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Monday, September 21, 2026
December 2026 marks twenty-five years since the cinematic release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, which was filmed entirely in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Over two decades later, this blockbuster movie trilogy continues to draw fans of Middle‑earth™ with 71% of people considering a trip to New Zealand interested in visiting film sets and locations. From walking in the footsteps of Frodo and Sam to dining on a feast fit for a Hobbit or going behind-the-scenes of movie magic, we’ve made it easy for you to plan your clients The Lord of the Rings trip to New Zealand.
Between October 1999 and December 2000, all three The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed simultaneously at more than 150 different locations across New Zealand.
We’ve selected a handful of well-known filming locations in both the North and South Islands that your clients can visit independently, providing suggestions on how to get there, where to stay and what to do in the local area. You can discover even more filming locations with these listicles by the Department of Conservation(opens in new window) and our consumer website, newzealand.com(opens in new window).
With its symmetrical cone, Mount Ngauruhoe in Tongariro National Park was an excellent stand-in for Mount Doom. Film buffs might not know that as the volcanic peak is considered tāpu (sacred) to local iwi (Māori tribe), no scenes were filmed on the mountain and visitors are asked to avoid hiking on the mountain. Your clients can capture a cinematic shot of Mount Doom for themselves from Meads Wall, a 10-minute walk from the base of the Whakapapa Ski Area(opens in new window) chairlift.
Meads Wall in Ruapehu is an excellent place to photograph Mount Ngauruhoe, also known as Mount Doom in The Lord of The Rings movie trilogy
Mere minutes from central Wellington, Mount Victoria is one of the most accessible filming locations(opens in new window) from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Within the forested walking paths, your clients can recreate the iconic “get off the road” scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring where Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin hide from the Black Riders.
Mount Victoria's forested walking paths in Wellington were used for several scenes in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings
It’s easy to see why Mount Sunday, a remote spot in mid-Canterbury, was chosen as the filming location for Edoras, the hilltop capital of Rohan, in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. After an easy 30-minute one-way walk(opens in new window) through tussock and over bridged river crossings, your clients will be rewarded with expansive river and mountain views. This is a great walk for families, including those with younger children.
Mount Sunday in Canterbury is a popular destination for fans of Middle-earth™ as it was used as Edoras in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Beyond the filming locations, there is still plenty of cinematic magic to be found on must-do The Lord of the Rings experiences throughout New Zealand.
The operators mentioned in this article are just some of the bookable tourism activities and tours from around the motu (country) delivering unforgettable experiences. For further inspiration on how your clients can paddle through, fly above and drive across Middle‑earth™, download our factsheet(opens in new window).
A visit to Hobbiton™ Movie Set(opens in new window) is unmissable for any The Lord of the Rings fan. The guided walking tours through The Shire™ last between 2.5 and 4.5 hours and include the chance to explore the interiors of a Hobbit Hole – the latest addition to the tour are three large Stone Trolls (William, Bert and Tom from Bilbo’s adventures in The Hobbit) which are hidden amongst a section of forest. Tours are incredibly popular and we recommend booking as far in advance as possible, especially for the Second Breakfast(opens in new window) and Evening Banquet Tours(opens in new window).
Fans of The Lord of the Rings will not want to miss visiting Hobbiton Movie Set™ including the latest addition of three incredibly detailed Stone Trolls
Delve into behind-the-scenes magic at Wētā Workshop Experiences(opens in new window), whose talented crew helped bring The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies to life. On a guided tour discover a world of creativity and physical effects, with the chance to get up close with many of the original props, prosthetics, costumes and swords used during filming.
Go behind the scenes and discover the magic of making The Lord of the Rings movies during a guided tour of Wētā Workshop Experiences in Wellington
Journey into Middle‑earth™ country with Pure Glenorchy’s(opens in new window) half and full-day The Lord of the Rings small group tours. Led by passionate local guides, your clients will travel to iconic filming locations such as Isengard and Lothlórien, listen to stories and have the option to dress up in costume. Departing from Queenstown, pick up and drop off to selected accommodations is available.
Queenstown and its surrounding areas were used as filming locations for The Lord of the Rings including Paradise in Glenorchy, which stood in for Lothlórien
Join a fellowship of like-minded fans with the family owned and operated Red Carpet Tours(opens in new window). Ranging from 6 – 14 days and starting in either Auckland, Wellington or Queenstown, your clients will be taken to key filming locations from both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie franchises including Hobbiton and Laketown as well as meet people involved in the making of the films.
Join a fellowship of like-minded The Lord of the Rings fans on a fully guided trip of New Zealand with Red Carpet Tours, visiting film sets and must-do experiences
If your clients are confident drivers, recommend they hire a car and drive themselves to The Lord of the Rings filming locations. For those who prefer to let someone else take the wheel, there are several organised tours available – this is also a good option if your clients want to visit filming locations that are on private land and are only accessible to specific tour companies. For information on other ways of travelling around New Zealand, from ferries and domestic flights to scenic trains, complete the North Island and South Island courses in the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme(opens in new window).
No! Although New Zealand’s stunning landscapes have captivated fans of Middle‑earth™, the country offers plenty of attractions and activities for all travellers. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore over 1,555 miles of walking and hiking tracks(opens in new window) or cycle the 23 Great Rides(opens in new window), a premier network of cycling trails. Wellness seekers can soak in geothermally heated hot pools(opens in new window) or learn about rongoā rākau (Māori herbal medicine) on a guided tour(opens in new window). And foodies can savour, sip and indulge in the country’s world-class food and wine, including dining at Oceania’s first-ever MICHELIN-recognised(opens in new window) restaurants.
Yes, you can still visit The Lord of the Rings filming locations while in New Zealand but with the exception of Hobbiton™ Movie Set – which was permanently rebuilt in 2009 for the filming of The Hobbit trilogy – no other physical sets remain. When filming concluded in December 2000 all sets were dismantled to ensure that the landscapes were returned to their natural state, which was particularly important for those built on conservation land. Today, all manuhiri (visitors) are encouraged to follow the Tiaki Promise(opens in new window), a commitment to care for New Zealand’s environments and communities.
While dedicated fans could spend weeks exploring Middle‑earth™, even travellers with limited time can experience some of the most iconic The Lord of the Rings filming locations – use these one-week(opens in new window) and three-week(opens in new window) itineraries for inspiration. You may also want to consider planning your clients’ trip around some of the special events held at Hobbiton™ Movie Set including the Hobbiton™ Beer Festival(opens in new window) in November and the Middle‑earth™ Halfling Marathon™(opens in new window) in March. Just remember to book well in advance as these events sell out quickly every year.