Self Drive Holidays 15 Day Journey to Middle Earth Self Drive Tour

Welcome to Auckland, collect your rental car on arrival before exploring the city of sails. Visit the Sky Tower, the most iconic feature of Auckland’s skyline, for panoramic views of the city and twin harbours. If you’re brave, venture to the SkyJump or SkyWalk, a surefire way to get your holiday started with an adrenaline rush!

Stay 2 nights Auckland

Enjoy a morning at leisure before joining your half day Wilderness Experience Tour. Travel just 30 minutes to the Arataki Centre, perched high in the Waitakere Ranges. Absorb the local history and admire the magnificent traditional Maori carvings that stand guard there. Head further west and experience the power of the wild and rugged west coast. With your knowledgeable and experienced guide, your eco-tour continues with an easy walk into the lush rainforest where you hear native birdsong as you walk the easy bush tracks amongst New Zealand’s famous Kauri trees and giant tree ferns.

Journey through the lush countryside of the Waikato to Matamata where you will be enchanted by the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, taking in the picturesque set locations and providing a deeper look behind the scenes of the filming for the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy. After your tour, you will set off for Rotorua, the centre of Maori culture for the region and a thermal wonderland.

Stay 2 nights Rotorua

Today explore the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Visit the Agrodome for a unique farm experience, ride the gondola up Mt Ngongotaha for extensive views over the city and lake or visit Te Puia with its geysers and bubbling mud pools. This evening in the tranquil natural bush setting, visit Mitai where the performers take you back in time when ancient Maori customs and traditions were part of everyday life - and of course not forgetting the food that has been cooked in the earth oven - the Hangi.

As you head south today, stop to view the mighty Huka Falls and Wairakei Geothermal project, then take time to wander around the popular lakeside resort of Taupo, world famous for its trout fishing. Continue on to Ohakune, used as a base for a number of weeks of filming for Lord of the Rings. If you arrive in the early afternoon, why not take the opportunity to travel through the Tongariro National Park to visit Iwikau Village, a key part of Mordor. Alternatively, you might like to see the mountain at 'first light' and visit the scenes of Ithilien and Mordor.

Stay 1 night Ohakune

Travel south today to the nation’s capital. As you reach the Kapiti Coast take some time to visit the Waiarere Forest, the location for Trollshaw Forest and Osgiliath Wood. Continue on to Wellington, the home of Peter Jackson and the famous Te Papa National Museum.

Stay 2 nights Wellington

Today enjoy a full day Middle Earth filming locations tour. Spend the morning exploring the city locations on Mount Victoria and the ‘greenbelt’, including the famous ‘get off the road’ scene, the ‘shortcut to mushrooms’ and the Black Rider scenes. Following a visit to Weta Workshop enjoy an Orc sized, Lord of the Rings themed lunch before heading out to the Hutt Valley to explore Kaitoke Regional park, the location of Rivendell. Along the way visit Isengard, Fords of Isen, the River Anduin and finally, see where Helms Deep and Minas Tirith were filmed.

Return your rental vehicle in time for your morning ferry crossing aboard the Interislander. You will cross Raukawa Moana (Cook Strait) on a three hour scenic voyage to the quaint fishing village of Picton. Collect a new rental car and continue on to Nelson, the home to the makers of the ‘One Ring’. Take the opportunity to visit Jen Hansen the Ringmaker to purchase your very own replica Movie Ring with custom Elvish engraving.

Stay 1 night Nelson

Take the opportunity to do an optional Lord of the Rings helicopter flight this morning before heading south to Christchurch. Journey through the Wairau Valley to the small alpine village of St Arnaud. Take time for a quick stop here to experience a real sense of New Zealand ‘off the beaten track’ before travelling over the Hundalee Ranges and onto the garden city of Christchurch.

Stay 2 nights Christchurch

Join your Rings of Edoras tour this morning which takes you over the vast Canterbury Plains, through the stunning Rakaia Gorge and along the line of the Southern Alps to Mt Somers. Upon reaching Mt Potts Station head cross-country, over tussock covered grassland and through several small rivers, to reach the ultimate destination - Mt Sunday. From here you are able to take in the breathtaking 360-degree views of this truly amazing area that feels like it was created especially for Middle Earth. Once you have finished exploring and figuring out where your favourite scenes were shot, you can sit down and enjoy a picnic lunch with a glass of champagne.

Today head inland to the heart of the MacKenzie Basin and the azure waters of Lake Tekapo, a stunning expanse located amongst the mountain ranges of the Southern Alps. View the much photographed Church of the Good Shepherd, a tiny iconic stone church built in 1935 which is perfectly located overlooking the lake. From Tekapo you will continue to Mt Cook National Park, home of the majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain.

Stay 1 night Mt Cook

Your trip to Wanaka takes you through the beautiful Lindis Pass, then on to Tarras, a small sheep farming settlement. Not far from the southern end of the Lindis Pass, you may like to stop at a local vineyard before heading inland to reach your destination, the peaceful and picturesque lakeside township of Wanaka. Make your way to the lakes edge and look towards the Alps to see the backdrop used for Gandalf’s flight to Rohan with Gwaihir, after his rescue from Orthanc.

Stay 1 night Wanaka

We recommend a morning cruise on the lake or a lakeside walk before travelling on to Arrowtown, set beneath the rugged Crown range. Take time to wander through this historic village with its fascinating collection of miner's cottages with an atmosphere straight out of last century. A short drive brings you to the beautiful lakeside and alpine resort town of Queenstown, regarded as New Zealand’s premier holiday destination.

Stay 2 nights Queenstown

Join your Safari of the Scenes guided tour this morning to take a journey deep into Middle Earth. This scenic safari offers breathtaking mountain and forest views along the shores of Lake Wakatipu towards Glenorchy and the Paradise Valley. Visit the filming locations for Isengard, the Ithilien Camp, Lothlorien forest and the Seat of Seeing/Battle of Amon Hen, plus yet-to-be-revealed filming locations from The Hobbit trilogy! Beyond Glenorchy, travel up the Dart Valley to the filming location for Isengard, set amongst snow-capped mountains beside the turquoise waters of the Dart River. This setting offers views of Mt Earnslaw and its hanging glacier, used in the first instalment of The Hobbit trilogy. Explore the Paradise Forest, the location for the Forest of Lothlorien. As you depart Glenorchy and return towards Queenstown, stop at 12 Mile Delta to explore the location of the Ithilien Camp. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore all that Queenstown has to offer.

Your journey into Middle Earth regrettably comes to an end today, so with fond memories of mountains and fiords, glaciers and sparkling braided rivers drifting in your memory, return your car to Queenstown Airport where you will depart on your scheduled flight home.