Your 13-day New Zealand Tour has you explore the culture and landscape in a way only Tolkien could have imagined and Peter Jackson could have captured, on this ultimate Lord of the Rings adventure. Lush hills roll over hobbit-holes. The all-seeing Eye of Mordor burns in the distance, magma bubbling below. Welcome to Middle Earth, where the majesty of the Lord of the Rings films come alive.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Auckland - Welcome to Middle Earth
Arrive in Auckland, New Zealand and say hello to the borders of Middle Earth. The beauty of New Zealand casts spells over visitors and locals alike, written in the mountains, stored in the water, and seen in the sky. The “City of Sails,” is New Zealand’s largest city where sails float over the water like clouds adding to the majesty of an already captivating country. Settle into the outskirts of Middle Earth and prepare yourself for the adventurous journey to come, where there is more to desire than just “the one ring.”
Today you will take the ferry and cross a small sliver of ocean heading to Waihike Island. Explore the island on a guided tour, experiencing the diverse beauty of Waiheke. The cool breeze blows across-shore and through the trees. The smell of vineyards drifts along the hills. The sun is warm and inviting in the sky. Traverse the Awaawaroa Trig Hill Track and enter a quiet valley hidden in the shadows of the island’s highest mountain. The smell of the sea merges with the unique flowers that bloom along the walkway.
On the Awaawaroa Bay Lookout you can see the hills roll out onto the water. The water is a clear blue in the sunlight. The landscape is lush, shining various shades of green. As the sun begins to set over the ocean and the deep red glows along the shore, you know you are becoming a part of Tolkien’s world.
What's Included:
Day 2
Rotorua - Enter the Shire
Day 3
Rotorua - Journey Through the Valleys
Day 4
Wellington - Deeper into the Middle
Day 5
Wellington - The Magic of Middle Earth
Day 6
Wellington - Taste of Middle Earth
Day 7
Queenstown - The Queen of Middle Earth
Day 8
Queenstown - Fly Over Middle Earth
Day 9
Queenstown - Soar Over Queenstown
Day 10
Glenorchy - The Road to Mordor
Day 11
Glenorchy - A Journey of Doubt
Day 12
Queenstown - Return To Queenstown
Day 13
Queenstown - One Tour to Rule Them All
Trip Highlights
- Visit the various landscapes that make up Middle Earth
- Experience the true culture of Maori
- Tour through the majesty of Doubtful Sound
- Experience the rush of a jet boat ride
- View the landscape from above as you fly over Queenstown
- Zipline over Lake Wakatipu
- See the incredible landscape of the Waimangu Thermal Valley
- Walk the “Road to Mordor”
Detailed Description
Experience the stunning and adventurous beauty of Middle Earth on this 13-day New Zealand vacation. Whether in the bountiful blossoms of summer or the blanketed white mountains of the winter, Middle Earth, and New Zealand, should be explored, adventured, and all around experienced. Follow Frodo’s journey from the Shire to Mordor and see the exceptional majesty of the fictional world J.R.R. Tolkien created but that New Zealand has always been.
Begin your adventure in Auckland where you will explore the city and the nearby island of Waiheke. Explore the land and sea of Waiheke Island where vineyards thrive and walking trails meander across the terrain. Make your way south to Matamata where Hobbiton lies, the complete Shire where you can wander through and even sit in the Green Dragon Inn and rest for a minute before exploring the incredible wonder of the Waitomo Caves. Eventually you arrive in Rotorua, New Zealand’s “Cultural Capital.” Exploring Rorotura not only brings the incredible culture of the Maori to life but also the terrain of Mordor and the part of the intense geyser landscape that made up much of the trek to Mordor as you visit Waiotapu Wonderland and Waimangu Thermal Valley. You will arrive in Wellington with plenty of time to see the sights of the city and its surroundings, such as the Gardens of Isengard where the Orcs pulled the trees and where Gandalf rode to Saruman, including a stopover to Weta Workshop where much of the props and models for the movies were made.
Your journey through Middle Earth continues on New Zealand’s South Island as you fly to Queenstown. Soar over much of the remarkable area surrounding Queenstown to see beautiful and demonic areas of Middle Earth, such as natural features you may better recognize as Isengard and Amon Hen. While in Queenstown you will enjoy the thrill of flying through the sky on a zipline with the breathtaking panorama of the city beyond, followed by a jet boat tour of the Dart River where the Lothlorien forest lies. Your path finally leads you to Doubtful Sound, a stunning fjord in Fiordland National Park where you will sail through mountains that rise, waterfalls that rush, and where serenity surrounds the boat. Your path through Middle Earth is full, breathtaking, and accomplished. New Zealand is filled with exceptional beauty and no more so than seen in the unparalleled landscapes of an imaginary realm that was captured to perfection in the scenery of the country’s North and South Islands.
Related Information: There are a variety of New Zealand tours on Zicasso. Browse the section on New Zealand travel agents to see what real travelers say about their customized experiences.
Note: Zicasso and “Lord of the Rings New Zealand Tour Package" are not affiliated with, or sponsored or endorsed by, Middle-earth Enterprises, The Saul Zaentz Company, New Line Cinema, WingNut Films.
Starting Price
$5,300 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.85 stars based on 1603 reviews.
Reviewed By Gerry W.
Reviewed By John R.
Reviewed By Frances S.
Reviewed By Lawrence D.
Reviewed By Stephen C.