Tour Type: Special Interest (Low Cost)
Duration: 13 Days
Tour Starts In: Auckland
Tour Finishes In: Queenstown
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from NZ $4650 pp
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13 Day Lord Of The Rings 2012 Tour Touring Route:
Tour Inclusions:
- Coach transport & all guiding services
- Meet and Greet on arrival
- Hotel Accommodation
- Breakfasts (9), Lunch (1), Dinners (2)
- Entry fees to private LOTR sites
- Airfare Wellington to Christchurch
Tour Highlights:
- Hobbiton (lunch at 'The Shire's Rest' )
- Geothermal Rotorua
- Emyn Muil, Mordor and Mt. Doom
- Gollum's fishing pool
- Powderhorn Chateau (where the stars stayed)
- The Lord of the Rings horses
- The film studios
- Isengard Gardens
- The Calligrapher
- The Elven cloak factory
- Leaving Lothlorien and Gladden Fields
- Edoras
- The Pelennor Fields
- The Rohan sites
- Oliver's Lodge
- Fangorn Forest
- River Anduin
- The Misty Mountains
- Amon Hen and Ithilian
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The following is a sample itinerary only, representing a typical monthly tour. Details vary from month to month according to availability of key people, places , accommodation and new information /availability of "Hobbit" sites. Final itineraries are confirmed and emailed 4 weeks prior. TripAdvisor Reviews |
Day
1 |
Arrive Auckland
You are met at the airport and transferred you to your hotel, the Spencer on Byron. We gather informally this evening to meet each other and prepare for our early start tomorrow. |
Day
2 |
Auckland - Hobbiton - Rotorua
This morning we depart at 08.00. We take a 2 hour drive south of Auckland, through rolling farmland and small towns. Hobbiton is situated on a glorious working sheep farm - you will recognise the Shire immediately! It’s a great start to our tour of Middle-earth, so let it enchant you! Have your photo taken beneath the Party Tree where Bilbo celebrated his 111th Birthday and where the Hobbits set off fireworks! While you’re there, why not have a dance on the party field!! Visit Bag End and take a stroll through Bagshot Row. Enjoy the many stories from your experienced guide. We’ll spend almost 2 hours enjoying Hobbiton and then have lunch at "The Shire's Rest", at the farm.
In Rotorua later today, we’ll show you some geothermal activity and suggest optional activities, such as a riding a Zorb and/or enjoying a relaxing soak in a hot mineral Polynesian Spa Pool. Perhaps this evening, experience traditional Maori Culture at it’s very best, with a Maori concert and Hangi meal at Mitai Village. This is also an opportunity to see live Kiwi birds. Stay: The Sudima Hotel, Rotorua (B/L) |
Day
3 |
Rotorua - Ohakune
From Rotorua to Ohakune, via bubbling mud pools and the beautiful Huka Waterfalls at Lake Taupo. We stop for 'Second Breakfast - Morning Tea' on our way to Mt. Ruapehu and the sites of Mordor, Emyn Muil and Mt Doom. See the spot where Sam and Frodo were lost amid volcanic lava flows and where they first met Gollum. Visit Gollum's fishing pool, where Andy Serkis was careful not to plunge over the waterfall! Stay: The Powderhorn Chateau - where the Stars stayed. (B) |
Day
4 |
Ohakune - Wellington
Ohakune to Wellington. via a 'River Anduin' site, where there’s an optional extra Flying Fox activity for the mad and daring ~ great viewing for the rest of us!
We stop for lunch at Flat Hills and continue on to visit the Black Rider’s Ranch. Meet him in person and enjoy his hospitality. He trained the horses , taught the actors to ride and had several key roles in the trilogy.
Then, it's on to Wellington City - just in time to see the ”Get off the road!” site on Mt Victoria, overlooking the city. Stay: Duxton Hotel, Wellington (2 nights) (B) |
Day
5 |
Wellington
We are joined at breakfast by the LOTR Calligrapher, Cartographer and Artist, Daniel Reeve. After breakfast he'll show us samples of his exquisite work - some are for sale - and talk about his involvement in the movies, including his more recent works - King Kong, Narnia, Pirates of the Carribbean, etc.
Next, a "Wellywood!" city tour past Peter Jackson's movie studios, and a wonderful stop at Weta Workshop's new 'Weta Cave' - for souvenirs, viewing their promo dvd, and more ! Make sure your camera batteries are fully charged!!
Your afternoon is free to explore Wellington. We recommend a visit to the excellent Te Papa Museum - just across from our hotel.
Dinner tonight? Perhaps "Strawberry Fare" - specialising in delicious desserts - just up from the Embassy Theatre, where the ROTK Premiere was held. (B) |
Day
6 |
Wellington - Fly to Christchurch
Today we call in at the Elven Cloak factory and see how the cloaks (and other garments for movies) are made - opportunities here for purchasing and photographs. Then it's over the hills (weather permitting) to the beautiful tranquility of the Leaving Lothlorien site - and where Smeagol strangled Deagol! On our return to Wellington we'll take time for a visit to Rivendell, the Gardens of Isengard and the site of Helms Deep and Minas Tirith.
This evening we fly south, to Christchurch. (45 minutes). Stay: Copthorne Central Hotel (B) |
Day
7 |
Christchurch - Twizel
Your South Island adventure begins and it's time to head for the site and magnificence that is Edoras. We buy a picnic lunch today, as this is a remote area. Bring shorts (or trousers that roll up to the knees) and sturdy footwear. We cross three streams on our way to the summit!
Later we'll view the beautiful, mountain fed lakes - Tekapo and Pukaki and see N.Z's highest Mountain - Mt Cook, which is over 12,000 ft high.
This is a great place to study the night sky - have you seen the Southern Cross?. Stay: Twizel's McKenzie Country Inn (B/D) |
Day
8 |
Twizel - Cromwell
We depart at around 9-00 a.m. for the Pelennor Fields - an area that once rang to the thunderous sound of 250 horses on the charge, as King Theoden's battle speech roused men to battle.
Moving on, we check out the site of The Great Chase and then head to scenic Lake Wanaka for lunch.
After lunch we make time to try your archery skills - perhaps we have a budding Legolas amongst us?
Stay: Golden Gate Lodge (B) |
Day
9 |
Cromwell - Queenstown
We head out through Alexandra this morning, to where the Rohan village was burned. We walk through the canyon where the leaf brooch was dropped.
(Dwarves are 'dangerous over short distances' here, or so Gimli tells us !) Lunch today? Does Mt Difficulty Winery & Restaurant appeal? This afternoon we drive to Queenstown and check out some exciting optional extra activities along the way. Your Guide will advise you and assist with bookings. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore this beautiful town. Stay: Novotel Gardens Hotel (B) |
Day
10 |
Queenstown LOTR
We take a picnic lunch to the Mavora Lakes today and visit 4 LOTR sites:
- the Orc funeral pyre,
- Fangorn Forest,
- the log which concealed Merry & Pippin before Frodo left the fellowship, and
- where Sam and Frodo paddled away on the next stage of their journey.
Stunning scenery!
Later you may like to jet boat down the River Anduin or take a helicopter ride to P.J.'s favourite location.
There is also an optional Glowworm Caves tour available this evening. Stay: Luxmore Hotel, Te Anau (B) |
Day
11 |
Queenstown, day at leisure
You have the option of joining a coach & cruise trip to Milford Sound and catching up with the group in Queenstown later in the day. Your Guide will advise you about this. Today our group returns to Queenstown, via Arrowtown - a charming old settlement, historically significant in the gold rush days of the 1860s. It's also the location where Isildur was attacked by Orcs at Gladden Fields. This afternoon and tomorrow you are free to pursue optional activities:
- Bungy Jumping
- Scenic helicopter flight to the Ford of Bruinen
- Cruise on Lake Wakatipu
- Retail therapy in Queenstown.
Stay: Novotel Gardens Hotel (2 nights) (B) |
Day
12 |
The last day of our "Fellowship"
Devote today to further optional activities and last minute shopping. How about:
- A 4 wheel drive tour to Lothlorien country?
- Horse trekking?
- A jet boat ride or bungy jump?
- Maybe a trout fishing trip?
- A guided walk - or a day's hike?
- Or a hot air balloon ride?
- Para-sailing?
- Para-gliding?
Your Guide will discuss the many options available with you and assist or advise with bookings. Tonight we ride the Skyline Gondola up for our Farewell Dinner at the Skyline Restaurant (included in tour costs). (B/D) |
Day
13 |
Departure Day
Alas, your journey through Middle-earth is at an end.
We thank you for travelling with us...there and back again. This itinerary is only valid till November 2012. A new itinerary is in place from December 2012. View new itinerary and dates & prices here. |
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Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
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EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012 Season Sale! $NZ 150 off per person! Exclusive to Relaxing Journeys. Deposit this month to qualify. |
| START DATE |
END DATE |
BROCHURE
(Twin Share) |
BROCHURE
(Single) |
OUR
SAVINGS |
OUR
PRICE |
| 04 Jun 2012 |
16 Jun 2012 |
NZ $4800 |
NZ $6130 |
Save $150 |
NZ $4650 |
| 09 Jul 2012 |
21 Jul 2012 |
NZ $4800 |
NZ $6130 |
Save $150 |
NZ $4650 |
| 13 Aug 2012 |
25 Aug 2012 |
NZ $4800 |
NZ $6130 |
Save $150 |
NZ $4650 |
| 10 Sep 2012 |
22 Sep 2012 |
NZ $4800 |
NZ $6130 |
Save $150 |
NZ $4650 |
| 15 Oct 2012 |
27 Oct 2012 |
NZ $4975 |
NZ $6320 |
Save $150 |
NZ $4825 |
| 12 Nov 2012 |
24 Nov 2012 |
NZ $4975 |
NZ $6320 |
Save $150 |
NZ $4825 |
This itinerary is only valid till November 2012. A new itinerary is in place from December 2012. View new itinerary and dates & prices here.
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Tour Discounts & Single Travellers:
Optional extras, single traveller supplement & multiple traveller discounts. |
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- For 3 people booking together and sharing the same room a discount applies to the tour content. Please note most room configurations are double or twin in which case the third bed is likely to be a rollaway. Four adults sharing is not possible.
- For single travellers there is a possibility we may be able to match you with another traveller so the cost is the same as the Twin Share price. Please enquire at the time of booking.
*Terms & Conditions apply to any discounts and/or specials above. Your designated tour consultant will apply the appropriate discounts automatically to your quote and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'. |
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