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4 hours 30 minutes
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Epic Adventures to the Real Middle Earth and Back Again!
Join our Lord of the Rings “Nerds” aka tour guides who have superior knowledge on all things “Rings”. We’ll take you to the original film locations and put YOU in the scene while narrating humorous and intriguing tales from the time of filming. Join us for your personalised journey through the real Middle Earth.
Our scenic Half Day Tour includes visiting Skippers Canyon Lookout (weather permitting), Arrowtown, The Gibbston Valley and Lake Hayes.
You will be able to enjoy Lord Of The Rings locations such as The Ford of Bruinen, The Gladden Fields, The Pillars of the Kings and More!
This tour includes Morning or Afternoon Tea and Snacks, Photos with Authentic Props as we have the largest selection of Authentic Licensed replica props!
We also have copies of the original scripts and production call sheets, adding so much more depth to your Middle Earth experience!
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Travel time between locations was included on the total tour duration.
Children 6 years and under require a child seat by NZ law. Please let us know if you have your own or would like to rent one from us (fees apply).
Children under 5 years not permitted. Please book a private tour for Families with Children under 5.
Not recommended for travelers who cannot walk more than 10mins 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.
Morning/Afternoon Tea from the local Arrowtown Bakery
1 % of all proceeds go to the Love Queenstown Community Fund preserving our breathtaking landscapes.
Photos with Authentic Props - We have the largest selection of Authentic Licensed replica props!
We also have copies of the original scripts and production call sheets
For children under 7 please bring child seat or message us to arrange one at an additional charge
302 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Jet26750272302,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Great morning with all the keen Lord of the Rings people.




Yo1745,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Never watch a film or read the books but tagged along my partner who is a fan, however, I genuinely enjoyed the tour. Our guide Ian is really knowlegeable, not only about LOTR but also about the areas, the cultures and film production. I had no clues what they were talking about but Ian managed to hook me into his story telling without the need of understanding the context. Would strongly recommend those who never read/watch LOTR like me to try out this tour!
MeuyFou C,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
Awesome. Yes. Definitely do the tour. Ian was a NERD. Very knowledgeable about all things Middle Earth.
Rakesh34713206819,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
visited from Rotorua and I'd decided to tour in Queenstown as my sister was visiting from Singapore. Big thank you to Shane Pinder who was extremely helpful arranging the booking for a half-day tour for us. We stayed at Quest which was 20min away from CBD so was extremely grateful when he arranged hotel pick up early in a morning. Francesco was our tour guide and he arrived right on time. Be warned! He's a proper LOTR nerd; but he was extremely friendly, passionate and engaging and u'll gain tons of LOTR stories & trivia. The locations we visited were stunning!! Amazing mountain views!! One of the best experiences I've had in NZ. My sis thoroughly enjoyed too!! Highly recommend Southern Trails. I'm truly hoping that I'd be able to revisit again


Dreamer28455546349,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
I was guided by Ebs and he was an excellent guide, very professional. He patiently explained to us the entire movie scene and the backstory of LOTR. I only regretted didn’t do the full day tour with him.

rw549,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Absolutely brilliant. Ian our tour guide was really knowledgeable. Not only that he also was able to answer questions on the geology of the area. It was a small group which was great. We had a fabulous time and I would definitely recommend. Even if you are not a full blown Lord of the Rings fan. You would still enjoy this experience. Thank you for a great afternoon.
MGreene16,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Wonderful tour whether you're a casual viewer of the movies or an in-depth aficionado. The tour was part in-depth visits to LOTR movie locations, and part wonderful scenic tour of the greater Queenstown area. Our guide Benji was informative and accommodating and made the tour a delight. He started by learning about everyone's depth of knowledge and tailored his discussion to everyone. We went to numerous places in a relatively short amount of time. Benji basically had all the movies memorized and could quote any scenes. He also had tons of backlot stories about the filming and actors.










jameslG1928QK,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Benji, our guide, was a walking encyclopedia of LOR facts. He made the whole trip come alive. The combination of narrative, visuals, New Zealand beauty, and Benji's non-stop enthusiasm made this an unforgettable event for us.

ChristinaM802,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
We loved the Trails Of Middle Earth Half Day LOTR Tour. Our tour guide, Benji, was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and shared lot of facts, trivia and cool stories about the movies, books and New Zealand. The scenery and filming locations that we visited were stunningly beautiful. We loved that it was a small group and felt that we had plenty of time to take in the sites and take photos. Also getting to dress up and cosplay was very fun.
Elizabeth M,Mar 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
Our guide Eby was extremely knowlegable and made the trip so much fun! Super love that they had props for us to reenact scenes from the movies! Had a truly remarkable experience! Highly recommended if you're a crazy LOTR fan!
Operated by Southern Trails - Lord of the Rings Sightseeing Tours