Starts in:      Auckland
Finishes in:   Wellington

Highlights 

• A scenic flight over Mt Doom and Mordor
• A visit to the living village of Hobbiton
• A behind the scenes tour of Weta Cave - the creative genius behind the movie

Day 1:  Arrive in Auckland
Once you touch down in New Zealand your detailed tour pack will be hand delivered by one of our trusted representatives before transferring you to SkyCity Hotel, your home for two nights.

Day 2:  Coast and Rainforest Tour
Your full day excursion takes you to the Waitakere Ranges, a short drive from Auckland Central.  Enjoy panoramic views extending from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific as you absorb the area's history and admire the magnificent traditional carves.  Take in giant tree ferns, bubbling streams and cascading waterfalls before venturing onto a wild west coach beach.  Enjoy a picnic lunch before your eco-tour ends in an area of untamed original rainforest.  

Day 3: Auckland to Waitomo via Hobbiton
Collection your rental car and head southbound on State Highway 1 through the lush farmland and dairy pastures of the Waikato region.  As you turn inland twards Matamata this is where you'll see the real Middle Earth with many locations used in the filming of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit - as well as visiting the actual set of Hobbiton.

From Matamata you will head towards the coast to arrive in Waitomo.  Stop on the way at Otorohanga to visit the 'Kiwi House', a native bird park owned and operated by the local Zoological Society.  Within the park you will find nocturnal kiwi houses, Tuataras and many native and endangered birds.  From Otorohanga it is only a short drive to the limestone hills that mark the Waitomo region and its famous cave complex.

Day 4:  Waitomo Lost World Tour 
Abseil 100m into a spectacular world of prehistoric forest, glow-worms, rivers flowstone formations and massive caverns.  Explore the depths before ascending a gigantic ladder through the craggy upper levels of the 'Spider Hole'.  Nothing short of sensational, this underground adventure is 4 hours in length.

Day 5:  Waitomo to Tongariro National Park
Travel south into the heart of the Central Volcanic Plateau, home to three active volcanoes - Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe - as well as many walking tracks, adventure activities and the renowned Tongariro Crossing.

Day 6:  Volcanic Explorer Scenic Flight
Take a scenic flight over New Zealand's oldest National Park and World Heritage site for a spectacular view of this unique volcanic landscape.  See all three volcanoes as well as the iconic Emerald Lakes, the Blue Lake and the Tama Lake.  Climbing to 10,000 ft, you'll also view the active Mount Ruapehu crater lake, and spot some of the landscapes used in the making of The Lord of the Rings triolgy.

There are a plethora of walks in and around Whakapapa Village and Tongariro National Park to get you out and about:  Whakapapa Nature Walk, Tawhai Falls, Ridge Track, Taranaki Falls, to name a few.

Day 7:  National Park to Wellington
Leaving Whakapapa Village, make your way through the Rangipo Desert, skirting the edges of the Tongariro National Park.  Catch a glimpse of the volcanically active Mt Ruapehu and you'll see the symmetrical Mt Ngauruhoe - better known as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings series.  A little further is the military town of Waiouru, home to the New Zealand Army museum and a unique collection of military history.  Continue south through rural towns before arriving on the spectacular Kapiti Coast.  Take a short detour to the quaint seaside town of Paraparaumu before arriving into Wellington City.

Day 8:  Middle Earth Film Locations Tour
See Rivendell where Frodo recovered from his knife attack, the River Anduin where the Fellowship voyaged to Amon Hen, the Gardens of Isengard where Gandalf rode to se Saruman and the site of the Orcs felling the trees, the quarry used for the filming of Helms Deep in Rohan and Minas Tirith in Gondor.  Then back to the city to visit the Mount Victoria lookedout and Buckland Forest where you can find the "shortcut to mushrooms then "get off the road" and hide where the Hobbits hid from the Black Riders before taking a run to the Buckleberry Ferry and discovering Dunharrow Rohirrim encampment along the way.

Day 9:  Weta Cave Workshop Tour
Visit the mini-museum filled with props, characters and displays from well known movies including Avatar, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.  Take a guided tour through the inner workings of Weat Workshop and learn about its processes and design elements.  Please keep in mind that many of the projects Weta Workshop has been involved in contain graphic scenes and special effects that may not be suitable for everyone.

Day 10:  Depart Wellington today
Choose to explore more of Wellington's sights before dropping your rental car at the airport depot and continuing your onward journey.

• Rental car with unlimited kms, GPS, airport fees, GPS navigation, additional drivers
• Private airport transfers
• Coast and Rainforest full day tour, Auckland
• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, Matamata
• Waitomo Adventures Lost World Tour
• Tongariro Volcanic Explorer Scenic Flight
• LOTR Film Locations Tour, Wellington
• Weta Cave Workshop Tour, Wellington