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‘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
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
Options
Morning Tour
Morning Tour
Afternoon Tour
Afternoon Tour
Reviews
1,205 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fun and leisurely pace.
Aman4760,
Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really enjoyed the tour. Shout-out to our tour guide, Dan. He was really knowledgeable about the movie and LOTR lore. I would definitely recommend this tour to LOTR fans.
A must do
Cara B,
Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very well planned out, very informative of the area and for lord of the rings sites as well. Really liked the tour guide.
A return to Middle Earth.
533artos,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Solly, our driver and guide was excellent A LOTR fan, a singer-songwriter, witty, easy to understand and knowledgeable. We were lucky with the weather, sunshine all day. We visited several locations from LOTR and the Hobbit. Solly has a picturebook with him showing shots from the movies at each location. He also has some costumes, masks and several replica swords from the movies. Plenty of hoto opportunities. Heartily recommended even if you're not a LOTR fan. After this tour you probably will be.
The best LOTR half day tour!
C1127PEbobh,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a super fun and informative excursion. As LOTR fans we looked forward to this tour and it did not disappoint! Solly was our guide and was fantastic. Lots of knowledge about the movie locations and surrounding areas. Tea and snack (2nd breakfast) was provided and tasty. Our whole family thoroughly enjoyed our day. Thanks Solly! P.S. check out his music too!
LOTR fan must-do
SrimukhPrasad V,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The whole trip was very well planned and executed. Our guide Amy was super knowledgeable and entertained us with a ton of LOTR behind-the-scenes trivia.
One Tour to Rule Them All
93zacheryb,
Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The day will come when the age of man comes crashing down and all are miserable. But it was not this day! Me and my friend had the best time on the Pure Glenorchy scenic LOTR tour! Amy was an excellent guide that just the right amount of interactive enthusiasm to make for an epic occasion that two LOTR film needs will cherish for the rest of their lives. A sword day. A great day.
Such a beautiful and...
Karen W,
Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Such a beautiful and great experience. Loved that we were able to get in a remote location that other tour companies are not able to get into. Solly was an amazing tour guide and made our experience very special!
The best guide with amazing story telling
Wander59859486321,
Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Dan is the best tour guide you can ever get!!! And the best story teller!! Big LotR fan himself, if you allow him to release his nerdy self, you get the most detailed backgrounds to not only LotR related stories but also other movies and trivial facts. Super friendly and hilarious to chat with. You’ll love him if you see him. Amazing hair too hahahhaa
For nerds, by nerds
alspan,
Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tristan, our guide, was a Lord of the Rings fan with the tattoos and trivia to prove it. The rain barely mattered with such sunny commentary, and a box of umbrellas to lend out. Their guidebooks have photos that you can line up perfectly with the scenery in front of you, and there's even an opportunity to lie down in the dirt where Frodo and Sam spied on the mûmakil (oliphaunts) that any true fan will leap at. Afternoon tea was a spread of New Zealand delicacies such as lamingtons and "Cookie Time" cookies which paired fantastically with the chance to take up a cloak and sword from the films (or a silicon Lurtz head, if tastes prefer). I underestimated just how stunning the final, Pure Glenorchy-exclusive stop at Arcadia Station farm would be as well; Isengard might be a blight upon the natural world but its filming location there is the complete opposite.
Wonderful tour for LoTR Lovers
riqfish,
Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tristan was so knowledgeable and entertained us with his British humor throughout the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the new tour bus was extremely comfortable.
From NZ$198.86
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Operated by Pure Glenorchy Scenic Lord of the Rings Tours