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Wellington's Original LOTR Experience - includes Weta and Lunch

Offered by Wellington Rings Tours

From

$325.00 per person

4.8 (567 reviews)

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Booking handled by our partner, Viator

8 hours (approx.)Pickup Available Mobile or paper ticket accepted Offered in: English

Full-day Wellington tour of Lord of the Rings filming sites, including Weta Workshop, Mt Victoria, Harcourt Park, Kaitoke Regional Park and lunch.

Tour Overview

Spend a full day exploring Wellington through the places that helped shape Middle earth on screen. This all inclusive tour combines film locations, a behind the scenes studio visit, and lunch, with guides who share detailed stories from the making of the Lord of the Rings films.

At Weta Workshop, join a tour led by a Weta employee and see how props, armour, weapons, costumes, miniatures, and prosthetics were created for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. There is also time for photos with characters and weapons, and to browse for souvenirs if you wish. From Mt Victoria lookout, take in wide views across the harbour and city while your guide points out landmarks and explains how Wellington was transformed for filming. You will also pass the Embassy Theatre, where The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey held their world premieres.

The tour continues to the forested Outer Shire, where scenes such as the shortcut to mushrooms, get off the road, and the flight to Buckleberry Ferry were filmed. In the afternoon, visit Harcourt Park, used as the Gardens of Isengard, and Kaitoke Regional Park, which became Rivendell. Here you can see the Rivendell gate tower replica, cross a swing bridge, and visit an 800 year old native rimu tree.

What's Included

  • Weta Workshop tour and a lunch feast fit for a Hobbit included in tour price
  • Visit the best LOTR filming locations - Please note that no sets remain from the filming
  • Pick up and drop off available direct from cruise ships - we've never missed a drop off
  • Owned and operated by genuine fans, several of whom worked on the films
  • Expert guides with film industry experience
  • Guaranteed drop off back to Cruise Ship on time. We haven't missed a drop off in 15 years
  • Bonus native forest walk in a 1000-year-old temperate rainforest
  • Central Wellington pick up

Not Included:

  • Gratuities

What To Expect

  1. 1

    Weta Workshop Experiences

    Delve into the heart of Wellywood and visit the Weta Workshop, a physical effects workshop who created all the props, armour, weapons, costumes, miniatures and prosthetics for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. Learn the secrets of movie magic on a behind-the-scenes tour by a Weta employee, who will explain the creative process behind bringing these films to life. You'll also have chance to take photos with various characters and weapons, as well as treating yourself to a souvenir or two, if desired.

    1 hour 30 minutes

    Admission: Included

  2. 2

    Mount Victoria Lookout

    Enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the harbour and city from the Mt Victoria lookout. Your guide will talk about the landmarks you can see from the top and help you take photos. Mt Victoria is always on the list of things to do in Wellington, so we thought we'd save you the trouble of walking up the hill to get there!

    15 minutes

  3. 3

    Embassy Theatre

    Drive past the Embassy Theatre that was used to host two world premieres of the Middle-earth movies - The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey. Your guide will share stories and pictures of how Wellington was transformed literally into the middle of Middle-earth.

    Pass by without stopping

  4. 4

    Mount Victoria

    Descend into the forested slopes of the nearby Outer Shire, where our expert guides will explain the process of film making and entertain you with stories of how the Lord of the Rings movies were brought to life. You will follow in the footsteps of Frodo and the Hobbits as they began their quest to destroy the One Ring. You will see the "shortcut to mushrooms", "get off the road" and hide from the Black Riders before fleeing to the Buckleberry Ferry. You will have the chance to recreate some of the most famous scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring and make your social media streams go crazy!

    1 hour

  5. 5

    Aston Norwood Gardens

    Enjoy a feast fit for a Hobbit to recharge your batteries for more film locations in the afternoon

    1 hour

    Admission: Included

  6. 6

    Poet's Park

    See a section of the Great River Anduin as the Fellowship make their way to Parth Galen

    15 minutes

  7. 7

    Harcourt Park Disc Golf Course

    Harcourt Park aka The Gardens of Isengard. Here you will see how this normal, everyday park was transformed into the scenes where Gandalf rode to Saruman seeking council and the wizards walked through the gardens discussing their situation. This is also where the orcs began felling the trees once it was revealed Saruman had turned to the dark side...

    30 minutes

  8. 8

    Kaitoke Regional Park

    Kaitoke Regional Park, a stunning, thousand year old, temperate rain forest. This was used as the location for the beautiful Rivendell, the last homely house east of the sea. Here you will immerse yourself in the magical setting and learn how the area was transformed into Elrond's house, Frodo's bedroom and the bridge where Arwen and Aragorn share a kiss. You can release your inner Elf and snap a photo reenacting a famous Legolas image and then recreate the scene where Frodo leads the newly formed Fellowship towards Mordor by posing in front of the Rivendell gate tower which is the only Lord of the Rings replica structure in the whole of New Zealand outside of Hobbiton. You will also see a scene from the Fords of Isen, where Eomund was found by Eomer at the start of The Two Towers, and have a chance to cross a swing bridge and visit a giant 800-year-old native Rimu tree and learn something of New Zealand's flora and fauna.

    1 hour

    Admission: Included

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup available

Please select your preferred pickup location when booking through Viator.

Pickup details

Be aware that pick up may be arranged up to 15mins before or after the scheduled departure time. This will be communicated to you 24-48 hours before your tour. For anyone arriving by cruise ship, we can pick-up and drop-off directly from the port. Please select Cruise Ship Port when booking and advise your ship name....

Important Information

Pick-ups may be slightly later than the advertised start time depending on how many bookings we have. If joining from the cruise terminal, please be ready 15mins before the scheduled departure time.

Additional Info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Not recommended for participants with walkers or limited mobility
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.