbling rivers and glistening lakes, with a backdrop of towering mountain peaks.

When you reach the Rangitata river basin, take a guided hike to the summit of Mount Sunday, where you can stand where the characters did and immerse yourself in Middle-Earth.

Rebecca says: “Edoras is the standout filming location on the South Island. The set was fully built on top of Mount Sunday (though it was disassembled afterwards to protect the conservation land), and the dramatic mountain basin looks exactly as it does on screen. As you stand atop the mountain, you’ll feel just like Eowyn as she looks out over Rohan with the wind in her hair.”

Filming locations included today:

• Edoras (Mount Sunday, Hakatere Conservation Park)

Day 3 Lake Tekapo + Mount Cook Village + Glacier Explorers Tour

Travel time Christchurch to Mt Cook Village – 4.5 hours 

Journey into the Mackenzie Basin today, where the highest peaks of the Southern Alps tower beyond two stunning turquoise lakes. In Lake Tekapo, you may wish to stop and visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, which features in many iconic photos of the region. Your guide can also take you to the top of Mt John, where you can enjoy panoramic views and grab a bite to eat at the café.

Continue past Lake Pukaki on your way to Mt Cook Village, nestled at the foot of New Zealand’s highest mountain.

In the afternoon, join the unique Glacier Explorers Tour, which takes you across the Tasman Glacier terminal lake for an encounter with icebergs and the ever-changing face of the glacier. Lateral moraines rear up almost 200m to remind us of the scale and greatness that the glacier has reached in previous times.

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is part of the Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, one of only eight in the world, which means the stargazing here is magnificent. We can add a stargazing experience to your tour if you wish to experience the wonders of the night sky.

Optional filming locations you can visit with your guide today:

• Laketown (Lake Pukaki)

Stay 1 night in Mt Cook Village.

Day 4 Pelennor Fields + Argonath + Ford of Bruinen + Queenstown

Travel time Mt Cook Village to Queenstown – 3.5 hours 

Today you will encounter a number of filming locations (both on the journey south and once you reach Queenstown), so be sure to make a plan with your guide and decide how many you want to visit.

Not far from Mount Cook Village, you can make a short detour to the filming location for Pelennor Fields, at Ben Ohau.

Rebecca says: “For the best views of the Pelennor Fields (where a number of iconic scenes were filmed, including The Ride of the Rohirrim, The Sacrifice of Faramir, and Eowyn’s battle with the Nazgul), your guide can take you on an easy 1-hour return hike at Ben Ohau.”

After leaving the Pelennor Fields, enjoy the scenic drive over the Lindis Pass. When you reach Queenstown, you can either head straight to your central accommodation to get settled in, or you can first make a visit to the filming locations for the Argonath, and the Ford of Bruinen. You can also explore the charming and quirky settlement of Arrowtown. The heart of its history is Buckingham Street, a tree-lined avenue of tiny miner’s cottages. The buildings in this lovely precinct house shops, galleries, bars and restaurants.

Once you reach Queenstown, New Zealand’s stunning adventure capital, you have the option to add on an unforgettable helicopter flight to see a number of remote filming locations tucked in spectacular mountain valleys.

Optional filming locations you can visit with your guide today:

• Pelennor Fields (Ben Ohau)
• The Ford of Bruinen (Skippers Canyon and the Arrow River)
• The Argonath – Pillars of the Kings (Kawarau River)
• The Gladden Fields (Arrowtown)

Stay 2 nights in Queenstown.

Day 5 Jet Boat + New Zealand Lord of the Rings Locations, Isengard & Ithilien Camp

Your guide will drive you to the stunning township of Glenorchy, nestled at the head of Lake Wakatipu. The jet boat safari continues past Glenorchy up the Dart River, which passes into the Paradise Valley (easily recognisable as Isengard). Marvel at the snow-capped mountain peaks and stunning turquoise river.

Afterwards, relax and explore Glenorchy with your guide. You have the option to enjoy a forest walk or visit further filming locations (including the Ithilien Camp).

In the afternoon, return to Queenstown and explore the area with your guide, with the option to visit more filming locations around town, or sample award-winning wines at the vineyards of the Gibbston Valley.

Rebecca says: “Glenorchy is my absolute favourite part of New Zealand. It feels like an enchanted land that shouldn’t really exist (which is probably why it’s been used for more than one fantasy film!). The Dart River Jet Boat is the best way to see Glenorchy in all is glory, because the most stunning scenery can’t be viewed from the road. However, if you want to handle props and recreate scenes around the whole Queenstown/Glenorchy region, you may want to swap this jet-boat tour out for a full-day driving tour of Glenorchy and the Wakatipu Basin.”

Filming locations included today:

• Valley of Isengard (Paradise Valley, Glenorchy)

Optional filming locations you can visit with your guide today:

• Ithilien Camp (Twelve Mile Delta)

Filming locations you can visit on an add-on tour today:

• Lothlorien, Battle of Amon Hen, and Beorn’s House (if you either swap the Dart River Jet for a half-day Lord of the Rings tour of Glenorchy or a full-day Lord of the Rings tour of Queenstown and Glenorchy, or add the half-day Glenorchy Lord of the Rings Tour following the Dart River Jet)
• Dimril Dale (if you add a private morning hiking tour to Lake Alta)
• Misty Mountains, Redhorn Pass, and Earnslaw Burn – used as a location in both the Hobbit trilogy and the Rings of Power (if you add a 70-minute Lord of the Rings helicopter flight)

Please note you cannot fit all of these add-on tours in one day. If you want to experience them all, we recommend the helicopter flight upon arrival to Queenstown on Day 4, the full-day Queenstown and Glenorchy Lord of the Rings tour on Day 5 (instead of the Dart River Jet), and the hike to Dimril Dale on the morning of Day 6 before heading to Te Anau.

Day 6 Te Anau + Mountain Magic Helicopter Tour

Travel time Queenstown to Te Anau – 2.5 hours 

Your scenic tour will continue as you make your way past Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

Nestled on the edge of a lake, the picturesque township of Te Anau is the main visitor base for the glacier-carved wilderness that is Fiordland National Park. Restaurants are plentiful and give visitors the opportunity to sample delicious local fare like venison, lobster and seafood. 

In the afternoon, experience a spectacular helicopter flight over Fiordland! Departing from the lakeside helicopter pad on the Te Anau lakefront, journey deep into the Fiordland wilderness. Soaring high over the Main Divide with its ever-changing scenery of beech forest, maunga (mountains) and bright blue alpine lakes, you’ll love this little-seen part of South-West New Zealand. Breathe the crisp alpine air when you land on Mount Kidd, a remote, picturesque area complete with an inky blue lake. From here, soak up the epic views out over Fiordland’s landscapes. Make sure your phone or camera is charged – this is a scene you’ll want to revisit time and time again!

Optional filming locations you can visit with your guide today:

• Dead Marshes (Kepler Mire)
• Interior of Fangorn Forest – where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli encounter Gandalf the White (Bog Pine Paddock in Snowdon Forest)
• River Anduin (Waiau River)

Stay 2 nights in Te Anau.

Day 7 Milford Sound Boat Cruise

Embark on a fantastic journey along the Milford Highway today to New Zealand’s most iconic fiord – Milford Sound. Travel with a small tour group on this extended day trip to Milford Sound. Along the way, stop for countless scenic photo opportunities and short walks.

At Milford Sound, enjoy a scenic nature cruise that takes you up close to the majesty of the fiord – you might even spot keas, seals, dolphins, or the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin! With specialist nature guides on board, offering a close-up experience of Milford Sound’s rainforest, soaring rock walls, towering snow capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, hanging valleys and wildlife… words just don’t do it justice, you have to see it for yourself! 

Day 8 Wanaka

Travel time Te Anau to Wanaka – 3 hours 

Rebecca says: “If you enjoy hiking, you can start your day with a guided Lord of the Rings tour around the Te Anau region, which takes you to a few beautiful filming locations at the Mavora Lakes. This is the site of Fangorn Forest, Nen Hithoel (where the Fellowship camped by the lakefront before parting ways), and the Silverlode River. Here you’ll see one of those dramatic forest borders that impressed me so much when I first arrived in New Zealand!”

Enjoy the scenic drive over the Crown Range to Wanaka – your guide will stop for photos at panoramic viewing points. Option to stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel and the Cardrona Distillery.

Wanaka has a reputation for great food and wine, with a wide variety of lakefront bars, cafés and restaurants serving exceptional local cuisine.

Explore Wanaka with your guide – you may want to visit Puzzling World, Wanaka’s illusional attraction; the National Toy and Transport Museum or the Wanaka Lavender Farm located just a few minutes from Wanaka, where you can experience 20 acres of beautiful lavender fields, farm animals & display gardens.

Test out your fishing skills at “Hook”, Wanaka’s very unique interactive Lake to Plate dining experience. Catch a Chinook salmon from the scenic spring-fed fishing lakes and then relax as the team prepares it for you. No experience is necessary and fishing equipment can be hired on the day.

Stroll the streets and be inspired by galleries and stylish shops, visit ‘That Wanaka Tree’ for the perfect photo, or enjoy one of the many famous walking tracks such as Mt Iron.

Filming locations you can visit on an add-on tour today:

• Fangorn Forest Edge, Breaking of the Fellowship, Nen Hithoel, and the Silverlode River (if you add a half-day Mavora Lakes Lord of the Rings tour)

This add-on tour option has an 11am departure and a duration of 5.5 hours, which means you will arrive in Wanaka in the evening. If you want to explore Wanaka, you will have a chance to do so the following morning before heading to the West Coast.

Stay 1 night in Wanaka.

Day 9 Fox Glacier + Franz Josef Glacier

Travel time Wanaka to Franz Josef – 4.5 hours 

After the Milford Highway, the Haast Pass Highway is one of the most scenic alpine routes in New Zealand. Explore the pass with your guide, stopping to view waterfalls, alpine meadows and the turquoise depths of the Blue Pools.

Continuing along the West Coast, your guide will take you to Lake Matheson, where you can take a 20 minute walk (one-way) to the jetty, to admire the reflected views of the Southern Alps on the surface of the lake.

In the afternoon, you have the option to add on a helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with a snow landing. Highly recommended! (This flight offers a view of Mount Gunn, where the Lighting of the Beacons was filmed.)

Filming locations you can visit on an add-on tour today:

• Lighting of the Beacons – Mount Gunn (if you add a Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight)

Please note this add-on helicopter flight option is NOT a Lord of the Rings-specific tour. You may need to ask your pilot to point out Mount Gunn.

Stay 1 night in Franz Josef.

Day 10 Hokitika + TranzAlpine New Zealand Train + Christchurch

Travel time Franz Josef to Greymouth – 2.5 hours 

Train travel time Greymouth to Christchurch – 4.5 hours 

Enjoy more West Coast beauty today. You may wish to visit Hokitika Gorge, where an impressive turquoise river flows through a narrow canyon. Also close by you will find a great attraction in the West Coast Treetop Walk. The walkway is 450 metres in total and reaches heights of 20 metres giving you fantastic panoramic views. Hokitika is a great location worth exploring, famous for its rugged beach and arts and crafts scene.

In the afternoon, continue to Greymouth and leave the rugged West Coast behind as you board the TranzAlpine Train for a fantastic journey through Arthurs Pass. Travel past the soaring peaks and braided rivers of the Southern Alps, through the gorges of the Waimakariri River, and past the rolling Canterbury Plains.

Your guide will meet you at the train station and bring you to your accommodation. Celebrate your fantastic Lord of the Rings Tour at one of Christchurch’s top restaurants.

Stay 1 night in Christchurch.

Day 11 Depart Christchurch

Your guide will deliver you to Christchurch Airport for your departing flight.

More Lord of the Rings Tours

https://www.newzealandguidedtours.com/10-day-lord-rings-guided-tour/

https://www.newzealandguidedtours.com/7-day-lord-of-the-rings-guided-tour/

https://www.newzealandguidedtours.com/21-day-lord-of-the-rings-guided-tour/

https://www.newzealandguidedtours.com/10-day-hobbit-guided-tour/