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10 hours
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Combine our Half Day in Middle Earth with a second Half Day Adventure into another part of Middle Earth with our partner company. We have a 1 hour lunch break back in Queenstown and change buses for the afternoon tour. Morning and Afternoon Tour itineraries are interchangeable and can be switched due to availability or weather conditions.
You will be visiting the Skippers Canyon Lookout (weather permitting), Arrowtown, The Gibbston Valley, Glenorchy and Paradise.
You will admire LOTR locations such as The Ford of Bruinen, The Gladden Fields, Pillars of the Kings, Ithilien, Isengard, Beorn's House, Lothlorien, Amon Hen and more!
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Travel time between locations is included on the total tour duration.
Children under 10 years not permitted. Please book a private tour for Families with Children under 10, or look at our Half Day Tour or Mavora Lakes Adventure Tour options.
Not recommended for travelers who cannot walk more than 20mins on uneven ground. There is 1 walk where people unable to walk may have to wait for up to 20 mins.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Skippers Canyon
We head to the Skippers Canyon Lookout to view New Zealand's "Most Dangerous Road". Not only a spectacular view but also a Lord of the Rings Filming location located further within the Canyon. We stop afterwards at the nearby Coronet Viewpoint to taking in the surrounding views of the Wakatipu Basin and navigate our journeys plan from a birds eye perspective. (These stops are weather permitting)
Arrowtown
Awarded New Zealand's 'Most Beautiful Small Town' award in 2020 and 2023. We learn about the gold rush history of this rustic yet charming village the seems to appear right out of the 1800's. We explore 2 Lord of the Rings filming locations a short walk from town, followed by morning or afternoon tea in this quaint village.
Photos with Authentic Props - We have the largest selection of Authentic Replica swords, axes, daggers & Helmets. Along with costumes to dress up.
1 % of all proceeds go to the Love Queenstown Community Fund preserving our breathtaking landscapes.
Morning/Afternoon Tea and a snacks
We also have copies of the original scripts and production call sheets
Lunch
89 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Trail20879132221,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
What an amazing day! Our guides Eby (morning) and Dan (afternoon) felt more like friends than guides. They knew everything about LOTR and took us to so many beautiful film locations where we re-enacted scenes and put on costumes. He had all the scripts to read and photos taken. We felt very welcome and I would recommend this tour to everyone.




Odyssey29167044987,May 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
On May 4th I took a day trip with my lover and the overall experience was far greater than expected! Guide Eby is funny, full of gold throughout the journey and knows the Rings series so well that he can trust it with both the fun behind the film's shooting and the book's cold details. Along the way, with classic scenes from Middle-earth unfolding slowly, and with his vivid explanations, it's as if he really walked into a movie. The itinerary is also reasonably paced and doesn't feel rushed, with plenty of time for each attraction to feel and take photos. The vehicle is comfortable. Eby is not only professional, but also takes great care of every group member and makes the atmosphere relaxing and enjoyable. It's an evocative journey and highly recommended to all Ring fans and friends who love the deep cultural experience!





Greg W,May 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
Tour extremely informative and interesting. Guides were very friendly and knowledgable. The two half days sewn together worked really well
Spainrk,Apr 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
This was truly an amazing experience. My husband and I are huge Lord of the Rings fans and we were blown away by the beautiful areas we were taken to. It was our first time to New Zealand so we loved seeing so much of the country with the added bonus of relating it all to the Lord of the Rings. Guides were great too. Highly recommend and in fact we plan to return in a couple years with our family.

enzrow,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor. Tolkien’s books are without peer, and the films are a masterclass in capturing the essence of the world he created. To wander Middle Earth in the company of like-minded travellers, led by our passionate and knowledgeable guides, Ben and Amy, was a dream come true. I did not want to come back to reality at the end of a day I will never forget. “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Sherpa38208358638,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
The tour is absolutely above expectation! EBY was very professional and passionate. He is absolutely an RING EXPERT!




Z8130YEgrahamc,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
An absolute MUST DO tour for LOTR fans visiting Queenstown. We had Shane as our guide for this amazing day visiting filming locations from Lord Of The Rings in and around Queenstown. Shane is not just a huge fan, but immensely knowledgeable, sharing stories as well as pointing out the locations which are set against the spectacular scenery around Queenstown. We got to handle props, see scripts and callsheets and we'll as other artifacts. This is a small group tour operated by a small company dedicated to delivering the best experience fans and visitors alike. Highly recommended.



Graham C,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
You will obviously get more from this tour if you are a fan of Lord Of The Rings amd habe seen the Extended Cuts, but it's not essential as you will be owed by the amazing scenery in and around Queenstown. Shane was an awesome guide for our tour in the morning and Tristan in the afternoon. This tour is provided by 2 companies- Southern Trails and Pure Glenorchy. Both are small and exceptional businesses amd both guides were hugely knowledgeable and fans. We saw loads of locations from the films expertly narrated and with lots of time for photos. We had the chs ce to look over scripts, call sheets and of course handle authentic props. Whilst you could visit many of the locations independently, some are only accessible on the tours and the experience is enhanced by the guides, the artifacts amd props. An absolute must if you are a fan.
Craig M,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
Great experience. only issue is that this was 2 tours combined into one, and a lot of repetition on commentary between the two. May try to split up some of it.
c1ph3rd,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
This was a great time for a LOTR fan. I did the all day trip, which is actually two 1/2 day with two related companies. The drivers were fun and knowledgeable. Dressing up in the costumes was a blast. The swords and props they have are really good.
Operated by Southern Trails - Lord of the Rings Sightseeing Tours