Wellington's Original HD LOTR Experience - includes Weta Tour

Step into Wellington’s film world on a tour that links central city landmarks with the locations and creative studios behind The Lord of the Rings.

Drive past the Embassy Theatre, which hosted the world premieres of The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey, and hear how Wellington was transformed for the Middle earth films. From the Mt Victoria lookout, take in a wide view of the harbour and city while your guide points out the landmarks below.

The tour then heads into the forested slopes of the Outer Shire, where scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring were filmed. Walk where Frodo and the Hobbits began their journey and visit the spots known as the shortcut to mushrooms and get off the road, where they hid from the Black Riders before fleeing to the Buckleberry Ferry. Along the way, your guide explains how these sequences were made and how the films were brought to life.

You’ll also visit Weta Workshop for a behind the scenes tour led by a Weta employee. Learn about the making of props, armour, weapons, costumes, miniatures and prosthetics created for the Middle earth movies, and hear more about the creative process behind the films. There is also time for photos with characters and weapons, and to browse souvenirs if you wish.