Breadcrumb
New Zealand tour itinerary name and information
Thrifty Tours

Middle Earth Discovered

Embark on a journey of Middle Earth and New Zealand. Visit official sites used in the filming of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, whilst visiting some of New Zealand's most stunning attractions including glowworm caves, active geysers, dramatic mountains and deep fiords.

Currency selector
Select your currency to view indicative pricing
Tour summary and feature

Quick Itinerary Details

New Zealand Independent Tour

This suggested tour costs from NZD$4,575 per person (twin share, low season)

Starts in Auckland, finishes in Christchurch

8 days/7 nights

Hotel 4 star

 Customisable? YES

 Viewed 345 times in the last 7 days

This tour also includes
- Rotorua Accommodation to Rotorua Intercity Depot - Private Transfer
- Private transfer Wellington train station to hotel (IST)
- Private transfer Wellington Hotel to Airport (IST)
- Private Transfer Queenstown Domestic Airport to Accommodation (LSQ)
6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 special dinner
Tour full itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Middle Earth Discovered - Day 1
Rotorua and Waitomo Caves Tour and Te Puia with FlexiTours - Lunch Included

Travel from Auckland and visit Waitomo Caves on the way to Rotorua. This tour covers the most iconic destinations in the Northern island. You will visit Rotorua which is famous both for its thermal activity and its rich Maori Heritage. In addition, you will enjoy guided tour in the world renowned Waitomo Glow worm Caves and geothermal wonderland Te Puia. Your tour will finish in Rotorua.

Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Millennium Hotel is Rotorua's largest 4-star deluxe hotel. Perfectly situated in the heart of the city overlooking Lake Rotorua. Five levels of accommodation offer guests a wide variety of scenic views.
Meals included: Lunch

Back to top

Middle Earth Discovered - Day 2
Hobbiton Day Tour from Rotorua with Gray Line / GreatSights - Lunch Included

Take a journey from Rotorua to famous Hobbiton Movie Set, located inside a picturesque 1,250 acre sheep and beef farm near Matamata. Here, take a guided tour of the village of Hobbiton, which was carefully created in amazing detail as a film location for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie trilogies. During your guided tour of this amazing location you’ll see sights like Hobbit holes, the Mill and the Green Dragon Inn, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth. After exploring Hobbiton, enjoy a tasty lunch in the Party Marquee and then return back to Rotorua.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Te Pā Tū Evening Maori Cultural Experience

New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Attraction, presenting Te Pā Tū. Feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within the forest Pā (village) blanketed by towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and a forest-formed amphitheatre. Te Pā Tū shares Māori history, traditions, and cultural aspirations across 4-hours of celebration and feasting. These events change with each season of the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.

Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Millennium Hotel is Rotorua's largest 4-star deluxe hotel. Perfectly situated in the heart of the city overlooking Lake Rotorua. Five levels of accommodation offer guests a wide variety of scenic views.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Speciality Dinner

Back to top

Middle Earth Discovered - Day 3
Rotorua Accommodation to Rotorua Intercity Depot

You will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to Rotorua Intercity Coach Depot.

Rotorua to Wellington by InterCity Coach

Your coach journey from Rotorua to Wellington takes you via the township of Taupō and New Zealand's largest lake. The lake itself is actually a gigantic volcanic caldera formed during one of the worlds largest ever eruptions. Skirting Tongariro National Park, one of New Zealand's three world heritage sites and clouds permitting you can see the 2,500 metre peak of the still volcanically active Mt. Ruapehu. You might recognise the symmetrical shape of Mt. Ngauruhoe as this was used as the scenery of Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Heading south you pass through the rural towns of Taihape, Mangaweka and Bulls before arriving on the Kapiti Coast, with its coastal seaside towns of Paraparaumu, Paekakariki and Plimmerton. The Kapiti Coast leads into Wellington, New Zealand's capital. Wellington sits on a wonderful deep natural harbour and is surrounded by bush clad hills. The city centre itself is quite compact (only around 1 square kilometre), so exploring on foot is relatively easy. From your city centre accommodation you can easily stroll the cafes and restaurants around Courtenay Place and explore New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, which is also close by.

Private transfer Wellington train station to hotel

You will be met on arrival into Wellington train station and transferred to your hotel.

Your accommodation: Copthorne Hotel Wellington Oriental Bay

Located on Wellington's premier Oriental Parade, overlooking the stunning Wellington Harbour, Copthorne Hotel Wellington Oriental Bay is the perfect base to explore the city. Just 10 minutes away are the city's shopping and entertainment centre. Te Papa Museum, Live Theatre in Courtney Place, and many of the city's finest restaurants and bars are also close by.
Meals included: Breakfast

Back to top

Middle Earth Discovered - Day 4
Lord Of The Rings Full Day Tour including Lunch with Capital Personalised Tours

With some of the best Lord of the Rings tours Wellington has to offer, you will not be disappointed on this tour. You'll visit local filming locations, view a short documentary showing the filmmaking exploits of Peter Jackson and his remarkable team and be guided through the sights and sounds of the Weta Workshop in Miramar. This is followed by a fascinating 'Window into the workshop' exhibition, showing film props and weaponry, with the artists themselves describing how the artefacts were created. After a local lunch, head north into the Hutt Valley following the 'River Anduin' and take in the sights of 'Helms Deep', before stopping at the 'Gardens of Isengard'. Your final destination is 'Rivendell and the Legolas tree' before returning to Wellywood.

Your accommodation: Copthorne Hotel Wellington Oriental Bay

Located on Wellington's premier Oriental Parade, overlooking the stunning Wellington Harbour, Copthorne Hotel Wellington Oriental Bay is the perfect base to explore the city. Just 10 minutes away are the city's shopping and entertainment centre. Te Papa Museum, Live Theatre in Courtney Place, and many of the city's finest restaurants and bars are also close by.
Meals included: Lunch

Back to top

Middle Earth Discovered - Day 5
Private transfer Wellington Hotel to Airport (IST)

You will be collected from your Wellington hotel and transferred to the airport.

Air New Zealand flight Wellington to Queenstown
Private Transfer Queenstown Domestic Airport to Your Accommodation

On arrival you will be met by a private driver and delivered to your Queenstown accommodation.

Explore Queenstown

Well-known as New Zealand's ‘adventure capital’, Queenstown is home to a range of adventures, from the world's first and most famous bungy jumps to jet boat thrills, white-water rafting, and skydiving. However, Queenstown offers far more than a fast-paced, action-packed holiday. Settled on the shores of beautiful Lake Wakatipu beneath a soaring panorama of the Remarkables Mountain Range, this alpine town is surrounded by a plethora of historic, gastronomic, and scenic wonders. Take a stroll through the beautiful lakefront parks and gardens, browse through market stalls on weekends, dine in wonderful al-fresco restaurants, or ride on the 100-year-old historic Steamship - TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station. Take the Queenstown Gondola up to Bob's Peak and soak up the panoramic views of the magnificent lake and mountain ranges. And after all of that, if you do want the adrenaline rush, Queenstown is known for taking your pick from the Shotover Jet, Canyon Swing, Zipline, Luge, or Heli-ski.

Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Right in the heart of the action, the Millennium Hotel is just minutes from Queenstown's central shopping and entertainment district. Outdoor activities such as bungy jumping, white water rafting and jet boating are just some of the easily accessible activities nearby in New Zealand's adventure capital.
Meals included: Breakfast

Back to top

Middle Earth Discovered - Day 6
Milford Sound Cruise and coach tour from Queenstown

Return luxury coach transport from Queenstown to Milford Sound, with a 1 hour 40 minute Cruise along the full length of the fiord. On boarding a Real Journeys luxury glass-roofed coach in Queenstown or Te Anau, you will enjoy a relaxing trip along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the rolling countryside to Te Anau. The coach driver provides an informative commentary. After a morning tea break in Te Anau, where you have the option of purchasing refreshments, the coach continues along the spectacular Milford Road. There is time for photo stops and short walks along the way. On reaching Milford Sound, you board the modern, spacious vessel for a leisurely cruise in the fiord. The cruise provides excellent viewing opportunities and plenty of time is available to enjoy waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and the wildlife. During the cruise your friendly crew provide commentaries in several languages and point out the sights such as Mitre Peak and the Pembroke Glacier.

Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Right in the heart of the action, the Millennium Hotel is just minutes from Queenstown's central shopping and entertainment district. Outdoor activities such as bungy jumping, white water rafting and jet boating are just some of the easily accessible activities nearby in New Zealand's adventure capital.
Meals included: Breakfast

Back to top

Middle Earth Discovered - Day 7
Safari of the Scenes Glenorchy Tour

For those keen on Lord Of The Rings this is the tour for you. Go on a scenic adventure through some of the iconic locations used in the filming. Although none of the sets are left behind, the landscapes will be instantly recognisable. Follow the shores of Lake Wakatipu to the small town of Glenorchy and enjoy the spectacular views of the Remarkables Range as you drive. From Glenorchy you'll head into the beech forests of Paradise, located on the outskirts of Mount Aspiring National Park - before heading up the dart valley and back. Film locations you'll see include Isengard, Lothlorien, Ithilien Camp and the Seat of Seeing.

Queenstown Gardens

The Queenstown Gardens are just a few minutes walk from central Queenstown and offer a beautiful and tranquil setting away from the hustle and bustle. The landscaped gardens include plenty of places to sit down and admire the beauty of the gardens. Pristine lawns, a large water feature, a wide variety of trees and plants, a rose garden and a couple of significant memorials all combine to provide that perfect escape from downtown Queenstown.
The gardens are a popular place to take a picnic, relax with friends and family and enjoy the views of Lake Wakatipu. The most visible tree is the Douglas Fir which provides a protective cover around the gardens and seclusion from the lively downtown area of Queenstown.
The gardens are also a popular place for enthusiasts of disc golf where 18 holes are laid out for you to complete a round of 'golf' with your disc. Metal baskets act as the holes with 'pars' offered for each hole and tees adding to the experience. Frisbees can easily be purchased from most outdoor shops in the town centre.

Walking tracks in and around Queenstown

Queenstown is well known for its adventure sports and activities but it also a great network of walking tracks and trails to suit all abilities and time frames. The department of conservation office located on Shotover Street can offer local advice on the conditions of walking tracks.
Some of the more popular walks are listed below.
Queenstown Hill - around 3 hours return (4 kilometres). Gravel path and then trail. A 500 metre climb through pine forest to the summit of Te Tapu-nui (mountain of intense sacredness). The climb is well rewarded with 360 degree views of Remarkables Mountain Range, the Kawarau River, Cecil Peak, and of course Lake Wakatipu. The track starts on Belfast Terrace which is just 1 km from the city centre.
Ben Lomond - around 2 hours (4 1/2 kms return). Take the Skyline Gondola ride to the terminal and the track is signposted from here. This is quite a steep climb and not recommended for children. Also take note of weather forecasts as the summit sits at 1748 metres. The effort is rewarded with spectacular views and on clear days you can see Mt Earnslaw and Mt Aspiring.
Bobs Cove - 20 minutes of easy lakeshore walks. Bobs Cove is 14 kilometres from Queenstown along the Glenorchy Road. Take the drive along the road and Bobs Cove is signposted.

Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Right in the heart of the action, the Millennium Hotel is just minutes from Queenstown's central shopping and entertainment district. Outdoor activities such as bungy jumping, white water rafting and jet boating are just some of the easily accessible activities nearby in New Zealand's adventure capital.
Meals included: Breakfast

Back to top

Middle Earth Discovered - Day 8
Queenstown to Christchurch Transport via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo with Cheeky Kiwi

This small group, fully-guided day trip combines all of the key highlights in the area with magnificent views of the famous Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and Tasman Glacier. The ultimate way to get from Queenstown to Christchurch. Led by famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.

Back to top

Tour quick quote rework
Get an Instant Quote or Book this Tour
Middle Earth Discovered
Step 1:
Step 2: Select number of passengers and room configuration
Step 3: Add these options

Enter phone number to get a call from a travel planning expert within 24 hours

Enter email address to receive your instant quote

Tick this box if you do not wish to receive emails about special offers
No pricing loaded - please choose another date or contact us
Your quote for this tour:
Start date:
End date:
Guests:
Rooms:
Total cost for ALL guests on this tour package is:
NZD$0
or
This quote is based on vehicles to accommodate your party in the vehicle type. We suggest changing the car type or contacting us for the best options.
The package cost above excludes rental vehicle hire as you are requesting a price for a vehicle outside of our designated season. Please reach out direct for rental vehicle rates.

 

NOTE: Quotes are subject to availability of specific accommodation and other inclusions. Our NZ touring experts will be in touch with you regarding this. Costs quoted in currencies other than New Zealand dollars (NZ$) are based on todays exchange rate and is subject to change.Terms and Conditions apply

Remember - we can create this itinerary with any style of accommodation or customise to suit your interests and timeframe. Just contact us here.

Tour departure list
Departure dates & prices
See all dates & prices for: Middle Earth Discovered
This tour has 273 departure dates.
All prices are in
Go to dates in
Starts Status Double (2 people sharing) Single occupancy You save  
Apr 3, 2024
(Wednesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 4, 2024
(Thursday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 5, 2024
(Friday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 6, 2024
(Saturday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 7, 2024
(Sunday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 8, 2024
(Monday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 9, 2024
(Tuesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 10, 2024
(Wednesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 11, 2024
(Thursday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 12, 2024
(Friday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 13, 2024
(Saturday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 14, 2024
(Sunday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 15, 2024
(Monday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 16, 2024
(Tuesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 17, 2024
(Wednesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 18, 2024
(Thursday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 19, 2024
(Friday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 20, 2024
(Saturday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 21, 2024
(Sunday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 22, 2024
(Monday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 23, 2024
(Tuesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 24, 2024
(Wednesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 25, 2024
(Thursday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 26, 2024
(Friday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 27, 2024
(Saturday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 28, 2024
(Sunday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 29, 2024
(Monday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
Apr 30, 2024
(Tuesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
May 1, 2024
(Wednesday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
May 2, 2024
(Thursday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
May 3, 2024
(Friday)
NZD$4,575 NZD$5,765 Enquire Book
All prices are in
Go to dates in
Contact form
Send us an enquiry about this tour

Fields marked * are mandatory

Subscribe to our Regular Newsletter for Inspiring Holiday Ideas
Why book with New Zealand Coach Tours?

At NZ Coach Tours we choose only the best coach tours out there. We have up to date knowledge and experience, so we can give you the best advice on which tour is right for you. We can combine tours, maybe one tour that offers the best in the North Island and one that offers something different for the South Island. Our range of independent tours depart daily and can be custom designed to suit you perfectly. We have loads of accommodation options, activity ideas, and sell a beautiful destination that is guaranteed to blow you away!
Put simply - we have something for everyone and we are confident you will not be left disappointed.

In summary

  • We specialise in New Zealand. Nothing else. 100% New Zealand.
  • You get the best price for your tour and we guarantee it.
  • Our experienced team is based right here in New Zealand, and we're ready to help you with every step of your personalised journey.
  • We have the first-hand experience of the tours we sell.
  • We have quality, long standing relationships with many touring partners, accommodation and activity suppliers
  • Legendary dedication to service excellence.
  • Secure payment options for your peace of mind.
  • Operating since 2004 and our guests love us.
  • Because your visit to New Zealand deserves to be the best.
  • We represent only the best-escorted coach touring brands — Grand Pacific Tours, Grand Pacific Ultimate Small Group Tours, Intrepid Travel and AAT Kings.
  • Talk to one of our team today to find and book the New Zealand coach tour that's right for you.