Half-Day 4WD Movie Locations
4 hours 15 minutes · Nomad Safaris
from $185.23 per person Check availability →
Full-Day Film Sites, No Meal
Full Day Arrowtown and Glenorchy Lord of the Rings Film Locations
from $233.92 per person
Check availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Meeting point
- Station Building, corner of Camp and Shotover Street, Queenstown
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Run by
- Southern Trails - Independent Lord of the Rings Sightseeing Tours
Overview
This full day tour pairs two half day Lord of the Rings trips into one loop out of Queenstown, covering filming locations around Arrowtown and Glenorchy. Guests meet at the Station Building on the corner of Camp and Shotover Street in central Queenstown, and from there the route threads through Skippers Canyon, Arrowtown, Gibbston, Lake Hayes and the Lake Wakatipu viewpoints before heading out along the Glenorchy Road to Twelve Mile Delta, Bob's Cove and Glenorchy itself. Total time on the road and at stops comes to ten hours, travel included.
The draw for film fans is the prop collection. Southern Trails carries replica swords, axes, daggers and helmets plus costumes to dress up in, along with copies of original scripts and production call sheets that reviewers repeatedly single out as a highlight. Guides hold photos up against the actual landscapes so you can match scenes to locations, and reviewers mention Rohan, Isengard, the Misty Mountains and Anduin among the sites covered. Trivia games and set stories keep the group talking between stops.
It suits moderate fans as much as diehards. One reviewer said the scenery alone justified the day. It does not suit children under 5, wheelchair users, or anyone who cannot manage a walk of roughly 20 minutes on uneven ground. Groups run to a maximum of 11 travellers, and lunch is not included, with a break back in Queenstown around midday according to one reviewer.
What's Included
Included
- Coffee and/or Tea
Not Included
- Lunch
Itinerary
- Meet at Station BuildingMeet at 43 Camp Street, Queenstown, on the corner of Camp and Shotover Street at the Station Building, where there are wooden benches near the vehicle stops. Check the booking page for whether a pickup service is offered.
- Skippers CanyonA 20 minute stop.
- ArrowtownOne hour in Arrowtown.
- Gibbston and Lake HayesA 15 minute stop at Gibbston, then 25 minutes at Lake Hayes, both free.
- Queenstown lunch breakThe route returns through Queenstown for an hour and a half, which reviewers describe as a well timed lunch break in the city centre. Lunch is at your own cost.
- Twelve Mile Delta and Bob's CoveA 40 minute stop on the Twelve Mile Delta to Bob's Cove track.
- Glenorchy Road and GlenorchyAn hour and 40 minutes along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, then 20 minutes in Glenorchy itself.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points shape the day, from the dress up props to the mid tour break back in Queenstown.
- Half-Day 4WD Movie Locations$185.23
- Full-Day Film Sites, No Meal (this tour)$233.92
- Full-Day 4WD, Meal Included$382.23
- Bring lunch money. Coffee and tea are included, but lunch is not. One reviewer noted the lunch break lands back in Queenstown city centre around noon, so you can buy food there rather than carrying it all day.
- Dress up anyway. The tour carries a large collection of replica swords, axes, daggers, helmets and costumes for photos. Multiple reviewers said the prop photos and the chance to look through scripts and call sheets were standout moments.
- Moderate fitness helps. A moderate level of physical fitness is required, and anyone unable to walk more than 20 minutes on uneven ground may have to wait during one walk.
- Small group feel. The tour caps at 11 travellers. One reviewer described trivia games that got the group interacting together.
- Casual fans welcome. One reviewer said even casual fans would enjoy the day, crediting the scenery and the guides. Knowing the extended cuts helps but is not required.
- Expect some repetition. The full day combines two half day tours run with different guides, and one reviewer noted repeated commentary and prop photo sessions across the halves. Go in knowing the structure and it bothers you less.
Common issues. One reviewer felt the full day is really two half day tours joined together, with repeated movie facts and similar prop photo sessions in each half. Hard limits apply: children under 5 are not permitted, the tour is not wheelchair accessible, a minimum number of travellers is required or the date may be cancelled with a refund or rebooking offered, and confirmation can take up to 48 hours. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before start time are not refunded. Child seats for under 7s must be brought or arranged in advance at an extra charge.
Common Questions
Where Does The Tour Meet And Is There Pickup?
The meeting point is the Station Building at 43 Camp Street, Queenstown, on the corner of Camp and Shotover Street, next to the wooden benches where the tour vehicles stop. Check the booking page for the current pickup arrangement.
What Is Included In The Price?
Coffee and tea are included, along with photos with the replica props and costumes, and access to copies of the original scripts and production call sheets. All the stops on the itinerary have free admission. Lunch is not included, and one percent of proceeds go to the Love Queenstown Community Fund.
Is Lunch Provided?
No, lunch is at your own expense. The itinerary includes an hour and a half back in Queenstown partway through the day, which reviewers describe as a lunch break in the city centre.
Can Children Join The Tour?
Children under 5 are not permitted, and the operator suggests booking a private tour for families with children that young. Children under 7 need a child seat brought along or arranged with the operator in advance at an additional charge.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted, and cut off times follow local time. The tour also requires a minimum number of travellers, and if that minimum is not met you will be offered a different date, a different experience, or a full refund.
How Much Walking Is Involved?
A moderate fitness level is recommended, and the tour is not recommended for travellers who cannot walk more than 20 minutes on uneven ground. There is one walk where anyone unable to take part may have to wait for up to 20 minutes. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though service animals are allowed.
Book Full-Day Film Sites, No Meal
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