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South Island

Start: Queenstown Station Information Centre on Camp Street
Location: Queenstown
Duration: 4.5
Minimum Age: 5

The Private Arrowtown and Gibbston Lord of the Rings Film Locations tour is a 4.5-hour private experience from Queenstown, with two different itineraries to choose from. Select either Arrowtown and Gibbston, featuring the Ford of Bruinen, Gladden Fields and Pillars of the Kings, or Glenorchy and Paradise, featuring Ithilien, Isengard and Lothlórien. Tours depart daily at 8:00am and 1:30pm and include a private guide, hot or cold beverage, licensed replica props and behind-the-scenes material.

A Tailored Middle Earth Experience in Queenstown

Join our expert guides—true Lord of the Rings aficionados—for an immersive private tour through the landscapes of Middle Earth. Choose between two iconic routes: explore Skippers Canyon, Arrowtown, and Gibbston Valley, or venture out to Glenorchy and Paradise. Each journey includes unforgettable stops at filming locations like the Ford of Bruinen, Lothlorien, and the Pillars of the Kings.

You’ll have the chance to dress up in authentic LOTR costumes, pose with replica props, and learn behind-the-scenes stories that bring the movies to life. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the saga, this tour delivers an engaging, scenic, and cinematic experience—perfect for travellers who want a more personalised, crowd-free adventure.

What are the highlights of this private Lord of the Rings tour?

  • Choose between two different Queenstown-region filming itineraries
  • Visit locations from Rohan, Rivendell, Isengard, Ithilien and Lothlórien
  • Travel privately with your own Lord of the Rings-focused guide
  • Pose for photos with a large collection of licensed replica props
  • Enjoy more flexibility for photography, pacing and filming stories
  • Hot or cold beverage
  • Photos with authentic props - We have the largest collection of licensed replica props!
  • We also have copies of original scripts and production call sheets, giving you a deeper Middle Earth experience.
  • Pick-Up: Outside the Queenstown Station Information Centre on Camp Street. If you need a different pick-up point, this might be possible for an extra fee. Please call us to arrange.
  • Children: If you're bringing young children, please bring something to keep them entertained, like an iPad, in case they lose interest in the tour.
  • Infants & Young Children: For children under 10 years, please contact us to arrange a private tour. If you're booking for children aged 3-5, New Zealand law requires you to bring a child seat or rent one from us.
  • Accessibility: Unfortunately, our tour isn't suitable for wheelchair users, as our buses don’t have a lift.
  • Walking: There will be some walking on dirt tracks, so please wear comfortable shoes.
  • More than 48 hours before departure: Full refund.**
  • Within 48 hours of departure: No refund.*

**Note: Any refund approved under our terms and conditions will be subject to a 5% admin & processing fee, which will be deducted from the refund amount. Please see more information on refunds and cancellations in Go New Zealand's terms and conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Both are strong options. Arrowtown and Gibbston includes the Ford of Bruinen, Gladden Fields and Pillars of the Kings, while Glenorchy and Paradise includes locations associated with Ithilien, Isengard and Lothlórien.

There is some walking on dirt tracks and natural terrain. Comfortable shoes are recommended, but the amount of walking can generally be adjusted to suit the group.

Yes. Accommodation pick-up is available within 10 km of Queenstown CBD. Pick-ups outside that area may be possible for an additional charge.

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