Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Take a journey with us deep into Middle Earth and explore unique Lord of the Rings filming locations from Queenstown to Glenorchy and Mt Aspiring World Heritage N.P.
Feel the trilogy come to life as you visit the breathtaking and magical landscape that inspired Peter Jackson’s film locations for The Lord of the Rings movies.
We are the only company with EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to the filming locations on Arcadia Station, where scenes from the Hobbit & Wolverine were filmed.
Travel in small groups with local guides who have a real passion and knowledge of the area. Take in the diverse landscape of ancient beech forest, braided rivers and glacier carved valleys.
Explore the unique flora and fauna and get up close to the New Zealand animals and birdlife.
We are a Local family owned & operated tour company that offer the real experience. Operating since 2005!
We are one of the few companies that hold Department of Conservation Concessionaire permits to access Mt Aspiring National park.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
This tour is not suitable for children under 5 years of age.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Glenorchy-Queenstown Road
Tour as our guest from Queenstown on one of the Top 10 scenic drives in the world up the Glenorchcy road to visit epic scenery and Lord Of The Rings filming locations.
Bennets Bluff Lookout
The most scenic lookout in New Zealand
What‘s Included
Exclusive access to the Arcadia Station Filming locations in the Paradise valley!
Optional Lord of the Rings costumes/ replica swords
A light morning or afternoon tea , with cake, biscuits and hot tea & coffee
Professional, friendly & local guides
Live Commentary
Umbrellas provided
Coffee and/or Tea
Options
Morning Tour
Morning Tour
Afternoon Tour
Afternoon Tour
Reviews
1,284 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic tour our guide Tristan was amazing he was very knowledgeable and made us feel very welcome. We learnt so much
Discover578457,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic experience. Learnt so much and travelled through some beautiful countryside. Our guide Tristan was amazing.
We had the most...
Angela R,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had the most incredible experience on the Lord of the Rings tour with Pure Glenorchy Tours. The scenery alone was breathtaking, but what truly made the day special was our guide, Amy. She was exceptionally kind, welcoming, and unbelievably knowledgeable—not just about Lord of the Rings, but also about the history, landscapes, and stories of the area. Her passion really brought everything to life and made each stop even more meaningful. The tour felt personal, relaxed, and so well thought out. If you’re a LOTR fan or just want to experience some of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand with a fantastic guide, I couldn’t recommend Pure Glenorchy Tours more highly.
Great compliment to the Hobbiton visit
Extraordinary680323,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Amy was a gem. Very knowledgeable on all of the locations, and provided a number of back stories into the casting and things that happened during filming. Highly recommended.
Great tour guide and very...
Robert P,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour guide and very friendly people. Amy was very knowledgeable, and was able to answer any additional questions asked by the group. Good mix of film and local information making this tour worth it.
Great tour!
Trip34006175538,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amy was great! She answered all my LOTR questions. We learned a lot about all the beautiful mountains and surrounding areas. Highly recommend!
Really fun trip to some...
Joseph D,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Really fun trip to some iconic filming locations. Guide was friendly and informative; enjoyed hearing their perspective not just on the films but the region in general. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone, unless you get carsick. Might want to take appropriate precautions in that case as the roads are a bit windy and bumpy at times.
Well worth the time and money!
646starg,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really like Tolkien and have seen the LOTR trilogy with my husband, but we couldn’t be called huge fans. The tour guide, Max, fed us a steady stream of fascinating facts and interesting tidbits for almost 5 hours. He has convinced us and another group on the tour to give the trilogy another look. I don’t think o could give any higher praise!
Awesome LotR Day near Queenstown
HowardHooper,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What a fantastic time. Our tour guide, Max, was excellent. We were able to visit some exclusive locations and reminisce about this great Tolkien epics. Highly recommended.
Inspiration
62g rang,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a tour with the guide Salomon, who showed us the scenery of the film "Lord of the rings'. He showed us the tour with passion, inspiration and intelligence. For example playing themes from the film and gave us a history lesson about the south island local history. Many stars to Salomon. Göran G from a travel group from Sweden "Rolfs flyg och Buss". January 2026
Fun Tour of the Lord of the Rings
B6968RKannag,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very informative and pleasant guided tour around Queenstown, Lord of the Rings. filming locations. Our guide Solomon spoke very clear English and told us several funny anecdotes about the shooting of the three films. A 'Second Breakfast' was included in the tour, which went along very beautiful roads near Queenstown. Several stops were made along the way, where Solomon talked about the different environments used in the films. On the way home he sang to us in the bus. This excursion is highly recommended, even if you are not a Tolkien fan.
From NZ$198.86
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Operated by Pure Glenorchy Scenic Lord of the Rings Tours