Wellington's Original LOTR Experience - includes Weta and Lunch
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a full day, all-inclusive adventure in Wellington, the home of middle-Earth. Visit some amazing locations from the Lord of the Rings movies, enjoy a delicious lunch and visit the famous Weta Workshop, where the films were created.
We are Wellington's original Lord of the Rings tour and have been operating since 2002. Formerly Rover Rings Tours [before Covid], Welly Rings Tours is proud to show you Wellington as Middle-earth. Our fans-turned-guides will share with you fascinating stories of the making of these movies that you likely won't hear anywhere else - mainly because some of our guides were actually there!
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not recommended for participants with walkers or limited mobility
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Weta Workshop tour and a lunch feast fit for a Hobbit included in tour price
Visit the best LOTR filming locations - Please note that no sets remain from the filming
Pick up and drop off available direct from cruise ships - we've never missed a drop off
Owned and operated by genuine fans, several of whom worked on the films
Expert guides with film industry experience
Guaranteed drop off back to Cruise Ship on time. We haven't missed a drop off in 15 years
Bonus native forest walk in a 1000-year-old temperate rainforest
Central Wellington pick up
Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Weta Workshop
Delve into the heart of Wellywood and visit the Weta Workshop, a physical effects workshop who created all the props, armour, weapons, costumes, miniatures and prosthetics for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. Learn the secrets of movie magic on a behind-the-scenes tour by a Weta employee, who will explain the creative process behind bringing these films to life. You'll also have chance to take photos with various characters and weapons, as well as treating yourself to a souvenir or two, if desired.
Mount Victoria Lookout
Enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the harbour and city from the Mt Victoria lookout. Your guide will talk about the landmarks you can see from the top and help you take photos. Mt Victoria is always on the list of things to do in Wellington, so we thought we'd save you the trouble of walking up the hill to get there!
Options
LOTR FD for CRUISE PAX ONLY
Pickup included
Wellington's Original LOTR FD
Pickup included
Reviews
473 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great and informative experience
Jacob L,
Aug 6, 2025
- Viator
5.00Marc was a great tour guide, caring for the tour group while also sharing his experiences filming the LOTR films and the back stories too. The lunch provided was good too.
A LOTR Experience
john v,
Aug 5, 2025
- Viator
5.00An unforgettable journey into the world of The Lord of the Rings! What sets this tour apart from others around NZ is the exclusive visit to the WETA Workshop in Wellington(land), didn't know this existed. It’s essentially a 60-minute behind-the-scenes experience into the world of movie magic, with props, sculptures, and insights into the filmmaking process. It took me back to the behind-the-scenes special effects stage show I saw as a kid at Universal Studios Hollywood in the '80s. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time, even snapping photos for us along the way. The day started with a panoramic view of the city Lunch was simple, with four choices: beef, chicken, salad, or potatoes, served with orange juice.
A once in a lifetime experience
Markus H,
Aug 4, 2025
- Viator
5.00Because you get a really good impression of the amount of work and devotion put into these movies. It‘s an amazing experience even for LOTR newbies and you get to know the cool city of Wellington as well as the beautiful surroundigs. Really special 😍
LOTR wellington tour
Sebastian S,
Jul 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00amazing and unforgettable, saw various locations from Lord of the Rings as well as a cool lookout point and some interesting trees. Tour guide was funny with many jokes and knew a lot about the films which greatly amplified the experience.
Great tour!
Karin G,
Jun 19, 2025
- Viator
5.00A very infomative experience for fans of LOTR. It was especially cool to learn that our guide worked on set and even appeared in the movie so we also heard personal stories about the actors and director. We had a small group of only 4 so we had plenty of time at each place to recreate photos of the scenes. He had laminated books that contained pictures of the scenes that were taken the places we went to. Lunch was fantastic too! A nice hot meal was welcome since the weather was unfortunately a bit cold and rainy that day.
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Operated by Wellington Rings Tours