Full-Day 4WD, Meal Included
9 hours · Nomad Safaris
Guided tour with lunch.
from $382.23 per person Check availability →
Half-Day 4WD Movie Locations
Glenorchy Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour - Half Day
from $185.23 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
- 4 hours 15 minutes
- Meeting point
- Shotover Street, Queenstown
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Run by
- Nomad Safaris
Overview
A 4 hour 15 minute half day loop from Queenstown out towards Glenorchy and Paradise, run by Nomad Safaris in a 6 seater 4WD with a driver-guide. You meet at Info & Track, 37 Shotover Street, and the operator may be able to pick up from central Queenstown accommodation if you phone ahead to confirm. From there the route follows the lake road towards Glenorchy, then heads into the countryside around Paradise, before looping back with a stop at 12 Mile Delta.
The throughline is Lord of the Rings filming locations, and reviewers describe stops at multiple sites where scenes were shot, along with movie-making insights and trivia built into the commentary. Somewhere along the way the replica costumes and swords come out, which several reviewers described as a fun part of the day.
It also works for people who have never seen the films. More than one reviewer described taking it mainly for the scenery, the 4WD driving and the local history commentary, and at least one said their guide tailored the balance to the group. With a maximum of 6 travellers per vehicle, it sits closer to a day out with a well informed local than a large-group commentary tour.
- Half-Day 4WD Movie Locations (this tour)$185.23
- Full-Day Film Sites, No Meal$233.92
- Full-Day 4WD, Meal Included$382.23
What's Included
Included
- Transport by 6 seater 4WD vehicle with your guide
- Light refreshments (including tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cake and cookies)
- Selected Queenstown Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Dressing up in replica costumes with swords
Itinerary
- Meet in QueenstownCheck in at Info & Track, 37 Shotover Street, Queenstown. Pickup from selected central Queenstown hotels is listed, and the operator asks you to phone 034426699 to confirm accommodation pickup.
- Drive the lake roadHead out along Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, a 45 minute stretch, on the way towards Glenorchy.
- ParadiseSpend 1 hour in the Paradise area.
- 12 Mile DeltaStop for 20 minutes at 12 Mile Delta.
- Return to QueenstownDrive back to the same meeting point at 37 Shotover Street, where the tour ends.
GuideIncluded
PickupIncluded
What To Expect From The Tour
Practical things to know before booking, drawn from operator details and from what travellers report back.
- Group size. The vehicle seats 6 travellers plus the guide, so the feel is personal rather than large-scale.
- Dress for weather. Dress for changeable mountain weather, with comfortable shoes, sun protection and water. The tour runs in most conditions and only changes or cancels if conditions are unsafe.
- Costumes and photos. Replica costumes and swords are included. Several reviewers said the dress-up and acting out scenes was a highlight.
- Refreshments. Light refreshments are included: tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cake and cookies. It is a snack stop rather than a meal, so eat beforehand if you want more than that.
- For non-fans. Reviewers who were not Lord of the Rings fans still enjoyed the tour for its scenery, 4WD tracks and local history. If your whole party is neutral on the films, this works as a scenic trip.
- Off-road driving. The tour travels by 4WD vehicle, and several travellers singled out the off-road driving as a favourite part of the day.
Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. A minimum of 2 passengers is needed to confirm a departure, rising to 4 on NZ statutory holidays, and if the minimum is not met you are offered an alternative departure or a full refund. Weather can alter or cancel the itinerary when conditions are unsafe.
Common Questions
Is Hotel Pickup Included?
Selected Queenstown hotel pickup and drop-off is listed. The default meeting point is Info & Track, 37 Shotover Street, and the operator asks you to phone 034426699 to confirm whether they can collect you from your central Queenstown accommodation.
What Is Included In The Price?
Transport by 6 seater 4WD with your guide, light refreshments (tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cake and cookies), the costume and sword dress-up, and selected Queenstown hotel pickup and drop-off. There are no entry fees at the stops; admission is free at each one.
How Long Does The Tour Take?
Allow 4 hours 15 minutes door to door from the Queenstown meeting point. The trip covers the drive out, stops in Paradise and at 12 Mile Delta, and the return.
Is It Suitable For Children Or People With Limited Mobility?
Infant seats are available and most travellers can participate. However the tour is not wheelchair accessible, so anyone with mobility constraints should raise it with the operator before booking. Travellers should have no heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside 24 hours there is no refund and changes are not accepted. If the operator cancels because minimum passenger numbers are not met, you are offered a different date or experience or a full refund.
What Should I Bring?
Bring water, a camera or phone, sun protection, comfortable shoes and suitable clothing for changeable mountain weather. Layers are the practical choice, since conditions on the lake road and at Paradise can shift over a single afternoon.
Book Half-Day 4WD Movie Locations
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
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