10 Day Lord of the Rings & Hobbit Holiday Package

If you have just 10 days to visit, this New Zealand Lord of the Rings tour hits the film location highlights. Travel from Auckland to Queenstown and visit these LOTR filming locations along the way:

• Hobbiton Movie Set 
• Rivendell 
• Wellington locations 
• Weta Workshop 
• Isengard 
• Queenstown locations 
• …and much more

In addition to film destinations, this New Zealand Lord of the Rings tour package includes many top New Zealand experiences. 

Our self-drive packages include activities, accommodation, and transportation for convenient and stress-free travel.

Read on for the full details of this 10 Day Lord of the Rings & Hobbit Holiday Package.

10 Day New Zealand Lord of the Rings Tour

Day 1 Arrive Auckland

Arrive in Auckland – the “City of Sails” is New Zealand’s largest city and is bordered by two stunning harbours. Collect your rental car from the airport and make your way to your accommodation.

Relax in Auckland today. Your options include visiting the Sky Tower, the Auckland Zoo, or Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium; venturing to one of Auckland’s stunning beaches or West Auckland wineries, or doing a spot of shopping.

Stay 1 night in Auckland City.

Day 2 Hobbiton > Rotorua

Driving time Auckland to Matamata 161 km / 100 miles, 2 hours

Make your way to Matamata to discover the real Middle-Earth on the most picturesque private farmland near Matamata to visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy in a fascinating two-hour guided tour. The set has been completely rebuilt and will remain as it was seen in LORT trilogy. There are spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges from the rolling green hills of the movie set, which is still a working sheep and beef farm. You can relax and soak up the unique atmosphere with a great cup of coffee or meal in The Shire’s Rest Café.

Driving time Matamata to Rotorua 68 km / 42 miles, 1 hour

Enjoy the scenic journey to Rotorua, distinguished by Maori culture and geothermal activity. This diverse city will put on a display as you encounter geysers, mud pools, steaming craters and 16 beautiful lakes.

Stay in a Hobbit Hole New Zealand

If staying in a Hobbit Hole, Hobbit Hole House or Hobbit Hotel is on your bucket list, we can arrange this for you. We often get asked whether you can rent a Hobbit Hole in New Zealand! There are two properties in New Zealand that offer this experience, Underhill offer hobbit-style accommodation hand crafted with rustic native timbers and ironwork and caters for couples. Huge timber doors open wide to overlook a picturesque pond and farmland beyond. Woodlyn Park offers a Hobbit Motel offering two motels beamed beneath a hill where sheep and donkey wander for grazing. From the exterior, these units look like a perfect Hobbit Hotel. In total, each motel can sleep up to 6 people making it ideal for families. Ask us to include your very own stay in a Hobbit Hole New Zealand!

Stay 1 night in Rotorua. Option to incorporate a stay in a Hobbit Hole.

Day 3 Taupo

Driving time Rotorua to Taupo 82 km / 51 miles, 1 hour

Enjoy the short drive south to Taupo, rich in natural beauty and filled with attractions such as the Huka Falls, relaxing boat cruises, and bungy jumping. Taupo is a great lake for trout fishing, boat cruises, water-skiing, sailing, and kayaking. The Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay, which can only be seen from the water, make for a great boat trip or kayaking excursion. The forests surrounding the lake offer hiking and mountain biking to suit all levels of experience.

Stay 1 night in Taupo.

Day 4 Wellington

Driving time Taupo to Wellington 372 km / 231 miles, 5.5 hours

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, has so much to offer. Set on the edge of a stunning harbour, surrounded by rolling hills, it’s a city rich in culture waiting to be explored. From shopping and picturesque walks to concerts, live theatre, exhibitions, festivals, Te Papa Tongarewa: the Museum of New Zealand, and more – Wellington has something for everyone.

Stay 2 nights in Wellington.

Day 5 Wellington

Today, join a Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour! Follow in the footsteps of Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves and Men. You will cover a lot of ground on the tour, but there is enough time to explore, recreate scenes for yourself, and work out how the movies were made. The scenery of Wellington mirrors that of Middle-Earth.

You will be collected from your Wellington accommodation at 9.30 am and head for the hills. After admiring the view from the top of Mt Victoria you head into the “Outer Shire” for your first stop the Hobbit’s hideaway.

Then it’s onto the Weta Cave in Miramar where you tour the museum, before viewing a short documentary showing the film making exploits of Peter Jackson and his remarkable team. This is followed up with a fascinating ‘Window into the Workshop’ exhibition, showing film props and weaponry with the artists themselves describing how the artefacts were created. You will have lunch locally at a seaside cafe (price included), then head north into the Hutt Valley following the River Anduin and taking in the sights of Helms Deep, before stopping at the Gardens of Isengard for afternoon tea.

The final destination is Rivendell and the Legolas tree before returning to ‘Wellywood’.

Day 6 Wellington to Picton Cook Strait Ferry > Kaikoura

Sailing time Wellington to Picton 70 km / 43 miles, 3 hours
Driving time Picton to Kaikoura 156 km / 97 miles, 2.5 hours

It’s all about the journey today as you continue your holiday and board the Cook Strait Ferry, which will transport you on a scenic cruise to Picton.

Enjoy the coastal drive along the East Coast to Kaikoura, a stunning coastal township offering a backdrop of majestic mountains. As an important fishing port, Kaikoura is a mecca for seafood lovers. Local specialities include blue cod, paua (abalone) and of course crayfish (lobster).

Stay 1 night in Kaikoura.

Day 7 Hanmer Springs

Driving time Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs 130 km / 81 miles, 2 hours

Travel on to Hanmer Springs, a year-round holiday destination offering a variety of outdoor activities and of course the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa. Visitors have been travelling to bathe in the rejuvenating mineral pools for over 120 years! Relax in open-air thermal pools and de-stress with spa therapies.

Stay 1 night in Hanmer Springs.

Day 8 Lake Tekapo

Driving time Hanmer Springs to Lake Tekapo 353 km / 222 miles, 4.5 hours

Travel south across the Canterbury Plains and inland towards the Southern Alps to reach Lake Tekapo, an amazing turquoise lake. Lake Tekapo presents many world class vacation attractions, from the famous Church of the Good Shepherd to scenic flights exploring New Zealand’s highest mountains and largest glaciers, including Mount Cook, Tasman Glacier, and Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.

Stay 1 night in Lake Tekapo.

Day 9 Queenstown

Driving time Lake Tekapo to Queenstown 256 km / 159 miles, 3.5 hours

Venture past Lake Pukaki, a picturesque turquoise glacial lake, before you travel through the dramatic Lindis Pass which links the Mackenzie Basin with Central Otago. Queenstown awaits you, New Zealand’s adventure capital and top vacation destination. Arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital and scenic resort town.

Stay 2 nights in Queenstown.

Day 10 Queenstown

Step into the world of Middle-earth, this immersive adventure brings the magic of the films to life, inviting travellers to explore dramatic landscapes, uncover behind-the-scenes secrets, and even don authentic costumes for unforgettable photos.

The morning reveals dramatic scenery, from the heights of Skippers Canyon Lookout (weather permitting) to the charm of Arrowtown and the rolling landscapes of the Gibbston Valley. Iconic filming spots come to life, including the Ford of Bruinen, the Gladden Fields, the mighty Pillars of the Kings, and more.

A one-hour lunch break in Queenstown provides time to relax before switching buses for the afternoon journey.

The afternoon continues the magic with a journey to Glenorchy and the ethereal forests of Paradise. Here, travellers can stand in the footsteps of legendary characters at locations such as Ithilien, Isengard, Beorn’s House, Lothlórien, Amon Hen, and other unforgettable settings.

Travellers can enjoy a refreshing morning and afternoon tea and have the chance to pose with an impressive collection of licensed replica props—perfect for capturing your own heroic moments. Copies of original scripts and production call sheets add extra depth, enriching the experience with the lore and creativity behind the films.

A must-do for fans and adventurers alike, this tour blends cinematic wonder with real-world beauty. An unforgettable journey across the landscapes of Middle-earth!

Day 11 Depart Queenstown

Drop your rental car off at Queenstown Airport and depart Queenstown.

Planning a New Zealand Lord of the Rings Tour

We offer numerous resources to help plan your Lord of the Rings self-drive holiday. As you begin researching, you may wish to read the following: 

• Experiencing Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
• Holidays to Hobbiton
• Stay in a Hobbit Hole New Zealand
• Lord of the Rings Vacation Packages

Contact New Zealand Travel Organiser to begin planning your Middle Earth holiday today.