Full Day in Middle Earth - Lord of the Rings Tour
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
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!
Additional Info
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.
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
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
What To Expect
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.
Options
Full Day in Middle Earth - Lord of the Rings Tour
Reviews
63 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Awesome tour!
Amanda K,
Nov 5, 2025
- Viator
5.00Wow! This tour was FABULOUS! It was very well organized between the two halves to create a full day Middle Earth adventure! Learned tons, had a blast with fellow travelers, and saw key filming sites that had obvious interest and appeal for fans, but honestly are also just stunning that even non or casual fans would enjoy this tour as well.
Fun and great scenery
650anamarijak,
Oct 18, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00Both morning and afternoon tour lived up to expectations. The guides were knowledgeable on the subject as well as entertaining, showing us the beautiful spots and backdrops of the filming locations. I enjoyed it!
An absolute MUST for LOTR fans on the South Island!
GoPlaces55005339948,
Oct 9, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was amazing! Both Francisco (morning leg around Queenstown and Arrowtown) and Amy (Glenorchy and beyond in the afternoon) were fantastic! Tons of stories, great behind the scenes info, there were costumes and replica weaponry during both legs, and the views were obviously fantastic! Some snacks, some exclusive opportunities, and just truly fun guides! Smaller groups which was awesome, and the locations were stellar. I can’t recommend this more highly! We also ended up with phenomenal weather for our tour.
A must for any Lord of the Rings fan
jodiey527,
Sep 25, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00An absolutely fantastic experience, had a great day with Ian who was so engaging and knowledgeable in all things Tolkien and really let us nerd out!! A must do for any Lord of the Rings fan, highly recommended!
Awesome tour and tour guide
LizChocs,
Sep 14, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00Ian was a fabulous tour guide with an immense wealth of knowledge about everything Lord of the Rings. He made our tour enjoyable and entertaining. Highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in the movies :)
Full day of fun!
davidjohnmichaels,
Sep 9, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00The Full Day in Middle Earth tour is the ultimate way to experience the sheer scale of the Lord of the Rings landscapes around Queenstown, and our guide Francesco made it unforgettable. This tour covers an incredible variety of filming sites, from the sweeping valleys of Glenorchy and Paradise to the dramatic history of Arrowtown. Francesco kept the day moving with endless energy and insight, tying each stop back to its place in the films. Lining up stills with the real-world views, he made it easy to picture the Fellowship’s journey unfolding right where we stood. What really stood out was Francesco’s ability to create a sense of fun and camaraderie within the group. His passion was contagious, and by the time the tour ended it felt less like a tour and more like traveling with "very old friends."
Best tour
I1652MYfrancisl,
Sep 7, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00The tour is amazing, beanji was a such amazing tour guide. Everything was perfect, definitely join if you are a mega fan for lord of rings.
Amazing Tour
Sandra N,
Sep 6, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great tour experience. Our guide Ben was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about explaining the filming locations for Lord of the Rings. Had a great time exploring Queenstown, Arrowtown and Gibbston Valley. Highly recommend!
Ian is the best!
Blacksm1th,
Aug 27, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00An absolutely amazing experience. This is a must for any fan of the LOTR universe, and our guide, Ian, made it incredibly memorable. Ian’s knowledge, enthusiasm and warmth made this tour one of the highlights of my trip across New Zealand. Thank you for a world-class tour, Ian!
Fun adventure through Middle Earth
Shirl747,
Aug 10, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed our tour with Trails of Middle Earth, combined with Pure Glenorchy. We took a half a day tour with each. As LotR fans, it was fun to see some of the places where the movies were filmed. Our tour guides Tristan and Shane were very knowledgeable and willing to take a lot of photos. Highlight was getting photos of ourselves in different costumes. Really fun and not rushed at all. Be aware that a few of the places they point out are quite far away and hard to see. However, this would be hard to resolve with just a one day tour. We would recommend both of these companies if you are LotR fans!
Related Experiences
Operated by Trails of Middle Earth - Lord of the Rings Sightseeing Tours