There’s a reason why a Lord of the Rings tour of New Zealand is on many travellers’ bucket lists – because New Zealand genuinely does feel like Middle-earth. Step into some of the most iconic filming locations, and you’ll think you stumbled into a fantasy world.
Peter Jackson used very little CGI to bring the original Lord of the Rings trilogy to life, instead hunting out the perfect locations around New Zealand and building exquisite miniatures to recreate the cities and villages of Middle-earth. This means you genuinely can visit the settings for Edoras or Hobbiton or the Valley of Isengard.
When planning a Lord of the Rings tour of New Zealand, you can either start with one of our highly recommended tour packages or work with our expert team to build your own tour based on your timeframe and interests.
To help you get started, read on to discover:
Lord of the Rings filming locations are dotted along the full length of New Zealand, taking advantage of our diverse scenery. However, there are three key LOTR destinations that you don’t want to miss if you plan on seeing both islands.
Breathtaking mountains, turquoise rivers, and vast lakes define this region, home to a great number of filming locations. Don’t miss the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit day tours around Queenstown and Glenorchy – these bring you to locations that include:
If you want to see even more LOTR filming locations in the area, splurge on an unforgettable Lord of the Rings helicopter flight. This will give you a taste of the breathtaking aerial perspective that made the landscapes of Middle-earth so captivating.
Hobbiton is the ultimate Lord of the Rings destination. With the set appearing exactly as it did in the films, this is your chance to immerse yourself in the Shire.
Stroll past charming hobbit-holes built into verdant hillsides, venture inside the recently opened replica hobbit homes at Bagshot Row, and enjoy a hobbit-themed drink at the Green Dragon Inn.
For an even more immersive experience, book a tour that includes an evening banquet meal on set, concluding with a lantern-lit walk past the hobbit-holes.
Home to Weta Workshop, Wellington is the third unmissable Lord of the Rings destination in New Zealand.
We recommend visiting the film production workshop as part of a full-day Lord of the Rings tour, which takes in numerous filming locations in the region. Highlights include:
This is where you can recreate the famous “Get off the road!” scene and see how the filmmaking magic happened with creatures and miniatures made at Weta Workshop. Even Wellington Airport pays tribute to the films with towering Lord of the Rings-themed sculptures.
We have designed six highly popular Lord of the Rings tours of New Zealand, which make a great starting point when planning your Lord of the Rings vacation. Book one of these all-inclusive tours as it is, or work with our team to customise it to suit your preferences.
Encompassing both islands, this tour is perfect for visitors short on time who want to see all the highlights. Lord of the Rings destinations include:
This is a fast-paced guided tour that hits all the Lord of the Rings filming highlights of the country, from Auckland to Queenstown. LOTR filming locations include:
Visit the most spectacular mountains of Middle-earth on this South Island Lord of the Rings tour. As you loop around the island, past glaciers and turquoise lakes, through valleys and over passes, visit the following filming locations:
The rolling hills and volcanic landscapes of the North Island form the backdrop for this Hobbit Country guided tour. Visit the top filming locations between Auckland and Wellington, including:
This is our most popular Lord of the Rings tour of New Zealand. Visit both islands at a more leisurely pace while experiencing all the best LOTR filming locations. Lord of the Rings highlights include:
If you have three weeks to spare, this tour gives you a more in-depth New Zealand experience while also hitting the Lord of the Rings highlights from the 14-day tour. Filming destinations include:
There are hundreds of Lord of the Rings filming locations dotted the length of New Zealand, some easily accessible, others requiring a hike or a helicopter flight to reach.
Below, we have compiled some of the most iconic filming locations – the ones you will immediately recognize from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. These are organized based on how easy they are to reach.
Many are a staple of any Lord of the Rings tour of New Zealand, while others require more planning to fit into your itinerary. Your guide will stop at any locations of interest along your route, or we can customise your New Zealand LOTR tour to include less-accessible destinations.
This must-see filming location is self-explanatory. An essential part of any Lord of the Rings vacation that includes the North Island.
Located in Glenorchy, just an hour from Queenstown, Paradise Valley is the filming location for the dramatic Valley of Isengard. Surrounded by breathtaking mountains and threaded through with braided rivers, this valley is pure Middle-earth.
Your guide can take you to an overlook in Paradise Valley that gives sweeping views of the location of the Tower of Isengard. Alternatively, visit the Valley of Isengard on a Lord of the Rings 4WD tour or the Dart River Jet Wilderness Safari.
These two filming locations are situated on Mt Victoria, in Wellington. These are fun places to recreate the iconic scenes in the Outer Shire – the best way to visit is with a Lord of the Rings tour of Wellington, since your guide will point out exactly where the filming took place.
Once you see the iconic profile of the Remarkables mountain range from Deer Park Heights, you’ll recognize it immediately in the “Refugees of Rohan” scene. This is easy to visit from Queenstown, either with your guide or on a 4WD Lord of the Rings tour of Queenstown.
Located in Kaitoke Regional Park, Rivendell is part of the Wellington Lord of the Rings tour that we recommend for all travellers visiting the region. Here in the bright, airy forest, you’ll find a replica Elvish arch and information panels on the filming.
Gaze out over the stunning turquoise waters of Skippers Canyon and imagine the towering statues where the Fellowship rowed past the Pillars of the Argonath. Situated near Queenstown, this filming location is easy to visit either with your guide or on a 4WD Lord of the Rings tour of Queenstown.
The volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park appeared in numerous Mordor scenes, some of which are easily accessed from the road. The drive south from Taupo passes through the Rangipo Desert, which was used for numerous battle scenes around Mordor.
A bit of a detour takes you to Meads Wall, one of the most recognizable filming locations here. Just a 10-minute walk from the base of Whakapapa Ski Field, this rock formation is where Frodo and Sam climbed the hidden stairway into Mordor.
The intense turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki were home to Lake-town in the Hobbit trilogy. A highlight of the drive between Christchurch and Queenstown, this is a filming location you won’t miss if you pass through the region.
South of Lake-town, the Twizel region starred as Pelennor Fields in the epic Ride of the Rohirrim and Battle of Pelennor Fields. Take a brief detour off the main road onto the Pukaki Canal Road to experience this sweeping filming location.
In Glenorchy, not far from the viewpoint over the Valley of Isengard, you will find the lovely beech forest that starred as Lothlorien. On a 4WD Lord of the Rings tour of Queenstown, your guide will point out exactly where certain scenes took place.
Twelve Mile Delta, between Queenstown and Glenorchy, is where Frodo and Sam saw the oliphants at Ithilien Camp. This is an easy location to visit either with your own guide or on a 4WD day tour.
Skippers Canyon starred as the Ford of Bruinen, where Arwen confronted the Black Riders. Located not far from Queenstown, this location is easy to visit with your guide or on a Lord of the Rings 4WD tour of the region.
We have included Edoras in many of our Lord of the Rings holiday packages because this is an iconic location and the scenery is so easily recognizable. However, Mount Sunday is an out-of-the way destination that requires a full day to visit as part of a guided tour out of Christchurch.
Situated in a breathtaking valley ringed by jagged peaks, Mount Sunday takes only 30 minutes to climb. Well worth visiting for any who want a true taste of Middle-earth grandeur.
You’ll find the home of the Ents at Snowdon Forest, near South Mavora Lake. Here you can see the dramatic line where trees give way to open plains, with towering mountains in the background. South of Queenstown, this LOTR filming location is easy to visit on the way to Te Anau.
Mangawhero Falls, close to Turoa Ski Field in Tongariro National Park, is where Gollum catches a fish while Faramir looks on. The falls are just a short walk off the road.
The rocky surrounds of Poolburn Reservoir formed the striking backdrop for another part of the Refugees of Rohan scene. Visit the reservoir on a day trip from Queenstown or on the drive between Queenstown and Dunedin.
Not far from Te Anau, the Kepler Mire was the filming location for the Dead Marshes. Te Anau is not included on most of our shorter Lord of the Rings tours, but this is an easy location to visit if you do happen to stay there.
Also located near Te Anau, the Waiau River starred as the Anduin River, where the hobbits parted ways with the elves in Lothlorien. Walk along the trail that follows the river or take a jet-boat ride to see the full length of the Anduin River.
One of the most breathtaking aerial film sequences in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lighting of the Beacons showcases epic snow-covered mountains. The peaks and ridges used for this scene are located at Mount Gunn, near Franz Josef. The only way to properly experience this filming location is with an extended glacier helicopter flight.
The eerie Putangirua Pinnacles stood in for the Dimholt Road leading to the Paths of the Dead. You will need to hike several hours to reach these pinnacles, which are north of Wellington.
The beautiful green waters of the Pelorus River at the top of the South Island are where the iconic “Dwarves in Barrels” scene took place. See the river for yourself on a hike or a kayak tour.
The dramatic rock-strewn face of Mount Owen stood in for the entrance to the Mines of Moria. This otherworldly filming location can only be reached on a multi-day hike or a helicopter tour.
After departing Rivendell in the Hobbit trilogy, Bilbo and the dwarves trekked through the dramatic glacial Earnslaw Burn. You can visit on a long, steep day hike or a helicopter tour.
For further inspiration as you begin planning your Lord of the Rings tour, read about the top 5 Middle Earth attractions in New Zealand and LOTR locations you can’t miss in New Zealand.
If you’re already dreaming of exploring the Hobbit-holes, read our tips for visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set.
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