Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour from Queenstown (half day)
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
An adventure safari packed with breathtaking scenery, thrilling 4WD action whilst discovering LOTR filming locations. Visit the filming locations of Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), Gladden Fields, the Ford of Bruinen and more. Travel an historic gold mining road, following the Arrow River, stop for an opportunity to try your hand at gold panning. Take in the spectacular panoramic views over the Wakatipu Basin.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
min 2 per tour for confirmed departure, min 4 on NZ public holidays
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Lake Wakatipu
Travelling part way up Queenstown hill you get a birds eye view onto Lake Wakatipu and Deer Park Heights, which was used for the refugees of Rohan and the Battle of the Wargs scenes.
Kawarau River
Head to the Kawarau Gorge where the filming took place for the Argonath, or Pillars of the Kings.
What‘s Included
Gold panning
Transport by 4WD vehicle with your driver/guide
Selected Queenstown Hotel pickup and drop-off
Lunch
Options
Lord of The Rings 4WD tour
Morning Departure: Wakatipu Basin tour. Departs at 8.15am, returns at 12.15pm.
Reviews
306 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A mountain adventure
Morag694,,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A safe, exhilarating and fun mainly off road trip. Our driver and guide, Del drove us through the Arrow river. We bumped our way up the mountain tracks to spectacular views all around. We watched bungy jumping and even tried our hand at panning for gold in the Arrow river. We were offered delicious coffee served from flasks and homemade carrot cakes and biscuits. A thoroughly entertaining and highly recommended adventure!
Outstanding!
Dickie H,,Feb 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Outstanding venture. Jody was our guide. She was engaging, extremely knowledgeable and most importantly a great driver. I highly recommend the outing.
Great time
CoachBMps,,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Finley was a very informative guide who did an outstanding job 👍
What a journey
Jet62651755795,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience. Wonderful guides, fantastic scenery, even had a chance to pan for gold. What more could you ask for 😄
Adventure
Pioneer17982810751,,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience. Driver was amazing had so much fun zip line for first time. Great scenery off roading was great would do again
One not to miss
MaryCon88,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent a fantastic afternoon on this tour. Dan our tour guide was terrific. Very knowledgeable on Lord of the Rings , an expert on the whole area around Queenstown and he was a great driver 😅 We would recommend this tour highly.
Probably best for the diehard LOTR fans
frozentundramn,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Guide was friendly. We were looking forward to this excursion, and it was fine, but probably over-priced and over-hyped. The trip involved more driving than expected and the sight lines out of the vehicle from the second and third row of seats were not good for anyone over 5’ 8” tall. The still photos helped visualize the locations. Looking at the photos posted by others, it seems like we didn’t see all of the sights We were not offered the opportunity to pan for gold. We saw four pans in the back of the 4x4, but when we brought up the topic, we were told gold panning is illegal without a permit. /
Much more that a Lord of the Rings tour!
harryhY5627GU,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Although this is labeled a Lord of the Rings tour, it is much, much more that that. Upon leaving Queenstown, after about 5 minutes, we were literally at the top of one of the roads when we pulled over and were shown a few of the scenes. I couldn't believe how the 'movie magic' managed to shoot so close to the town and still make it look deserted. After that we went through Arrowtown. A quaint, but beautiful town. A few of out family, went back for a more through browse the following day. From there, we did some 'four wheel driving' through one of the local rivers. This, for our kids (and the bigger kids) was the highlight. We also panned for gold. Then drove down on one of the 'skinniest' roads in New Zealand for a few fantastic photo ops. (Skippers Canyon). This is definitely one for the local drivers only to attempt. The tour would not have been half as good without the 2 tour guides that took our family. Massive shout out to Dan and Jodie. They were the right balance of fun/engaging and seriousness. Keeping the tour rolling along with their knowledge of both Lord of the Rings and the local area.
Great tour - highly recommend
Tharanie V,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Loved the adventure option on the 4WD experience, and incredible guide in Nick who was knowledgeable about all manner of things incl LOTR. Simply fabulous, highly recommend.
Gold and Lords of the Rings
870bol,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gold and Lord of the Rings "Thank you for a wonderful and magnificent 4x4 tour around Queenstown and the surrounding area. The views were spectacular, and the ride was... let’s just say 'pleasantly bumpy' :-)) as we navigated through rivers and challenging terrain. Our guide, Hannah, is a truly skilled driver who handled the landscape with ease. She has a great sense of humor and is an excellent storyteller, sharing the local history in a way that was both engaging and informative. A fantastic experience all around."
From NZ$306.67
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