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
1,234 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Great visit
Tracy J,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took the half day trip with Tristan as our guide. My wife and I are both big LOTR fans. The trip was amazing and Tristan is avid and knowledgeable LOTR fan himself and brought us to some amazing movie sites. With this company we gained exclusive access to a property around Paradise valley where LOTR was filmed as well as other movies such as the farm scene in Wolverine Origins. Amazing beauty and they had the original movie pics that Tristan held up again the sites we visited. We now want to come back and bring our adult children here as well. 5 stars for Tristan and this tour company
Love it
Ding Y,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience with this half-day trip. Really love the female guide (really sorry for not remembering her name), so hospitable with great expertise. Really appreciate and great love for the whole experience.
Definitely recommend!
T2950JPtomv,,Dec 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a very nice tour with tour guide Solomon! Solomon was very relaxed and knows a lot about TLR and gave us nice insights about how certain scènes in the films were made with nice and new fun facts. During the rides between the different stops we also had some nice audio stories about other interesting stories of this region. Definitely recommend! Elly and Tom
Amazing tour with great guide
430ellya,,Dec 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing trip today with Solomon. He knew a lot, was really helpfull and made our trip really special with his own music, audio story’s about the history of the country. The trip showed us amazing places where Lord of the Rings was filmed and Solomon shared a lot of stories. The trip was easy going, full of nice stops and well organized. We recommend this tour to everyone.
Lovely Experience
DoctorWho120,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved the tour! Absolutely worth the price and an absolute must for a die-hard Tolkein fan. Special thanks to our guide - Solomon, who not only had the knowledge of the films, but also about New Zealand and its history. And also, he's an excellent singer and regaled us with a couple of middle earth songs! Whole-heartedly recommended!
Dan was lively and...
Larsen B,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Dan was lively and passionate about LOTR, it was great meeting someone else just as passionate as me. I enjoyed learning all the interesting facts about filming the series
LOTR + amazing scenery
kotopoulo,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00awesome half day seeing lord of the rings sights. "Isengard" had amazing scenery, probably the best spot of the tour along with Glenorchy. Amy was a great tour guide. TIP: they sell some LOTR memorabilia like necklaces and rings, but you need to pay with cash, so bring with you if planning to buy.
LOTR fans
LeeMitchell G,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amy is wonderful!!! She was very informative about New Zealand and The Lord of the Rings. The tour showed me parts of New Zealand I would have not seen otherwise. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings are favorites so it was great to see the location sites and hear stories about the production.
Mandatory for LOTR fans
Happiness18519026937,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you are a Lord of the Rings fan this is a must! The tour guides will show you many of the locations where the movies were filmed. You will have a chance to dress up as a character and do a photo shoot (4 of the people in our group showed up in costume, so don’t be shy). The scenery is gorgeous. Do bring a raincoat-the weather in Queenstown is changeable. Our tour guide was a blast! He made the tour better. (21 November, 2025, morning session- I’m sorry I forgot your name, but you know who you are).
Awesome! My sister and I...
Amanda M,,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Awesome! My sister and I have never seen lord of the rings so you are probably wondering why would we go? This tour came highly recommended by multiple people who have been on it and it did not disappoint. Our guide was excellent! Gave us facts, behind the scenes info, and brought us to all the places they shot the franchise. At each film location he showed the exact scene that was filmed there for the franchise for reference. He even brought costumes for those who want to dress up. To have a guide who was passionate about this tour made it even better! Highly recommend!
From NZ$198.86
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Operated by Pure Glenorchy Scenic Lord of the Rings Tours