NZ Tour

Waikato

The area around Matamata was transformed into the village of Hobbiton, home of the hobbits, where Frodo began his perilous journey.

The rolling green hills of Waikato perfectly portray the peaceful Shire, home of Bilbo and Frodo for many years. The rural landscape of ordered farms and hedgerows is a delight. Parts of the set still remain and can be visited by guided tour, giving an opportunity to follow the same green paths to Bag Endand the Party Tree. Further north, on the coast near Port Waikato, are the frowning slopes of Weathertop where Frodo was stabbed by the Black Rider.

Ruapehu

Many visit the slopes of Mt Ruapehu in winter, a popular skiing location. In other seasons however, the scarred rocky incline of Mt Ruapehu becomes the Emyn Muil where Frodo and Sam captured Gollum.

Nearby are the slopes of Mt Doom, the epicentre of evil, and home to Sauron. Here was the battle of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age when the Ring was cut from the hand of Sauron. At Ohakune, Gollum caught fish beneath the forested slopes of Mt Ruapehu. These sites can be visited with a pair of walking shoes within one kilometre of major roads, or they can be seen from the air.

Wellington

The capital of New Zealand is also the capital of Middle-earth. Within the Wellington region are the outer reaches of the Shire, where Frodo and the hobbits escaped the Black Riders. Also located near Wellington are the evil tower of Saruman, the hidden refuge of Rivendell and the encampment of Dunharrow.

Home to the cast and crew for over three years, Wellington has a cosmopolitan richness and compactness that allows the visitor to shop in stores explored by Liv Tyler, and then within minutes walk the leafy lanes of Mt Victoria. A drive over the hills to the Wairarapa will take you to the eerie Putangirua Pinnacles, where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli sought the Paths of the Dead.

Nelson

The artisans of Nelson crafted The One Ring, brewed the beer that was served at The Prancing Pony at Breeand created many of the props of Middle-earth.

Further inland, and only accessible by helicopter, is the ridge where the Fellowship rested after the horrors of the Mines of Moria and hid from the evil crows of Saruman. Along the coast, past beaches of golden sands, lies Chetwood Forest, where Aragorn and the hobbits fled after their stay at Bree. Helicopter tours operate in Kahurangi National Park, providing access to the more remote film locations.

Canterbury

The flat Canterbury Plains stretch from the Pacific Ocean to the high peaks of the Southern Alps. Within the deep valleys hidden near Mt Sunday the Rohirrim city of Edoras was constructed, as well as the Court of Meduseld home of King Theoden.

As glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age, large valleys remained and Mt Sunday overlooking Erewhon appears as if it has leapt from the pages of JRR Tolkien's book. The drive to Edoras from Christchurch is one of contrasts you cross flat plains before entering a hidden realm of brown grass and snow-capped peaks.

Mackenzie

New Zealand encapsulates all the geographical features of Middle-earth, and this is strikingly apparent near Twizel in the Mackenzie Country.

Here the epic battle of the Pelennor Fields (Return of the King) took place, where thousands of orcs bred by Sauron clashed with the men of Gondor and Rohan. The grassy fields that stretch to the foothills of the White Mountains are really here - exactly as described in The Lord of the Rings. Stay in the friendly town of Twizel and take a guided tour of the high country station that witnessed over 300 horses take part in the battle to defend Minas Tirith.

Queenstown

The many and varied landscapes around Queenstown, Glenorchy and Arrowtown meant that more country-side scenes were filmed here than anywhere else.

Within a day’s drive you can visit the eaves of Lothlórien, walk along the ridge in Ithilienwhere Sam and Frodo first saw the terrifying Oliphants, or stand at the Ford of Bruinenwhere Arwen drove back the Black Riders. Five minutes drive from the Airport is Deer Park Heights, where the wargs attacked the Rohan refugees and where Gandalf rode to Minas Tirith. Here you can bungy jump like Orlando Bloom or take a tour by jet-boat, helicopter or 4WD to several film locations.

Fiordland

This mountainous region of unspoilt forests and lakes was the home of two of the more remote regions of Middle-earth.

The Waiau River between Te Anau and Manapouri doubled as the River Anduin as the Fellowship paddled south from Lothlórien, and the surrounding high peaks became the rough country south of Rivendell. Clear blue alpine lakes lap against shores of verdant native bush embraced by precipitous mountains. Using Te Anau as a base you can jet-boat the Anduin, gaze at the Misty Mountains from a Doubtful Sound Cruise or experience your own walking adventure along the Kepler Track.