Top places to visit in New Zealand for LOTR Fans
By Chris Sutton, Director, The New Zealand Touring Co. Chris has been selling New Zealand to international travellers for years.
Last Updated: September 2026
New Zealand is Middle Earth
New Zealand isn’t just the country where the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies were filmed. For a lot of fans, it is Middle-earth. From the rolling green hills of the Shire to the jagged peaks of Mordor and the golden woods of Lothlórien, so many of the most iconic locations from the films are places you can still visit today.
If you’re a fan planning a trip to New Zealand (or you just love beautiful landscapes and a bit of behind-the-scenes movie magic), these are the top places we recommend adding to your itinerary. Even people who aren’t fans usually come away impressed.
North Island Highlights
1. Hobbiton Movie Set Tour (Matamata)
If there’s one place that has to be on your list, it’s this one. Hobbiton is one of the most magical experiences you can have in New Zealand, whether you’re a fan or not.
We’ve been there ourselves, and even travelling companions who weren’t particularly into the films came away blown away. The set is preserved in extraordinary detail. You get to walk past 44 hobbit holes built into the hillside, see the Party Tree, wander through Bagshot Row, and hear the behind-the-scenes stories from your guide. The level of detail is what really surprised us, the little details that were built in even for scenes that only lasted a few seconds on screen.
The tour ends at The Green Dragon Inn, the famous pub from the films, where you can enjoy a complimentary drink (there’s a Hobbit-inspired ale or ginger beer waiting for you).
If you have more time and a bit more budget, we highly recommend upgrading to one of the Evening Banquet Tours. You get a proper Hobbit-style feast at The Green Dragon, followed by a lantern-lit walk back through the set after dark.
2. Weta Workshop (Wellington)
Head to the capital and you can go inside the actual workshop that brought Middle-earth to life. Weta Workshop in Miramar, Wellington, is where the props, weapons, armour, creatures, and models for the films were designed and built.
The workshop tour takes you through the different departments with a guide, showing you original props, models, and vehicles from the films. You learn about the craftsmanship and technology behind the sets and special effects, it’s incredible what the team has been able to create.
3. Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Mordor)
If you want to actually walk through Mordor, this is your chance. Mount Ngauruhoe, in Tongariro National Park, doubled as Mount Doom in the films. The surrounding landscape, all volcanic rock feels exactly like the shots you remember from the films.
The full Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a challenging 19.4 km day hike and one of the best one-day walks in the world. If a full-day hike isn’t for you, there are guided half-day tours that take you into the park to see key scenes and get that iconic Mount Doom shot.
South Island Highlights
Middle-earth Tours from Queenstown and Glenorchy
Down in the South Island, the area around Queenstown and especially Glenorchy is where a huge amount of the trilogy was filmed. The dramatic mountains, glacial rivers, and ancient beech forests around here make it feel like you’ve stepped into scenes from the movies.
Several operators run Lord of the Rings tours from Queenstown that take you deep into Middle-earth. You’ll visit iconic locations including:
- Isengard, filmed at Dan’s Paddock in Paradise Valley near Glenorchy, with those unforgettable mountains rising behind you
- Lothlórien, in the Paradise Forest , where the golden woods of the elves come to life
- Amon Hen filmed in the beech forests near the Mavora Lakes and Paradise area.
Along the way, you get commentary on the history of each location, plus plenty of photo opportunities. Some tours will even bring along swords and cloaks so you can get properly kitted out for the shot.
Even if you’re not doing a dedicated Lord of the Rings tour, Glenorchy itself is well worth visiting. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Queenstown along one of the most scenic roads in the country, and the little town at the end of the lake is a stunning spot in its own right.
We’re here to help you plan it
We have created a range of Lord of the Rings Tours through New Zealand and one one of our favourite trips to plan. There are so many ways to include the film locations into a wider itinerary, and depending on how much of a fan you are, how much time you have, and where else you want to go, we can help you build the perfect route.
Get in touch with our team and let’s start planning your Middle-earth adventure.
