Full-Day Lord of the Rings Tour:
Enjoy an all-inclusive full day adventure in Wellington, the middle of Middle-earth. Visit some amazing locations from the Lord of the Rings movies, enjoy a delicious lunch, and visit the famous Weta Workshop - where the films were created. Our experienced and highly knowledgeable guides with decades of experience between them will ensure you have a day to remember.
You will start your journey by seeing the Embassy Cinema and learning about the extraordinary World Premieres of The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey on the way to the Mt Victoria lookout, where you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and the harbour. Then descend into the forested slopes of the nearby Outer Shire, where you will follow in the footsteps of Frodo and the Hobbits as they find a shortcut to mushrooms and "get off the road" as they hide from the Black Riders before escaping to the Buckleberry Ferry.
Next, you head to the Miramar Peninsula and the film-making Mecca of Wellywood. This is the home of the famous Weta Workshop where you will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour in a specially designed, top secret tour space. A Weta artist will share the secrets behind movie-making and explain how the props, costumes, weapons and creatures were brought to life. You will have the chance to take some cool photos and pick up a souvenir or two, if desired.
Following this, you will venture out of the main City towards the Great River Anduin before enjoying a delicious lunch fit for a Hobbit at a nearby café.
Fully energised after lunch, you will drive to a stunning 1000-year-old temperate rain forest that was the location of Rivendell. Here you will immerse yourself in the magical setting and learn how the area was transformed into the last homely house east of the sea. You can release your inner Elf and snap a photo reenacting a famous Legolas image and then recreate the scene where Frodo leads the newly formed Fellowship towards Mordor by posing in front of the Rivendell gate tower which is the only Lord of the Rings replica structure in the whole of New Zealand outside of Hobbiton.
Starting the journey back to the city, you will visit the Gardens of Isengard where Gandalf rode to meet Saruman and where the wizards walked through the beautiful gardens before they were destroyed. You also pass by the quarry used to build the sets of Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith. You will return full of information and stories that will make your friends and family jealous.
Tour Information:
- Includes lunch.
- Allow approximately 7.5–8 hours.
- Scheduled departure is 8.30am; departure time may vary with cruise ship schedules and Wētā availability.
- Pick-up available from selected central Wellington locations. Please confirm your pick-up point when booking.
- Some filming locations are accessed via steep, unsealed paths and are unsuitable for guests with limited mobility.
- Includes a Wētā behind-the-scenes tour (generally at the Wētā Group Tour Experience space rather than the main Wētā Workshop building). Includes a visit to the Wētā Cave retail shop.
- Itinerary and order of stops may change depending on availability.
- Tours operate in all weather conditions. Closed-toe shoes and a jacket are recommended.
About Discover Wellington:
Small city. Big stories. Wellington packs an extraordinary amount into a small city. Film, food, culture, nature and history are all within easy reach - from the heart of the city to the wild coastline beyond.
Whether you're a film fan, a foodie, an outdoor enthusiast or simply curious about the place, Discover Wellington will help you experience Wellington your way.
