12 Day Scenic Middle Earth Highlights Itinerary

On arrival in Auckland, you’ll be transferred from the airport and have time to settle in and unwind. Enjoy free time in the City of Sails to explore its waterfront, dining precincts, and iconic landmarks.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Private airport transfer
• Explore at your leisure
• Wētā Workshop Unleashed experience
• 1 night in Auckland

Make it yours
Visit the Sky Tower and witness the city lights come alive from 186 metres above street level.

Suggested Accommodation:

Collect your rental vehicle and drive through the rolling Waikato countryside to Matamata, home of The Hobbit’s Hobbiton Movie Set, for a guided tour before enjoying an evening banquet in the Shire, then continue on to Cambridge.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, dinner
• Rental vehicle collection
• Hobbiton Movie Set guided tour
• Evening banquet dinner experience

Approximate Distance: 195 km | 121 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins


Suggested Accommodation:

Travel to Piopio to explore the dramatic limestone landscapes of Trollshaws Forest filming locations before continuing south into Waimarino (Tongariro National Park), arriving in the volcanic heart of the North Island.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Trollshaw Forest guided tour
• 2 nights in Tongariro National Park

Approximate Distance: 270 km | 168 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 45 mins

Ready to make the journey yours? Enquire online or speak with a Travel Designer to personalise your perfect New Zealand escape.

Suggested Accommodation: 

Start the day with a gondola ride offering panoramic views, followed by thrilling luge rides. Continue with a Māori cultural experience featuring storytelling, seasonal food gathering, and traditional performance.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, traditional hāngi dinner
• Skyline Gondola & 3 luge rides
• Māori cultural experience

Make it yours
Upgrade your Skyline experience with lunch overlooking panoramic views and an additional two luge rides per person, giving you more time on the tracks to test your racing skills.

Travel through the dramatic Desert Road with sweeping volcanic views, continuing south through scenic towns and landscapes before arriving in Wellington, the arts capital of New Zealand.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic Desert Road
• Gollum’s Pool stopover
• Osgiliath Wood stopover
   

Approximate Distance: 290 kms | 180 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours

Suggested Accommodation:

Explore iconic Middle Earth filming locations around Wellington, including Rivendell, the Gardens of Isengard, the Hutt Valley, and Mount Victoria, before finishing with a behind-the-scenes visit to Wētā Workshop to discover the artistry and craftsmanship that brought Middle Earth to life.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea
• Full-day LOTR tour
• Mount Victoria stopover
• Wētā Workshop experience

Today, return your rental vehicle as you say farewell to the North Island and fly to Queenstown, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Upon arrival, collect your rental vehicle and explore a region renowned for adventure, dining, and stunning alpine scenery.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Domestic flight to Queenstown
• Rental vehicle collection
• 3 nights in Queenstown

Suggested Accommodation: 

Journey from Queenstown to Glenorchy on a fully guided Middle Earth tour, visiting iconic filming locations from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit while uncovering behind-the-scenes stories amid some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscapes.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Morning or afternoon tea
• Full-day guided tour through iconic LOTR locations
• Replica sword and costumes for photo opportunities
• Mt Aspiring and Lake Wakatipu stopovers

Enjoy a free day to explore Queenstown at your own pace, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with a dramatic alpine backdrop, offering everything from lakeside walks and boutique shopping to world-class dining and optional adventure activities.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Explore at your leisure

Make it yours
Explore the Gibbston Valley wine trail to sample exceptional Pinot, or board the 100-year-old TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak Station for a farm tour and dinner. 

Travel to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park, surrounded by mountains, lakes, and untouched wilderness. Known for its rich biodiversity, Te Anau also served as a filming location for Lord of the Rings.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic alpine drive
• UNESCO World Heritage views
• 2 nights in Te Anau

Approximate Distance: 175 km | 108 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Journey deep into Fiordland for a full-day guided cruise through Doubtful Sound, a remote and pristine fjord known for waterfalls, wildlife, and dramatic scenery.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, lunch
• Scenic Doubtful Sound cruise
• Dolphin, Fur seal and Crested penguin sightings

Return to Queenstown and drop off your rental vehicle, reflecting on your journey through New Zealand’s spectacular landscapes and iconic Lord of the Rings filming locations. From the Shire to the dramatic scenery of Middle Earth, you'll leave with lasting memories of the places and stories that brought the films to life.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Rental vehicle return

Approximate Distance: 175 kms | 108 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Inspired by what you’ve seen? Let’s create a journey to Aotearoa, New Zealand that’s uniquely yours.

Speak with a Travel Designer to start planning your personalised escape.